I've been here for three visits at this SSF location--their new building since they left next to KFC , but they're now next to Starbird--(fried chicken is the constant :-). It's not a deal breaker but parking sucks here. They have a dedicated garage but it's a pain in the ass and awkward to get in and out, a cavernous ridiculous poorly designed space. Maybe it's me being clumsy. Either way, I hate it. Been going here specifically for appointments with Dr. Christian Chew. We've been doing IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) by [FDA-approved Lumens OptiLight], which is a contraption of epic proportion and I'm guessing hella expensive, which is why only this office has it. Optica's also in Millbrae, but this machine is not there. I've had 100% excellent experiences here: bright, clean snazzy new digs, surprisingly spacious. Lynette and Jenna are at the front desk and assisting elsewhere--they're super friendly, warm, attentive, sweet, and super helpful. By the time I went in for my IPL consult, I'd already had: meibomian gland expression, punctal plugs, hydrating sleep mask, moist heated pads, prescription eye drops Miebo and Cequa + a host of other drops and gels. My bathroom counter looks like a damn pharmacy. My LAL cataract surgery put me over the edge with my dry eye, to the point I could no longer manage with my plethora of eye drops. Ask me if all this worked? NOT! Using eye drops a dozen times daily, I was freaking out--my stupid dry eye was seriously interfering with my daily functioning, e.g. my clients were asking me why my eyes were watering and/or if I was crying! Not a good look for a psychotherapist lol :-) I tried to get IPL a few years ago but was told that because I have olive skin, tan easily and never burn, I wasn't a good candidate (they didn't want to risk scarring or whatever). But here we are today, and years later, Dr. Chew has reached a level of experience with the OptiLight, such that he's finessed with technique. Operating it is not merely technical, it's a practiced art. I initially went in for an impromptu same day consult (thanks to Dr. Florendo who expedited it). I went in for a consult and was not supposed to get the treatment on that visit, but I was desperate and determined: I begged, coaxed, cajoled ... groveled, e.g. entreating "please, pleeez," for Dr. Chew to give me a tx. same day (I didn't want to go home without an intervention) ... he must've taken pity, because drum roll ... he did! He assessed no contraindications and was confident enough to know I was a decent candidate and likely would not have untoward side-effects from the treatment ... yesss! I've never looked back because my success is unmatched! I know this is hyperbole, all cases are different/unique, blah blah and I'm melodramatic but I'm so stoked about how much easier it is to get through the day, e.g. now I put only 4 or 5 different drops 2 to 3x daily and I barely tear up. WTH? I call this dumbfounding serious success! Dr. Chew is an absolute rock star, his facility and expertise with that beast of a machine on display every single time we do a treatment. My triumph is that this IPL works! Hallelujah! Did I mention I was initially apprehensive? Not sure who the doctor was, whether we'd have a seamless interaction (I can be a prickly, picky patient) ... I need not have worried because Dr. Chew is fire. I so appreciate him, for not only his expertise and knowledge, but for his demeanor: he's chill and relaxed, conversational, personable and approachable with a sense of humility. I can work with his down to earth and unprepossessing style. I cannot work with doctors who are old school officious or pompous with airs. I got no time for ego--eff it--I'm too old for that, I'm done. You know those doctors who think they know your body and symptoms better than you? That's the opposite of Dr. Chew, who's open enough to actively listens and doesn't assume. The total cost (it's out of pocket cuz greedy ass insurance demons don't cover it) of the four IPL txs. is very reasonable. After the initial four txs., every so often, depending on recurrence of symptoms, there's a tune up. Sign me up. Whatever it takes. Thank-god for this technology. It's worth every single penny! read more

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Been going here for years. Quality care, great customer service, clean facility. Highly recommend. read more

Optica Optometry - Optometrists Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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Dr. Chew and his team have been my go-to team for the past 5+ years excelling at optometry services and getting glasses. I moved to the Central Valley in 2021 and after going to several offices here, nothing beats Optica Optometry. The service is swift and organized, greeted with a friendly face when you walk in. You do your tests and get your prescription. The staff take careful attention making you feel 1 of 1 as you try on different glasses. I can tell they curate and rotate seasonally depending on trends which I appreciate. They really work to make it within your budget and consider it all when it comes down to pricing. Their expertise and knowledge is evident through the whole experience. They're my go to and hope they become yours as well! read more

