BEWARE!!!! Do not go to this place unless you want the assistant to be your eye doctor!!! The assistant who is unqualified did not listen to me when I said my contacts that was given to me as a trial pair hurts and keeps popping out. She insisted I feel the order and that was normal. Later when I got an eye infection from the improper fit that she fitted me for not the eye doctor. Now they have charged me over and over and wants me to pay again for another set of contacts that should have been taken care of when I said my contacts hurt. You cannot see your eye doctor again because they block you.. Worst place I have ever been. When I finally did see an eye doctor her first thing was you was fitted improperly and we can refit you with a proper pair.. even told me my contacts was under warranty. But when I went back the ASSISTANT again blocked me from the doctor and wants me to pay full price again. Do not go to this place it is not the same anymore. I would give them a 0 if I could. read more

I am getting old, and my vision is worsening. I had glasses for a year from these guys. I wanted to try contacts. No way, I thought I would EVER be able to get them in and out effectively. I would say after my first session with Yelena, I was thinking it's possible. Her patience, coaching, and belief in me helped immensely. I had other training sessions scheduled, and it helped build confidence. She is amazing, but by the last one, I was doing it with ease. I was and am tickled and love that I can do this, and THEY WORK perfectly. What a gift. I love them. The bonus was Doc Jodi told me, " I don't look so old with my contacts in". LOL, this place makes you feel great and gets the job done. The girls up front are always smiling, and they give you chocolate. I say give Yelena a raise, heck, give everybody a raise. JOB WELL DONE ALL!!!! read more

A history of failures, major inconveniences, and arrogance. Today we were turned away from our appointments made a year ago because we didn't respond to a text message confirming our appointments. When we asked to speak to someone, Kaylee (receptionist) quite defensively said that "(we) made the appointment a year ago and didn't know if "we" were coming". No call. No notice. A morning taken from work wasted and with ZERO remorse. This is a classic example of taking the humanity out of business, nonetheless medicine. Their model literally is: if you don't respond to a text message (which looks like spam), we'll not only ruin your day, we'll impact your healthcare! All of this on top of a previous appointment being canceled when I arrived due to "equipment issues". While the medical staff has always been professional, whoever runs the front office needs some coaching. To be clear, we received these messages and didn't respond. Lesson learned - go to a more professional, caring practice. *For a realistic video recap of the interaction, Google and watch Seinfeld's rental car reservation conversation. read more

I have never been to a more caring and friendly practice. My partner has been going to Nilsen for years and has always said it was a great experience. I had previously gone to another practice but had a hard time getting an appointment this time, so I went to Nilsen on my husband's recommendation. Nilsen takes Covid safety very seriously and keeps everything immaculately clean. They have an outdoor check-in location and keep everyone spaced inside. Everything is wiped down thoroughly between patients. Wait times are short. Staff is helpful and so friendly. Everyone is absolutely lovely here. Examination is thorough and everything is explained so well. Personally, I find eye exams a bit overwhelming and scary, but I felt totally at ease here and well educated about my eye health. Working with my insurance is also easy. Great in-house selection of glasses frames too. My husband has also gotten frame repairs done very quickly and easily at the practice. I cannot recommend Nilsen enough. They put you at ease and work hard to make everything easy and comfortable for the patient. read more

Prompt service while being very conscious of your time. Great selection of eyewear but always willing to fix anything that goes wrong with the glasses. I would recommend them over and over read more

Unfortunately they are more focused on selling services and product than to actually take care of their patients. Find a different place.

I had a great experience at Nilsen Eye Care and highly recommend their practice. They came highly recommended to me and after my appointment, I understand the hype. I arrived early to my appointment and was expecting to have to wait before being seen, but I was immediately taken back to get started. Kamy, the technician, was really nice and explained the purpose behind all of the basic checks. Even the dreaded "eye puff" test wasn't as bas as I was expecting. After a few minutes of waiting, I was seen by Dr. Perry. He was really friendly and was able to make some recommendations for treating my dry eye. He suggested a specific brand of eye drops available at the pharmacy as opposed to having to pay big bucks for Restasis. I'm really pleased with his recommendation as I've noticed a difference in my eyes already. While I was there, I was fitted for some glasses to use while I work on the computer. Alfred was so patient as I tried on a million different frames and has a great eye for aesthetics. He helped me pick a frame that was in my budget and looks good on me. Thanks, Nilsen Eye Care for the painless experience. I will be recommending them to my friends and family in the Richmond area. read more

I am very happy & impressed with my first visit. My doctor was very knowledgeable & offered explanations in a very easy to understand way. Grace in the Optics Department has impeccable customer service skills. She is extremely knowledgeable & honest. If she ever tries to leave, they need to hang on tight & beg her not to. I love the selection of glasses & I will definitely be back as well as refer Nilsen to everyone. read more

