One star (even though I love the doctor and women who work here).. if you don't have insurance that pays for contacts DO NOT GO HERE. Insane prices, charged me $300 for one month.. I went elsewhere and paid $250 for 3 months. Criminal they let me ever pay this, someone should have let me know. Never coming back. read more

The staff are knowledgeable and extremely helpful in this location. Prescriptions or receipts are sent immediately upon request. Important service when you are dealing with FSA reimbursements issues. Dr. Chu is excellent. We never feel rushed or ignored in our concerns. Great place all around. read more

First pair of glasses! Wonderful people. They work excellently and I look so much more intelligent. read more

I've been doing to Dr. Chu for over 4 years now. She is wonderful, always in the know about the newest products and generous with samples. She has a great attitude and is a pleasure to visit. It's so hard to find a good doctor in NYC - so glad I at least have finally found an amazing eye doctor that I can visit regularly! read more

I had such a wonderful experience here. Dr. Chu was beyond kind, patient, and thorough in explaining procedures/insurance/etc. Her staff was also very welcoming. read more

I truly love this place. They were so helpful and took their time when I wanted to get new glasses and even helped me with contacts. I was nervous that my vision got worse throughout the years but DR Chu made me feel so comfortable! read more

Very good eye exam. Decided to get my glasses made by an online vendor. Otherwise I have always had a good experience here. read more

I'm little hesitant to describe a medical appointment in such glowing terms, but truthfully I had a delightful experience with Dr. Chu. She was so cool, informative, funny, and kind. I loved that her approach to optometry was a balance of being thoughtful and practical; she put so much thought into giving me as many options as she could that were in line with my lifestyle and comfort preferences. I've never had an optometrist that's cared so much about finding the right fit for me from both a medical and lifestyle perspective. I'm really grateful to have found Dr. Chu and Manhattan Eyeworks and I can confidently say that I'm looking forward to my next visit! read more

Ok. Really weird thing happened the other day where I booked an appointment to see Dr. Chu and then I ended up seeing Dr. Kim. I hope Dr. Chu is not gone. She is a badass. I love her and I love how she makes the appointment feel special. Been coming here since 2016. Have had 3 exams and my eyes are healthy and conveniently for them my prescription keeps changing slightly so I have a reason to shop for new specs every single year. This last time, I'm shopping for frames and tried on just two pair before it was just decided. Spent more on frames than I have in my whole life but when you're talking about a pair you're going to wear every single day you better make sure they suit your aesthetic. This is one of those special old New York places that I hope never goes away. They (the proverbial they, not Manhattan Eyeworks) just opened up another optometry spot a couple doors down but please fight the gentrification of the East Village. These neighborhood spots are jewels and must be protected! read more

Manhattan Eyeworks - New frames. Coming soon. Crazy mural in the background. Yes this is inside of the shop. Yes you are in the right place. Don't be alarmed. - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - New York, New York

Dr. Chu and her top-notch (caring, expert, responsible) staff will do the work to make sure you get glasses that look good, fit your lifestyle and budget, and help you to experience the best visual acuity and comfort possible. It's clear that Dr. Chu is an exceptional practitioner and a rock-solid good human. I'm grateful that this office is so close to my home. read more

I am writing to thank you and your staff member for the excellent care received during my visit to your office on July 8 2020. Entering Dr. Chu's office that afternoon I immediately felt welcomed. I also appreciated the cleanliness of the waiting room and examination room in the time of Covid-19. Dr. Chu's bed side manner and how she explains everything along the way is very reassuring. I highly recommend her office for your annual eye exam. She has a wonderful selection of frames in every price range. It's my second year seeing Dr. Chu and will continue seeing her in the years to come. read more

While Dr. Chu, whom I met only once, was pleasant, I must say that her staff is not usually. Today I brought in my "computer glasses", purchased less than six months ago, with a broken earpiece. The man with the foreign accent told me immediately that they were not fixable. The taller man insisted that I don't take care of my glasses, and that it was not their fault. These glasses never leave my home, and are well cared for. All they could offer me was to put my lenses into new frames..... at my expense, of course. The only decent ones kept getting higher and higher as I looked at them. I dealt with Gramercy Optical for about 20 years, until they retired within the last year. I was never treated with anything but courtesy and good care. Goodbye, Manhattan Eyeworks. Sheila R. - Stuytown read more