Optica Optometry - They have a great selection of designer frames that they can customize for you which was a surprise! Ended up getting both. - Optometrists Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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The staff were courteous and friendly, the office is spacious and equipment is modern. So no complaints on the ambiance.. However, I agree with the comment below. After the appointment, It's obvious that they are limiting sales to themselves. Very frustrating that they refuse to provide my prescription, even after repeated requests. read more

I had high hopes for this office as it is close to home. Unfortunately, this was my experience: * When I arrived at the office for my exam, I let them know that I was covered by two separate insurances (both VSP). This should cover my exam fully. I was told by the doctor that there was another test that they wanted to run but that would cost an extra $40. I refused since I shouldn't have to pay extra and I am also seeing an Ophthalmologist, but they ultimately did the test and did not charge me. * I was asking for glasses and contacts. When I told the young woman (I am not sure if she is an Optician or receptionist) that I had been given two years of contacts from my last optometry place, she laughed at me and said she couldn't do that. (She ultimately looked up my coverage again and saw that I had medically covered contacts). This is something that should have been reviewed before a patient comes in. * When I picked up my glasses (and the extra year of contacts), I expected the Optician to fit my glasses. This is something that all Opticians are trained to do. He did not want to do this. When I asked him to adjust the glasses, he went into the back and took his time coming back. When I told him that he took too long to do a simple adjustment, he told me "it takes time to adjust the glasses because it is an artform". I will add that I spent two years working at an optometrist's office, so I know how it is to work with insurance and patients. I also know how to do a simple adjustment on a pair of glasses which only takes a few minutes to do. This was the worst experience I have ever had. I hope management reads my review as the staff there need to be trained better. I won't be returning. read more

The office is now open in a new space in SSF, spacious office to display all the frames!!! Same knowledge staff and best doctors for your eyes!!! read more

Optica Optometry - New spacious office!!! - Optometrists Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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Terrible service and very unprofessional. Also not good at treating patients that have even the slightest complication iwith their vision. I would not recommend those place to anyone who has any kind of astigmatism or other complex issues as Optica will be of no help. read more

I was impressed by the staff, service and selection of frames. Dr. Michael Chew is personable and give practical guidance. Mikey the Optician was able to help with my glasses selection. He also has an innate talent of adjusting and repairing my older frames. read more

I had a regular eye exam and contact lens exam, and I felt that the combined exam was more thorough than eye exams I've had in the past. The doctor was friendly and didn't seem rushed. After the appointment, the front desk staff didn't seem to consider that I may want to purchase my lenses elsewhere, and no written prescription was offered. While I did not press the issue at the time, I believe the law (16 CFR 315.3 and 16 CFR 456.2) requires the doctor to provide me with one regardless, so this was a disappointment. read more

Although I live really close so Optica Optometry it was my first time visiting and it's definitely my go to now! I had an appointment with Dr. Christian Chew and he was amazing! He answered my questions and the office was really clean and neat. They do accept walk ins but I would highly recommend making an appointment since when I went in there was quite a crowd. There's ample of free parking on the street as well! Always a bonus. I went in to check my contact lens prescription so I haven't checked out their glasses selection but it seems like they do have a huge range of selection. Definitely come check them out! Worth a visit read more

Amazing staff!! New patient and they were able to get me an appointment the same week. Everyone is very patient and attentive. If you're looking for a new place to get your glasses and prescription, look no more! My appointment was at 11:00 and I was called in at 11:00. They're really good with time, and Dr. Chew was friendly and made conversation throughout the appointment. They have a variety of glasses from different brands to choose from as well. The place is a bit tight but they're moving to a new and bigger location this year! read more

This place was like a hidden gem! So I was at KFC getting a 2 piece meal, then I noticed there was an optometry next door. Perfect timing, I need to get my eyes check before the end of the year and I didn't want to waste my insurance. After I got my food I walked into the optometry asked if they had any appointments before the end of the year. They gave me a range of dates in December and was able to find a day that works perfectly with my schedule. Dr. Chew was so pleasant in making my appointment he tried every way to accommodate for my schedule. The appointment was even better! Let me tell the Dr. Chew was such a professional he's attention to detail was amazing! I was blown away by his knowledge of his field. I'd 100% recommend this place to everyone!! If you haven't been here before, try it at least once. They will care good care of you. read more

