Thank you, Dr. Rick Abelson. All these years I thought allergies were the main contributor to my eye pains, migraine / tension headaches. It turns out that it was astigmatism. So far, the pain is greatly reduced, and I can focus a lot better throughout the day without eye strain. Sincerely, Corbin S. read more

Absolutely delightful experience. Super efficient, friendly, and answered all my questions.

Great guy would recommend. Eyes are important and he is the guy to take care of them. Very nice and staff too.

The entire staff here is professional and very sensitive to the needs of the patient. I was able to see the doctor the same day of the emergency. The other thing I love is when the doctor has to look at the optic verve for diabetes he doesn't use any drops that burn. He has the equipment to see the optic nerve and evaluate. Very thankful for this eye practice. Connie (Jeannie) read more

Professional knowledgeable doctor with awesome patient service. Highly recommend not to mention great prices

Dr Abelson is an easy Dr. to see. He and his staff are always very pleasant and informative. Thankfully I don't have much trouble with my eyes other than getting contact lenses and he makes sure I get a prescription that works for me. read more

I am totally satisfied with Dr. Ricks office; he is knowledgeable and very personable. Dr. Rick is amazing and is affordable in price. His selection of eye wear is AMAZING!!! I have had the same glasses for over 3 years now and no problems what so ever! Customer service is amazing and they are so helpful in finding nice eye glasses. read more

Rick A Abelson, OD - Gateway Village Optometry - Optometrists Near Me - San Clemente, California

I am extremely annoyed how they continued to add hidden fees during my visit. I would have liked if they politely considered to give me my money back when additional fees were added. They lost my business here. I'm better off going to Costco for my eye contacts. read more

He was very respectful and helpful the office staff was awesome and even asked if you need anything like bottle water I would highly refer them. read more

The best ophthalmologist in Orange County. Dr Abelson is kind, and an expert at getting the prescription just right. His eye glass selection is awesome too! read more

This place is absolutely horrible. Complete joke!!! I went in and they had horrible costumer service, and they gave me a wrong diagnosis too I had to get a second opinion!! They should not be running a practice with those clowns read more

We've been taking two of our children to Dr. Abelson and he's been amazing. His staff is super helpful and friendly and Dr. Abelson treats my children as he would treat his own. Super grateful we found him. read more

Absolutely terrific doctor! He was so personable and funny, he made the visit SO easy and thoroughly explained my prescription and addressed all of my eye issues. The eye doctor I had before prescribed the wrong type of lenses which were causing me vision problems and Dr. Abelson recognized they were the wrong lenses before I even mentioned that my current lenses were causing me problems! I wish all of my doctors were as awesome and thorough as Dr. Abelson. I would highly recommend his services and I am so happy I have found my go-to eye doctor. read more

2 stars may be overrating this place. I have 3 different experiences. 1) Went in because I lost my glasses. Got an appointment with Dr. Abelson and was in and out. I didn't like this because it was so informal and quick. If felt rushed, and there was hardly any "bedside manner". No conversation.. Just read the chart. It was awkward and so short. He gave me my new prescription and told me the old lady in the front would be of assistance from there. This lady.. Oh my gosh. Well this day she was very helpful and sweet, when I was purchasing something. Well that was time 1. 2) My glasses broke while in the 1 year warranty. (I got a defective pair) The same older lady in the front who's always there told me they didn't have that frame but had an almost identical pair. She literally took them off the shelf and popped my lenses out the ones I bought into the new pair. I didn't think anything of it, I didn't know you could just pop lenses out, but whatever. I left and the dang lenses didn't fit right. There is a space just big enough that's noticeable from the edge of the lens to the frame. (I didn't think anything of it until the screw kept coming out)-I took to another place to get it fixed and they told me what she did was just astonishing and highly stupid because the lenses were making the screw break because they were too tall! 3) The screw came out again and I took it in to get it fixed last week. She completely ignored my statement about the lenses not fitting and just went to fix the screw.. The stupid screw wouldn't cooperate so she started grunting and then huffing and puffing attempting to fix it. Then she came to me and asked me to wait for the doctor to get there to fix it.. Lol I informed her I cannot drive without them or see. She turned around and continued to huff and puff and then finally she got them. It was so uncomfortable to sit there and deal with her making me feel like I was this huge pain in the ass for coming in to get my frames put back together. This place is just overly unfriendly, and reading the last few reviews I feel severely jipped. This place has potential but I don't think she is as friendly as she needs to be. Also, if she could hang up the phone while I'm there speaking to her that would be a good start. Instead of sitting there yapping to her friends on the office phone.. Obviously not about work. Making me wait so you can have a casual conversation while I'm balancing 2 toddlers from destroying your store?? C'mon lady.. Get it together. read more

