I am a very satisfied new patient of Dr Melanie Macbeth's. Had an early appointment on Saturday morning. The office is very large and nice with a fireplace in the waiting room and plenty of exam rooms. Dr Macbeth's assistant did all the pre-testing with me. I opted for the Optomap even though it's not covered by my insurance. I'm definitely not cheap when it comes to the health of my eyes. I forgot the assistant's name, but she was very nice, knowledgeable and professional. Dr Macbeth continued with the rest of my exam. She is very nice, knowledgeable and pleasant. What I loved about this office was how hi-tech all the "machines" are. After being a patient at Lenscrafters, Pearl Vision and a low-tech family-run eye doctor in Watertown (for the past 5 years) I was very impressed with Dr Bennett's office. I wear contacts mostly, but I wanted to get a cool new pair of glasses and Dr Macbeth had some good tips for me. After my exam I was led to the frame specialist, April, who was great, very helpful in helping me choose my new frames. I tried on so many of them, I was very picky and it took me a very long time to finally choose the right frames. Can't wait to pick them up next week. read more

I'm a new patient of Dr. Maida's and was really impressed! She & her staff were very friendly, knowledgeable, & efficient. I'll agree that they seem a bit expensive - I haven't had to pay just for contact consultation before, and they took some images which was an additional cost (they let me know about that ahead of time, at least). But the quality of their exam & the rareness with which I visit justifies the cost. read more

I've been going to Bennett Family Eye care for over 5 years and have always been impressed with their practice. I recently turned 40 and had Dr. Bennett give me an eye exam to update the prescription on my eye glasses. While she uses a lot of the latest technology, it is kept out of the way and Dr. Bennett performed a very thorough and in-depth eye exam and took the time to explain every aspect. Her energetic and friendly manner made the entire process seem to go faster than it actually took. I've also seen Dr. Macbeth in the past and have interacted with many of the staff members there to purchase eye glasses, prescription lenses, or just have my frames adjusted. Everyone has been extremely professional, thorough, and efficient. read more

Update... I stopped seeing Dr Bennett because her manner started to rub me the wrong way. Then my friend got an eye infection right after she had an appointment here... And I don't think they apologized. But I do think the doctors are good and I do see a different doctor here now. I just sometimes make sure that they disinfected all the equipment! I see Dr. Bennett and I like her a lot. I think she's thorough, good at explaining things, and I appreciate that she encourages me to take good care of my eyes. I've never had to wait here, that I can remember. Like other people mention, I am not sure what is with the contact exam. Is that normal? don't know. I did not buy my contacts or glasses here - so I can't speak to the price! (but I guess I made a good choice!) read more

I found Dr Bennett on yelp and I can say that I was happy with the complete eye examination I received. I was also happy with the glasses I was fitted for. The office is clean and nice and I felt it was a professional atmosphere. Dr Bennett is friendly and I felt welcomed. I would see her again for eye care. I liked getting such high quality care locally. It was very convenient. read more

I cannot say that I really dislike Dr. Bennett, but that doesn't mean I like her either. I was trying to locate an optometrist in my area and since this practice was literally just a few blocks away from my home I thought it wouldn't hurt to try it. I was wrong. First I was not told to bring my glasses or contacts so when she asked me about them to get my current prescription she seemed frustrated that I did not have them. Also I thought that my prescription was a lot higher than what it was and she kept trying to prove me wrong. Granted I was wrong but I just got the feeling that she was trying to stick it to me. She has tons of assistants running around inside but before my exam starter I was constantly being moved around from room to room. Finally let's talk about price. This place is expensive! No only did I have to pay for an eye exam (which her assistant calculated the wrong co-pay so I ended up paying more than I was suppose to) but I also had to pay $55 for a contact lenses exam. On top of that those contacts were not cheap. I only bought two boxes to tie me over until I went to Costco to buy more contacts. The two boxes that I bought there cost me around $50 whereas the seven boxes I bought at Costco cost me $70. That just shows you how ridiculous her prices are. They had to cut me a check because they had overcharged me and the insurance had paid for most of it. She did have one nice staff member that helped me resolve the issue but her other staff members were just plain rude. I wish I could remember her name. Beverly? Anyways when I called the office to speak to Beverly someone was very rude thinking that it was a personal call. Well I let that person have some attitude too. I also went to pick up this check and they had locked the doors 10 minutes before closing time. If you are a business you are suppose to stay open until closing time not lock the door 10 minutes before! read more