It's been just about two years since Dr. Chew has become my primary eye doctor and I've had the best experience going to Optica Optometry. I suffer from severe keratoconus and Dr. Chew and his staff have been amazing at accommodating my condition. Dr. Chew meticulously dials in the fit and correction of my lenses over the course of several months and as a result, my vision is the best it's been in more than a decade. It takes several appointments to really get my vision corrected, and Dr. Chew is very patient with me as we go through each round of lenses. Not to mention how communicative his administrative staff are. If I need updates, changes to my appointment, or have questions, they're great at getting back to me quickly or helping me on the spot. If you've ever experienced really weird vision, halo effects, doubling of letters, get diagnosed here at Optica!! They'll definitely take care of you. read more

Such a nice business. They were friendly and knowledgeable. They let me take my time to be sure about my choice of glasses. They have a great selection of frames to choose from although it many low priced options. One of the best places I've found for filling my optical prescription. read more

Optica is hands down the best Optometry Office in town. I have extremely challenging prescription to work with but Dr. Michael Chew has been nothing short of amazing in treating my eyes. With extremely high prescription and astigmatism, it is very difficult for me to adjust to new glasses and contacts. However, Dr. Michael Chew always takes the time to thoroughly examine my eyes and provides answers to all my questions. I have been considering getting Lasik surgery. Due to my astigmatism, I have to be under close monitor to be able to qualify for the procedure. Dr. Michael Chew has been astonishingly helpful with this process. He informs me of all the possible options and even consults with his associate, Dr. Christian Chew, about my condition for a second option. Administrative staff is also extremely helpful and friendly. Their Optician, Mikey, has been exceptional in assisting me with glasses fitting. Because of my high prescription, I have very limited choices on frames and lenses. Mikey always knows what would work best for my face and prescription. He even takes the time to adjust the frames so that they don't hurt my ears! This office absolutely provides the best service and care in the area. It is a family owned business so I could understand why they care deeply about their patients. I am so happy with their service that I have not gone to any other offices in the past 5 years! Overall, great service, excellent patient care, easy texting/calling communication system, clean office, wide selection of glasses, and plenty of street/backlot parking!! read more

I think the service, selection of glasses, and the store were superior. We like going there every year.

Had such a wonderful experience here, so I decided to write my first Yelp review! This was my first time visiting Optica Optometry, but needless to say, I will definitely be going back. I recently switched my health insurance and was unsure of my coverage, but Michael was very patient with me and assisted me in understanding what type of products/services were covered. Other staff members, Maria and Linette, were friendly and even helped me to choose out my glasses when I was indecisive! They go above and beyond to help their customers, I received a phenomenal customer service here and I really appreciate it. I had exams with Dr. Chew and Dr. Florendo, they're the best! Both were very professional, took the time to really explained what goes on during the exams, and very thorough with my check-up. I used to visit Costco for my eye exams, but the exam would sometimes last less than 10 minutes. I like that Dr. Chew and Dr. Florendo were patient and really cared about my eye health as well as help me to see better. I never felt rushed and the whole process was a memorable one. Also, I'm so happy with the glasses that I got from here, so I had to add a picture along with this review. Thank you to everyone at Optica Optometry! read more

Optica Optometry - So happy with my new glasses! I can now see clearly again! - Optometrists Near Me - South San Francisco, California

New patient and this will be my local optometristFrom the front staff to the doctors my initial visit was professional and helpful when picking out frames . Picked my glasses up and the experience was the same excellent! Hidden gem in SSF read more

Great customer service and staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. Dr. Chew was able to answer all my questions and was great! They even adjusted my glasses so it fit perfectly on my face. They have a wide selection of glasses and can even help pick what style or shape glasses look good with my face shape. =) I would definitely recommend and support this family owned business to everyone! read more

Today is my son's first visit with Dr. Chew, and we can't stop saying good things about this place and of course our great doctor! This place is clean, staff are friendly, and Dr. Chew is professional :) My son can't wait to go back for his new glasses in two weeks. I think we found our favorite spot for vision care and services. Thank you Optica Optometry for the great experience! Also they have great selections of various eye glasses from affordable to fancy, Dior visor ($570) is super cute but out of my price range :p read more

