Parkside Optometry

Certified professionals

Offers payment plans

This is probably an unfair review, or maybe it isn't...you decide…read more My husband and I came here through word-of-mouth from my husband's coworkers who have the same eye care insurance. Booking the appointment was fine. Minor point, they don't run like clockwork, even though the name is "eyework". It says eye not clock. You should check their lunch hour and decide if you want to be standing in the cold or not while waiting for their lunch over to end. What is cold anyway in the Bay Area? This isn't Colorado. In Colorado, they would open the doors earlier to let people in from the snow. Doctor was fine. My vision went from -8 to -10 in two years. I'm thinking I may need to start learning braille. (Spoilers, no I didn't go get a second opinion.) We picked out frames. I am mightily blessed with a wide face and a flat nose, as in I don't have strong nose bridge. The workers reassured me that lots of customers have my style of face. Great. I picked out a pair by Oliver People and paid $800-1000 for my frames. This is San Mateo, right? People love chucking money at the sky. For me, it's because it was one of two pairs designed for women* they had available that would fit my face. Did I choose the more expensive pair? Sure I did, because I thought it would be more comfortable and I liked the color. This is the worst pair of eyeglasses I have ever owned. And by this point, I've owned probably 25-30 pairs of eyeglasses. The titanium is nice and light, so yes, it is more comfortable; I don't have any pain at the temple or behind the ear lobe. But that's because the glasses is touching my skull in 4 spots - the two nose pads and two tiny spots somewhere on my ear. The frames aren't touching anywhere along my temple. Does this sound great? Maybe, until you realize there ain't nothing holding up this pair glasses. No friction, at all. Stupid, stupid design. I've got bad vision. (I want you to know, I am censoring a lot of curse words to keep this family-friendly). So the lens is heavier. What does this mean? Well, that requires a knowledge of gravity. You don't even need college-level knowledge of gravity. The weight of my lenses pulls the glasses down. If I were to look down at something, say a book, or maybe I'm painting something, maybe I'm tying my shoe. My glasses fall off my face. I was literally in the middle of painting something and I got so frustrated I stopped in the middle to write this review. When I turn my head sideways, and the glasses fall off sideways, the eye pads poke my eyeball. STUPID. And my husband likes to point out, "That's $1000 for you". Also, adjusting the titanium is STUPID. It's "fragile" so they can't actually adjust it (even though the girl who helped me with the frames said they could). The eye pads are adjustable...except here is another STUPID thing. The glasses weren't adjusted when I picked them out. The girl marked the lens which is information used by the company making the lens to match it with my prescription. Well...they adjust the glasses afterwards, so the mark is off now. STUPID. So my vision isn't improved while driving. I've noticed that I have a harder time driving with these new glasses. It's fine though, since I mostly drive in areas I'm familiar with; I don't need to read signs so much. Maybe I'm wrong, but I can see the same with my old pair if not better. And my prescription on that pair is -8. To their credit, they were helpful in doing what they could with the glasses. But there's only so much they can do. So here my main issues 1. The glasses weren't adjusted prior to marking the lens. 2. Likely inexperience with high prescriptions, low nose bridge, wide face, etc. Pros: The staff are friendly, it was easy to book an appointment. Verdict: I'm going to go back to my old doctor, even if it means paying toll and driving 45 minutes one way for an appointment and then again when I pick up my glasses/contacts. *Women glasses: they're as stupid as women's clothing: Overpriced and not functional, or sometimes worse, they give the impression of being functional, but sometimes those pockets or drawstrings are just for show. In the future, I'm going to pick out men's glasses. They're more affordable, no fuss or frills, and they're also wider. But do the people who make this profession think about telling the customer that? Either they don't know...or they want your money. Go ahead San Mateo, throw more money into the sky. That's how you got rich, right? By spending and spending.

