I procrastinate... not purposely but end of year appointments get tricky. I moved to New York for college and subsequent work engagements but relied on hometown doctors once I returned to the Chicagoland area. Last year when I couldn't get a December appointment (like I usually could) in the 'burbs where I grew up-- I turned to ZocDoc. After reviewing locations and various reviews, I was pleased to find that Franklin Eye Care was able to "squeeze" me in before the end of the year. I wasn't expecting anything other than a basic eye exam and an updated prescription. It could not have been more fortuitous. Dr. Drey was honest, blunt, but caring. He did criticize the state of the contacts I wore into the appointment (which were admittedly not well cared for and needing replacement). During the exam he identified a past (unrecognized) eye injury that had resulted in a partially detached retina. Similar retinal images were only once brought up (despite years of visits in a previous office )-- but excused as retinal scaring from possible natal development issues. Dr. Drey immediately recognized the image as scarring from a past wound and fluid which had partially detached the retina over time. I wasn't expecting anything & was shocked and scared upon hearing this evaluation for the first time. Dr. Drey assured me that (while he was concerned and wanted to have me evaluated by a specialist as soon as possible) the injury was obviously old (and could lead to significant complications if not addressed) but not to "google and jump to worst case scenarios". (I of course did-- and the possibilities were scary/bordering on bleak.) I followed his recommendation and made an appointment with the retinal specialist he advised. That doctor was so incredibly kind, thorough, down to earth, and open to explaining my condition and options. Due to the area and size of my detachment, he offered a minimally evasive lazer procedure that could be completed same day. That's what I opted for and we have monitored the success of the surgery since. When I returned to Dr. Drey's office this year for my annual exam, both he and his assistant (who I'd never met and saw without any history) commented on the quality and precision of the work on my damaged eye. I am beyond thankful for him taking the extra precautions for my health when other trusted doctors I'd seen for years had ignored or dismissed the damage to my eye. Something that (if left untreated) could have resulted in partial or full blindness of my right eye. On top of all that-- their office staff is AMAZING. Had SO much fun picking out glasses and getting feedback on whatever look I was going for. I'm so indecisive and anxious when choosing glasses without a friend in tow-- their staff let me hang out, hummmm and haw for as long as I needed. AND they gave me advice like I was there with a good friend. Their frame selections may be more expensive than others-- but I do this once a year and use the frames for years to come. I love walking away with something that I love and feel is unique to me. I get compliments on last year's frames all the time and have never seen anyone else rocking the same look. (And over the past 2 years I've been going there I've been shocked at how quickly contact lenses and glasses have been ready for pick up. My schedule has been the delay factor-- not theirs.) Can't recommend them enough-- for thorough eye health, stylish options and friendly professional staff. read more

Dr Alyssa & Alexis were so helpful in finding me the right pair of glasses and also in navigating through insurance issues I was having. Very patient and professional all around. I will be back! read more

Franklin Eye Care - Optometrists Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

After procrastinating on an eye exam, I decided to use a short trip back to Chicago as an excuse to finally get in to see an eye doctor. While my usual practice closed down, Franklin was able to get me in the next day and out the door with trial lenses. The doctor was great, but the best part was the non-pushy associate who assists with eye glass fittings, contact lenses ordering, etc.. While he could have tried to upsell, he worked with me on what made the most sense with my insurance plan / prescription. This did not go unnoticed. Plan on now making my annual eye exam appointment when I'm back in Chicago for visits with the fam. That is just how good the experience was, I will return from out of state! read more

Franklin Eye Care is timely and efficient! My first time going here I didn't have high expectations I just knew I needed a new contact prescription as my old one was too blurry and the contacts itself were bothering me. He recommended daily contacts for me instead of biweekly which I am very grateful for. They are so much nicer for me day to day and my new prescription is so much better I can see much more clearly. The best part about my visit was the quick consult I got on laysic eye surgery. My eyes are awful for my young age and I am very interested in the procedure. To my excitement I was told he could perform it in a 1-2 time! Yay! Overall great establishment and the wait time was minimal, as well as when I needed my glasses prescription emailed to me recently they also got that to me quickly. Thanks! read more

