International Optical

Dr. Phillips saved my eyesight!!! I've been coming here to buy glasses for years since they carry…read moremany european frames that are small enough to fit me nicely (which most eye doctors do not carry btw), and was going to a more local eye doctor for my exams until recently. Finally I switched to Dr. Phillips fully and got my first eye exam with him this year, and I found out my prescription was -.75 TOO STRONG!!! And that is why I was tired all the time, getting frequent headaches, and having trouble focusing when switching from small to big or big to small screens, and was struggling to drive in the dark or when tired. I am SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE and my quality of life has improved IMMENSLY. Dr. Phillips told me he starts from scratch to avoid bias, and I am so so grateful for that. He will take his time to make sure the precription is correct, not just lazily bump you up -.25 and call it a day like my previous eye doctors would. The customer service is also amazing. Everyone is so helpful and warm. And also, I've not experienced the feeling of being "ripped off" as some have claimed. My insurance covered nearly everything just as it should--actually the exam was cheaper than at previous eye doctors. It was my previous eye doctors who I felt wanted to rip me off, as they kept trying to charge me for an expensive preventative exam to "check on" a freckle in my eye, at every visit, which I did not need. Dr. Phillips did not seem interested in upselling me. Yes the frames are mostly designer, and therefore are expensive, but you don't have to choose them. There are other options. However the quality of the designer frames are second to none and they really care about getting it to fit just right and making sure everything is perfect. I do not understand the negative reviews. BEST EYE DOCTOR EVER!!

Do not recommend - We were intending to be new patients, our appointment was rescheduled several…read moretimes due to staffing issues, the office was unreachable by phone, insurance coverages weren't verified till last minute, office staff very difficult to deal with. Most any other option would be better than this experience.

Practice area for contact lenses

Frames

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Chanel frames

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SEE

4.2(166 reviews)

1.1 mi•Harvard Square

Like a dedicated employee, I went into the office where I inadvertently set a notebook on my…read moreglasses. Smush.... I brought my glasses into SEE where the arms on my glasses were realigned. They were straight and stayed on my face. I was ready to replace them but they were able to straighten them. :) If I need glasses, I am returning. They get my vote.

XLent, XLent, XLent Service, styles and Staff!…read moreNow, lets talk about their corporate design department... they are a little slow on creating new styles. For those of US who buy glasses for THAT reason it makes one want to stray but then there's Staff and Service at this location -Trang and Rob - the best. OH way, we'll just have to wait out the season and HOPE to be surprised by the mothership.

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The Eye Store

4.9(148 reviews)

2.5 mi

Committed to satisfaction

Locally owned & operated

I am shocked to read the (couple of) negative reviews here. This is the best optical store I've…read moreever been to, both in Boston and New York City. John is so sweet, kind, cooperative, helpful (on and on), and Dr. Shah is thorough and kind as well. I can't fathom someone feeling "degraded" or having any kind of negative experience at this store.

Very disappointing experience. I provided three different insurance plans and not a single one was…read moreaccepted, which was already frustrating. The first eye exam itself was a terrible experience. I didn't feel like I was being treated by a doctor at all. The communication was rude, and I felt uncomfortable the whole time. Six months later, I came back to ask about getting a second exam for contact lenses, and I was made to feel degraded, like I was bothering them just by asking. The lack of professionalism and basic manners made the whole experience really upsetting. I left feeling bad instead of cared for.

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Custom Eyes

4.2(196 reviews)