Optica Optometry - Dior visor $570 - Optometrists Near Me - South San Francisco, California

I was looking for a new optometrist after mine had closed down, that's when I found Optica optometry on Yelp. I saw it had great reviews, accepted my insurance, and was near where I work. I gave them a call and the gentleman over the phone quickly was able to confirm with me that they do in fact take my insurance, and were able to get me an appointment the very next day. I was delighted to hear that as it has been difficult finding an appointment these days. I arrived early to my appointment to get started on the first-time-visit paperwork, but I really did not like that they only have one couch inside the clinic. I went to my appointment after work and was hoping to get a chance to sit down while I fill out the paperwork, but another guest was on the single couch they had and I had to fill out the documents standing up. It's a minor thing, but noticeable. Dr. Anjelica Rayo Called me in and was my optometrist. She did an absolutely excellent job at making my first visit with them go so smooth and so comfortable. Clinical appointments tend to get awkward in my opinion because you're inside a closed room with another person that you don't even know, all alone, it's easy for there to be awkwardness. Not the case with Dr. Rayo. She's really great at small talk and making her patients comfortable in that eye exam seat. another thing I really appreciated is that she always comments and explains what she is doing as she does it so that i'm fully aware of what is going on. She appeared to be very young but do not let that distract from her professionalism, as she greatly enlightened me on the different choices I had based off the results she observed. I'm definitely going to be looking to make my next appointments with her. When it came to buying glasses however, I was greatly underwhelmed at the limited variety they had. The staff Is absolutely terrific and genuinely tried to help me find what I was looking for, but there just wasn't that many choices, it's a very small clinic after all. I appreciate the no pressure feeling that the staff delivered, never did feel like I was being pressured to purchase their glasses as other optometrists do. As a matter of fact, the gentleman assisting me in the lobby even fixed/re-sized the old glasses I walked in with free of charge! I never realized how poorly fitting my current glasses are until he sized it properly for me. I wish I could give it 5 stars, but I'm used to being able to purchase my glasses from the same location I get my exam, as well as having a lounge while waiting to be called in rather than standing around. I still very highly recommend this spot and will continue to receive eye exams here. Thank you Dr. Rayo and team. read more

Warning! Make sure you check your insurance coverage before coming here. I have never felt so naive in my life until I visited this optometry. I purchased a pair of glasses from here 6 months ago. At the time, they seemed very friendly and genuine. But now that I think about it, they were probably nice because it was an easy sale. I walked in, saw the pair of glasses I liked and purchased it in less than 10 minutes. Since I had such a great experience, I decided to get my contact lens fitting with them. I recently changed coverage, and wasn't sure what my new benefits were so I called them to see if my exam was covered. The girl on the phone told me everything was covered and wow, my benefits sure sounded great. She even suggested that I should purchase a pair of glasses and contact lens before the end of the year so I can really maximize my benefits. It all sounded too good to be true. Additionally, she was very persistent about me getting an eye exam and contact lens fitting at the same time. Which was weird because I just got an eye exam earlier this year. So I visit the office and the first thing they tell me to do is look around for a pair of glasses. When I asked what I was covered for, no one really knew. So I ended up waiting for the optometrist to explain what my coverage was. The whole experience was a disaster, it seemed like they were beating around the bush and tried to up sell me the eye exam which I didn't need. Turns out my benefits would only allow me to choose either glasses or contact lens. So why did they keep recommending me to purchase another pair of glasses when I have no need for it? I stood my ground and told them I only wanted a contact lens fitting exam. At the end of my visit, I paid $95 out of my own pocket. It didn't sound right so I called my insurance provider the day after. Turns out not only did they not charging the exam out of my benefits allowance, they even billed me for purchasing an order of contact lenses on top (which was a lie because i didnt buy any contacts that day, they only gave me samples to take home). Why was the option to use my allowance never presented to me? Obviously they wanted me to spend more than I needed to. So at the end of the day, they were really "maximizing" my benefits for their own benefit not mine. Lesson learned. read more