A co-worker suggested checking out Franklin Eye Care, as I was dreading rescheduling my appointment at Vision works, River Oaks (double booking, long waits). I initially went in just to see the frames offered. Eric Drey noticed that my glasses I had on needed adjustment and fixed them for me, right on the spot, for free! After that, I made my appointment. Fast forward, they're very thorough and work with different insurance carriers. I've got wonderful new glasses at an affordable price! read more

Franklin Eye Care - Optometrists Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I recently visited this place but my experience was not good, to say the least. Weeks after my eye exam I needed sunglasses so I went back to see what options they had to offer, I didn´t like most of their glasses (too expensive by the way) but there were a couple that I thought looked ok. I needed to confirm with my insurance (I have an international insurance that covers most things) if these second pair of glasses were covered. They said yes but somehow the receptionist couldn´t find on the system my benefits so I called them and he asked if they could fax them over to them. They did (this I confirmed later). The receptionist said he would call me back to confirm this once he received the fax but he didn´t. I called the next day and the optometrist answered the phone, I asked him to send me my formula so I could figure out a quick solution and he refused to do it. I found this incredibly frustrating but also ilegal. The Federal Trade Commission enforces the Eyeglass Rule. It requires eye doctors -- ophthalmologists and optometrists -- to give patients a copy of their prescription - whether they ask for it or not. It's the law. I called again and left a message, no one called me back. It was clear to me that the optometrist and the receptionist were not interested in cooperating with me as a patient, they were more interested in earning money. Their behavior was unprofessional and unacceptable and I would not recommend this place to anyone. I believe that patients should have the right to access their own prescription information, and it is disappointing that this optometrist does not share this ethical view. Look elsewhere if you are looking for a professional who values your rights and needs. read more

I just wanted to give props to Nate Dias, the office manager. I needed my glasses to be adjusted because they sat on my face blatantly crooked. Nate was with a patient when I walked in. I expected to wait. He excused himself from his patient briefly. He expertly adjusted my arms and frame. He had me try them on then made some final adjustments before he cleaned them for me. He intruded himself to me, asked my name before sending me off with like new glasses and well wishes for a pleasant and safe day. He was beyond helpful, he was friendly and genuine! Those are attributes that you don't hear of, let alone experience first hand in the world we life in these days. read more

Love visiting Franklin Eye Care. The selection of glasses is tasteful and Nate at the front desk is always wonderful. Even though we live 20 minutes from city center, I like the convenience of being able to pop in for an appointment during the week since it's really close to my office. read more

I will side with all the low reviews here. I havent had, or needed glasses ever before, but felt it was time for an eye exam, i am beginning to have trouble reading signs and words from very far, especially at night. So I figured I get checked. My declining eyesight is probably beginning to be caused from staring at a computer screen all day for the past 5 years at my job. This was a bad place to get a first-time eye exam to get sized for a prescription. It was my first eye exam since... maybe middle school or the DMV? So I didnt know what I was doing or what to expect. Was hoping The Dr. would be helpful though the process, but he was not. I was going in 'blind' so to speak, and he did very little to coach or inform me though the appointment. We rushed right through it. He even made a point at the end to sort of joke with the receptionist, and make fun of the fact that it was my first eye exam ever, which is cool i guess... I'll use the prescription he gave and order my lenses and frame online, opposed to the crazy prices they offered off the shelf. And honestly, i am not even really confident in the prescription level. I'll likely have to go though the process again and re-size elsewhere in a year or so, for a real pair of glasses, but the script is probably fine for what i was looking for. read more

Excellent, responsive service! I travelled to Chicago for work and realized I forgot to pack my contact lenses. I reached out to a few optometrists near my hotel after office hours without expecting a response until morning but Dr. Drey responded that same evening to let me know they could help. The office is open earlier than other optometrist offices in the area so I went over in the morning and got my contacts very quickly. I was helped by two people who had me out of there within 5 minutes. They were very helpful and I am so grateful! read more

Dr. Drey is kind, competent, and knowledgeable. I have SEVERE dry eye and I had a wonderful experience today. I live quite far from the office, but I have no issues making the trip so I can continue with excellent care and customer service. The admin staff is also warm and friendly. In addition, Dr. Drey takes his time with patients, going above and beyond most practitioners to clearly communicate and keep you informed. I am so glad I found this practice! read more