1.0 mi•Central Square

Friendly guy running this place. Unfortunately, I had 1 major issue and 1 smaller issue…read more I came in for a same-day lens replacement for a scratched lens. 1. He gave me the opposite prescription at first (I have a positive number for my spherical, and he gave me a negative number). I immediately knew it was wrong because it was incredibly disorienting, and he told me that my old lenses were prepared poorly and this is what they were supposed to be like and I just needed to keep using them and adjust to this. He confidently showed me the measurement on the machine behind the counter to prove it, but luckily I happened to notice that the number was wrong and pointed it out. To his credit, he apologized and fixed it, but it took an extra hour of sitting in his shop to wait for it. I can't get over how badly this would have messed up my eyes if I did as he said and just used them until my eyes adapted, which would have never happened. I have new glasses now with allegedly the same prescription, and they feel shockingly better when I compare them one after another. So I am concerned that at the end of the day, something was still wrong after all that. Perhaps it was the pupillary distance which he measured in a rush using a device which I may have been looking into wrong since I didn't have an explanation. 2. The whole process was expensive, and the lens quality was poor. I think they were the lowest quality lens material with no or poor antireflective coating. I accept that this is to be expected when buying on short notice, but there was no discussion of what i was buying or what options were available. This is mostly poor judgement on my part, and does not contribute much to my low score here besides the subpar price/quality ratio. He seems like a really nice guy, and perhaps service is much more accurate and faster on a day that isn't as busy as the day I went in. However, I wish that I had just put up with the scratch for another few weeks and waited for my glasses from the internet.

Don't usually review, but they are just the best in the game hands down. I love Kevork Tinkjian he…read moreis too nice. Just amazing, my family has been going for years. If you need glasses, contacts look no further!

Kevork Tinkjian opened Custom Eyes in December of 2003. Kevork has been a licensed Optician since 1998.

Kevork Tinkjian

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Warby Parker Cambridge

3.5(15 reviews)

1.3 mi•Harvard Square

They are the poorest quality glasses that I have ever owned…read more They keep breaking, and my optometrist's office keeps fixing them for me for free without complaint. If I try to get them fixed at Warby Parker, where I purchased them, they will send me on a goose chase to make an appointment via email or mail in my glasses. What a load of crock! I would never recommend their glasses.

This place is way over-hyped…read more After hearing some good things from others about prices and variety of frames we went to check out the Harvard Sq. location. The staff was friendly and eager to help and fairly knowledgeable. We didn't find a whole lot of variety for frame styles. But the main downside to Warby Parker for us were the prices. Highway Robbery. Just as expensive, if not more so, than other eyeglass stores. A nice vacation could have been had with the money spent here. This place is nothing more than a marketing ploy disguised as a business.

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Central Square Eye Care

3.9(110 reviews)

1.1 mi•Central Square

Wouldn't it be sweet if primary health care checkups and ER checkups were as efficient and pleasant…read moreas eye exams? I've been coming here for years and I always leave satisfied. I used to go to Dr. White, but when my insurance changed I switched to Dr. Lewis. They're both fantastic! Thorough eye exams, professional, and they're both great to talk to conversationally about family, education, trends in eye care and health, etc. I love Dr. Lewis! She'll always take care of you! She always ensures that you get the appropriate pair of contacts and will always recommend that you try a particular kind of contacts for at least a week before committing to buying a supply. I really appreciate this since I usually like purchasing my contacts in bulk. I also appreciate how timely her responses are to eye concerns! My current contact brand has been irritating my eyes so she recommended Acuvue dailies for me (recommendation partially based off the budget I gave her). I ended up not buying right away - I've just been wearing my glasses. Soon after my visit, an ophthalmologist friend recommended a different brand of contacts (ok, more expensive than what Dr. Lewis prescribed), but I wanted to give it a try so I called and left a message for Dr. Lewis on a day she wasn't in about whether or not the base curve of the contacts would work. The very next morning, I got a message from the receptionist to come pick up a 5 day trial pair to try the contacts to see if they were comfortable. A+ response time. Great service all around! The receptionists are always patient and friendly and will send prescriptions via email if you want to purchase glasses or contacts elsewhere. Appointments run smoothly and efficiently. I would definitely recommend this place if you're looking for an optometrist, friendly staff, and quality care! P.S. Location is very convenient whether you take the bus or train - it's literally off the Central Square T Station and located behind a bus stop.

I have been going to Central Square Eye card for years. Dr. White comes across as patient and…read morethorough, taking time to measure and test and then explain the results in an understandable way. I feel fortunate to have a quality optometrist so conveniently located. Many things are equally good online, but optometry is not one of them.

How gorgeous are these???

