I went to Poplar Spectacles for contacts and two pairs of glasses. I am extremely near sighted and also far sighted. The contacts I received seem to be working OK. The glasses, however, are a different story. After spending thousands of dollars on two pairs of glasses, I cannot see properly out of either pair. I have not been able to use them at all, and still wearing my scratched up old glasses. I went back so many times to Poplar. They were nice each time and trying to help but finally I got tired of spending every Saturday there so I gave up. The new glasses don't work for a combination of reasons: 1. They are super thick lenses. I asked about it and Dr. Wu blamed the frames. I have been nearsighted all my life and very familiar with how frame size and shape can affect the thickness of glasses. These were small frames. Finally after being pressed, she said there was one lens thinner than what they gave me but it was "a very small difference and not worth it." I was very clear when I ordered my glasses that I wanted the thinnest lens possible and I paid over $600 to get them. In my world, every percentage point thinner is a big deal. 2. The bifocals don't have the right spot so it seems I can't see far away when I look up or close up when I look down. I think if you are a straightforward case, I am sure Poplar is fine. If you are very nearsighted and farsighted, you might be in for a challenge. Finally, if you do go there and you have thick lensed glasses, insist on getting the very very highest index lenses as this is not what they provided me. read more

Although I didn't buy glasses there, Emma was so helpful with the parts order for my existing glasses that I will go back there in a heartbeat when I do need them. Great personal service from a knowledgable individual. That's kind of rare these days. Stop by when your at Panera Bread or Katrina Rozelle in the Alamo Plaza. read more

Dr Wu and her team are amazing. Received a very thorough eye exam and Dr Wu took time to talk me through each step, answer my questions and was sympathetic to concerns I had. She is also very personable and felt at ease with her. Support staff are amazing too, particularly Andrew who thoroughly checked through my insurance to see how I could be eligible for second eye exam and also help me select glasses, without adding pressure to purchase there and then. Highly recommend! read more

Dr. Wu is the best, she really takes the time to get it right and you can tell she has passion for what she does and her patients. Her staff is also awesome, great customer services, follow up and knowledge. Highly recommend Poplar. read more

POPLAR will be my new Optometrist for sure. Haven't seen the doctor yet, but customer service is great! My husband was panicked (OMG...LOL) because the screw fell out of the hinges in one side of his glasses thus he couldn't wear them today. He asked me to get them repaired. No problem, went down to our San Ramon optometrist office. Their website "said" they opened at 9:00. I waited in front and someone poked their head out saying "Read the door, we aren't opened until 10:00 on Friday's what do you need?" Long story short, I couldn't even leave the glasses nor god forbid they offer to hand me the tiny screw. Guess that's the customer service I get after 30 years of being a customer. I stopped by Peet's in Alamo which is next to POPLAR. Decided to drop in after grabbing a Latte and see what POPLAR was all about. Wonderful Rosemary (I think that's her name) was gracious, enthusiastic, fixed the glasses and answered my questions about changing Optometrist offices. THANK YOU!!!! read more

Dr. Wu has been our family optometrist for five years now. She is thorough, skilled, professional, and communicative. She has handled our contact lens needs as well as prescriptions for glasses and eye scans. I recently had some vision issues and called her office. They told me to come in immediately. She diagnosed a detached retina, called ahead to a surgeon in Walnut Creek, and sent me over for surgery the same day. I am so grateful she is skilled enough to know when urgent care is needed. I referred two friends to her who are extremely happy with their experience. One of them had a heme which indicates high blood pressure. On Dr. Wu's advice, she went in to her internist who immediately put her on blood pressure medication. He said it could have burst and caused irreparable damage. My friend is now singing Dr. Wu's praises also! read more

I can't believe I am actually reviewing and optometry office but Shelly Wu and her office manager David are just that good. I had laser surgery many years ago and just now started to require some very minor prescription glasses. Mostly sunglasses for driving around. I came to my appointment and just everything is smooth and on point. I had two issues that they needed to help with: one was something got messed up with my insurance and the other being that the sunglasses I really wanted they did not carry. Well, David solved both of those issues in splendid fashion. He called the insurance company while I was getting my eyes checked by Shelly AND he also sourced the sunglasses I wanted that they don't normally carry. Honestly, I would have been impressed if only one of those things happened, but both happened. The appointment was on time and Shelly was great. I never felt rushed or pressured or anything. So I definitely found my new go-to optometrist. They are LIGHT years ahead of the "Lenscrafters" of the world. read more

Dr Wu & Staff are what every patient hopes for in a visit: - welcomed with a sense of professionalism and respect (unlike a lot of doctors offices where folks are jaded and rude). They are extremely welcoming and actually appreciate your business - Dr Wu has seen my kids, wife, and myself. I'd say she definitely does a thorough exam and doesn't rush things. - She is extremely competent and her bedside manners are exceptional. In short, +A rating from me. read more

Dr. Wu was awesome. Took her time with the exam and explained my vision deficits like no other optometrist had. Warm and friendly office. My experience couldn't have been better! read more

I have been wearing my new glasses for over a week now and couldn't be happier. They are comfortable, look great and most importantly, I can tell that they are the highest quality lenses I have ever had. I am particularly sensitive to even a little blur and have never had a pair of glasses that are so clear. Dr. Wu and her staff are the best! read more