Never never use this Eye Doctor! One star for the general service and exam. My husband and I went on the recommendation of my daughter and we checked with our insurance, and they were listed. Well, they didn't file with my eye insurance they filed with my Medicare care provider and charged both of us for the Medicare deductible without filing first to see if it was paid. We have secondary insurance that pays our deductible so this an unnecessary charge! My husband paid the bill while I was looking at new frames and he didn't understand. First because he wears hearing aids and secondly because his eyes were dilated and it was bothering him and the excuse about the eye insurance not covering our visit was very confusing. I wanted to leave because I was uncomfortable with the salespeople watching me look at the frames, which were very pricey by the way. Now back to my daughter, she had my granddaughter's eyes examined there and was very pleased again until the end and spent an exorbitant amount of over $700.00 on two pair of glasses. When my husband and I we're picking out our frames at another location, my granddaughter found similar if not same frames for about 90% less! Go figure. I finding it hard to explain... read more

Had problem with the fit of my glasses. Came in as a walk-in & was immediately helped. Amanda provided service that was Second to None.

This is about my third year at Nilsen, and I am even more impressed by the service provided during the pandemic. Safety, sanitation, physical distancing, and proper make usage has been handled better here than anywhere else I have gone, including hospitals. Almost everywhere else I've gone for medical care has left me utterly appauled at the carelessness--masks not worn by staff, masks under noses (on the part of staff and patients), overcrowded waiting rooms with zero concern for physical distancing, and the like. I was dreading an eye visit because of how close shared equipment comes to your face and having to trust that the people who will be mere inches from your face will have on proper masks and will sanitize their hands appropriately. I felt so at ease upon entering Nilsen Eye clinic. There was a tent outside to check temperatures AND sanitize all hands with the proper sanitizer for Covid-19 (not the benzalkonium chloride or low alcohol percentage stuff) before walking in. Glasses were set aside for sanitizing after trying on, and they even had an outdoor tent area with a mirror to try on glasses without a mask. There were plexiglass dividers between opticians and patients to discuss lens needs. ALL staff wore masks properly at all times, as did patients. There were signs everywhere about wearing their masks to protect us and asking that we wear ours to protect them, and NOT to remove masks when staff leaves the exam room (Hello, people, you risk contaminating all of that equipment and the chairs!). Get this, they actually enforce what they say. They ask patients who do not comply to pull up their masks and respectfully inform that failure to adhere will result in being asked to leave. Finally! Someone actually cares. I want to go to the doctor to be well, not get ill. Thank you SO much to everyone at Nilsen for being consistently professional, kind, thorough, and fr sincerely caring about your patients and community. I am definitely going to remain a faithful patient. Everyone from the outdoor tent, to the front desk, to optical was well-trained, knowledgeable, and friendly. Best of all, the folks in optical give honest feedback and really work hard to find something that suits your tastes. They are even willing to order frames for your to try, out of the brands they offer, with no obligation to purchase. Dr. Eric Nilsen is always a joy. He has truly created a culture of excellence in his office. I see why I was recommended to him by one of my own doctors who is herself a patient of his. read more

Though I love dr. Stacy, had more than one tough experiences with the front desk. Total shame- ended up leaving the practice after my whole family has been patrons for almost 10 years. We do not have eye health insurance, so we pay out of pocket. About 7 months into my prescription, I feel like I'm not seeing as well- Called to schedule a prescription check and was told that is not doable, I would need to have an FULL exam. Out of pocket again. Contact lens prescriptions are supposed to be valid for 12 months, glasses prescriptions valid for 24 months. So grubby and disappointing. Made my disappointment known and was never contacted, never followed up with. Just deactivated. Crazy read more

I've never ever been to see an optometrist. Truth be told I've been putting it off as long as I possibly could. Well for my first visit, Dr. Nilsen did NOT disappoint. The staff was super friendly and Dr. Nilsen is so nice!! I learned a lot and got my first pair of glasses. He had a nice selection to chose from and a great team. It was worth the drive from Short Pump for sure. read more

Nilsen Eye Care - Loving my new glasses and eyesight. - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Overall, not happy. After getting an appointment in one day things went downhill. All I wanted was a new prescription. I see another practice annually due to diabetes. It is covered 100% by insurance. I was quoted a price of $20 copay for my visit for the Rx visit since it wasn't a full evaluation and less than one year. No problem. After a lengthy visit and exam, I was charged $50 for a specialist copay. I neither requested this nor needed this as it was not my regular opthamologist and it was too soon. I also had to wait longer because when the third tech put my own glasses on the apparatus to "read" my existing Rx, he broke my frames! Fortunately he found a frame that would accommodate my lenses. Tech #4 had to then take the replacement frames and straighten them. After getting their sales pitch for new frames and lenses (which I had already told tech #1 and the optomotrist I didn't want, I was told of the $50 charge. I was told it was because I was diabetic. I paid and left, only to realize I never got my new Rx, which was all I wanted to start with! All SIX employees I dealt with were nice, courteous and professional. The process, unnecessary services and charges were anything but. I did go back and get my Rx. I almost certainly won't go back. I hope this was just a bad day for all of us. read more