I've been coming here for the past 2 years for my Contact lenses and eye check ups with an…read moreoptometrist. First off, their location is fantastic as they're in downtown San Mateo. Parking can be as straightforward as heading to the multi-level parking garage across the street. The shop isn't overly large or small. I've only come here for contact lenses, so I cannot comment on their selection of eye glass frames or sunglasses. Dr. Lai has been super personable, knowledgeable, and customer centric focused. His staff has also been fantastic to work with. Family run shops like Eyeworks seem to be slowly disappearing as they're being gobbled up by equity firms. I do hope Eyeworks remains independent into the future.

Dr. Gary Lai

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Dr. Sharon Ho

Hilary Chiem, OD

4.9(88 reviews)

0.6 mi

Just had my annual eye exam. The time was tight however the appt was informative and quick.read more

Dr. Hilary is the best! I took my mom to get a eye test exam. Dr Hilary, explained everything clear…read moreand made my mom feel comfortable, not only she's the best, she speak Spanish. I recommend this Optometrist! Thank you Dr Hilary.

Get Your Fix Optics

5.0(108 reviews)

1.5 mi

I just dropped in this morning at about 11:20 AM. Ray was able to get my Gucci sunglasses right on…read moremy face. I have been keeping my sunglasses in the drawer cause they would always fall off my face just being outside. Well, it's about to be summer and I'm gonna be out and about. Ray made sure I could shake my head and look down and dance without them falling off. Thank you, Ray for your care and easy quick easy fix on my sunglasses! They also have some cute shades in the store!

Huge shoutout to Ray Pautin at Get Your Fix Optics! I took in my Oakley Ducati Inmates with a lens…read morepopping off the frame, and Ray fixed them up perfectly--completely free of charge, even though I didn't buy them there. Top-notch customer service and honesty. 10/10!

Parking in the back/side of the building!

Great show room floor!

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Just one little part but saved me $675.00!

Site for Sore Eyes - San Mateo

4.5(233 reviews)

Been coming here for over ten years, the best customer service and good prices for name brand…read moreeyewear. Eye exams are a great price with or without insurance. They have great frames and stay accustom to the newest technologies available.

I mean, the reviews speak for themselves. This is truly the kindest, and the BEST optometrist I…read morehave ever been to. Doctor Lin has seen me for same day emergencies and for routine checkups and is always patient, respectful and kind. She'll always be sure to explain things in a way that make you feel at ease. Justin & Alex are equally as great! The vibes they put off are welcoming and open. Not to mention the sweet nostalgic tunes that are played on the record player to soothe the soul. (vinyl over digital, ftw) I actually live hours away from this location now, but will still continue to come back here for checkups and repairs because this team is truly a one of a kind. THANK YOU!

Site for Sore Eyes - San Mateo - Exclusive Offers with purchase of featured frames including FREE Single-Vision Lenses, FREE A/R Coating, $150 OFF Progressive lenses & more!

Exclusive Offers with purchase of featured frames including FREE Single-Vision Lenses, FREE A/R Coating, $150 OFF Progressive lenses & more!

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Winking Bee Optometry

4.3(79 reviews)

0.2 mi

Great place. I had an amazing experience at Winking Bee Optometry! The staff was incredibly…read morefriendly and knowledgeable. I love Dr MJ and they do explain everything they do before they do it AND if it is an extra charge and not covered by my insurance, they always asked me whether I wanted to incur the charge etc, I highly recommend Winking Bee Optometry to anyone in need of quality eye care. They truly care about their patients and go above and beyond to ensure satisfaction.

I had regular eye checks and had gotten two prescription glasses from Winking bee. The first one…read morewas years ago and it worked fine. When i needed a second pair i went through the same routine which was eye exam and prescription glasses. Nothing has changed much from the exam so i asked to make the same prescription because it makes me dizzy if we increase it. So they made the glasses and it didn't feel right. I went back and forth with appointments only to be told it's the exact same prescription, and some explanation that it may the glasses and it will take time to get adjusted. Two years later it still makes me dizzy. It is definitely not the same glasses as my first one. And Im disappointed esp after spending all this back and forth. I am not going back and will recommend people to be cautious on prescription glasses.

