Easy to schedule. Dr. SHEN is fantastic. He has a great way of explaining complex things, breaking them down to be understandable. He also asks a lot of good questions to figure out what type of options may be best for you. On the floor, Rachel was there with quick service and a quicker witt. Definitely made picking new frames and figuring out the insurance, unboring. Appointments like this are a chore for me. I left feeling more confident about the surgeries I need and leaving the shop exchanging laughs with the staff on my way out the door. read more

Eye Q Santa Cruz is the best! No comparison. They have amazing staff. Especially Rachel. Rachel helped me pick out glasses and is so helpful and lovely to work with. And fun! And stylish! She actually helped both my best friend and I, multi-tasking while making us feel welcomed as she got us both set up with fabulous eyewear. Yaaaay Rachel! We appreciate you! Thank you! read more

Best Optometry office in Santa Cruz! Warm and inviting personnel and the doctor has such a warm and calming bed side manner. She is amazing! Their office is very inviting, clean, and modern. They have the latest technology. read more

Dr Kim and her receptionist Susan are the best. Dr Kim's very personable and thorough. I'm grateful to Susan for tracking down an older discontinued frame from Modo for me this week (I've attached a photo of me in said frames. They're my all-time favorite glasses: I was heartbroken when somebody stole them.) Thank you again read more

EyeQ Optometry - Optometrists Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Dr. Kim has been my optometrist since 2007. She's the best at having a laid back relaxed manner, especially in the exam room. I hear it's the reason why she never overprescribes my rx. They have a great selection of vintage eyewear by Retrospecs & Co., a company known for finding and restoring luxury vintage eyewear. I love this shop and the good coffee next door . read more

EyeQ Optometry - They always have the most beautiful plants inside. - Optometrists Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Some the best service in Santa Cruz Dr. Kim is the best and her staff are very very helpful love this place and service.

My first experience with North Coast was exceptional. However, my second experience was less than stunning. They seemed scattered, harried and the person who conducted the exam was a friend of the owner who was in to 'lend a hand'. Didn't have a very professional demeanor and now I need to have another exam even though it has been less than a year. The prescription just doesn't seem right. read more

Came in for a frame adjustment and Susan was incredibly accommodating and helpful. Will absolutely come back to north coast for my next eye appointment. read more

Best optometrist office in Santa Cruz Area. Dr. Kim is knowledgable, efficient, her staff efficient and friendly. I get careful analysis of eye health an perscription, and they look at the big picture, will not give you new lenses unless you really need them. Prices very reasonable, and a great selection of glasses. Someone referred me to this practice nearly 10 years ago, saying they are the best in town, and I've been coming ever since. read more

Buyer beware: North Coast Vision made a mistake on my prescription lenses and refuses to correct them. Do not buy your glasses here. I REALLY wanted to like this place. I loved their selection of frames, and it's a nice, cute, cozy shop. The problem is, I recently ordered a pair of glasses and due to a mistake one of their salespersons made I now own a cute pair of Paul Franks that are pretty much unwearable. Being kind of new to ordering glasses (this was my second pair), I put my trust in one of North Coast's opticians. I wore my older set into the shop and when asked about what kind of coatings I wanted, I instructed that I wanted them the same as the current pair I own. The optician examined my lenses and determined that they lacked a particular anti-glare coating, so I left them off the new order as well. When I received my glasses there was a noticeable difference in the lenses and it became apparent that the optician had made a mistake. I contacted North Coast and at first it seemed they were going to help resolve my issue. Dr. Kim and Julie, their newest optician (seems the one who gave me the wrong info no longer works there, hmmm...) contacted my insurance to see if they could bill them for a new set of lenses. When VSP said no, North Coast refused to make the matter right by ordering me new lenses at their expense. My husband and I will not be taking our business back to North Coast and I encourage you to do your shopping elsewhere as well. read more

Since I was so impressed with my first visit, I decided to order my progressive lens sunglasses from North Coast Vision. I owe it all to Brett Cate's friendly manner and expertise. He helped me find the perfect pair of Kate Spade sunglasses. I just want to say how important it is for a customer to feel welcomed and waited on by someone who treats them special. That's exactly how Brett Cates, senior optician treats his customers. Thank you, North Coast Vision for hiring this great guy! :) read more