Best care I've had at any health-related establishment ever. Flowed like clock work. Every step of the process was thorough and efficient. Everything very well explained. Overall fantastic experience. read more

Unfortunately yelp steered me wrong here. I decided to go here after reading several positive reviews. Unfortunately, I did not have a good experience. The staff are very friendly and polite however they have shady practices. I didn't receive my prescription or the trail pair of contacts when I left the office although I was told they were in my bag. I called and was told they would email it over. They then sent me someone else's prescription. After I received the correct one I went ahead and ordered contacts only to have them not work for me. I went back and they gave me a different pair to try. Those didn't work either so I asked to go back to my original type of lenses. I wish they would have just listened to me and ordered what I wanted from the get go. It was a long, unpleasant process. I won't be going back to this eye doctor's office again. read more

I have been a patient here for 2 years now and recently I was here in the first days they re-opened with modified hours following the openings during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have an amazing group of staff, from the eye-care team to the support staff. They are on top of safety and health for their patients. I work in the healthcare field and have been deployed in COVID-19 care-team situations and the way this team has stayed on top of safety measures to ensure a clean and safe environment for patient care, is nothing short of some of the best I've seen anywhere. I've seen Dr. Alexandra Nilsen and her husband Dr. Eric Nilsen, both are excellent and take time for patient care and education. Seeing the clinicians here meet those standards and take the time for me as a patient, I very much appreciate. I recommend them highly and will continue to see them for my eye-care needs! read more

Amazing! I scheduled my first appointment and was seen within 6 days. Everything was explained in fine detail and I had my glasses within 3 hours!!! The staff are incredibly nice and are the epitome of excellent customer service. I was seen immediately upon arrival. Excellent service, excellent staff, great value! I will recommend you to anyone I know that has or needs glasses! read more

What a great experience! From the front desk, to Dr. Nelson, to his opticians and the finish, it was excellent. Very service-based and personal as well as experienced and professional. I couldn't be happier! read more

I cannot say enough about Dr. Nilsen and his staff. My daughter has not been to him in over a year since she moved to Roanoke for grad school but I still contacted them with questions about a problem she was having with her eye. Based on what I told them they advised her to go to an eye Doctor in Roanoke and get another diagnosis. She had been diagnosed with pink eye at a minute clinic but it was in fact an ulcer on her cornea which can be very serious if not treated. They go above and beyond when it comes to their patients and have even followed up to check on her. I am very grateful to Dr. Nilsen and his staff. I would highly recommend them! read more

As soon as I walked in the door, it felt like I was just coming home for dinner. The staff was welcoming with big smiles, and asking how my day was going. I have never had an eye exam that was so comprehensive. Last year, a Doctor from another firm told me that I needed cataract surgery. Today, Dr. Nilsen said that I am not close to needing surgery. Wow. read more

Wonderful service and great care by the service providers-all of them! We are loyal and thrilled to have found them.

This is the first negative review I have ever written. I would give them zero stars if possible. I've been wearing glasses for 15 years and contacts for 10 years and in those many years of optometrist visits this is by far the worst experience I've ever had. Their lack of helpfulness and flexibility is astounding. Further they may want to check ''Anna's'' attitude. I will promptly be switching optometrists. Goodluck to those that attempt being a patient here. read more

AVOID them.. Doctors are good but the staff is NOT! RUDE it the best way I can say it..We have been going here for 5 years. Due to Covid we missed the last few years... I have underlining health issues and was staying at home so I didn't make an appointment sooner. They consider me and my husband NEW patients now so we have to pay the new patient fee and our health insurance changed. My daughter saw them and in the last two years so she got a discount. We were not at privileged to get the same discount, even though we have been seeing them for over 5 years. Appointment JUST for an exam was going to be $150 each. This is STUPID expensive. We didn't even know, until the day before our appointment and they would not budge on the price, even after they gave our daughter a discount last month. YEP they lost all of us as patients. I cancelled both my husbands appointments and my daughters for next Nov. AND found a good eye doctor that only charges us $50 for the exams each. We saved $200... bye bye Nilsens ... you over charge and your staff is unfriendly. read more

If you are an informed consumer, Nilsen Eye Care is a disaster of an institution. 1) They do NOT have a good selection of either contacts or glasses (and they won't order them either). You do NOT have to buy glasses or contacts from them. 2) They won't mention cost up front when they perform routine tests, so ask (about the costs associated) before you commit to any tests. You do NOT have to submit to any tests. The practice is so bloated and big that you'll be passed around from technician, to front office staff members, to sales people. They try so hard to milk every dollar they can from customers that they forget to make a true connection with their clientele. I do have to give them credit for turning an eye exam into a conveyor belt of profit making potential. If you like the constant hounding of sales people coupled with cheap products, you'll love Nielsen Eye Care! read more