Bevel

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Comfortable seating area :)

Clear Optometry

4.1(384 reviews)

Clear Optometry is an easy recommendation if you care about frames and want real guidance, not a…read moresales pitch. Calvin was super helpful and clearly knows his stuff. He steered me away from a frame that another shop had recommended. In hindsight, that frame would have looked terrible on me, and I'm glad he said so. He also pointed me to the right lens density for my prescription, which made a big difference in what was actually practical to wear. On top of that, the shop carries styles you do not see at most other optical stores. If you want something unique and you want someone honest to help you pick it, this is the place.

Thanks to Calvin for fixing my glasses when I walked in with no appointment. He was very efficient…read moreand friendly.

Giant Asian character

Overall interiors

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Refresh bar on one side...

Third Avenue Optometry

4.9(20 reviews)

Each optometrist I go has a different way of doing the recommended yearly optometry exam. And with…read moreDr. Susie Lee, I felt the most informed that I've ever been. Dr. Lee has an amazing attitude and ethics towards her work, first of all, she's very clean, she cleaned each piece of equipment before use, and has an amazing attention to detail, I could tell she tailored the exam to the specifics of my eye (my astigmatism) but she really went above and beyond for me by explaining what each exam was for, the results, and how I could think about it. I really got to learn my own eye from a whole new perspective. She was also not pushy with any of the other services (like the extra exam screening, or glasses, or really anything else). Highly recommend Dr. Lee's! She's amazingly helpful and friendly to chat with.

I went in for an eye exam and was extremely pleased with the quality of care. Susie is very…read moredetailed and thorough. She took the time to answer all of my questions and explained what she was testing for at each step. She also showed me images of my eye and explained what she was seeing. At no moment did the exam feel rushed, and I came away feeling more informed about my vision and very confident in her assessment. Great experience!

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Borel Eye Doctors of Optometry

4.3(146 reviews)

1.3 mi

EDIT: update from 2 to 5 stars -- Alicia called me back and really helped me with my questions…read morestep-by-step. I was very impressed with the follow-up, patience, and helpfulness. Turns out they did have some samples in my prescription in stock! I'm glad they helped me out this time. S/o to the girls at the front desk! Generally I've had a solid experience when working with folks here (my file was transferred over from another office in the past) but just had an awkward phone call with one of the staff. I asked a few questions I was concerned about and got some answers, asked if they had my prescription in stock (which they didn't, which is fine), but after that it was followed up with awkward silences after asking if there are any options I could explore, to the point that I wasn't sure if they were still on the phone. I heard typing in the background so I wasn't sure if they were looking into it for me, but looking back I think he had mentally moved on from the conversation. I asked to see if someone else could help me -- but was met with "everyone else is busy". He asked for my info, and I asked "will I get a callback regardless or only if there's a solution", and the way he answered seemed like I probably wouldn't get a callback. Like some empathy or "we can't help you, but you can explore these options (samples, boxes or brands they do have in stock, etc)" to provide direction . Idk if Benjamin was just having a bad day, but I felt like a burden and an annoyance for asking questions and didn't really have the empathy nor the time to want to help me problem solve.

Came over as new patients about few years ago. Recently, my kids/adult (being more hands off and…read morelet them conduct their own visits. I found in both (separate days) instances , they had done a optic scan vs a pupil dilation (covered by insurance). One signed a consent, one did not. Both were not aware there was an extra charge. The 2nd time around, I decided to point it out, and they had no problem with not charging, but it is the principle and I want to be able to trust my doctor best interest in me (financially as well) vs making a quick dime on these sneaky charges. With the first visit/kid, I let it go). 2nd visit, I had to speak up... probably going to be looking for a new optometry place...

Our office is bright and welcoming!

Pre-test area including state-of-the-art Optomap retinal imager

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One of our examination rooms

Laurelwood Optometry

Second the other comments about the rudest front desk. She didn't not listen and completely ignored…read moreme trying to explain the situation. This place does not deserve my business.

