I don't care what anyone says about this place, it gets my vote. Yes, it gets crowded and loud and some of the equipment may be a little outdated, but I've been seen here without judgement in some of the toughest times in life in which I didn't even have private health insurance. When I had difficulty finding a primary care doctor for an annual exam, I still knew I could book an appointment here and at least get my eyes checked and update my prescriptions. It offered me a shred of dignity. The doctors are all knowledgeable and friendly and the front desk staff is lovely and patient. I still returned here today even though I don't live in Harlem and also now have employer-sponsored health insurance. A front desk employee, Solange, patiently explained my benefits and the amount I would be responsible for paying, which was reasonable. She was simply amazing. I know I'll be back next year for my annual exam. read more

I was just at Harlem Vision Center. I ment the whole new staff. Christina is the new Manager. She and her NEW staff are amazing! They answered all of your questions and then some. They are friendly. They were able to fix a problem I had with glasses that were made at another location. I can't wait to go back and see the finish product which is my new glasses. read more

I have been a patient at Harlem vision for almost 10 yrs. I remembered when they were located across the street from when they are set up now. My only issue is it very far from when I currently reside and rescheduling get very tough, most of the time the appointments are booked and you night have to wait as long as a month to get in. What rectifies that is they allow walk-ins. I wish they had more offices! They are that incredible, they do it all, with the scope of optometry. I have received glasses (they offer addition features) as well as contact lenses ( different brands n types). And their staff are some of the most friendly group of young energetic and eager to help people you will find in a fast pace, frequently occupied, sudden changing environment. Kudos to them all! read more

I've been here twice now for a vision exam, to get an RX, and glasses. It has been very straightforward and helpful each time, but there has usually been a bit of a wait to get seen by the doctor. I also wish they had offered add-on features for my glasses like the non-reflective coating or blue-light blocking coating. I would have been willing to pay extra for them, but I wasn't thinking of it in the moment and they didn't verbally offer them when I picked out my frames, so I missed out on being able to get these features on my new glasses (though I totally get it's mostly my fault for forgetting to ask). What I most appreciate about this place is that even though my health insurance (Healthfirst medicaid) doesn't cover contact lenses, they give me the RX for this and a new pair of contacts to try out for free anyway along with my glasses RX and glasses (covered by insurance). Every other eye place I've been to has told me they will only give me a glasses RX, no contacts RX with my insurance, so this place saves me about $100. At my most recent appointment I appreciated their caution re: covid. Temperature checks all around, even for the employees, and everyone had a mask on. Would recommend if you live in this area and they take your insurance. read more

Aside from the odd clients that come in and out of here reeking of cigarette smoke.... This place is great! This staff is super friendly and efficient! No long waits and they have a huge selection of eye wear! Dr. Benzoni explained everything step by step during the eye exam so I didn't even have to question her when I was done! She is very sweet! But I haven't had an eye exam since I was like 10! OMG it's so tedious! My eyeballs were so fatigue afterwards! Geesh! Especially after she puts the eyedrops in to dilate your eyes! Omg RUN! You'll be blind for the next 2 hours! And your eyes will be super sensitive! read more

Harlem Vision Center - One of the many I tried on.... Lol - Optometrists Near Me - New York, New York

The doctor and back assist where excellent! What was horrible from the second I stepped in was the super ghetto ratchet front desk down to the kid that fits for your glasses ! I was in shock that this staff was even working at this establishment. First the paper work asks for your social security number which is unnecessary and I WOULD NEVER TRUST THAT STAFF WITH ANY INFORMATION LIKE THAT AT ALL! You would swear your in a hood club in Washington height ( no offense) but thats how it felt like walking in to a house party instead of a business girls all stick up thinking too much of themselves laughing , cursing and not paying attention then the guys are all checking out female customers. They were super loud it was just unbelievable smh . Definitely needs new professional staff not a bunch of rowdy ignorant kids . read more

PARENT'S OF YOUNG CHILDREN BEWARE!!!!! I had a visit for my 12yr old daughter. She was called to pick her frames serviced by( SURGIO) a white male seem like 50+. I walked with my 12yr old daughter to pick her frames to him starting a very inappropriate conversation with my 12yr old. Which i had to intervene and address to him to further the conversation by him saying inappropriate statements to her. Please accompany your child when dealing with him. I felt very violated and very uncomfortable by certain statements he was making. I did have to report to his Superior. I was in shocked this was happening write in front of me to him not even apologizing for his behavior. I really got the creepy old man vibe as well as it made my daughter feel very uncomfortable. PARENT'S !!! Keep a close eye and ear to this man. read more