Over the years I've used Pearl vision center and a couple of other optician shops. I never thought there was much to a visit to the eye doctor. It was always just something I had to do every year. To me any place seemed just as good as the next. This year I noticed a new shop just down the street from where I live, North coast vision. The two that own the place are a couple. I got to spend time with both of them. One for my exam and the other for my follow up fitting visit. All I can say is wow. They both explained what they were doing and why every step of the way and they caught things about my eyes no other eye doctor in the past had ever caught or took the time to discuss. They even let me try out a couple of different contact lenses just so I would end up with the best and most comfortable fit for my eye. Overall I felt well serviced, cared for, and that the docs really cared about my experience during and after my visit. I now know an annual eye visit is more than just a silly formality. read more

I didn't pass the visual of my DMV exam, and knew it was time to get a pair of glasses. I did some research on yelp and found this place. It was close to my house and had raving reviews about the quality of the exams taking place, staff, and the new professional, modern equipment. So, I contacted the business through yelp (never had done this before) to make sure they took my insurance and ask about price ranges of frames. I got an immediate and accurate response to my questions. Well, to make it short, I am really glad I went here. The staff indeed were very professional, the equipment was amazing, everything was immaculate, and they answered all my questions, and treated me like gold. The owner helped me pick out a pair of glasses (we went through at least 20), and she was incredibly focused on us the entire time. And it wasn't just with us, when we went back to pick up my new glasses, I saw her with another customer, just as focused, I could tell the owner really wanted to help this woman. My glasses are perfect. They arrived less than 2 days later. I went to pick them up and put them on my face, and the man there told me they were too loose and tightened them for me. I didn't even realize! He came back and they did fit much better. I love them! Thanks North Coast, I will be back! read more

Excellent service. The place is clean, quiet and organize. Savannah was super helpful and very knowledgeable. Happy with my choice. I highly recommend this place. read more

I had such an effortless and pleasant experience here today. After 16 years of wearing glasses and getting eye exams, the past 5 years I had trouble getting the right prescription due to vision differences between my two eyes. I went to Dr. Kim after getting referrals from a local Facebook group. Normally eye doctor appointments are grueling for me, lol, and this one felt effortless and comfortable. Dr. Kim easily understood my particular vision issues, and also explained my eye condition (blepharitis) in a way I could easily understand. The office is tasteful and clean, the staff friendly, organized, and helpful. I had help picking out lovely glasses on the third try (normally I try dozens and it takes forever). I can't believe it was such a pleasant and productive experience. Highly recommend and will be back! read more

Amy is the nicest person you'll find in a place like this. THANK YOU AMY!!! This place is awesome! Both of my kids needed glasses and we went there with a school voucher. My kids have been treated like royalty. My older son's glasses were adjusted at the same time we picked them up so they wouldn't fall, he was given extra cleaning cloths for them and we all walked out of there with a smile. 100% recommended! I would give them more stars if I could. read more

My husband and I stumbled upon North Coast Vision while walking in Capitola a few years ago, I think 2008. They were a new small business and we loved their selection immediately. We are both vision-deficient so were in need of upgrading our glasses lenses & (my) contact prescription. We scheduled appointments and quickly fell for North Coast. Dr. Brett & Dr. Agnes are both delightful and we have had exams by both. They have been helpful in recommending contact solution and types of contact lenses. Their staff are helpful and knowledgeable of the glasses product line. They help you determine the best look for your face shape etc and are patient with us when we need time to narrow down the options! They also are able to suggest & recommend options if you can't determine a style on your own. Additionally, we have at times had vision coverage and at other times been cash patients and they are easy to work with either way! As a side note, we truly appreciate their goals for environmental sustainability (just ask Brett about remodeling the space!) and their pride in being small business owners. SHOP LOCAL!! read more

It was my first time ever getting glasses. No one at this business explained to me that you can get glasses elsewhere for much less expensive. As it was my first time, I had no idea. I went in when I was at the tail end of an extreme illness that left me out of work for 6 months. I was supposed to go back to work, but I relapsed and was debilitated from work once again for another 6 months. I explained this to them after I had ordered one of their 400$ pairs of glasses that I became ill again and unable to work. I explained that it was not possible, and could I please at minimum change to the new prescription on them as my eyes had changed, or sell the frames to another customer. They acknowledged that though they WOULD be able to sell the frames to another customer, they would not. They refused to let me buy them with the new prescription and rejected me for another eye exam covered by insurance. They were exclusively concerned with making money. Of course this business could have sold the frames and took a small hit on the lenses to help a client who would continue to pay for their services. I had terrible feelings about this place from the day I first walked in. They seem cold and unempathetic. The feelings of being rejected from a healthcare provider when I was in need of a another eye glass exam made me well up with tears in the office, yet the doctor just barked at me and walked away. In my opinion, their business model is just that - a business model - and not much of a health care center concerned about people. read more