I had a wonderful experience getting my first eye exam in 15 years. Nate, the office manager, was very attentive and we were able to get a wonderful pair of glasses picked out. They had the. Ready for pickup within a week!! I highly recommend. read more

Eric and his team have provided me with the best eye care I've had in 20 years. Very professional and friendly making me feel right a home. I now see 20/20. Thanks JD Hilton read more

Booked an 11:15 on Zocdoc, but receptionist called to inform that time was unavailable. Billed the insurance and charged me for a "contact lens exam (fitting and evaluation)" -- but didn't actually have me try a pair of the new lens and evaluate fit. When I compared the itemized bill to my VSP benefits, seemed like a discrepancy. When I called to question the bill, got the run around by the receptionist and never got an answer. Would not recommend. read more

The office is nice. The location is convenient. I really like that you can make appointments online through the website. Unfortunately, I left with a bad taste in my mouth after both of my visits there. At the end of my first annual eye exam, Dr. Drey was talking to me about buying contacts through their store. I said preferred to think about it (I wanted to buy them online through my eye insurance). He got visibly upset with me because I "was not supporting his business". He said he just had moved into a new office and invested in new retinal imaging equipment, so he had to keep his prices higher than I would find online. This was all after I agreed to pay an extra $75-80 out of pocket in addition to my annual eye exam copay to have my retinal pictures taken (which was also a disaster because the technician was new to the machine and took 20 extra photos than he needed of my retina.) He made me feel like it was my responsibility to ensure their doors stayed open. I thought this was unprofessional, but maybe he was stressed with the new location opening. I tried not to think much of it. The next year I went there I had a similar experience. I had used my last pair of contacts and had to wait a couple weeks until I could buy contacts through my insurance. I didn't ask him for a free pair of contacts, but he offered to give me a pair to hold me over until then. I thought this was very nice of him. After my exam, he was talking to me about buying contacts through him. I said I preferred to buy online, and he got upset again, took the contacts that he gave me, and said something like "I'm not going to do you any favors if you're not going to buy from me." When I went to check out the receptionist asked me if I was purchasing any contacts or eyeglasses. I said no and mentioned that this made Dr. Drey upset. The receptionist in an understanding way said to forget Dr. Drey, which convinced me that it is not infrequent that Dr. Drey has these outbursts. read more

Stopped in today because my glasses were bent. I am not a patient but work in the building and Nate was so accommodating and adjusted my glasses on the spot. Amazing service that you do not always see nowadays. Thanks Nate- you saved the day. 10 stars if I could. read more

I called to reschedule an appointment and whoever picked up the phone was pretty abrasive, questioning why I was rescheduling. I really didn't think it was any of his business and then he called me bud at the end of the call. I really don't appreciate being called a pet name by someone whose business I'll be patronizing, I find it condescending and for me, it reflected how I would experience the business itself. There are so many other professional places in the Loop, what an irritating experience. read more

Nate at Franklin Eyecare bent over backwards today to help my daughter out, and my family is so grateful. We are in Chicago beginning our two week vacation and my daughter ripped a contact lens. Our optometrist in St. Louis faxed us her prescription, but at least 8 Chicago optometrists in the downtown area near River North said they could not help us because they had nothing in stock. When I spoke with Nate at Franklin Eyecare, he immediately told us to come in with my daughter's prescription. He called her optometrist and found some samples that would work. I wanted to pay but was told there was no charge. Love the customer service, effort, and care at Franklin Eyecare!!!!! read more

Perfect place to go during workday, efficient, nice staff. Clean. Modern location. Small so not overwhelmed when looking for glasses.