My overall experience was a frustrated one with HVC. Their overall customer and administrative service were flat out awful! I normally don't write reviews online, but I thought I couldn't let this opportunity pass. I went for an eye exam in Nov. 2020, the Ophthalmologist/Eye Doctor who conducted my eye test was great! But their customer service staff is terrible. After my exam, they put in a request for my prescription contact lenses I originally was told they would arrive in 3-4 weeks. After the 4 weeks, I called them to get a follow-up,  I was on hold for over 10 minutes, when I spoke to someone, I was told my lenses are still in transit and the delay was due to covid and the fact I had a special prescription. Called two weeks later, I was put on hold for over 15 minutes, finally, when I spoke to someone, I was then told my order was never placed and they apologized for the miscue--I said that's fine it happens. On my third attempt to get an update, I called on a weekend, again I was put on hold for an extended period of time, once she got back on the phone, I was told I had to call during the week because the person who is in charge of the contact lenses orders doesn't work weekends. I called that following week, again got the same response the package should be at their location within the next two weeks. At this point, I lost my patience, call them yesterday to get an update on my contact lenses, the person told me, perhaps they are in their other location and was going to check with their manager. Surprisingly, they called me back and I was told that my order was never placed, and I would have to wait an additional 4 weeks for my contact lenses to arrive. Not sure how such a small staff doesn't communicate with one another on a lens status. Clearly, they don't know how to do their job. Overall, they are incompetent at customer service.   HVC was a complete waste of my time and I would not recommend anyone going to this establishment. I'm never going back. read more

I give them 0 stars not 1. DO NOT COME HERE! WORST SERVICE EVER! The optometrists are great but the front desk staff is terrible. Completely unprofessional. I came in for an appointment March 1st. They were to submit a request for glasses and contacts to my insurance as medically necessary which I repeatedly reiterated. On Monday March 4th I receive a call that the request for glasses was denied and after further questioning learn that the request for contacts was never submitted as ordered by the doctor. I then speak to my insurance and am told that the requests must be submitted as medically necessary to be approved. I call HVC back, ask to speak to the supervisor who initially submitted the request and inform her exactly of what my insurance instructed in order to place both orders for glasses and contacts and receive approval. I call today March 22nd, to check on the status of my orders and learn that neither requests for glasses or contacts were submitted. They go on to tell me that the glasses will take 2 weeks for approval. At this point I am livid given that it has been over 2 weeks since I last spoke to the supervisor and was assured that the requests would be submitted only to find out they were not and for the supervisor to be completely clueless as to why they requests were never submitted. This is completely unacceptable. I am still without glasses or contacts and am stuck wearing contacts past the 2 week wear limit. Not only that but I have been informed I have a eye condition which I am sure is only being exasperated by having to wear contacts longer than I am suppose to. I have required corrective lenses since the age of 5. I need my glasses and contacts to see. Do you think they were apologetic? No. Do you think they took the opportunity to provide excellent service and find ways to remedy the situation? No. They were rude, condescending and completely unprofessional. I will be going in on Monday to speak to the Manager Sergio. This is completely unacceptable and as medical professionals who have patients who rely and cannot go about their daily lives without the tools to help them see this is a blatant disregard for their health and wellbeing. I have never written a yelp review or any review for that matter but given their completely and utter lack of concern for their patients and horrendous service I could not just let this be. read more

The optometrists are wonderful! MUCH more sophisticated and informative that my previous optometrist, in a more "fashionable" part of town. They have lots of clients and the waiting area can get crowded, but the receptionists are uniformly pleasant and as efficient as possible. The opticians are likewise pleasant, and very attentive to getting me the best deal from my insurance. My only complaint is that, although I was told that I would be called when my contact lenses came in, I was not--and when I called, I was told that I would have to come in person to find out what was going on. read more

Ok I've been a patient since they'e opened and if it wasn't for the Ophthalmologists, this place would be a 1 Star. The doctors are great but this is the worse customer service. Just lately very terrible customer service. First, they would have one price for a pair of glasses and a different price the next day. The prices never stay the same. But my last encounter takes the cake. The girl, Priscilla, who gives out my frames and order glasses lost my daughters glasses after I took them in to get fixed. For something that takes 2 minutes to fix- took 2 weeks. They made it seem like it my fault and absolutely no apology what so ever. Really Non chalant attitude and they tried to make me pay for my own frames that I brought in. They called me to pick up another pair of glasses since they lost the first pair, had me come all the way from the Bronx to pick them up, just find out it was an error on her part because she forgot that she found them and canceled the order. I don't know how two desks sits across from each other and don't communicate. I don't get it but the fact she forgot to do her job, she can explain to her boss why they just lost 2 loyal patients. Just Terrible customer Service!!! read more