If this could be no stars, it would. Very dishonest business practices. Went to a promotional Frame show that touted "25% off all frames purchased", which was perfect timing as I needed new glasses. Browsed the frames and selected a couple of pairs that I liked. I asked the list prices and discount prices and based on this decided to buy both. Upon checking out, was told my insurance allowed me some additional discounts which I was happy to take. Having been there for a few hours, I was anxious to get out and asked for an itemized receipt, with the discounts, which was readily supplied. After reviewing, I noticed that no discounts were applied, which I thought was an oversight. I called immediately to discuss and left a message to go over the billing. When called back, I quickly received an apology and was told the amount would be recalculated, which came to $15 cheaper, which wasn't accurate. I asked again how that number was determined and it was reviewed with haphazardly numbers thrown out to which I explained what I thought they were supposed to be. After my explanation, I was told, that I would receive no discount because I had eye insurance. Confused, I asked to speak to the office manager and was told I would receive a call the next day. The second call resulted in the same explanation. Although the promotion stated 25% discount for all frames purchased, they would not give the discount to anyone with insurance, even though this was never stated and even after asking for pricing, was told I would receive the discount while I was browsing frames throughout the show. This felt like a bait and switch scam to me. Essentially they get you in the door to buy glasses at normal or list price. Very shady. read more

When I arrived, a young administrative assistant performed all the tests on my eye. She then took a stick and tried to poke it into my eye (to test the backs of my eyes). Since the girl looked about 15, and I know she had no training, I told her I wasn't comfortable with that. When I finally saw Dr. Maida (about 45 minutes), she was very irritated that I didn't let the girl poke me in the eyes. She gave me a very long, extremely condescending lecture about how I was going to go blind because I wore my disposable contacts for three weeks instead of two. She said she was going to refuse to use her license to write me a prescription. Because I abuse my contacts, she would have to stick a q-tip underneath my eyelid to look for blisters and signs of disease. The worst thing about the visit was her tone. She is a young doctor, and I got the sense she needed to make me feel small in order to make herself feel important. She gave me a long lecture about what type of contact solution I might want to use, and then demanded that I make a choice. I still get a pit in my stomach when I think about how she treated me. I'm disappointed that I didn't get to ask her any questions (I had several). I have been seeing Dr. Macbeth for years, but after one visit with Dr. Maida, I'm not going to return there. As a side note, she was rude and condescending to her staff as well. I'm not surprised, as I've heard her mother (Dr. Bennett) use this condescending tone as well. read more

