Lake Merritt Optometry

Dr. Elsa Pao OD, Oakland…read more Located in the heart of Oakland's Chinatown, this small optometrist office is such an awesome find! The staffs are very helpful and friendly, Dr. Elsa Pao OD is an amazing optometrist! She is very knowledgeable and tries her best to be fast even though she has a room full of customers in her waiting room. Sometimes it's hard to get early appointments because her schedule is always full but I think it's worth the wait! I highly recommend her to others!

I hate eye drops.. HATE! I just tense up when things are close to my eyes. Dr. Pao knows it and…read morenever makes a big deal of it and makes me comfortable. I still hate when she puts drops in my eyes.. Lol. Front staff is always great. I always give it about 2hrs for my appointments as it takes time, especially getting your eyes dilated. It may be done sonner, so feed your meter for 2 hrs and you should be ok.

April 2026

April 2026- So hard to choose one!

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April 2026- Business card

A Chinatown Optometrist

4.4(53 reviews)

The office is on the 2nd floor and if they are not open, the elevators will not allow you to stop…read morethere. Our appt was at 10am, but we did not get to check-in until 10:30am. Waiting room area is by the elevators. There is a big STOP sign upon entering the office. It is a small space and you can only enter when you are called. One front desk secretary that does everything. I do appreciate the time the doctor took to thoroughly examine my mom's eyes. He is very old school - he has shelves filled with many different size lens. Our appt did not felt rush and his secretary was very nice and patient with helping us choose a frame that was covered by insurance. The doctor does not speak Cantonese fluently - just enough words to get by but his secretary does so if you need an interpreter, she is there.

A friend of mine just had her eye appointment here today. Dr. Hoh was very abrupt with her, verging…read moreon rude. Short answers and generally poor bedside manner. What stood out the most to us was his refusal to prescribe her contact lenses. Contact lens fittings are sensitive things - because they are PAINFUL, they require lots patience on the part of the doctor. Little or no patience was shown to my friend. Won't be returning here again

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East Bay Vision Center Optometry, Oakland Chinatown Branch

3.0(49 reviews)

Dr. Lee is a great optician and man of his word. I rate him 5 stars. But overall, I rate rest of…read moreteam 3stars. I had a problem with wife's eye glasses. No one in front area seemed to want to help or provide any energy to remedy glasses that did not work for my wife while at school. I called and they promised a call back that never occurred. On our last appointment after a year of trying through front desk brought to the attention of Dr. Lee. He got lenses replaced and handled matter himself. That is real customer service! Thank you Dr. Lee

STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE!!!!…read more The primary focus of the staff seemed to be on maximizing profits rather than providing quality patient care. It was evident that their main goal was to extract as much money as possible from both my insurance and my pocket. go to Costco for much better and cheaper services!!!!!

Holiday decor.

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Site for Sore Eyes - Oakland

4.3(151 reviews)

1.2 mi•Old Oakland

They were so kind and understanding!…read more Also clearly great customer service, friendly, and helped me right away! One of their co-workers even helped me by recommending a massage place nearby, because they knew/lived in the area.

I want to specifically recognize Jenny, who works as an optometry assistant here. She has been…read moreconsistently patient, attentive, and genuinely kind during every visit. She takes her time to explain things clearly, never rushes through appointments, and always makes sure I understand what's happening with my care. Her customer service is the kind you don't find often anymore: warm, attentive, and unhurried. Jenny is the reason I keep coming back to this office. If you're looking for someone who treats patients with real care and respect, ask for her. She deserves recognition for the excellent work she does every single day.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Brittany Nguyen today!