Not enough seating. Waited two hours after my scheduled appt to be seen. Very unorganized. Would never recommend this place to anyone. The website states you can walk- in on Saturdays. ITS A LIE. Nobody ever answers the phone. read more

very bad stuffs and waiting for so long when you called them they put you holding longer then their phone snot work looking manager they told me manager in vacation . not good at all read more

My aunt was jumped by all three of the workers in that establishment be careful they will attack you and jump you and they will steal your money read more

Bunch of crooks buyer BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I put in an order for prescription lenses and they proceeded to try to give me someone elses lenses. I questioned them on it and they had to admit even the manager, that they messed up on my order but continued to tell me i couldnt get a refund I had to pay an additional fee to get the order i was originally supposed to get. After reading the previous reviews i see this location has a long track record for extortion. I will continue to expise them. Dont waste your money here!!!!!!!! read more

For my initial visit for a simple yearly eye exam, I waited an hour and a half past my initial appointment to see the doctor who had come in late that day. Furthermore, because I was also attempting to get new glasses that day my chart was moved around and no one knew where it was further delaying the time I spent in the office so for a simple eye exam I came in at 10:15 for a 10:30 appointment and did not leave until 1:00 approximately. Then when I called 3 weeks later to ask about my glasses, I had to call in 4 or 5 times to get a response. The 3rd of those times I was immediately hung up on. Then I was told by the staff member Jennifer that my glasses would be ready in 3 weeks (which should mean 3 business weeks which it was but she told me not to count the weekends). Then she attempted to belittle me on the phone by counting the number of days that had passed which was 16 days and she referred to as 12. I will be calling back after the 21 days to see about my glasses but afterwards I am done with Harlem Vision Center. read more

I just got assaulted at Harlem Vision, by the clerk in the back where the frames are and the site manager/receptionist. I went to inquire about my sons refund.. The clerk was rude, and unprofessional, she lounged at me more than once in an attempt to put fear in me, told me she would f me up. The manager was also rude, and unprofessional, clinching her fist, and grunting because I guess she wanted to hit me. Im waiting to see if they will refund my son money that he already paid out almost 400.00 dollars. DONT GO TO HARLEM VISION, THE DR IS GREAT BIT THE STAFF NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. read more

This place wasted my time. They canceled my appointment then after a month I show up early to fill out all my paperwork and wait for an hour only to be told that they can't check my benefits online. So I need to come back. No thanks! #unprofessional read more

Harlem Vision Center - Harlem Vision Center - Optometrists Near Me - New York, New York

I always visited HVC when replacing frames, but never got new lenses. This was the most frustrating experience I've had trying to get new glasses. I was told I would get a call/text when they were ready. A week later, I got a call saying they were ready for pick up. I live in Queens, and went to Harlem to pick them up but they told me there was a mistake and they'll call me. I got a call again the next week and when I got there they told me there was a mistake again and they weren't ready. They didn't seem to care when I said this was the second time this happened. I originally got a text on the forth of July, but when I went, it was closed. I won't blame them for that, but how does this keep happening? I feel like when I get another call I'm gonna waste my time going to Harlem and they still won't be ready. I'm scared something will even be wrong with the glasses itself now. 1 week has become 1 month without any clear explanation. I almost want to cancel the order. I've never had to review anything in my life but this has been unacceptable. read more

This is the worst eye care place ever , I've been waiting over a month for my glasses and they still haven't called me . I called the manager and she told me by Friday she promise they will be ready. I called Friday 10/16 to see if they are ready before i traveled the manager told me they weren't ready and she will give me a call back ... she never called me back and they clearly don't care i would not recommend this place at all i will be going in tomorrow 10/19/20 to get my money back and file a huge claim agents them ... they have the worst service .. DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE read more

this is a great place to get eye care. I'm always pleased with all aspects of the help and services afforded me

It's pretty good i came in got to see 2 doctors since I came in and they were both pleasant and very respectful and when I got to choose my frames for the glasses I had a very helpful young man help me I think his name was alias got the best deal and explained to me about the features of my lenses very clear hopefully I can see him next year he said I should check my eyes every year read more

Love staff and service. However, some of the patients are kind of coo coo.