It was a wonderful experience from the initial call to inquire and make the appointment to the eye exam from Dr. Christen Chew. Dr. Chew was friendly, listened, answered all my questions and offered more information. He makes you feel like family. I highly recommend Optica Optometry. read more

Super friendly staff, run on time, don't waste your time but also take the time to make sure everything is good and correct. Got an eye exam at lens crafters and after finding out that my insurance wouldn't cover a contact fitting there, I came to Optica. Best decision. Wish I came here for my initial eye exam. Dr. Chew is very good at his job. Turned out that my prescription was off so he corrected it before fitting me with new contacts. Really appreciated his work and his friendly staff, especially the receptionist. Will definitely be coming here for all my future eye care needs. read more

If your looking for the best eye care. Come here. I trust the staff, extremely friendly. I have been shopping for eye contacts and glasses for 6- years. My step-mom recommended this for me and I'm glad she did. Thank you. read more

At first I was iffy because I don't trust places with multiple branches but when I got here, it was organized and everyone was super friendly. My mom also liked it! Thank you again! read more

If you want quality eye care, come here. They have modern technology that provides the best results for vision and testing for eye health. I picked up my contacts which were always shipped by the time promised. Recently I spent a bit more on glasses than I'm used to but I'm very glad I made the investment because of the unique and quality frame and better experience wearing glasses over all. Knowledgeable staff, you won't be walking around the store feeling lost like people do in the mall. read more

Dr. Chew is a highly competent optometrist and recommend him for maintaining healthy eyes and excellent vision. His staff is consistently helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. I find my visits so pleasant and end up leaving with a smile. One additional positive thing, my appointments are always on time! Yay! read more

my daughter and i came in at the same time to see dr. christian chew last week. our eye insurance had changed and this place was in-network and close by, so i thought it'd give it a try. dr. chew was great, and very friendly and willing to answer questions we had about our exams. he had modern equipment, and everything was clean and neat. we didn't really need new glasses, but we got our prescriptions for our records, which i appreciated. the front office staff (linette) was also very friendly and flexible when i needed to change our appointments. everyone in the office followed the covid-19 protocols, which was good. so all in all, this was a great first impression. i would recommend dr. christian chew. read more

I saw Dr. Chai a couple of weeks ago and was very impressed with the caliber of her care. She was gentle, patient and did a fantastic job making me feel comfortable through the entire eye exam. The Optica Optometry offices are very clean, accessible with an ample frame selection. read more

Went to my first eye doctor appt. in over ten years. It was easy to make an appt, they had good availability on short notice. Very efficient,professional, and helpful. Good selection of frames for a range budgets (Nine west to Dior) and helpful one on one attention. Lenses take a week or two to be made. A bit of sticker shock on my glasses about $150 a pair. (after insurance discount) including name brand, scratch resistant treatment, and tax. BUT I haven't bought glasses before so I did not know what to expect to pay. It was good experience and I would recommended them :) read more

I saw Dr. Chew for 15+ years and he's awesome! He never makes you feel rushed, he takes time to explain things, and genuinely cares about his patients. Throughout the years there have even been times when his front office staff couldn't get me an appointment (I live in LA so I had to time my appointments with my trips to SF) but if I talked to him directly, he'd agree to see me! Another time I was out of the country and had an eye emergency that freaked me out -- I didn't know what to do so I emailed Dr. Chew and he replied in a day with advice that calmed me down. His wife, Denise, worked at the office some times and she was also super nice about helping me find the perfect glasses. When I didn't like the frames in the office, she showed me a catalog of frames and then agreed to order some frames just so that I could try them on (with no obligation to buy!). In all, you should go see Dr. Chew if you're looking for a down-to-earth customer service oriented optometrist. I got lasik a few years ago so I no longer need to go, but if I ever need to get a check up again, I already know I'll make the trip to the Bay Area again to see Dr. Chew. read more

This review is long overdue. I have been going to Optica Optometry for almost 15 years. I go in every year for my exam and new pair of eyeglasses. They always have the latest and greatest styles and are very good and helping me pick out the perfect pair for my chubby cheeks. They are above and beyond nice and super professional. I can call them up and ask them a weird question and they always seem to have an answer for me. I was having a problem and they scheduled me the next day. They are very accommodating. I would highly recommend them. Schedule your next visit , they will not disappoint you. read more