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David A Hoh Chinatown Optometrist

4.3(12 reviews)

I got my first pair of spectacles there 22 years ago! I left for a few years as I had moved away…read morebut came back because of their vast selection of frames and designer sunglasses, too! They know my family because we've given them so much business over the years. It was a quick routine checkup today. There's a new glaucoma test! No longer will you anxiously await the puff of air directed at each eye. Yay to new technology! Dr. Hoh and staff have gone above and beyond with adhering to the COVID guidelines. You'll see protective glass on the reception desk, numerous air purifiers throughout the office (including 4-5 inside the exam room alone with the door open and Dr. Hoh seated across the room). Every frame you've tried on will be collected for decontamination. The waiting room has moved outside by the elevators. If you need help selecting a frame that suits your face, Annie is a great help choosing the stylish ones. So, there's absolutely no excuse for not getting a checkup now! Also FYI, Dr. Hoh has another Yelp listing ("A Chinatown Optometrist" with more reviews if you would like to check out.

This office usually does not provide eye glasses prescription to you automatically unless you…read morespecifically ask for it. Separately, Dr. Hoh was to provide contact lens fitting and prescription based on previous contact lens package info. On the day of the fitting, my son had an eye infection and was unable to finish the fitting, he had to make another appointment for the following week. Upon his return, my son was told that the cash payment for the contact lens fitting he had paid previously was used for his infection treatment and he had to pay again for contact lens fitting. When I called and complained about the irregularity of this practice, Dr. Hoh became irated and said he did not want to have anything to do with our family and refused to provide my son a contact lens prescription. Dr. Hoh said he had treated my son for the eye infection, the contact lens cash payment was used for the medical treatment. My son is a Medical patient, but Dr. Hoh did not bother to submit a claim. We don't know what the so called medical treatment entailed; there was no itemized billing for any treatment. All we had for that day was a receipt for contact lens fitting. Nothing was mentioned about a medical treatment or relevant charges. Somehow, on the follow-up appointment, that cash contact lens payment had turned into payment for medical treatment. This is highly irregular and Dr. Hoh's attitude was arrogant. Perhaps he believes his Chinatown patients have little choice but to accept this kind of practice. They rarely, if ever, raise any questions because they are mostly confined to Chinatown. Still, wrong is wrong, Chinatown or not. Upon being called out on his highly irregular business practice, he did refund the cash payment with a check which my unbanked son has to pay a fee to get the refund. We will look for another doctor outside of Chinatown.

Lots and lots of frames

Sanitizing the frames

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Lots of air purifiers to clean the air

Sebanc Donald D OD

5.0(6 reviews)

1.2 mi•Oakland Chinatown

I was so sorry to hear that Dr. Donald Sebanc had died in 2023. He was the best eye Doctor and his…read moreprices were way below anyone else's. People travel far to see him. He always dressed nice and always wore a tie. He was very dedicated to his job and his patients too. We will miss him. from Brian & Joyce Granville - Antioch, CA

Dr. Sebanc has been checking my eyes since 1998 and my eyes are healthy!read more

Bay Vision Eyecare Optometry

3.7(66 reviews)

1.1 mi•Uptown

During my visit, I found the staff and doctor friendly, helpful, and making sure I felt valuedread more

Efficient, friendly, professional service. I have been a…read morelong time patient. The staff's knowledge of my history was reflected in their expert diagnosis and care.

Over 2000 Frames

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Eye~Bar

Sophia T Chen, MD

3.3(12 reviews)

1.0 mi•Oakland Chinatown

I took my 100-year-old mother to an appointment to see Dr. Chen and found the elevator was out of…read moreservice. When I went upstairs to ask for help, two young, eager doctor's assistants, Joey and Eric, offered to help me. They carried my mother, in her wheelchair, to the second floor, all the while with a positive and cheerful attitude. After the appt, they carried her back down to the ground floor. The assistants were very accommodating to my wheelchair bound mother's needs, and Dr. Chen listened and answered all of our concerns regarding my mother's eye health. We had a really good experience; I highly recommend this office.

Dr. Chen has a good staff and she is very personable. She helped me understand my diagnosis and…read moretreatment plan.