Went here in dire straits as my glasses adjustment yesterday by a let's say discount joint was so Very, very wrong. Nate greeted me warmly at the door and realigned my glasses to perfection in ONE minute!!! Thank you thank you!!! No longer in pain and I can see!!! Nate, thanks!! read more

Great optometrist service but please don't get your lenses there. You WILL BE STRUNG along. What should take a week or two will end up taking much longer for no reason. Get the prescription and get your lenses done somewhere else. You think you are paying more for better quality but in fact it's the opposite. I've learned the hard way. read more

Went in there and picked out glasses and sunglasses. Gentleman working was so helpful and honest about what lens looked good. He was very knowledgeable on my insurance and they had a great selection of frames! Can't wait to get my new shades! read more

Excellent staff, service and efficiency. Was able to start my appointment before the actual appointment time. Seamless process all the way around and look forward to going back. read more

Just left my appointment with Dr. Drey and his Slim Shadies. My eye is fudged up from a freak eyelash extension accident and they were able to squeeze me in last minute! Doctor is efficient and informative and the staff is great. They were able to deal with my crassness while providing excellent care. 10/10 would do again (but hopefully not because of an eye abrasion). read more

Had a wonderful experience here, the doctor is so nice and such a great looking place! Had cool new machines and high tech equipment. I did for contacts since I haven't had my eyes check in awhile. Definitely recommend going here in downtown! read more

I work on the block, because of the convenient location I stopped in to see if they could pop my lens back into my frames. The friendly fella behind the counter was happy to and did within minutes... without charge. Gave me a moment to check out their nice selection of fashionable frames. Will def consider next time I'm due for a new pair. Great service! read more

I thought this visit was a little bizarre. I walk in and the receptionist immediately told me the cost of my visit, and told me he would go over it again at the end. Fine, I guess. I sit down and am a little surprised to hear graphic R&B music playing pretty loudly. When I say graphic, I mean I've never heard explicit content or so much profanity in a doctor's office. Dr. Drey (ironic with the R&B) was very quick with the process and you could tell he knew what he was doing. You could tell he was becoming impatient and a little sassy by the end of the visit. When I went back to the receptionist, he let me know how great my vision insurance was and that I should probably get glasses in the office today. I said I was thinking of going the Warby Parker route -- he interrupted with "Don't do that, they suck". Okay. I went on to say I would like to have someone with me, a plus one, to say yes or no. THIS IS THE WORST PART: He went on to say he could be that person and he's honest and "you have a weird shaped head anyways so it's best to get it done with me". Worst sales tactic ever. I walked out replaying the scene in my head because it was so hard to believe that had actually happened. Warby Parker had to call multiple times and never got through to the office to get my prescription. I had to call twice and the receptionist said, oh yeah, I need their fax number. This guy is unprofessional, rude, and inept. I gave him everything he needed and instead of going through this process again I had him send the prescription directly to me. Never going back. I feel as if a lot of his reviews are fake and planted. read more

Just checked Franklin Eye Care based on the yelp review for a new glasses. but just got disappointed immediately i entered: very limited selection and NO CUSTOMER SERVICE at all! the man was so rude and unprofessional. stay away from it if you don't want bad mood! read more

My experience with Dr. Drey was fantastic and he spent time to answer my questions and explain everything. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. read more

There was some misscomunication during my initial visit to the Franklin Eye Care. I was billed for the amount which was different from what I had been told during my visit. After I posted my first review regarding this issue, doctor Drey contacted me and made sure the billing issue was fixed. It seems he really cares about his practice and takes the feedback very personally. read more

I recently changed to Franklin Eyecare because I work in the Chicago loop and it was a comfortable and easy experience. The team was very helpful and efficient since I went on my lunch break. I probably waited less than a few minutes before my exam started. They also have a machine to substitute dilation so you can actually go back to work without the yellow and blurry vision. I also picked out some new frames as I needed new ones and they had a good selection. read more