The rudest ffomt desk person who set the totally negative tone. She has no concept of welcoming a…read morenew patient and explaining services. she asked me what kind of glasses I wanted and I said I did not know, I would rely on skill of optometrist to recommend based on Dr Prescription. She raised her voice in derision... "No! You choose."! When I said I did not know she kept pushing that isn't their problem. I said I wanted to speak to optician first. She said I had to commit first. totally unprofessional demeaning experience. I was visibly shaken by the receptionist screaming at me. when I met with optician Diane she was calm explaining pricing but was not knowledgeable about lens options. I could not in good conscious endure giving these people one more minute of my time. I advised optician I was extremely uncomfortable. She said she understood. I walked out and will not be returning.

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Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

2 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Jeff L.

46

8

1

11 years ago

My wife and I found Dr. Wong while searching Google and Yelp earlier this year. We were unsure if we could find something as good as our long time family Optometrist in Elk Grove, CA. Dr. Wong made the switch very easy for us and we're both really happy to have found him. Both of us were able to find glasses we love. Dr. Wong is very friendly and the Parkside Optometry team is helpful and approachable. I lost and damaged my trial pair of contacts twice, and both times they were open to allowing me replacements. The office is comfortable and I believe they have wifi available for customers. The location is conveniently located and it's easy to find parking. Definitely recommend Parkside Optometry to anyone looking for a new optometrist and good team. read more

Debra W.

0

2

0

4 years ago

We should really give Dr Wong lots credit for being so patient and knowledgeable. My son has very sensitive eyes. It's a huge challenge to teach him to put contact lens properly. We visited Dr Wong one, two, three, four, five, ... I seriously forget how many times. My son improved with every visit and now he can put both in in less than a few minutes. Doctor is always friendly and doesn't scare kids away. The staff was also overall friendly. Highly highly recommended. read more

Parkside Optometry - optometrists - Updated October 2026

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Eyeworks of San Mateo Optometry

4.5

(402 reviews)

This is probably an unfair review, or maybe it isn't...you decide…read more My husband and I came here through word-of-mouth from my husband's coworkers who have the same eye care insurance. Booking the appointment was fine. Minor point, they don't run like clockwork, even though the name is "eyework". It says eye not clock. You should check their lunch hour and decide if you want to be standing in the cold or not while waiting for their lunch over to end. What is cold anyway in the Bay Area? This isn't Colorado. In Colorado, they would open the doors earlier to let people in from the snow. Doctor was fine. My vision went from -8 to -10 in two years. I'm thinking I may need to start learning braille. (Spoilers, no I didn't go get a second opinion.) We picked out frames. I am mightily blessed with a wide face and a flat nose, as in I don't have strong nose bridge. The workers reassured me that lots of customers have my style of face. Great. I picked out a pair by Oliver People and paid $800-1000 for my frames. This is San Mateo, right? People love chucking money at the sky. For me, it's because it was one of two pairs designed for women* they had available that would fit my face. Did I choose the more expensive pair? Sure I did, because I thought it would be more comfortable and I liked the color. This is the worst pair of eyeglasses I have ever owned. And by this point, I've owned probably 25-30 pairs of eyeglasses. The titanium is nice and light, so yes, it is more comfortable; I don't have any pain at the temple or behind the ear lobe. But that's because the glasses is touching my skull in 4 spots - the two nose pads and two tiny spots somewhere on my ear. The frames aren't touching anywhere along my temple. Does this sound great? Maybe, until you realize there ain't nothing holding up this pair glasses. No friction, at all. Stupid, stupid design. I've got bad vision. (I want you to know, I am censoring a lot of curse words to keep this family-friendly). So the lens is heavier. What does this mean? Well, that requires a knowledge of gravity. You don't even need college-level knowledge of gravity. The weight of my lenses pulls the glasses down. If I were to look down at something, say a book, or maybe I'm painting something, maybe I'm tying my shoe. My glasses fall off my face. I was literally in the middle of painting something and I got so frustrated I stopped in the middle to write this review. When I turn my head sideways, and the glasses fall off sideways, the eye pads poke my eyeball. STUPID. And my husband likes to point out, "That's $1000 for you". Also, adjusting the titanium is STUPID. It's "fragile" so they can't actually adjust it (even though the girl who helped me with the frames said they could). The eye pads are adjustable...except here is another STUPID thing. The glasses weren't adjusted when I picked them out. The girl marked the lens which is information used by the company making the lens to match it with my prescription. Well...they adjust the glasses afterwards, so the mark is off now. STUPID. So my vision isn't improved while driving. I've noticed that I have a harder time driving with these new glasses. It's fine though, since I mostly drive in areas I'm familiar with; I don't need to read signs so much. Maybe I'm wrong, but I can see the same with my old pair if not better. And my prescription on that pair is -8. To their credit, they were helpful in doing what they could with the glasses. But there's only so much they can do. So here my main issues 1. The glasses weren't adjusted prior to marking the lens. 2. Likely inexperience with high prescriptions, low nose bridge, wide face, etc. Pros: The staff are friendly, it was easy to book an appointment. Verdict: I'm going to go back to my old doctor, even if it means paying toll and driving 45 minutes one way for an appointment and then again when I pick up my glasses/contacts. *Women glasses: they're as stupid as women's clothing: Overpriced and not functional, or sometimes worse, they give the impression of being functional, but sometimes those pockets or drawstrings are just for show. In the future, I'm going to pick out men's glasses. They're more affordable, no fuss or frills, and they're also wider. But do the people who make this profession think about telling the customer that? Either they don't know...or they want your money. Go ahead San Mateo, throw more money into the sky. That's how you got rich, right? By spending and spending.