So I wear contacts. Or rather: I used to wear contacts. Until I ran out about six months ago and decided I was too lazy to make an eye appointment and renew my prescription. That's how lazy I get sometimes... This week, I decided it was about (high) time to finally take care of it, so after reading Julia O's review I called Manhattan Eyeworks, and got an appointment for the next day... not bad considering the NYU health center where I was also thinking of going had a three week wait. I went to my appointment yesterday... nothing too fancy, but the optometrist was friendly and seemed to know what he was doing. 30 minutes later, I was out the door with a new brand pair of contacts on. And now everything looks so sharp and crisp I feel like I'm on pot all the time whenever I go out on the street. Seriously... so crazy! Remind never ever to let my contact prescription expire again. The world is so much cooler when it's not all blurry. This place is pretty cheap too: $99 for the eye exam (and they do take insurance... though not all kinds), and about $200 for a yearly supply of contacts (which I suppose is about average: you can probably find cheaper online). read more

Manhattan Eyeworks - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - New York, New York

I had a very pleasant visit with Dr. Chu yesterday. The staff were very professional, and all of the seats and equipment were well wiped down and disinfected to prevent the spread of Covid-19. I also really enjoyed the selection of frames I got to pick from and I loved trying on different glasses. I had a great experience overall. read more

So rude, from the owner to the staff. and incompetent! they took wrong measurements and damage my vision.

I would give Dr. Chu and the team at Manhattan Eyeworks 10 stars if I could! I went to get an eye exam and to get trained on contact lenses for the first time. Dr. Chu is incredible - kind, energetic, and patient. I've had a fear of touching my eyes my entire life, but decided to finally give contacts a whirl after 15 years in glasses. She was so encouraging as I struggled to put in the contacts. I actually visited Manhattan Eyeworks on three separate occasions to attempt to put the contacts in, and finally succeeded during the third visit. I was helped by pretty much the entire staff (including and especially Yolanda!), who refused to let me give up and never made me feel like I was burdening them. I am so thankful to Dr. Chu and her team - they've earned a lifelong customer. read more

I went in to get my glasses adjusted. They used Windex to clean my glasses and completely stripped the anti glare coating off my lenses. The owner claims Windex is an appropriate glasses cleaner. I've been wearing glasses for 20 years and have never heard any professional claim Windex is safe for lenses. Be warned they do not know what they are doing. read more

I've been looking for a new place to get my annual check up and new prescription for a while. Making my appointment was super easy and the staff were very friendly. As soon as I walked in someone came to greet me and helped me fill out all my paperwork. Dr. Chu was warm, friendly, and super knowledgeable. She helped me sort out the best options for me as someone who spends WAY too much time in front of a computer and often forgets my glasses are an option. She helped me make the switch from bi-weekly lenses to dailies, as well as sit with me and explain my retinal photos she took. I've have glasses and contacts for over 20 years and no doctor I've ever had has ever bothered to explain those photos to me or what I was looking at! We tuned up my eyes and I was able to walk out feeling comfortable and taken seriously. It's clear Dr. Chu loves what she does and cares about the community she cares for. I can't wait to come back to select a new pair of frames. read more

I've been going to this location for a couple years now. This year I took the deep dive on Oliver people frames and had my lenses done here. They are perfect and I'm super grateful for the team here-thanks again! read more

I had a great experience here when I came in for my eye checkup. The doctor is very knowledgeable, explains all of the procedures, isn't pushy, and is just overall friendly and approachable. The equipment is state-of-the-art. And I loved the selection of glasses. read more

Best eye doctor ever. She's an incredible person that cares about who you are and wants to make sure you are happy and comfortable. Everything was clean and staff was so friendly. read more

Superb range of tasteful frames and very friendly and patient service (I must've tried on 30-40 frames he selected for me until I found the perfect one). I've come in a few times with small issues/questions since I bought the glasses and the European guy who helped me was always very accomodating and took care of it with zero fuss. Great eyeglass buying experience from beginning to end :) read more