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Clark Tsai, MD

4.7(3 reviews)

Dr. Tsai and his staff are amazing. Dr. Tsai performed cataract surgery on my mom, and she was very…read moreimpressed with his professionalism and thorough care from the beginning to post surgery. I, too, have seen Dr. Tsai for eye exams, and he's attentive and kind. I absolutely recommend Dr. Tsai and his healthcare team! Thank you!!

Dr. Tsai is an excellent eye doctor! It is rare today to meet and see a doctor that actually…read morespends more than a minute with you in the exam room. Many docs see as many patients as they can, and have lost the ability to touch patients and have good bedside manner. With HMO and Health plans driving doctors to do this in order to stay in business. Dr. Tsai is the exception to that new reality in healthcare. He truly cares about his patients, and spends a good amount of time with you. His staff is multi lingual speaking: English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish. This office is medium sized with 5 exam rooms, very modern ophthalmology equipment, and a super friendly staff. His office is very busy, obviously because he is a favorite here in the community, so you might want to allow some extra time for your appointment. On a personal note, several years ago Dr. Tsai was the only Doctor of about the half dozen different specialist that we saw, that was quickly and accurately able to diagnose a family member with a complex neurological disorder. His experience and accreditations, coupled with his great Bedside manner make him an outstanding MD.

Outside in open mall

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Located on the 2nd floor.

Jane Hafen, OD - In Vision Optometry

3.9(61 reviews)

0.9 mi•Uptown

After getting an appointment the glasses broke. They won't fix them and I wasn't given the option…read moreto purchase the frame that broke. The ladies at the door weren't interested in the fact my vision is really bad and without glasses driving could be a tragedy. So no this establishment I wouldn't recommend I rate it a ZERO. And another thing they didn't in form me about the need of prism. This whole thing with this establishment was all bad for me. Take heed people!!! BEWARE

Dr. Jane Hafen is careful and patient when she explains what is going on with my eyes. I have very…read morebad eyesight all my life and require multifocal contact lenses. Not only did she adjust my prescription extremely carefully during my follow-up, but she turned me onto a new brand of multifocal lenses that have improved my vision and are more comfortable. She also carefully goes over which contact solutions might cause irritation in my eyes. She clearly has a lot of experience and cares about her patients' vision. I'm so glad that I am within walking distance of her office. I also appreciate that I can make an appointment directly on her website - http://www.invisionoptometry.com.

BMEC frames, designed for big sizes.

Dr. Jane, O.D.

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More Frames

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Lake Merritt O.

4 years ago

Dr. Serene is so personable and so committed to making sure all my eye care needs are taken care of. I never feel rushed and I always feel heard. The staff is great and always so helpful. Me and my family all go to Lake Merritt Optometry. I would definitely recommend. read more

Jen S.

2 years ago

The prices seemed way too steep for my blood..and for what I would think a lot of us Oaktown residents could Afford...but what do I know? read more

Lake Merritt Optometry - optometrists - Updated October 2026

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Grand Lake Optometry

(122 reviews)

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This visit was for my annual checkup. Far more than just checking my prescription. Multiple scans…read morebefore me even meeting the optometrist. Dr. Lam decided she should dilate my eyes to both check the back of my eyes and to have OCT scans taken of both my central veins. While waiting for my eyes to dilate, she had the receptionist check me out to save my time. Everyone that works there is so personable at the same time as being totally professional. Glad that they are one of the premium providers for my insurance carrier.

I came to these good people in need (of emergency adjustments to my glasses while 2450 miles or so…read morefrom my home in Washington, DC. They responded SPLENDIDLY! Office Manager Selene not only took care of the issues, she also advised me how to take better care of my eyewear in the future -- and told me with a smile to hi-tail it to my local optometrist to get new glasses. The people here are professional, knowledgeable and very personable! If you buy based on top-shelf service, you'll soon be a customer at Grand Lake Optometry!

Eye Care Optometry

4.7

(125 reviews)

I came here to get an eye exam so that I could order glasses online. I was surprised how quick and…read moreefficient the exam went. The optometrist was a very lovely woman, and I enjoyed my visit there a lot. I was able to get exactly what I needed, and I was in and out of there in less than an hour!