So, as far as the eye exam goes, I don't have any complaints. I thought the staff was thorough, the optometrist explained things to me in a lay manner, etc. Decent eye exam. Where they totally lost me was on the actual glasses purchasing side. Look, I get it, glasses are expensive and it's a business, but that doesn't mean the sales associates have to direct me to the most expensive glasses in the office. It's not even like their "cheap" glasses are all that cheap to begin with. I went in twice to try and find a good pair and every time I felt the associates were always pushing me to buy the most expensive pairs. They were just kind of pushy in general. My husband, who came with me both times, also got the same impression. I'm not sure if they work on commission but geez, tone it down. So, after perusing a very expensive collection, I decided to go elsewhere. But, then I heard from a friend that most glasses shops are able to put new lenses into old frames. I have (ugh, HAD) a cute pair of glasses that I only wore on special occasions. I figured to save money I could have Bennett put in the frames and then I'd only have to pay $20-30 in insurance. I brought these frames in and asked if they'd be able to put in a new set of lenses. The girl looked over my frames and said they were in really good shape and yes, they could do it. But, she said, I'd have to sign a waiver because if the optical shop broke my frames, Bennett Family Eye Care would not be able to cover the loss. But the girl assured me this never happens and I had nothing to worry about. Well, you can guess how this story ends. I get a call 9 days later saying my frames were broken. How could I get mad, right? I signed a waiver. It's not necessarily their fault the optical shop broke my frames (and mind you you, they were not a dinky pair of frames. they were a barely worn pair from a high-end brand) but: 1) the sales associate working with me assured me I had nothing to worry about. well, she was wrong there. don't make assurances you can't stand behind 2) the sales associate who worked with me didn't even have the common decency to call me herself and explain what happened. i know this because the woman i spoke to on the phone said she had just spoken with the woman I dealt with and was trying to piece together what happened. 3) they knew my frames were broken on a Saturday, but didn't bother to call me till late Monday morning (a business really dedicated to customer service would have called right away) and 4) when my husband called to complain, not a single person was there to pick up Like I said, I get it. I knew there was a risk. My fault for not doing my due diligence to make sure the "one in a blue moon" chance was legit. And, yeah maybe it was just my time to be unlucky. But their response to the situation was subpar. And it's now almost 4 days later and even though they said she would, the manager has yet to call and apologize. They have yet to issue me my refund or give me my broken glasses back. They have yet to explain what really happened and why the frames broke. (my husband thinks they purposefully broke them so I'd have to buy their ridiculously overpriced glasses). I got one pitiful phone call from probably some assistant and that's that. I've bought at least 10 pairs of glasses in my life and never had the worst customer experience doing so than at this place. If you want a decent eye exam, fine, by all means go here. But I suggest taking a copy of your prescription and buying your glasses someplace else. read more

Since moving to the Boston area a few years ago, Ive tried a couple of optometrists (Cam. Eye and one other - forgot who) . Most are, eh, you know, ok. My exam here was thorough, and they did a great job of explaining why my prescription changed and got me into the right prescription (I'm one of those people that needs to know everything). Very impressed so far (no more headaches on the computer @ work). They also told me that if the glasses break, they'll handle the replacement (hope that doesn't happen - knock on wood). Staff was great to work with, and I was able to use my flex spending acct w/ insurance for payment. Cool frames selection is a plus. Hard to find a good doc these days, so I'm happy. read more

Didn't think this place was that good till I moved and went to a Myeyedr store in Northern Virginia. Whereas Dr. Bennett and her staff took 40 minutes testing my eyes and discussing what issues I was having with my vision, the Myeyedr store examined my eyes for less than five minutes and then wrote me a vision prescription. Turns out the new glasses are less effective than my old ones. Dr. Bennett may cost a little more than the chain stores but you get what you pay for. I will be going back to this practice for my future eye care needs. read more

I had an eye exam and bought glasses here last weekend. The staff and doctors were friendly, quick and knowledgeable and informed me about every step along the way. My appointment started right on time, I didn't wait much in between rooms, and the office was meticulously clean and bright. The eyeglasses advisor was also very knowledgeable, quick and helpful. Customer service was excellent. Belmont Street has free parking, too, and with Sophia's greek pantry (for the most amazing yogurt) a few doors down, how can you go wrong? read more

I recently had an eye exam with Dr. Bennett. Being new to the area I basically picked her office from a list my insurance company gave me. It was an evening appointment which ran about 15 mins late. The office was modern and clean and the young woman at the desk was courteous and helpful. Dr. Bennett has an interesting personality and I wasn't quite sure if she was attempting to be humerous or if she just has a condescending nature but I it didn't bother me like it did other people who wrote reviews. I was there to get my eyes checked not make friends. It was a thorough exam and anomalies discovered on the images were explained to my satisfaction. I did not purchase my glasses there despite my insurance covering a great chunk of the frames as I did not see any frames I liked. Over all a good experience. read more

