Optiko are simply the best! Great range of truly unique specs and sunnies, friendly service and…read moremindblowingly efficient. Seriously though, eye appointment Tuesday, ordered glasses Wednesday, got a text on Friday afternoon to say 'hey guess what, they're ready to be picked up!' So, I run down to the store and there they are waiting, WITH A CUPCAKE! If that's not 5 star service I don't know what is! I wish I could get new glasses every week so I could go visit :)

As a person who has long been described as "Four eyes" (or…read moresimply "Very Nearly Blind") I have come to regard my glasses as an extension of my personality, A friend of sorts. So you can imagine my excitement at finding this OPTIKO store. (Just saying it out loud is fun.) I admit I betrayed my loyal Ray-bans many a time just for a fondle of their hand crafted frames. What I love about the store is the range of products on display from Cartier and Missoni to Dita. You can easily tell the amazing craftsmanship that has gone into making these unique designs. The store itself is also beautiful, the layout is simple and it really lets the products speak for themselves. If you are fortunate enough to be a fellow four eyes, I would get myself down to Tattersalls arcade pronto!

As a wearer of spectacles, it is only natural that a brand spanking new eyewear shop should catch…read moremy eyes (as dodgy and short sighted as they may be). So when I stumbled across the very new One Point Seven Four store recently I was most intrigued to see what it was all about. Expecting your run of the mill eyewear store stocking run of the mill designers I happily ate my thoughts! This place is sunglasses mecca! Brands such Podium, Marni, Dita, Sass & Bide and Cheap Monday line the walls of this funky boutique. I didn't notice any price tags, which is probably a good thing because I try to avoid heart attacks where possible. But seriously, One Point Seven Four stock incredible, unique and striking eyewear. Everything from Dame Edna like frames to chic black frames that could transport you to NYC, right in front of Tiffany's eating a croissant. It definitely exceeded my ex{spectacle}tations.

If I were a eyewear store I'd be One Point Seven Four. Actually that's probably being a bit up…read moremyself because their glasses are actually way cooler and sexier than I could ever be. The lovely gentleman in the shop was clearly passionate about eyewear, walking me through their range of brands and frames. Most of the sunglasses were for the slightly adventurous dresser. The spectacles were more demure with lots of tortoiseshell used. Safe to say I saw about 30 pairs I wanted to call my own. They also stock Supers which are really hard to find in Australia.

There may have never been an easier method to part with your money…read more A boutique for unique spectacles, sunglasses and watches, it was no surprise that Oki & Oro was the only Stockists in QLD of Aark watches. I buy many things online but a watch was not to be one of them. Purchasing a time piece is part of my two-fold strategy to a) stop dropping my phone and b) stop spending so much time looking at my phone. Ironically, I'd spent a lot of time admiring the Aark range of watches from the screen of my phone and computer. It's a purchase that I needed to see on my wrist before committing. The watch band needed to feel right against my skin. Thankfully it all fell into place and with the exemplary help from the store manager I think my new watch and I were on our way in about 15mins. A boutique experience with pieces you're not going to see on every Tom, Dick and Henrietta.

Shorthand: bulk-billed eye exams in well designed retail space…read more Longhand: If you need to have your regular eye examination and are not tied to a particular optometrist then Bailey Nelson might be your next point of call. With easy online booking for appointments, their on-site optometrist can easily take you through your next check-up. And, best of all it is bulk billed. Plus if you need to upgrade your existing frames or are becoming a spectacle wearer for the first time, you are conveniently in a space full of design conscious frames for $99.

From the owner: Eye Exams, Frame Adjustments, Free Returns and Exchanges, Optical and Sunglass Stylingread more