I will post the email correspondence I had with Manhattan Eyeworks along with an updated review. However before I do that I will respond to Manhattan Eyeworks post which I am now just reading on 4/27/18, 1 day after my appointment. Threatening me with legal action for posting what I experienced would only result in a frivolous meritless lawsuit. If I had read your response before I decided to give your establishment a 2nd chance I never would have come there. I have been wearing glasses most of my life. I have worked in medical offices and I repeat I NEVER had been asked for my SSN over the phone in order to make an appointment at an OP office. My plan and group# should have been enough to verify my eligibility. I offered to come to the establishment to provide the information and was declined. Sooo, I stand by my initial post and if you choose to take action you can. However, I did make an appointment and come in and do not regret my decision. After my review I was emailed with the following correspondence: Mahattan Eyeworks: Apr 23 (4 days ago) I am writing to you since you have scheduled a eye exam this week thurs at 5:30.I am concerned because you left us a Yelp review being unhappy and calling us SHADY.I am wondering why the change of heart and wanting us to provide eyecare to you.We take pride in our office and Dr.Chu takes her reviews very seriously.We have been here in the East Village for over 23 yrs and there is nothing SHADY about us.We would like to hear from you and address these concerns.Since you stated to Karina in the second phone call to our office and we authorized your insurance,you said that Dr.Chu has good reviews.Since we are all one office and all part of a cohesive practice i am not sure how one can be shady yet have good reviews.I would like your posting removed as a sign of good faith and we can start on the right footing and take care of your eyecare needs. My response: Apr 23 (4 days ago) Dr. Chu has excellent reviews regarding her expertise on United Health Care website, zocdoc.com and healthgrade.com. Those reviews do not mention Manhattan Eyeworks. They only address her expertise and service as an Optometrist. They are the reason I was motivated to make an appointment to see her. The first time I called to make an appointment with Manhattan Eyeworks to see Dr. Chu the person on the phone, Karina, initially was curt, impatient and eventually rude to me. The experience I described on Yelp happened exactly as I stated it. I had never been told I had to give my social security number over the phone in order to make and appointment. I even offered to walk to the location and provide the requested information but that was not accepted as an option. I wasn't rude or combative I simply declined to make and appointment. However, I was unnerved enough by the interaction to write a review on Yelp about it. My review had nothing to do with Dr. Chu but was with the person who received the initial call. I decided to call back and make an appointment because a colleague of mine said they had a good experience at the store location and to give them a chance and that Dr. Chu was worth any frustration I had with the personnel. When I called the second time to make an appointment my experience with the same individual was different than the first. Karina answered the phone again and I did not let her know I had a previous issue with her service. This time she was accommodating and polite and did not try to force me to give my social security number, Maybe she was having a bad day with our first interaction... it happens. In any event, I am confirming and looking forward to my appointment and I fully intend to update/revise my Yelp review after my appointment given all goes well. I appreciate you reaching out to me regarding my initial experience. Manhattan Eyeworks: Apr 23 (4 days ago) Thanks for the response and look foward to making things better for you.Just a heads up Dr. Chu has been having some health issues and May not be in Thurs.Her collegue Dr. Leong has been filling in for her.We will notify you on Wed.when we know for sure. I was greeted by the owner who was low-key snarky at first but I chose not to return his attitude and eventually he warmed up. I arrived early to fill out paperwork and they were very accommodating. I'm not sure if the young woman in the shop I interacted with was Karina, she was nice, and professional. The shop was small and clean. My appointment was with Dr. Leong and she was wonderful! Very warm, knowledgeable and made me feel at ease from the very start. My prescriptions were spot-on. I was able to find a decent pair of frames and ordered toric contact lenses for the 1st time. But I thought the selection was... okay. They didn't have many of my favorite brands. But I'm okay with what I got. read more