I recently visited the Eye Care optometry to get my glass frames adjusted after accidentally…read morestepping on them! Alicia and Josue were most helpful. Not only did they repair my main glasses, but also took care of my second pair of glasses. I know that I always am going to get the best service here. It is why I continue to return, even though I have vision care supplement through my Medicare and Kaiser Permanente. If you're looking for a great optometrist, and all the follow up service, this is the place to be.

Bay Vision Eyecare Optometry

3.7

(66 reviews)

During my visit, I found the staff and doctor friendly, helpful, and making sure I felt valuedread more

Efficient, friendly, professional service. I have been a…read morelong time patient. The staff's knowledge of my history was reflected in their expert diagnosis and care.

Fruitvale Optometry

(99 reviews)

It's a busy location, but very convenient since it's steps away from Fruitvale BART station and…read morethere's 1 hour free street parking (if you're lucky enough to find a spot). The staff were friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. Although the place was packed, they were fast at seeing each patient in a timely manner & getting them set for their eye exams or frame shopping. There's a good selection of eyeglass frames and the prices are reasonable.

This doctor is very cool and awesome. No fuss very quick in and out no unnecessary pushing for…read moreglasses or unwanted exams that are not covered. I love this place everyone is really nice. The previous eye doctor I used to go to they will almost walk me to the eye glass place almost pinned me down to buy eyeglasses. There is no pressure at all they just ask if you need any new glasses if you say no they just move on. I love that about this place. Parking is really hard that's one drawback.

All Eyes On Me Optometry

4.7

(102 reviews)

The whole process went very smoothly. The personnel were incredibly nice and knowledgeable. The…read moreexam itself was very thorough. We planned to just get prescriptions but after checking lots of places, we went back to buy our glasses the next day. Small office, my favorite kind.!

Dr. Thorton is both knowledgeable and personable at the same time. I appreciate how thorough he is…read moreduring the eye exam and takes the time to explain and answer questions. I appreciate the office staff as well. They are courteous and professional. I appreciate the care I get with scheduling and during appointments. Just an overall positive experience. I highly recommend Dr. Thornton for all your optometry needs.

Laurel Optometry

(53 reviews)

I have been seeing Dr. Serene for at least 5 years and started going to this location a few years…read moreago as it is closer to my home. I was originally going to the Lake Merritt Location and when I found out about this office, I started making my appointments here. The staff is always responsive and when there is a delay in my contact order, they let me know. Dr. Serene is always friendly and attentive and hardly have to wait long for my appointment. I usually park in the neighborhood as there is free parking in the residential area

First and LAST time using Laurel Optometry. They have super kind staff but their "quality control"…read moreis absolute garbage. I ordered prescription sunglasses on August 29, 2025. My glasses didn't come back for a month and they are always closed (Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday). Only being open 3 days a week makes it extremely difficult for customers. I came in on Thursday, October 9, 2025 to get the glasses and they were already scratched. Never even worn and they had a gash in the lens. How is this possible that not a single person noticed this? I will not be doing business with them ever again.

Alex Lukens, OD - Eyewise Optometry

4.7

(126 reviews)

I was Referred to Alex Lukens OD by my Nephew Big Mike !!!…read more Dr Lukens is very BUSY it took me 3 months to get in for an appointment!!! I was Glad !!! I found Dr Lukens to be a very Thorough and Professional !!!! He was also very Knowledgeable and Kind!!! He took the time to Explain the Eye Exam and the Processes!!! The Offices were Spotless and the Equipment State Of The Art!! For All These Reasons This Is A Baller On A Budget Approved Establishment and Optometrist!! I Keep My Pimp Hand Strong !!!!