Fairness and integrity go a long way in making customers happy. Dr. Kim called me and thanked me for my comments and input. I respect a small business owner who takes the time and makes things right. Dr. Kim is refunding the Maui Jim shipping charge. Thanks for being fair and thoughtful. North Coast Vision I will be back! read more

OMG my glasses broke when I was getting out of the car in this little town. Looked up & saw North Coast Vision and walked in. Greeted with a smile I explained what happened & asked if they could fix them now. Doubted they would drop everything to help a tourist but wow what a pleasant surprise. Within a few minutes my glasses were fixed! And the price. She just said no charge today! These are good people and extremely professional and just plain nice! read more

Expertise,service and exceptional staff. This is the very best care I have ever had in my 30 years wearing glasses. I am astounded by the quality and care North Coast Vision has given me. Run don't walk to this business it's in the very top of its field. Amazing! read more

Great service, beautiful atmosphere (love all the wood details in the decor), good selection of fashionable frames ie more than the "standard" ones you normally see at those national chain stores. I'm wearing my new La Font's right now! :-) read more

When I called the office to make appointments, I didn't know what our insurance was, but the woman at the front desk generously offered to check multiple ones to see if we were covered by any of them; most offices make you figure it out on your own and then call them back. I wear contacts and my right eye has been slightly blurry for a while. Dr. Fredericks tweaked the prescription and now that eye is super clear again! Also, my wife has only has a slight prescription and doesn't wear glasses. While a lot of other offices try to convince her to buy them, Dr. Fredericks showed her what it would look like with and without glasses and let her choose; gotta love doctors who let patients make their own informed decisions. :) My wife also has a fairly rare disease that can affect her eyes. Dr. Fredericks knew all about it, even that the dosage of medication she was on was lower than normal, and referred her to a nearby ophthalmologist for further testing. I was very impressed. He was very fun, too; he asked what we do in our spare time and when we said we like to hike, he even gave us advice on some cool new trails to check out. Overall a great experience in every way! read more

Really mellow and chill people who always have some good music playing. Super nice and they are they to help you see- not to rip you off. Their selection is somewhat pricey, but they accept insurance (whatever UCSC staff vision plan is), so its not too severe, and you do end up with a high quality product. I initially came for prescription sun glasses (Maui Jim's), but came back for normal glasses (Oga) as well. If they tell you you'll have your order in a week, and its not there, they'll keep calling you and apologizing until you have them. A little annoying, but its nice to see that someone still values customer satisfaction these days... I would highly recommend them, even if you live out of the area. Honest people like these are a rarity!!! (And there's breakfast burritos next door) read more

I have never visited an optometrist before. With that in mind, this visit was foreign to me and I didn't have any prior experience to compare it to, but it was a great visit nonetheless. I called to make an appointment on Friday, they had appointments available as soon as the next day. I spoke with Savannah and she was very sweet and took the time to not only ask about my insurance provider, but explained what would be covered and how much my copay would be for various services. When my appointment came around, I was unfortunately running about 10 mins. late but they were so gracious and managed to see me asap without making me feel like they were trying to rush me through. Their offices by the way, are beautiful, modern, clean, and sustainable (read about their building materials on the website, it makes for an interesting read and is very impressive). I had my exam with Dr. Kim and she's pretty awesome. Very sweet, comforting, and took the time to explain all the different processes of testing. Once I was done with the tests, I viewed some frames and Savannah was again, very helpful and sweet in helping me pick a pair. I have insurance through VSP and my copay was only $10 for the exam, $150 towards glasses, polycarbonate lenses included, and 20% the difference after $150. My overall visit came to $133.80, which I don't think is terrible at all for some high quality frames/lenses. I'm so glad I chose to come here. It was such a wonderful experience and I look forward to returning to pick up my new glasses :) Great staff Great location Great office Great experience Thanks! read more

Great selection of hip, modern and even some vintage frames. Customer service is stupendous. Julie informed me about the best type of frame for my prescription, helped me select a frame that was appropriate for my face shape, and helped me avoid the traps of eye insurance providers, all with patience and care. It's evident that North Coast Vision puts its customers first. read more

I love Dr Kim, she is the greatest. They never fail at the best customer service, and I've been been to many optometrists.