Just came back from a visit to this Manhattan Eyeworks store and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Having had a horrible experience at a nearyby Cohen's not too long ago, I was a bit wary of going to any optical shop in the East Village area. However, I was determined to be productive on my sick day and I made the 3 block trek down to ME. The visit: When I went, it was late afternoon so I was the only customer at the time. The whole process was very efficient and everyone on staff was very helpful. Even though I arrived at the store without an appointment, I was seated for an eye exam within 10 minutes. Dr. Raush (sp?) was very nice and patient, answering any questions I asked. Once I got my prescription, I went to pick out frames. The only downside is that they have a very small selection for the frames that are covered by my insurance (probably due to my crappy vision plan). There were 2 female staff members there who helped me with the frame selection process (not an easy task mind you). After about 20 minutes of trying on a variety of frames, I finally settled on a decent pair without having to break my bank. As for the actual product, my glasses will be ready by tomorrow or Thursday (not bad considering it took my last eye doctor a week to complete my order). Until then, this is my review of the store. More updates later when I can see better! Har har... read more

I've been going here for some 5 years. I moved to Texas about 2 years ago and couldn't find lenses that they sold here so I sent my glasses and those of my son's back to Manhattan Eyeworks to fill the prescription. They did it in record time and sent back the frames at no charge via Fedex. This is a great service to me. The main guy who works there has a peculiar attitude to people, not exactly gushing with friendliness, a bit aloof, however if you overlook that and I do, it's well worth using them. read more

Recently went to the East Village Manhattan Eyeworks to use up flex spending. (Don't forget to use it up and you can use flex for eyewear.) Got an eye exam, picked frames for prescription glasses, contacts, and sunglasses. Flex and insurance covered everything. More importantly the service was sincere and to the point. I hate having too many options, so after narrowing down the frame shape- all that was left was the aesthetics to the frame to seal the deal. Previous experiences at other stores took forever, pushing anything and everything on you, and the staff seemed so unenthusiastic about their jobs that I cringed. Manhattan Eyeworks is simple, quick, proactive, and to the point. And of course- showed passion for helping you look your best. The owner of the store, Frank, was attentive, has and a knack for understanding what suits your face shape, what would look best, suits your lifestyle, and the options available. Frank also gave a discount on everything and a rebate form for my contacts. All was ready in 36 hours. I was given a call to come get my glasses and a few more friendly reminder when I still didn't pick up my goods for a month. (In my defense- I was waiting for a sunny nice day to hang out in the East Village.) Frank reminded me that wearing the same pair of contacts for a month might damage my cornea. So I picked up my glasses and contacts, got the glasses fitted to not touch my eyelashes, and given another copy of the receipt and rebate form making my life easier and increasing the likelihood of me actually mailing the rebate in. This was my second time at the store. Originally I lived in the neighborhood and now live in Brooklyn. Well worth the trek to get quality service, warm reception, and some much needed humor. Makes eyeglass shopping seem less of a chore!! Contact: Frank- 212-460-9240 169 First Avenue, between 10th and 11th street http://manhattaneyeworks.net/ read more

I've been going to Manhattan Eyeworks for longer than I can remember. Over a couple of years, the optometrists saw something that they wanted a further opinion on and recommended I see an ophthalmologist (not for the prescription, but something else). That they knew what they knew and knew when to suggest more speaks very highly of their professionalism. They weren't egos. The staff have always been friendly. My latest visit was today and they were all very helpful (particular shout out to Lisa for all her help). There's low enough turnover that year to year they greet me as familiar, which provides a nice feel in this often impersonal world. One time, a few years ago, a mistake was made on one of the lenses of my prescription (the prescription was good, but got transcribed along the way incorrectly, leading to a bad lens). The optometrist went back and double-checked my records instead of assuming that the issue was mine (again, professional, not ego) and upon seeing the mistake took steps to get a fixed lens for me. Not only do I trust Manhattan Eyeworks with my business, I take my family there. read more

I've been going to Manhattan Eyeworks for over 10 years and its the best place in the city for eyeglasses and vision needs. They have a great selection of frames that is always updated and in tune with current fashions. The opticians and staff are all very helpful and friendly. The owner Frank is a great guy who always works with me on finding the right frame and prescription for my glasses and contacts. I keep going back and would recommend this place to anyone looking for first rate service and product. Its nice to support a small business that has been around for many years and does its best to serve the neighborhood and its people with quality at a good price. read more

Customer service here IS AMAZING! I truly appreciate everyone here from the kind woman who sold me the glasses (so different from the run of the mill glasses sold everywhere) and the lovely gentleman who has fixed these glasses numerous times because I'm such a klutz! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'll come here forever and everyone here should come here too! Their selection and customer service is so hard to find anywhere in the city! read more