Worst experience of my life entering this location. I went in for a simple $20 co-pay eye exam and was hoping it was just that. It started off great, I was checked in fast prior to my appointment time and taken to a room where I had pictures taken of my eyes. After the unauthorized add-ons, the doctor then spoke to me and explained my so called issue. To start, the doctor confirmed I have 20/20 vision, he then went ahead and explained how I need glasses due to me having issues seeing at a distance. Stating that my eyes are working twice as hard seeing at a distance. Which was weird because I can see great, I have 20/20 vision. I work in front of a computer screen for a small amount of my work day, approximately 1-2 hours. I believed I was fine and was just expecting to be told, "You have great eye sight, Keep up the good work!" However, I was given a story that over time I would need glasses. I was confused about that. This is where it falls apart. I purchased glasses because I was convinced that it's best to stay ahead of the curve. My original issue was that I can't see at a distance because my eyes will work twice as hard. So their answer was to prescribe me glasses that I can only use while on the computer. So here I am ordering glasses I probably don't need at very high prices. Perfect, I pay for these nice bottom shelf expensive pair ($650). I was told that the glasses would be ready for pickup in a week and that I would receive a call. Wonderful, I wait a week and excited to see these glasses that I apparently need. After a week, I receive no call nor text. So I myself called and was told, "oh, your glasses aren't in yet, we'll call you". Two days pass and still nothing, I am now wondering what's going on. I decide to walk over there just to be told, "oh, we have your glasses here!"...Thanks for the call. I then get back to my job to test my glasses out in front of my computer and to my surprise, these glasses put me in an instant migraine for the day by only wearing them for a few seconds. I go back to Franklin Eye Care and I am told by the receptionist that I just have to get used to them. I stated they made a mistake, these glasses should not be like this. One lens was fine while the other lens was zoomed in tremendously. I was told I would be fine but that if I wanted, I can get another eye exam just to confirm, he then said "I don't mind giving you another eye exam just to tell you the same thing." Although insulted, I went ahead and scheduled an appointment. I arrive to my appointment and handed my glasses over to the same receptionist and he tested them prior to the exam. Only to find out I was right! They made a mistake! What I was prescribed is (+0.75 | +0.75). The glasses I was given which were said to be perfect by the receptionist were (+0.75 | -0.75). Which makes a HUGE difference! I was again told to wait another week to receive the fixed pair. Okay. Another week passes by and no call or any info. Until I decide to stop by again. And again, they are ready without me receiving a call. Already upset because of the experience so far, this time I test the glasses in the store. Only to find out, MY GLASSES ARE MISSING A LENS!!! I can't even make this up! The receptionist calls their frames/lens supplier and curses them out in front of me, thinking I would be happy about him belittling someone over the phone. At this point I just want my money back, but their policy stated All sales are Final. Super Unfair! I wait another week, and by now I am highly upset and disappointed by this whole experience. But luckily, third time is the charm! By far the worst experience overall, I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone that is just looking for a simple eye exam. Save your time and money for a more simple place. In my opinion, if you feel like you don't need glasses, don't buy glasses. To add insult to this whole experience, their remedy to the situation was to offer me a discount on another pair of glasses. In other words, let's redo this whole experience again, at a lower price. Never again... read more

I was desperate for someone to help me repair my Draper James frames. Not only did they they attempt to repair - they put together my new frames! Such great service! Go Nate! read more

These guys are the best. If you need an eye doctor in the loop support a small business and go here. I had an issue with my contacts and needed a quick fix and they were super flexible. The front desk people are great, and made for an all around enjoyable experience. The doctor called me the day of my appointment to talk through what I wanted. read more

Less customer friendly. The doctor, the whole test process etc was good.

Nate and his team are really helpful fixing my glasses this morning so I could walk without them falling off my face! Thanks for being so friendly and helping me out :-) Awesome customer service and I will definitely go back there to get glasses in the future. read more

I recently visited Franklin Eye Care to have a adjustment made to a pair of sunglasses. The staff were very friendly and helpful!

Came into Franklin Eye Care to get some glasses tightened and Nate did an amazing job getting my glass sized perfectly. He is was very helpful! I will definitely be back!!! read more

I found Dr. Drey/Franklin Eye Care just because they are so close to work, but would definitely go back, and follow them even if I were to move offices. They were efficient, but yet I didn't feel rushed. I hadn't been to an eye dr since I had lasik 7 years ago, and Dr. Drey was very thorough and answered my many questions. He also never tried to upsell me anything (which I always appreciate), just gave me an honest exam. He also explained how my own insurance works, to make sure that I was getting the most services included in my plan, which I really appreciated. Am definitely recommending to the rest of my office. read more

Dr. Drey and his staff are fantastic. It's been a few years since I had a regular checkup after getting Lasik. I booked them since they were new and close to work. I also loved that you could book your appointment online. The staff was friendly and professional. They have state-of-the-art equipment, and Dr. Drey is kind and great at communication. I found the whole experience to be informative and there was no sales pressure at all. Happy to refer them! read more