I've been coming here for the past 2 years for my Contact lenses and eye check ups with an…read moreoptometrist. First off, their location is fantastic as they're in downtown San Mateo. Parking can be as straightforward as heading to the multi-level parking garage across the street. The shop isn't overly large or small. I've only come here for contact lenses, so I cannot comment on their selection of eye glass frames or sunglasses. Dr. Lai has been super personable, knowledgeable, and customer centric focused. His staff has also been fantastic to work with. Family run shops like Eyeworks seem to be slowly disappearing as they're being gobbled up by equity firms. I do hope Eyeworks remains independent into the future.

Laurelwood Optometry

4.3

(69 reviews)

Second the other comments about the rudest front desk. She didn't not listen and completely ignored…read moreme trying to explain the situation. This place does not deserve my business.

The rudest ffomt desk person who set the totally negative tone. She has no concept of welcoming a…read morenew patient and explaining services. she asked me what kind of glasses I wanted and I said I did not know, I would rely on skill of optometrist to recommend based on Dr Prescription. She raised her voice in derision... "No! You choose."! When I said I did not know she kept pushing that isn't their problem. I said I wanted to speak to optician first. She said I had to commit first. totally unprofessional demeaning experience. I was visibly shaken by the receptionist screaming at me. when I met with optician Diane she was calm explaining pricing but was not knowledgeable about lens options. I could not in good conscious endure giving these people one more minute of my time. I advised optician I was extremely uncomfortable. She said she understood. I walked out and will not be returning.

Winking Bee Optometry

4.3

(79 reviews)

Great place. I had an amazing experience at Winking Bee Optometry! The staff was incredibly…read morefriendly and knowledgeable. I love Dr MJ and they do explain everything they do before they do it AND if it is an extra charge and not covered by my insurance, they always asked me whether I wanted to incur the charge etc, I highly recommend Winking Bee Optometry to anyone in need of quality eye care. They truly care about their patients and go above and beyond to ensure satisfaction.

I had regular eye checks and had gotten two prescription glasses from Winking bee. The first one…read morewas years ago and it worked fine. When i needed a second pair i went through the same routine which was eye exam and prescription glasses. Nothing has changed much from the exam so i asked to make the same prescription because it makes me dizzy if we increase it. So they made the glasses and it didn't feel right. I went back and forth with appointments only to be told it's the exact same prescription, and some explanation that it may the glasses and it will take time to get adjusted. Two years later it still makes me dizzy. It is definitely not the same glasses as my first one. And Im disappointed esp after spending all this back and forth. I am not going back and will recommend people to be cautious on prescription glasses.

Carlmont Optometry

4.2

(49 reviews)

Doctors and service are all outstanding! I ve been a return customer for many years and will…read morecontinue to do so.