It was my first visit. I am very pleased and hope my follow up goes just as smoothly. Made a 3:15 appointment for contacts. They called me on time, did some quick new modern testing and then had me try on my trial pair. I have to come back next weekfor follow up which is different from when i go to cohen or other places. Thats the only slight inconvenience but, when it comes to your vision you should always be thorough. The optometrist is very nice and professional. A coworker told me I was just lucky that it went so well but Ill take it and hope I remain lucky next time read more

I had to come to this place 4 times and each time had to wait for over an hour. I arrived early for my first appointment and had to wait almost an hour and a half. Was told a completely different reading from my previous year's eye exam which I knew was incorrect. They ordered sample contacts for one astigmatic eye and I had to come back to the store a week later, wait again to get the contact, and it didn't even work. Then I had to come back after another week, do another eye exam with a different doctor, and go through the whole process of ordering and waiting two more times. All in all I probably spent 10 hours waiting for what should have been a routine eye exam and update of my prescription. I won't be back if I can help it. read more

Update: It took 6 1/2 weeks to receive glasses the glasses that were promised in 1-2 weeks. I called and was told, "we will call you back," but calls were not returned. One person told me I would get a free pair of reading glasses for my trouble. But that didn't materialize when I got my order. Terrible customer service--don't got time for that! read more

In addition to the earlier review, and to address the business' response: I took time to fax, email and call you to save your business time and money, as well as for my own benefit. All that before I decided to leave a publicly available evaluation of the business. It seems that instead of addressing the pressing concerns your business has, you'd rather respond to unfavorable reviews by cutting and pasting what seems to be a template response, clearly designed to project an image that's inconsistent with how you treat people in person or over the phone. For your information, I am yet to be contacted by your boss, either by email or phone. Furthermore, you send me a message with a phone number, directing me to call that person. I am not on the habit of doing anyone's job for them, and I am not making an exception. You said your boss will email. That hasn't happened yet. And, for your information, the insurance does cover those frames. Some people just won't do the paperwork. read more

Great costumer service, great doctors. Tiffany really treats every patient like family and knows which frames will look good on different face shapes. read more

Poor customer service. Waiting room congested and cramped. Made appointment with 1 doctor, called the day before to confirm...no doctor. Very disorganized. read more

The ophthalmologist who saw me was great. She did her job and all went well when I arrived in the office. I though the staff were all very kind and helpful, which they were at first. However, it was extremely annoying to have to come back into their office 5+ times for my glasses. It was strange because at first they kept saying that my insurance company was not covering the glasses + eye exam, although when I contacted my insurance company they said that they did. Once both the insurance company and the vision center came to an agreement, I finally picked out a frame for my lenses and was extremely excited. I got a call the next day saying that my glasses were ready and I was super excited because I though it was quick service. Off course, it was too good to be true. When I arrived the next day, they told me a guy picked up my glasses, they said probably my dad or bf. WTH, my father does not even live in N.Y. and he has no idea I am getting new glasses, plus my bf would not take it upon himself to go and pick up my glasses without consulting me first. What is even more frustrating is that they were all ignoring me and looking at me like if I was crazy when I went for the glasses. No one seemed to have an answer or any record of who picked up the glasses because apparently "they do not keep any records" which I find extremely unprofessional. How can you sell $200 glasses to someone and then give away to anyone who walks through the door? After spending an hour and getting nothing, I went home. The next morning, someone called me to tell me to ask my bf or father if they had the glasses. Like seriously, again? I have no reason to lie about not having my glasses and it is their responsibility to find out who they gave my glasses to. This was the first and last time I am visiting this vision center. I should have kept my regular ophthalmologist office. I hope that this does not happen to anyone else and its a lesson learned. read more

I'm not happy with my new glasses. I paid too much and the so called signature brand of my new glasses were made in China and the case really looked cheap! A knock off Tory Burch! read more

I'll admit that the wait time for this establishment could be a little long. But the staff is super friendly and does everything to appease your wait time. I want to give props to Angelica for helping me pick out a new frame. As a guy, I have no clue what kind of glasses look good on me and she was excellent at picking out a suitable frame. read more

Rude. Unprofessional. Never answer their phones. I paid OUT OF POCKET for my glasses to have them not be ready the day they were supposed to be. I had my appointment September 25 and was supposed to get my glasses the 27th. I had moved out of state and it wasn't til I called them two weeks later (because I had moved and finally got a hold of an employee because no one at harlem vision center answers the phone) I was told that the glasses were actually ready that day it's just that no one called. So... a relative of mine picks up the glasses. I come back to Harlem and guess what? You know that they had the nerve to give me crooked glasses ? I went back because at this point I'm fed up. Spoke to an employee who had an distasteful attitude and wanted to be sassy with me. Then I spoke to the arrogant, obnoxious supervisor who swears his optical is functioning properly but it's not. Offered to fix my crooked glasses but they are still crooked. I'll just go to a real optometrist center. RUDENESS GETS YOU NO WHERE. I would give it zero stars if that was an option. That's how rude and awful this environment is. Hope this goes out of business !!!!! Kill off weak businesses that don't serve the community !! DON'T GO HERE IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO ! SAVE YOURSELF THE HEADACHE! read more

Great optometrists. Horrible receptionists. They say on their phones while a line formed behind me. Rude too!