I've been to Bennett Family Eye Care several times, have seen both Dr. LInda Bennett and Dr. Melanie Macbeth. They both seem very capable and thorough, explain things very well. I've gotten 2 pairs of glasses here, both with progressive lenses (ie. a number of layers of prescription instead of just 2 layers as in bifocals). Yes, they were expensive ($600 plus), BUT not nearly as expensive as a place I went to for progressives a number of years ago where I paid $1000 for a pair (okay, I don't like to skimp on my eyes), which was really crazy. My recent purchase a couple weeks ago was sunglasses. I asked if I could get trifocals (instead of progressives) to save money, and the optical person basically said I couldn't. I have no idea if this was so, but since I didn't want to wait any longer for new sunglasses, I went with the progressives and I'm actually very happy I did. The vision is excellent with them. I attribute the excellent vision with both of my pairs of glasses to the exams and prescriptions done by the doctors. I always like going to the office--they have WIFI, reading material, a cute bathroom and very friendly staff. read more

I have been going to Bennett Family Eye Care for years and I am very happy with them. I have seen all three doctors and they have all been great. The offices are very clean and nicely decorated. I never have to wait more than a few minutes for my exam to begin. There is a wide selection of frames and they take their time fitting the frames and making sure everything is perfect. Yes, they are expensive, but I'd rather pay a bit more and know I am getting something that fits properly and is going to work for me (than pay less and have frames that don't fit). read more

The office was pleasant, modern and charming. That's about it. They try to up-sell you on services for additional charges. Even with insurance my glasses were still outrageously expensive ($400 after insurance). I'm sure I could have gotten the glasses elsewhere cheaper even without insurance. Dr. Bennett was condescending, admonishing me about the evils of wearing disposable contacts longer than suggested. Picked on the type of cleaning solution I used. When I complained that my vision with the new contacts was a little blurry, she exclaimed "Well, I can't do anything about that." implying that her prescription was accurate and that it must have been the lens. Have I ever gone back after the first visit? Heck no. read more

Extremely expensive. Though the exam was thorough , frames and lens options are double the cost you see in most other stores. Even with insurance, it created a hole in my pocket. I have since then found a better OD in Watertown. Their cost is reasonable , the staff is helpful (but not well dressed like Dr. Bennett's office -- if you care). read more

After going through the eye exam with Dr. Bennett I can honestly say I have never met a more obnoxious and boisterous person. She spoke to me as if I was a child yet she spoke so loudly as if I was deaf. The exam was ok yet they managed to squeeze and extra $40 for something supposedly no other office offers that is not covered by insurance. After the exam she quickly and loudly escorted me to the optical department even though I said I probably wouldn't be buying anything that day. She completely ignored me and told one of the salespeople to show me frames. I said I wasn't really interested again after Dr. Bennett left and asked for my perscription. That seemed to have been a problem for this gir, Debbie or something like that. After a few minutes she finally made a copy for me. Never again!!!! read more

I came to Dr. Bennett's at the recommendation of a friend. My whole family now goes to this office. The others go to Dr. Macbeth. I have never had a more thorough experience. The last doctor I visited had me in and out in 25 minutes. I spent two hours at the office for my first visit (be prepared!). EVERYONE was kind and helpful and Dr. Bennett was especially wonderful. I don't have new glasses yet as I am dealing with my insurance, but as far as the office visit goes... incredible. read more

We have been seeing Dr. Bennett for several years and have always had a wonderful experience. She is fantastic with children and adults, explains everything thoroughly, and genuinely considers the issues we raise during the visit. She is fantastic. We know that our eyes are in very good hands in the care of Dr. Bennett's practice. I have a very hard time picking out frames because I am blind as a bat and it is impossible for me to evaluate how frames look. The staff in the optical shop have always been patient and kind and helpful. read more