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Harvard Square Eye Care

2.6(126 reviews)

1.2 mi•Harvard Square

I came here for an exam a couple weeks ago and was so happy with my experience that I was shocked…read moreto see the low overall rating on here. But it looks like the 1 star reviews are at least a year old. If you're in the Cambridge area and need an optometrist, go here! Truly. I stopped into and called several optometry offices around Harvard Square, and this was the only one where I immediately felt a genuinely welcoming, no-nonsense vibe. That was NOT my experience elsewhere. Harvard Square Eye Care is clearly not trying to scam you or push overpriced frames. I never felt pressured to buy anything, and I really appreciated having the option to do traditional dilation instead of being steered toward the more expensive imaging option that my insurance doesn't cover - something most other places didn't even offer. It's such a relief to find a practice that understands the simple need for an eye exam and prescription, especially for those of us who just want the most affordable pair of glasses possible. Honest, transparent, and refreshing. Ignore the negative reviews and go here!

Friendly, knowledgeable and quick. Not aggressive with their sales tactics, which is a huge turn…read moreon. Easy parking or a short jaunt from alewife station.

1.5 mi•Porter Square, North Cambridge

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Karen Lewis, OD

5.0(3 reviews)

1.1 mi•Central Square

I have been going to Dr. Lewis for many years now - she is always professional and helpful…read more The first time I saw her I needed my prescription fixed because Lenscrafters had fitted me into the wrong size contacts and I couldn't wear them comfortably (and they treated me like I was some kind of idiot for telling them they didn't fit right). Dr. Lewis immediately noticed they weren't the right size for my eye and fixed my prescription - I could see again and wear contacts comfortably! I knew right then I would keep coming back and always get the right prescription.

Dr Lewis is the best eye doctor I've ever had (and I've needed eye doctors for 15 years). Here's…read morewhy I like her: 1) She is empathetic and makes you feel she truly cares about you not just your money. You can tell she loves what she does. 2) Her office hours are flexible and she has evening and Saturday hours. 3) I was really having trouble with my eyes and she let me come in as much as I needed without it costing an arm and a leg each time. I can't say enough about her but I've already recommended a few people her way. I guess that's the biggest compliment she can get!

General Optical

4.3(66 reviews)

I had gone to General Optical many years ago and was very satisfied. The staff has changed. I…read morebought glasses and got sunglasses to go with them. In order to put the sunglasses on your must take off your glasses and use both hands. Obviously this cannot be done when you are driving a car. If I had been warned I would not have bought them. Genevieve C.

Dr. Klaahsen is fantastic!! Here's why. It had been about 7 years since my last eye exam and I…read moregenerally viewed these interactions as transactional until I met her. She explained to me the importance of eye care in a super loving way and walked me through everything she was doing and why. She uses state of the art tech and actually teaches you about your eyes. Dr. Klaahsen really took the time to find the right contacts for me and WHOA...I didn't realize how much I couldn't see anything before! That's a long story BUT the point is that Dr. Klaahsen is a great Doctor. She really cares about her people in a way you don't often get from physicians. The staff is really helpful and inviting when you walk in. I can't recommend Dr. Klaahsen enough! If you don't go to her...switch. It's totally worth it.

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Eye-Q Optical - Cambridge

4.1(153 reviews)

1.4 mi•Harvard Square

Certified professionals

Offers payment plans

Claire was incredibly kind and exceptionally skilled at adjusting my eyeglass frames. Thanks to her…read morehelp, I was able to get comfortable with my new prescription and my new frames. I really appreciated her patience and expertise.

Let's start by saying -- thank you, Lord, for always making room for a second opinion…read more I went to Eye Q Optical as a first-time customer, armed with good insurance and high hopes. But it quickly became clear that having great coverage doesn't mean much in a place that prefers to sell the Ferrari of eyewear. Now, to be fair -- the optometrist knows his craft. Truly professional, skilled, and thorough. But if you know the glasses game, you can spot a commission-based shop from a mile away. Here's where things went off track: a thousand dollars for a single pair of glasses after insurance. That's not just unreasonable -- it's why online retailers are thriving while brick-and-mortar shops are losing ground. Eye Q Optical, if you're wondering why people are turning to the internet for eyewear -- look no further than your own price tag.