I actually already had my prescription by the time I ended up here, so this review is more geared to the staff help and selection. I had trouble finding frames I liked (both at my normal optometrist, online, other retailers, etc.) and was referred here by a friend. They have a really wide selection of designer glasses, all of which are very stylish and priced fairly for the quality of product you are buying (Coach, Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, Armani, etc). Maria assisted me with finding a pair of glasses I loved and made a lot of wonderful recommendations. I can't remember the name of the staff member (nice Filipino guy) that helped me the second time I came back to discuss color choice, but he was also very patient and helpful in making my decision. They thoroughly discussed my insurance with me before I made my purchase. My boyfriend also had some insurance bumps along the way and the office assisted him with making sure he was eligible and on his dad's eye plan. Glasses are really important to me because I where them all the time and virtually unrecognizable without them. I will definitely be back here next time I need a pair. read more

I saw Dr. Chai - a week or so ago. I used to go to Sunset EyeCare in the City, but since moving to the Peninsula I had to change docs. Dr. Chai was patient, very knowledgable and found things that my previous eye doctor missed. Keep in mind I saw my previous eye doctor since I was in middle school... so when Dr. Chai found something I was a bit relieved that I changed doctors. Thanks! read more

X Excellent service. Dr. Chew is an absolute professional in every sense of the word. read more

If you want reliability, you have found the right place. Ok, so I have this new insurance that came with the new job, so I have to look for a new doctor that will take my insurance. I decided to try out several places since 4 out of 4 family members needs glasses every one to two years. This office was my second choice. The first one was convenient because it is at a mall. So I took my 8 year old to the office at the mall (not related to Optica Optometry) to get her annual exam and get new glasses. A few weeks later, my husband decided to try Optica. There's not much to compare since I originally thought both offices have a great selection, a bit pricey, and their staff is what you would expect. I'm no expert; so WTH I'll give them both a try. What I experienced post purchase made a world of difference. My 8 year old, as you would expect from a child, scratched her glasses (lenses with transitional polycarbonate material). I took it back to the original place. They said they'll get back to me to tell me what my options are. After a week, someone got back to me to tell me I have to pay $250+ to replace the lenses. Their lens manufacturer, as they informed me, will not stand by their warranty. So I took the glasses back. On the same day, it was about time for my hubby to pick up his glasses at Optica, we asked whether they can replace the lenses for us using my kid's old frames. They said they'll do it for $99. WTH?!!! I hate that other place!!!! $99?? This place is a saint compared to that other place. That's not all. The staff started wondering about the glasses' original warranty. So I told them my story. They then told me that I may benefit from calling my insurance and that the glasses should be covered for warranty even if my child broke it by running around like any normal kid would do. The Optica team would lose like what? $99 worth of business just by doing what's right? Thanks for the info. My insurance called the other place to get things straightened out. That other place had to honor the warranty plus they refunded $25 because they sneaked in an extra charge that my insurance caught. So yeah, this review is about post purchase customer service and Optica Optometry gets all 5 stars! read more

Wow. Decided to find an O.D. closer to home, whose practice took my insurance and whose practitioners were responsive and didn't scold me for not eating spinach every day. Yeah--that happened at the last two ODs I saw. I read reviews; this practice has top ratings so I made an appointment and was seen today by Dr. Florendo. First of all, after introducing herself and getting me seated, she washes her hands and as a health care practitioner myself, that earned her a bunch of stars. The exam was thorough, she was patient, explained everything to be done, asked appropriate questions and was most personable. No scolding because it had been 4 yrs since my last exam. More stars. Marie, who assists with frames, was most helpful in verifying coverage for frames and lenses, and explained all of what my insurance covered, discussed my options, and dashed around helping me find suitable frames. More stars. I'm their patient for life. read more

I've been going to this place for many years now and have bought many glasses and contacts and have had many check ups with Dr. Chew. He's the best and I highly recommend this friendly staff. read more

I have been Dr Chew's client for over 10 years. He & his staff have been professional, responsive to my needs & accommodating without hesitation. When I can't decide which eyeglass frames to choose, they'll give me recommendations to narrow my choices so I can decide better. I like that. I give Optica Optometry read more