My family and I have been going to Dr. Bennett's office for a number of years. Previously, I had been using one of the "chain" providers. My insurance policy changed and I was in the market for a new eye care professional and my daughters recommended this office. Now while I know I do not have the worst vision in the world, I do have a number of specific needs....I require progressive glasses for daily use and business, regular single vision glasses for driving and tv watching....since the progressives don't work while lying down....I require contacts for sports and outdoor activities, prescription sunglasses, reading glasses and computer reader glasses designed for me to read the monitor from approximately 20 inches away. I am also highly allergic to pets. The reason for mentioning all of these applications is because in the past, with other vendors, I have attempted to have these applications addressed with mixed results. Without going into all the details, as a result of the most thorough exam I have ever had and with the expertise and confidence of Dr. Bennett , she has been able to address my issue with dry contacts...she provided a better, easier to handle type, she and her staff had the patience to figure out my specific computer reading glasses solution...including a do-over for N/C and finally, after my complaining of my allergies...she came up with a new solution that addresses the issue...which is a "huge" thing. The rest of my glasses are pretty straight forward utilizing fairly high quality solutions and although items are pricey, with insurance, they are competitive. That is unless you choose or need to save money which is understandable and why there are many discount providers of frames and lenses with lower price points. Bottom line for me is that my I have always been treated with professionalism, I believe the exam and recommendations are of utmost importance, even if I don't wear "movie star" frames! Dr. Bennett and staff have made me feel very comfortable and confident with the health of my vision and I believe you get what you pay for. that said, I believe the exam prices are comparable anyway and she uses the latest and best technology for exams and fittings....enough said. read more

I had my first appointment with Dr. Macbeth on Saturday. My husband had an appointment with Dr. Bennett earlier this month. We both were very impressed with the practice. They have a great variety of appointment times, and although the appointments we first received were almost a month away from when I called, they put us on a cancellation list and we received at least 4 calls to get us in earlier. The contact exams were extensive, thorough, and detailed. The technicians were wonderful and explained everything. Dr. Macbeth was wonderful. She didn't push me to buy/do anything at all. Dr. Bennett was the same with my husband. She also helped him pick contacts that were more suited to his use. I ordered my contacts on Saturday and was very impressed that they not only helped me get a volume discount, insurance contribution, but Dr. Macbeth also helped me find a rebate for almost $100 on my contacts. Ordering my contacts was very easy and I was in and out in 40 minutes for the whole thing. I received an recommendation to go to this practice, and I would definitely recommend them to others. They are leaps and bounds above the chain eye doctors and although a bit pricier, they are definitely worth it. I was also told that if I ever had any issues at all to call them immediately and they would see me ASAP the same day. read more

I've been going here for several years now since we moved to Boston and definitely reccomend them. I would rate them 4.5 stars, the only reason for not the full 5 being that I think they are slightly expensive. But I also self-pay, and only having to go once per year justifies the cost because it actually costs less than buying a year's worth of the very expensive eye insurance at my office and they provide really good service. My most recent routine eye exam plus routine contacts exam was about $200 self-paying. I have seen Maida and MacBeth, they are both nice. Overall, the staff is very knowledgeable. I have a weird prescription, one eye nearsighted the other really farsighted with astigmatism, and they were able to get me in glasses and contacts that work for me. Before I went here, I think I never wore my glasses mostly because my prescription was never quite right and it gave me headaches. The exams here are very thorough, and they use current technology like the Optomapping to take a picture of the inside of your eye to see things like the health of your optic nerve to watch for diseases or tumors etc. They optical shop is good too. I have three pairs of glasses, one set of frames purchased there but all 3 sets lenses purchased and installed there, and my glasses are holding up really well. They also are very good at cutting the lenses, no gaps or anything like if you went somewhere cheap like a chain optometry store. The warranty on the lenses is really good too, something like 1 year replacement no questions asked. read more