This place is really hard to work with, and I think it's mainly due to one woman who works there…read moreand isn't nice. But in general, I wouldn't recommend this place. We have used this place twice. The good thing about this place is they have a good selection of children's frames, which most places don't have. Also, they did a good job making the glasses (or their lab did). They also take the Covered California medical insurance for children's exam and glasses, and most places don't. These are the reasons for 2 stars instead of 1 star. The bad things: The eye exam appointments need to be booked 3 months in advance or more. It is very hard to get an exam slot. I've been to many places and it has never been this hard. Even at an ophthalmologist, where they are also doing surgeries and such, it is easier to get an appointment for an eye exam. You need an appointment to look at glasses, and it also takes a while to get an appointment. At other places, you can often get a same day appointment, or at least within the next day or two. But at Eyewise, you have to wait 2-3 weeks. Even the second time we came, as repeat customers, we had an urgent issue (broken glasses) and had to wait a long time for an appointment. We finally got an appointment, and then the woman who works here didn't even help us. Why do you need an appointment if they are just going to ignore you the whole time anyway? She never even got up from her desk. We had to go over to her and ask specific questions. When we were ready to order the glasses and went to tell her, she finally came over but didn't explain options or say anything or make eye contact or act nice at all. I felt like we were really putting her out or something. The only reason we got glasses here was because of the good selection of children's frames. The other time we went here it was because we had only a couple places we could use insurance, and the same woman was there, and very unfriendly. The whole time, I felt like I'd done something wrong just by being there. It was not a welcoming experience. That time it was for both exam and glasses. The exam was fine. The glasses are fine. But the experience is bad. I don't need much help, but being completely ignored even when I first arrive feels bad. If it had happened only once, I'd think maybe she was just having a bad day, but nope, not 4 times total. When the glasses were ready, they called to let us know and schedule a time for us to pick them up. I said I could come now or anytime the next day, and they said their first available time was a week later. A week later! Just to get the glasses? So we took the first available appt, and when we went, they just handed us the glasses and asked are they fine, and we were gone. I don't know why you need an appt for that and why we couldn't have just gotten them earlier. Also, every time we've been here, it's never been busy, we're usually the only ones there and it's a very quiet place. This place moved from the Nob Hill shopping area to near Marina Village, in an office building. You ring a doorbell to get buzzed into the building. I've been to many optometry shops in my life, and the experience here pales in comparison with all the others.

Moderne Eye Optometry

3.5

(79 reviews)

Full disclosure: I only spoke to a staff member here…read more What I am told is that I need an appointment to view frames. During the pandemic, no doubt. Not saying COVID is over but 2025? Not so sure. Also, no appointments are possible on weekend. Last appt on weekdays is 5pm. Not sure if I will take time off work to view frames here. Rather go to Rockridge Optometry on the other side of the street is open until 6pm and on Saturdays.

I've been going to Moderne Eye for many years. I really don't remember when I started going there…read more When I retired I had the choice of staying on the eye care I got through work, or Kaiser. Even though I was more expensive I chose to stay on my work eye and dental insurance, so I could continue going to Moderne eye. Dr. Lin is wonderful. She's thorough and caring. I've found everyone who works there to be very helpful. For example, on my last visit, I wanted to get the same style frames as I had on my list pair of glasses, but they no longer carried them, so the man who does the fitting (I'm embarrassed to say his name has slipped my mind. Very embarrassing because he's so nice!) called the company that made the frames, and was able to order the exact same frames! I happily give Moderne Eye 5 Stars

Target Optical

(77 reviews)

I booked my appointment on line. I was seen almost on time…read more My ophthalmologist was very clear and helpful and so were the staff who greeted me and then helped me to choose the best options for me. The process is transparent. My glasses are ordered and should be there in 10 days, my lenses will be delivered to my home address at no extra cost. Plenty choices for frames. Reasonable pricing. Fair advice.

Dr. Jennifer Juang is amazing! I've been getting eye exams for 50 years and this was the single…read morebest experience ever! She's thorough, caring and efficient. Do not delay. Schedule with her today ! You'll be happy you did.

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