Can't say enough wonderful things about this place! Fantastic customer service in a beautiful office. Extremely helpful and knowledgeable staff. I walked in without an appointment and left with a quick and very informative eye exam, prescription for an adorable new pair of glasses and cool new sunglasses to boot. Can't recommend them enough! read more

Me and my family have gone here for years. Everyone is incredibly nice, professional and helpful. Their selection is kind of small, but they told me after my exam that I could get frames anywhere else that my insurance is accepted. I will ALWAYS trust them for my exams,. And it doesn't hurt that they're right next to Verve! Thanks for always providing me and my loved ones with superior service. Always a first choice and will always highly recommend to friends. read more

This Optometrist office is amazing. They go out of their way to keep you going and are very friendly. I use both glasses and contacts and they have several options for either uses. The office is modern, green and very welcoming. read more

Dr. Kim is very thorough and the prescription for my progressive/computer glasses is spot on!

Went in because I hadn't had an eye exam or new glasses in ages and they were the only provider in my area that my insurance accepted. Right away, Savannah and Amy were super helpful and sweet and took the time to watch me try on 20 different pairs of glasses, answer all my questions thoroughly, make phone calls to my insurance company, and make sure everything was perfect and there were no mistakes when placing the order for the frames & lenses. They even fitted my old pair of glasses since they were too loose. Overall, it was a great experience and I will definitely go back! read more

Hands down best vision appointment I ever had. The doctor took her time, double checked everything, explained it thoroughly and really did a great job overall. The salespeople are very knowledgeable and friendly, prices are good (discounts for locals!) and everything went very smoothly. read more

My daughter and I wandered into North Coast Vision to see if we could get her a spare pair of glasses. We had her prescription, so we didn't see the optometrist. Julie was extremely friendly and helpful. I am please with their selection (the Paul Franks are cool & inexpensive - perfect for teens), but they also have other cute styles in other price ranges. Overall, the experience was great. The service was excellent - timely and friendly. I couldn't be more pleased with this business. read more

I have gone to North Coast Vision for my eye exams for 3 years now. I find Dr. Kim and her staff to be warm and welcoming. Dr. Kim is very thorough and takes time to explain any procedures she needs to do. After not being able to get me to see 20/20 with lenses Dr. Kim referred me to a retinal specialist. When I got the results from the specialist, I was contacted by Dr. Kim's office to check up on me and to schedule an appointment for a free re-check to get me new lenses. I highly recommend North Coast Vision. read more

My family and I have been coming here for a couple of years now (all six of us). Both doctors are wonderful. My kids actually look forward to their visits and so do we. Wonderful service and great people. read more

My fiancee and I visited North Coast Vision several months ago and we were really impressed with the excellent selection of contemporary styles - from Paul Frank to Maui Jim to MODO - far better than we've seen in most stores in the area. Since then, we've been back multiple times for frames and eye exams and have always had terrific service. Thanks, Dr. Kim, Brett and Daniel, for making our experience an enjoyable one. read more

Best place in Santa Cruz for glasses - hands down. They have a complete selection of vintage and antique glasses from yesteryear with rimless frames similar to Savile Row and Ecofriendly brands too. read more

Great staff and assistance in making my optical experience wonderful! As with all businesses there will be some bumps in the road so don't get scared off by a negative comment. This is a business where I found their integrity, professionalism, and customer service to be outstanding! I recommend this office!!! B. Miller read more

I will not recommend you to anyone. Your staff was friendly enough but your ability to deliver the product I was sold as well as your so called 90 day guaranty is a 0-5 stars. I brought in my prescription from my optometrist looking to purchase one of the many brands that you carry. I picked my brand of frames as well as the lenses, placed the order and picked them up when notified. The second I put them on I knew they were not right. I was instructed to continue to try them out and I did for a couple of days. They made feel as if i was drunk, so I returned and was told that they should have ordered me different lenses instead of the originals. So the ones that I actually needed were another $65 so I happily paid the extra. Two weeks later when I received the lenses there was pretty much the same result. The sales people told me that if I gave them more money that they "might" be able to make it right this time. They also said that I might have a special situation and it "just might not work out". I said " Well then, I would like my money back". They said that "we cant't do that". Bottom line is that I paid for (2) sets of lenses, one pair of frames totaling $535 and they make my vision worse. So the only guaranty is that they will keep taking as much money as you throw at them regardless if it makes your vision any better and if you're not satisfied the best you'll get is,"sorry". read more