I went in on a Saturday as a walk-in (Saturday and walk-in, definitely a plus) and was immediately greeted and asked what I was looking for. One of the girls working there took my insurance card, printed out the coverage and explained to me exactly what it was going to cost me for either glasses or contacts. As I pointed out a few frames that I might be interested in, she took the initiative to pro-actively pick out frames that might best fit me and also gave her opinions on which frames she thought looked the best. I picked out a pair of frames I liked and she broke down the costs for compacting the frames, anti glare, etc etc. She was extremely helpful. There was hardly any waiting befoer I saw the doctor (Raush or something along those lines). It was the standard procedure and he was very thorough, recommended more breathable contact lenses and the whole procedure was quick and painless. Overall, great customer service, fast, convenient. Thanks! read more

Chose the place based off positive Yelp reviews and them accepting my insurance. The eye exam itself was fine. There was no wait. The optometrist didn't have anything resembling a personality, but he got the job done in terms of giving me a prescription for slightly stronger lenses. I found the frames selection there to be very underwhelming. They all looked cheap, but the prices certainly weren't. The woman helping was friendly enough and tolerated me trying on many frames. I was having a hard time deciding whether to use my insurance to pay for the new frames or the contacts. I decided to use it on the frames since they claimed they had a great rebate for me to use. Long story short - I bought the lenses and they didn't qualify for the rebate. Also wasn't a huge fan of the store itself and the guy who explained my benefits to me wasn't the friendliest. This was easily the worst eye glass shopping experience of my life. I won't be returning. read more

Manhattan Eyeworks is awesome! Great service from phone call to exam. You can tell a lot about a business from the way they handle the small things and they clearly cared about every detail. Dr. Chu is thorough, smart and takes the time to make you comfortable and answers every question. In fact, she said if I had any new questions afterwards, that she or her staff would happily answer them. This place rocks! read more

The whole experience from making the appointment with Dr. Chu to ordering glasses and contacts with Frank went seamlessly. The entire staff welcomed me and I was seen right away. I left the office being the most informed of my optic health. I am a huge proponent of preventive care. I am now aware of the importance of annual optic check ups. I am looking forward to seeing them next year. read more

Came for contacts and glasses for the first time in...I would say 6-7 years. Everything was great and extremely efficient. I got in and out in about 30 mins. One funny spot was when I tried on the glasses, mind you, I have a huge head. When I tried on one pair of the glasses the lady helping me laughed at me because I looked ridiculous. I'll have to agree with her, since it felt like I was wearing my baby brother's lenses. We came to a conclusion after many tries...and at the end and I walked about with a nice pair. read more

Changed my review from 5 to 3 stars because of rude treatment by the owner. Would not go back there. Will miss Dr. Chu, the optometrist. She's great. Very knowledgeable, communicates clearly. Very helpful with eye care. read more

DUDE. This place ROCKS. Not only is the staff super friendly and accommodating (listened while I gabbed, charged my phone, no purchase pressure, honest feedback on how lenses looked, squeezed me in for a last min exam), but the selection of lenses was awesome. I couldn't make a decision and they came through with incentives and advice. Come here and be treated like a human! read more

Great contact lens eye exam price without insurance, $99. Good service and did not wait very long. The doctor himself is nice and does a thorough exam, checking for eye problems and changing lens for a perfect vision. I went here based on views and pleased with the outcome. Thanks Yelp! read more

As an update to the previous review, I was able to use my benefits for my contacts after all since luckily you're able to retroactively claim a receipt. Manhattan Eyeworks also gave me a free month of contacts given their mistake, which I appreciated. read more

Dr Chu is nice and friendly. One star less because they only perform "premium" contact lens fittings ($99 vs $40 regular for insurance) which I find annoying, and there was no difference from regular fittings I've had in the past. read more

Good service, reasonable prices, and friendly, patient staff. I'm a repeat customer. Would have given 5 of 5 stars if they had some more Rx sunglasses to choose from. But I'm picky. Staff and service get 5 of 5 stars. Frame selection for non-sunglasses gets 4 of 5, and for sunglasses, 3 of 5. read more