Worst customer service, No ethics, no idea how to run a business, and they charge twice as much. It had been a couple of years since I had an eye exam, and I was uncomfortable with my glasses, specially driving at nights. Being new to this area, just walked in to this place after having lunch at a restaurant next door, I was the only one in the store, so didn't have to wait, I had an eye exam. I paid for the exam and was quoted over $500 for a prescription glass including a frame that I picked out. I asked for a breakdown and thought that the price they wanted to charge for just the lenses ($350) was just too high. I told the lady up front to give me a copy of my prescription and that I would have to think about it. I shopped around and found another store that I could order new glasses with the same exact lenses that they wanted to charge me $350 for less than half the cost. So I ordered the glasses with the prescription given from this Dr. My glasses arrived and the prescription just didn't feel right, but since I knew it would take some time to get use to it, I waited a few weeks. Well, I was still not comfortable with the new prescription, so I came back to the Dr and asked him to recheck my eyes and make sure that the prescription he prescribed was correct. After the examination was completed he looked at my record and asked to see my new glasses, he checked the lenses that the other place had ordered and blamed it on the lenses, and he said that they were not the same as he had prescribed. At this point I'm furious since now it is over 3 months I'm having problems, I asked if he was sure? He replied yes. I asked what will it take to fix this problem, he said that I would have to buy the lenses from him for $278 and that since my frames were brand new he could use my frames, being frustrated I agreed and paid him $278 in advance. I was told that he would have the lenses in 7 to 10 days. I went back after 2 weeks since no one called to give me update, found out that the lenses were in but they just didn't notify me. I left my frames with them so they can install the new lenses on my frame. I picked up my glasses the next day and driving back home that evening had the same watery eyes with my new lenses. Again, I decided to give it time to see if my eyes would get use to them. A couple of weeks later I picked up my glasses to live the house the right side lens fell out and on to the carpet, I picked up the lens and the frame and went back to the store, well, as usual the Dr was not there, his they're only 3 or 4 days out of the week, the lady in the front said no problem, I'll put in a new screw and fix it for you but you will have to come back to see the Dr another day. I waited for her to go to the back of the store and fix my glasses. She took a good 20 min and came back with a silver color screw which didn't match the original, nor the screw on the other side, it was also allot longer screw and sticking out of the frame, I saw this, and immediately said this is not the right screw, she apologized and said that she tried to cut it down, and that was the best she could do. I left the store and as I walked into my office an hour later, the left side lens popped out of the frame and fell on to the concrete floor putting a huge scratch right in the center of the lens. I was so mad at this point, I knew she probably had taken the other screw out to find a match and had left it loose. I picked up the lens and the following morning went back in to the store. This time I'm told that the Dr is with a patient and that he would come out & talk to me as soon as his done with the other patient. I sit and wait almost 20 min, I asked the lady to go back and see how long he would be, since that was my lunch break and I was running out of time, well she comes back telling me that the Dr said that there was nothing that could be done and that he could order new lenses for a reduced price of $200. I told her, that I wasn't paying him again and it wasn't my fault that he had incompetent employees that couldn't tighten a screw. To make a long story short, the Dr. never came out to see or talk to me. I don't blame him, how do you handle stupidity, and what could he possibly tell me to try and get more money from me. They never took care of it. Look at the picture of the screw that was used. P.s. I ordered the same lenses from glassesusa.com for $140 less than 1/2 the cost. Don't waste your time and money with this place. read more

Rick A Abelson, OD - Optometrists Near Me - San Clemente, California

I'm pretty sure whoever had negative things to say may be competition. Dr Abelson is the kindest and most attentive person and willing to do anything to make your experience a great one. I think having a chat with him instead of blasting his business is only fair. He is so talented that he's the ONLY doctor to get my difficult prescription correct in years of going to Amateurs. They also have the BEST selection ever of fashion glasses. Glasses you don't see anywhere else. Go to the best and get the best exam and selection. read more

Dr. Rick, his wife and his staff are Amazing. My kids adore him as do my husband and I. He is so knowledgeable and caring. He doesn't oversell either. He really cares about his patients. I highly recommend him. A+++ read more