I'm a life long Harlem resident & I'm still shocked at the horrible customer service I encountered at this place. I never write reviews but this experience was so disturbing I had to share to warn others. Local businesses like these that provide a vital & necessary service to the community shouldn't abuse that privilege by knowingly tolerating their employees substandard service or behavior From my experience they really don't have appointments, just some random time you're told to show up & then you have to wait like a walk in customer anyway. There's no respect for people's time. This wouldn't even be an issue if the receptionist had the decency to inform me what to expect instead of misleading me by setting up an "appointment" & when I arrive the day of my scheduled time I'm told I have no appointment really & none of the prior information I gave is there. Meanwhile all the questions I'm trying to get answered are met with hostility & can't be bothered attitude. I saw this same situation play out over & over when other people came in. All the staff person cared about was getting my information again before I even understood what services I was getting. I can't believe this is considered acceptable professional behavior in 2016? As I read other reviews I can see I'm not alone. Many of the customers are old, black, poor & or disabled and the level of disrespect for our community is reflected in how we are treated by the reception staff. This business is happy to take the money of the community but doesn't think enough of us to provide courteous & polite staff. People of all walks of life deserve to be treated with respect & professional service no matter their skin color or bank account. I hope this will change because the beautiful people of Harlem deserve better. read more

It's in a great location have very nice frames to pick from and the optometrist are so pleasant but once you leave there office and deal with choosing your glasses please wait for one of the younger ladies there so helpful don't go to that new girl jen she so rude and obnoxious makes you wanna go to another vision center she needs a customer service training. Getting new glasses should be an awesome experience. read more

Let me start by saying I am not a Yelp ranter--I try to be fair in my reviews--and I agree with other reviewers on this page that the staff here is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. I would just like to warn potential customers that they do not have their infrastructure set up correctly to possibly take patients on time. I use Harlem Vision Center as it is the only provider in my zip code that takes my insurance. That said, I have (twice) scheduled appointments at 10 am on Saturday (the first appointment of the day) and both times waited an hour just to be seen by the technician. Then another nearly hour wait to be seen by the actual optometrist. I work in health care and if I am not taking my 10 am patient **AT 10 AM** then I am doing something wrong. What could they possibly be doing to make me wait an hour? There were no other patients scheduled before me, and nobody else was called. They didn't seem to be overbooked. At my most recent visit--my second--I only needed to be fit for new contacts (I already had an eye exam) and I didn't leave the office until 12:30. Two and a half hours. If I made my first patients of the day wait 2.5 hours for something simple, I would be reprimanded for providing poor patient care. I can only imagine as more time went by and more people showed up, they continued to get even farther and farther behind. Not really acceptable. I also did not appreciate simultaneously receiving a text, an email and a phone call all to confirm my appointment, all asking for responses. It would seem only one means of confirming appointments is necessary. read more

The worst facility I've ever visited as far as doctor's appointments go. Even though I got there and signed in 25 minutes before my 1pm appointment, I didn't get seen until 1:45pm, that was only after being very persistent with the reception staff. I ended up having to negotiate extra time with my babysitter and it threw off my whole afternoon. I didn't even get to see the doctor I made the appointment with. The reception area was the worst I've ever seen at a doctors office. read more

It's poorly run and the support staff could use a refresher in professionalism. Extended wait times, lost orders, poor communication between staff, unprofessional loud conversations... unfortunately typical. read more

Jennifer customer service was great but I won't be coming back. I went there on a Saturday to get my eyes examined. My appointment was at 1:45 I wasn't seen by the optometrist until almost 3. After the examination I was able to sit down and sort out the prices. I gave my deposit so they can go ahead and start my lenses. Over the weekend I change my mind about getting the glasses and decided to just stick with the contact lenses. They're closed on Sunday so I called first thing Monday morning. I spoke with the receptionist and she informed me that my lenses were almost done; so was too late to cancel the order. I was a little thrown off because I've never had my glasses completed with such speed. Fast forward to today (Friday) I called to see if I could come pick them up. The receptionist (someone different from Monday) looked up my info and told me they would be ready next week. I don't understand how they're almost done on Monday but still need another week. The first person I spoke to for whatever reason lied about the status of my order. read more