Dr. Nilsen and his office staff are amazingly kind, professional and tentative. We have never been to any doctor's office that treats everyone with so much care and respect. We used to go to a nearby Doctor's office at Harbour Point & decided to try Dr Nilsen's office. Although his office is 25 minutes further from us, we would gladly drive much longer distance to see him. Even my daughter who didn't want to drive that far is very happy she made the change. At the end I like to say, that many may like their current doctor and office staff may seem personable enough but you never know until you have a question for the doctor or when an issue arises. Every time, I walk into this office or have a question, I am amazed as how this office has 100%, a collection of the nicest, most brilliant staff. Others should visit this office and learn. read more

If this place doesn't deserve five stars, nobody does.. I've been going for years and I'm always impressed by how organized the place is run. And everyone greets me with a smile. Well done. read more

Great service, the people who work here are very friendly and kind. The doctors make the experience comfortable and are very professional. Love this eye care place, the best I've been to so far! read more

I was referred by a friend that they did great work so I decided to check them out. I went because I didn't feel my previous prescription was correct. Doctor Perry figured out the reason after a few short tests and also mentioned some other health issues that I need to stay aware off in the future that I never had a optometrist ever even mentioned before. I felt that I was not another patient in the "get them in, get them out ". I was thinking about LASIK but Sr. Perry advised that I didn't have enough risk/benefit to have the surgery but he has a lot of LASIK surgeries under his belt if I needed it in another 4-5 years. Lets hope it longer. Would highly recommend. read more

Not many firms or professionals live up to their mottoes, but your firm has provided services to me in a "compassionate way... (with) thoroughness in eye care". I now have a referral to a specialist and picked up my new glasses yesterday. The new glasses are great and everyone at Nilsen treated me quickly with compassion and thoroughness. read more

Everyone there is so professional and kind! Dr. Lexy Nilsen took so much time with me and really explained what she saw in my photos and made me feel very comfortable! They are WONDERFUL! I will never go anywhere else! read more

They are pushy in all the wrong ways. Their front office staff will bother you via email, text, and phone. They have the worst selection of glasses. Plus, they are all over priced. Mostly, a bunch of discontinued past season glasses they get from their vendor that they over price to make a considerable profit. You can get better glasses at Zenni for under $20. Watch out for hidden charges that they don't warn you up front about. You go in for a routine examination, and your itemized bill will have various items that you never asked for. A typical comprehensive eye exam costs about $175 at Nilsen. You can get the same thing from Target or Walmart for $60. They are not flexible at all. They want what they want & they don't care about the customer's experience. They try to twist your arm into purchasing what they have in stock; they will not make an attempt at ordering anything for you. read more

I've been going to this office for the past 2 years. I have never had a complaint here. The staff is always friendly, prompt and attentive. I've been seen by at least 3 different Optometrists, and every single one of them has been amazing. My visit last week was extra special because I had laryngitis and absolutely NO voice. I had to answer with head nods and thumbs up/down. I had a pen and paper to write any questions I had. The staff was truly accommodating in every way. Matthew was the best, and made me feel comfortable and laugh (as best I could) the entire time. I can't say enough good things about this office. I'd recommend this place to anyone! read more

This practice is all about customer service - my husband and I switched from VEI and couldn't be happier.

Our whole family has been going to Nilsen Eye Care for 5-6 years. We feel lucky to have found this "gem". It is by far the best run optometry office in the Richmond area. The Drs are all friendly, knowledgeable, and exceptionally capable. The support staff sets the bar really high for consistency and quality customer care. read more

They are super awesome! Very friendly staff. They explain everything they are doing and what to expect. My eye dr. had retired and I was worried I would not find another practice that was like his. No worries any more. Nielsen eye care is my new go to EYE PEOPLE! Easy to schedule and Saturday hours too! read more

By far the best eye care facility in the area. On my last visit and every visit the entire staff was friendly, courteous and attentive from the moment I walked trough the door until I waved goodbye as I left. Dr. Eric Nilsen has the most pleasant bedside manner of any doctor I've ever visited; conversing about family, history, movies and a variety of topics before and after conducting his eye exam. He not only cares about your eye health but your total wellness. A visit to this office is like visiting friends. If you're looking for a great eye care office call Nilsen Eye Care! You'll be happy you did! read more

These guys are awesome. Very friendly and always take care of me and my family. I truly enjoy going to Dr. Nilsen and his staff. If you need a great place to get your eye care needs handled this is it! read more

The most thorough eye exam I have had ever. Beside that, the staff were friendly with senses of humor and great personalities.