Excellent doctor in family friendly environment. Discovered him almost a year ago when my insurance changed. Love that he's located right across from the high school where I shop. So happy with my progressive glasses that I ordered same version for sunglasses! Plus, I feel very comfortable going in to get my glasses adjusted or repaired. Would definitely recommend Dr. Abelson and his staff for their professionalism and great pricing. Who knew pricing could vary so much from doctor to doctor! read more

Dr. Abelson is great! He came in on his day off to see what was going on in my irritated eye. And I wasn't even a patient of his yet! Well I am now! read more

This was my first time visit. After going 6 years without new glasses, I decided to try this Dr. out. I am glad I did. Dr. Abelson made me feel comfortable, and explained everything he was doing. Advised me about buying "extras" for my specs as they already come with. (Kind of like undercoating for your car) Got new glasses with all the "bells and whistles" and saved me 200.00 over the cost of my old glasses. I'll be back soon for sunglasses, and then my yearly checkup! read more

Love the Dr can't stand the front desk person Rose. Extremely Rude!!! I have a hyphenated last name and she told me she didn't have time to look for my file when I told her it may be under mine or my husbands. I'm sorry I thought that was your job. When I called to see if my contacts were in yet she told me she called already(which she didn't) when I questioned where she left a message she told me she couldn't tell me, and simply hung up without a good bye. The young girls are all so pleasant.... I'll just have to make my appt. when only they are working if possible. read more

I stopped in to have a non prescription lens replaced in my sunglasses. The doctor and his staff were super helpful. They had a great pair of gradient lenses and were able to fit them on site! Within twenty minutes my favorite pair of sunglasses was functioning again! All for only 40 dollars. Will definitely return for any other optic needs! read more

Extremely knowledgeable optometrist, with a great selection and fantastic service. Would highly recommend to friends and family. My friend and I went in and she was having a hard time with her contacts from another place, Dr. Abelson was able to correct and teach her the techniques to help with her vision. read more

I saw Dr Albelson three times over the course of 1 1/2 years as my vision got progressively worse. He diagnosed me as having a condition called kerataconus, a condition which he told me cannot be corrected. He claimed that he was an expert on this particular condition. After a year and a half, I finally decided to go to an ophthalmologist to get a second opinion. I was told I didn't have kerataconus at all. Instead I have cataracts, which should have been easily diagnosed by an optometrist's examination. Dr Abelson may be able to handle simple prescriptions, but I would not recommend going to him if you have anything more complex going on with your eyes. read more

It's so funny to read these nasty reviews because I've been going to Dr. Abelson for years and have had nothing but good experiences. Cheryl, the office manager, is a trooper and goes out of her way to make sure you are happy and taken care of. The practice has grown so much over these past few years and Cheryl handles it all with dignity and professionalism. If I had one suggestion for Dr. Abelson it would be that he needs to hire a full-time receptionist to give Cheryl a little more support! But I have nothing but good things to say about that office. I have referred many of my friends to them and take my entire family to Dr. Abelson and wouldn't have it any other way! read more

Great doctor terrific exam. But his receptionist is always exasperated and rude. But the office was clean so I'll be back. Sad part is I paid over 169$for year supply of contacts and I took over 6 weeks since i paid and still not one call. Wish i could give more raves but...... He needs new reception. read more

I have been his patient of over 8 years now and my son for the past 4! We really appreciate Dr. Abelson!

GREAT office! I loved Dr. Abelson. Professional, clean, and quick turnaround for all my orders! Dr. Abelson and staff are very professional and BEST price around town! I would highly recommend him!!!! read more

Capable doctor, but in-house lab skills are poor. After 5 tries, they still have not got my lenses right. Excuse after excuse. Never done when promised and the a multitude of quality problems and color consistency was just not there. read more

I went to Dr Abelson, since he took my insurance and was close to my house. The office is nice, clean and the visit started on time. Their selection of frames that are covered by insurance was really good and very modern. The lab took two days to get them back. Easy, easy, easy! Highly recommended by my wife and I. read more

Dr. Abelson is wonderful, along with his receptionists! I went in to get a contact fitting and a vision exam. I was attended fairly quick, since I had an appointment. The doctor is very funny and definitely cleared up all the questions I had for him about my vision. He gave the best professional advice and addressed all my concerns. Also, this was my first time here and I will definitely be coming back! Not to mention, the prices are very fair! read more

Dr. Abelson was very nice, professional, and quick! He's very good at what he does, and his prices are excellent. I highly recommend him. Oh, and his office staff is super helpful! read more

Wonderful and fast! I appreciate he got the fact that I had 20 minutes to get a check up, order glasses and grab some contacts. He is the best! read more