As new patients to this practice, our experience has been very good. A few notable distinctions set this place apart: 1) The Dr. herself: Dr. Wu spends an incredible amount of time with her patients. At other facilities, office staff would run the pre-exam test and administer pre-exam drops but here, Dr. Wu is very hands-on. Personally, collecting us from the waiting areas she toke great care in answer questions, highlighting areas for potential concern and was very comprehensive in explaining everything. After administering the dilation drops, she even stayed in the room with me and my daughter, where she spent 20-25 mins. just chatting with my daughter and getting her comfortable with the exam process. At other places, we were sent off to wait in the waiting area while another patient would be hoarded into the exam room. This place is truly committed to the quality of care it provides and not focused the quantity of patients rotating through the exam room doors. As a family with several little ones, I truly appreciate the depth of care and kindness Dr. Wu exhibited with my children. 2) The office staff is competent, knowledgeable and friendly. Appointments have always started on time!! This place exhibits great personalized service and care - a very rare gem. Highly recommend for anyone - adult and child, alike looking for a great optometrist. read more

Dr. Wu and her office associate Andrew are fantastic. I had an eye emergency and Andrew followed up immediately and worked closely with Dr. Wu to get me the advice and help to quickly resolve my issue. Dr. Wu is highly competent and makes great patient connections. I would not go to any other Optometrist in the East Bay. read more

Visited this optometry clinic for an eye exam. Dr. Wu was very kind, personable and thorough. She explained everything that she was doing and answered all of my questions. I did not at all feel rushed during my eye exam. The rest of the staff helped me pick out frames and worked to maximize my vision benefits. read more

I feel very fortunate to have discovered Dr. Wu in Alamo Plaza. Everything about Poplar Spectales is top notch. I plan on continuing my vision services here as long as possible. read more

My wireless frames split in half at the temple on a Friday before we were to leave on vacation for a week. I looked up the nearest option and stopped in hoping the might be able to fix them. I left them and 30 minutes later I got a call that they were fixed! When I came back to pick them up, I asked how much the repair was. They said it was complimentary! These are great people. I looked around and they have a good selection of frames. Give them a try. read more

Going to Dr. Wu's office has been the best optometry experience my family and I have ever had. Dr. Wu is intelligent and has excellent communication skills - she explains everything concisely and professionally. We have a few complicated eye issues in our family and Dr. Wu has been very knowledgable and helpful. Her staff is equally professional which is important to me when calling or visiting the office. Dr. Wu also has the latest in technology and equipment which allows her to make an accurate diagnosis and prescription. Having a lab onsite is also a nice benefit. Aesthetically, Dr. Wu's office is stylish, clean and comfortable which ties the whole experience together. It is very nice to have a excellent optometrist with an excellent staff and office that is just 5 minutes from our house. I wish lots of success to Dr. Wu. read more

Dr. Wu and staff is a welcome addition to the community. Everyone in my family has recently have recently been seen by Dr. Wu and had an amazing eye appointments. They are very knowledgeable, and professional... My husband has a had a difficult time with another eye doctor in the community getting contacts that he can actually see with, what she choose to use worked on the first try we are very excited...I learned that I don't need glasses and her Saturday appointments worked out great for my college student that was home for the weekend. I am so happy that we have a great eye doctor in our community that is so qualified and we don't have to travel out of town any more. read more

Dr. Wu and staff are absolutely wonderful and very accommodating. Dr Wu was very thorough during the eye examination and was very clear when explaining things. Dr Wu and staff were very accommodating and willing to help with ordering and sending my contacts across the country and handling my insurance. I was very impressed with her professionalism and helpfulness. Great experience :) read more

Dr. Wu is an amazing professional and she is very personable in her approach. She is quite communicative and knowledgeable about eye health and included sharing her information with my ophthalmologist and personal physician. I was pleasantly surprised of her inclusive approach to my eye health care. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for an optometrist. She has a warm and receptive staff with a tastefully decorated professional office. read more

We are very happy with Dr. Wu. She listens, gives you advice and options/recommendations, and doesn't rush you. She is very nice, knowledgeable and professional. read more

Great service overall. Thorough exam--Dr. Wu was above and beyond professional and knowledgeable. The staff is very helpful and friendly.

I highly recommend Dr. Wu. She is highly professional and pays attention to all the details needed to get the "perfect" pair of glasses. I tell my friends it's like going to an "optometry spa." My prescription is perfect and the progressive lenses are lined appropriately. The selection of eyewear is the best I've seen, and believe me, I shopped around the Bay Area. And, I love my glasses. They are contemporary and even a tad elegant:) read more

I had to change eye doctors when our former one stopped taking our insurance, and I'm so happy I did. Dr. Wu is charming, very professional and great with kids. She changed my contact lens prescription so that I can see better for both distance and reading. And, the office is beautiful. Very pleased! read more

Poplar has all the coolest frames. I find frames there I can't find anywhere else and they always seem to be ahead of the fashion trends. Shelley Wu is as good as they come in optometry. She is extremely professional and well educated on all the latest medical information for eyes. She gives thorough, thoughtful exams and goes the extra mile trying to help me find the exact frame and lense that will work for my lifestyle. Will definitely return to get some prescription sunglasses next. read more