My experience at Carlmont Optometry as a new patient was great! I saw Dr Herzig which is a new…read moredoctor at this office. She was super friendly and very welcoming! I was pleased with the way she listened to complainants regarding my vision and was very thorough with my exam. The staff was great, both of the young ladies who work there were wonderful! I be will returning!

Burlingame Optometry

5.0

(12 reviews)

Donnette has been fabulous for many years as she assists with customer emails and scheduling…read more Doctor Singh was incredibly professional and patient in helping me with new a new Multifocal Rx for contacts. She is only there on Tuesdays, but I had a great experience in my eye appointments with her. Thank you!

I wanted to leave a review for Donnette who has gone above and beyond every time I have interacted…read morewith her. She has excellent customer service skills and really cares about the patients who come here. It was my first time trying a new optometrist in years and she was extremely welcoming and super helpful. I referred my husband to come, and she also gave him the same experience. Thank you Donnette!

20-20 Optometry

4.0

(43 reviews)

Excellent annual eye exam! Dr. Linh Le was thorough, knowledgeable, and personable. She asked all…read morethe right questions and listened. I received my eyewear prescription. Plus, the staff knows their stuff regarding insurance/eye plans. I recommend for personable eye service. It's a small boutique office.

The non-five star review is due to the fact that I felt their frame selection was very limited…read more (It's a small store.) The receptionist/optician was super nice and got me back to see Dr. Na right away. I didn't wait, which is always appreciated. I did get my eyes dilated for the first time in my life. That was an experience! That said, I thank Dr. Na for taking to explain the changes in my vision and the possible reasons for those changes.

Borel Eye Doctors of Optometry

4.3

(146 reviews)

EDIT: update from 2 to 5 stars -- Alicia called me back and really helped me with my questions…read morestep-by-step. I was very impressed with the follow-up, patience, and helpfulness. Turns out they did have some samples in my prescription in stock! I'm glad they helped me out this time. S/o to the girls at the front desk! Generally I've had a solid experience when working with folks here (my file was transferred over from another office in the past) but just had an awkward phone call with one of the staff. I asked a few questions I was concerned about and got some answers, asked if they had my prescription in stock (which they didn't, which is fine), but after that it was followed up with awkward silences after asking if there are any options I could explore, to the point that I wasn't sure if they were still on the phone. I heard typing in the background so I wasn't sure if they were looking into it for me, but looking back I think he had mentally moved on from the conversation. I asked to see if someone else could help me -- but was met with "everyone else is busy". He asked for my info, and I asked "will I get a callback regardless or only if there's a solution", and the way he answered seemed like I probably wouldn't get a callback. Like some empathy or "we can't help you, but you can explore these options (samples, boxes or brands they do have in stock, etc)" to provide direction . Idk if Benjamin was just having a bad day, but I felt like a burden and an annoyance for asking questions and didn't really have the empathy nor the time to want to help me problem solve.

Came over as new patients about few years ago. Recently, my kids/adult (being more hands off and…read morelet them conduct their own visits. I found in both (separate days) instances , they had done a optic scan vs a pupil dilation (covered by insurance). One signed a consent, one did not. Both were not aware there was an extra charge. The 2nd time around, I decided to point it out, and they had no problem with not charging, but it is the principle and I want to be able to trust my doctor best interest in me (financially as well) vs making a quick dime on these sneaky charges. With the first visit/kid, I let it go). 2nd visit, I had to speak up... probably going to be looking for a new optometry place...

Clear Optometry

4.1

(384 reviews)

Clear Optometry is an easy recommendation if you care about frames and want real guidance, not a…read moresales pitch. Calvin was super helpful and clearly knows his stuff. He steered me away from a frame that another shop had recommended. In hindsight, that frame would have looked terrible on me, and I'm glad he said so. He also pointed me to the right lens density for my prescription, which made a big difference in what was actually practical to wear. On top of that, the shop carries styles you do not see at most other optical stores. If you want something unique and you want someone honest to help you pick it, this is the place.

Thanks to Calvin for fixing my glasses when I walked in with no appointment. He was very efficient…read moreand friendly.

For Your Eyes Only Optometry

4.7

(33 reviews)