I'm putting it out there. I hate wearing glasses. I really do. I dislike how some people take to…read morewearing glasses with no lenses in them but that's another story all of it's own. Anyway - I needed some new glasses because I ultimately trash mine and I completely concede that I probably don't clean them nearly as much as I should. I was walking in the city and I came across a Specsavers on Creek Street - totally didn't know they were there and it just so happened my glasses were particularly disgusting that day PLUS I really had been meaning to enquire somewhere... ANYWHERE about the idea of getting some prescription sunglasses. The schlocking of Alex Perry everywhere has been something that actually caused me to avoid looking into Specsavers but I must say I was right to (finally) overlook the short, overly botoxed one and go in and see what they had. The Specsavers Creek Street - while smaller than other stores I had seen; were awesome. They understood that I dislike wearing glasses and that I like my specs to be understated and more to my personality. They had a great range of sunnies that I liked also. After a quick eye test, I was 'frame styled' and then I was walking out feeling quite chuffed with a pair of normal glasses and a pair of sunnies on order. The optometrist who saw me was excellent and renewed my interest in wearing contact lenses. She was incredibly particular about explaining why previous contact lenses may not have been ideal for me (I get dry eyes easily) and gave me a trial set to have a go with and so far they have been great. I didn't have to wait long for my actual glasses to be made and when I went in to pick them up and have them adjusted, the young lady who helped me was excellent. I do enjoy my spontaneous purchases but I *love* when I pick a fantastic place to purchase from. The people who held my hand through the process were incredibly patient and they had to be because when it comes to glasses.. I can be a nightmare hehehe.

I have needed glasses for around 8 years and hated every second of it. They are so annoying and…read moreuncomfortable! Last year, I finally decided to have a go at contact lenses, even though I was a bit squeamish at the thought of something going in my eye. Eyes on Edward is a stylish little store, near the Botanic Gardens end of Edward street. The staff at Eyes on Edward make everything so easy. They are flexible with appointments and can fit you in on a weekend if you really need. I felt totally at ease during the appointment and Jo was really professional. They explained everything about the contacts and different options and guide you through the process. Long story short, I am so completely happy with both the contacts and the excellent service. Also, when I can't get there to pick up more, you can re-order your contacts on their website and they just post them out. So easy!

I cannot say how disgusted I am with the discourteous and unprofessional manner in which DAVID…read moreBRADLEY, the optometrist at Eyes on Edward, has handled my request for repairs on a pair of Conquistador frames (I paid close to $1000 for the frames and lenses after the sales team convinced me they were worth the money). I have written half a dozen emails to DAVID BRADLEY. He has not bothered to reply to ONE SINGLE EMAIL. I find his manner to be deceptive and he has a very poor understanding of the truth. If this is customer service then CONQUISTADOR glasses had better think twice about allowing this shop to sell their excellent problem.

If I were a tourist, this would be disappointing. MC makes me think of the functional over the…read morestylish. The foodcourt hosts solid businesses but none of them essentially exciting. Big W sticks to the essentials (although it does have an optometrist and always brings in the Peter Morrissey range). Woolworths is pretty good for a city centre grocery store. So you get a barber, florist, optometrist, jeweler, internet booths, grog store, newsagent, chemist and large toilets. A few luxury stores are on the Edward Street frontage. This includes the Apple Store. The Shingle Inn here has bad chairs (uncomfortable and dirty) in what would otherwise be quite an ace spot to have a nice lunch. They really, really need to address that and hopefully MC will do something about it. Beware with the parking. The gates to this mall close 9pm on night shopping. There probably is a way to get to the carpark afterwards but we haven't found out how yet. Parking entrance is via Elizabeth Street. There used to be a doorway into Big W from Elizabeth Street, but these days the only entry points are from Edward and Queen Streets. The foodcourt has recently undergone a glossy revamp. The thing that gets me most, however, is despite the lovely space inside (it can't be helped if most of the shops are not very interesting) the outside is and always will be a horror to me. A large steely wedge with sturdy poles clinging onto decorative lacy patterned glass panels. Who what why where? It's so disappointing they whacked that onto the heritage building.

If you're a city worker wanting to escape the crowds, head to Macarthur Central for your weekly…read moresupplies and errands. What Macarthur Central lacks in specialty shops and boutiques, it makes up for by providing a stress free shopping experience in a central location and housing a full line Woolworths and Big W. There are a few specialty shops such as Honey Birdette and Oroton but this shopping centre focuses on covering the essentials. There's a decent newsagency, a book shop, chemist, medical centre and a JB Hi Fi where you actually have elbow room. This seems to be the place where all the ATMs like to hang out as well. ANZ, Bank of Queensland, Commonwealth, NAB, Redi ATM and Suncorp can all be found in this complex. Best of all, their food court hosts a wide variety of eating options and you can actually get a table around lunch time. Try the Hainachi here sometime for a fuss free, easy meal. NB: The opening hours refer to the shopping centre but Woolworths and Big W have extended trading hours.