I first picked this place because it is close to where I live in Ballard and the Yelp reviews were…read morepositive. In the last few years, I have been here several times for eye exams with Dr. Chelsie Russ and have had great experiences each time. She is friendly, patient, thorough, and informative. I really like how Dr. Russ explains everything and makes sure I understand what's going on with my eyes and my vision. My hubs goes to see her and has had great experiences too. I have yet to pick out new frames and have them fitted by the opticians, but so far, both have been friendly and helpful when I had questions or was just browsing frames. If you're looking for a new optometrist, check out Dr. Russ and the team at Eye Clinics of Seattle, Ballard. They're solid.

People are great but...I went to get new glasses last summer. Wanted to spend about 500$ total as I…read morehad insurance for exam and a couple hundred for frames. Ended up spending close to 500$ for the frames thats $800 or so. All ok, I liked the frames...but then the frames would break, one arm would fall off. Went three times to have them put back together then finally requested a new frame. They replaced them with more durable ones that priced out at about $200. They don't credit the difference even though they were defective. What a hassle right? I have been going here for over 15 years and have never had a problem. Now I have a pair of bifocals that are not clear to read the laptop about 2 feet away or watching TV about 8 feet away. This was requested for the intended use. I now use older pairs for both applications. Thinking of tossing these as they may be hurting my vision yuk! Is that a thing? Hate to hassle, but really?

Incredibly warm people here. I brought my glasses there for adjustment. Both the optician and the…read morestaff at the counter were incredibly nice. You can see their smile and feel the warmth of their service attitude. The optician does a good job. Really detailed work and professional skills. Frame adjustments can be tricky and in fact it involves in a lot of tweaking in different spots. The optician takes his work seriously. They take COVID precaution seriously too. Overall, you can just feel this is a professional optical store with great skills. I would recommend to all people in the big Seattle area.

Had an eye - foreign object in my eye. They told me they…read morehad no time to see me - next appointment was later in the week - go get your urgent care elsewhere. Would have taken them 5 minutes to fish the thing our of my eye. Very dissappointing.

If you're looking for an optometrist, look no further. Dr. Chin and her staff are warm, friendly,…read moreincredibly professional, and wonderful at their craft! My daughter and I have both gotten glasses from here and I have my annual eye exam here as well. Dr. Chin has helped me to figure out which contacts are the best for me and I couldn't be more pleased. Their eyeglass area has a nice, airy feel to it, and there's even an area for kids to play if you have to bring them along for your appointment.

City Eyeworks is a great place. I get eye exams from Dr. Chin and she is so energetic and…read moreknowledgeable and tries to give me solutions! I got 2 pairs of eye glasses and I love them and the people that assisted me. Everyone I encountered was so nice. Thank you city Eyeworks!

I had a great experience at Eyes on the City after several Seattle-based eye appointments that were…read morenot so stellar. The staff (looking at you, Christy!) and the doc (Dr Mendoza) were so friendly, professional, and were thorough yet speedy in their work. Already I am recommending this place to friends and colleagues. Thanks EOTC!

Incompetent and unethical business practices…read more I feel the need to warn my fellow Seattlites with less the perfect eyesight. Don't let the lovely location fool you. This shop is run by incompetence. I went in as a first time customer with high hopes but mostly because it was the closest shop listen by my insurance. I need glasses to distance and, thanks to the wonderful process of aging, also to read. Unfortunately I can't tolerate the mushroomy experience that multifocal lenses provide. I made that clear to both the doctor and the technician. They still up-sold me on "this new technology" that is going to work for me. I asked what they would do if the lenses didn't work for me. They reassure me that they would make it right. After a couple of weeks I got the glasses. I couldn't even leave the shop with them. Nothing was on focus. A different tech apologized and politely re-took the ocular measures noticing that they were wrongly measured and that, to make things worse the lens shop made a mistake as well. I waited another couple of weeks for the new lenses. Much better but still off center. I used the glasses for two weeks as they recommended and I decided that I could not deal with the fishbowl effect. For me it's mostly everything is out of focus and I have to search the sweet spot constantly. I felt noseous every day. They took the glasses in and ordered regular lenses. Once I got those back, I was expecting to get a refund for the difference. Multifocal are closer to 500 dollars and single focus are more like 200. They refused to make up for the difference. They refused to discuss it with me and referred me to a manager. I called the manager 3 time before getting a text message back say they they were busy. Finally today they emailed me refusing the refund. Wait, you are too busy to call me but you have the time to write me a long email to refuse the refund? Is this something they do on a daily basis? Do they have a template for this reply? Why is the manager so busy with these tasks? She had the time to reply to my second email and the third but she didn't have the time to call me? Do they use AI for these communications? How often do they deny refunds?! Is this pure incompetence or a business strategy? Be weary of this establishment they are more skilled at denying customers then they are at making glasses. Funny that they prefer to steal a couple hundred bucks rather then acquire a new loyal customer. If you need glasses, you'll need glasses for the rest of your life. They have the opportunity to make up for their mistakes 10 fold over the years. Especially in a city like Seattle were we love supporting local businesses. Final note, they have a very limited selection of frames and most of them are outdated and out of style. I provided my own. This is the temu of Seattle glasses shops with prices not to match their low quality and incompetence

Dr. Stephanie Michalko is very thorough when I had my checked up yesterday. She listened and…read moreanswered all my questions. She's very nice, friendly, approachable and I feel at home and at ease during my entire visit. All the staff are very nice, friendly and approachable. The optical staff explained me very well about my insurance coverage and my glasses transaction descriptions. The place is very neat and clean and so is the bathroom. I highly recommended this clinic, The Eye Clinics of Seattle, Roosevelt location and look for Dr. Stephanie Michalko. This is the place to go if you need to see an Optometrist and need a new pair of glasses. They had a very good Optometrist, good staff and a very good and decent eyewear selection.

I am leaving this review specifically about the experience I had getting my first pair of…read moreprogressive glasses here last year--I am sure they are fantastic with regular prescriptions. I got a lot of good advice in selecting new frames to go with my lenses, but very little time (10-15 minutes) was spent taking measurements of how they fit on my face and adjusting them. As a result, the arms were too long for my head and the left lens sat too far away from my eye. (I didn't know this until later.) When I picked up my glasses, I was told to set aside some time for an orientation of sorts to my new progressives, which would make sure that I understood how to use them and that they fit well on my face. This didn't really happen--I was just handed the glasses and a card to read to test them with, without any real guidance. When I expressed that I really didn't think my vision was as clear as expected at *any* distance, I was just told that they had made the lenses correctly according to the prescription, they sat correctly on my face, and it would take some time to get used to them. I was excited to pick up my glasses and left this appointment feeling like I had not been heard at all. I returned 2.5 weeks later after having worn them religiously every minute I was awake. I had gotten a little more used to reading a book with them, but I still found my vision discomfortingly blurry and dissatisfying. I was told that if there was any improvement at all then I should again give it more time. I gave it more time; things unfortunately did not improve. I actually called to make another appointment to redo my entire eye test, but (I acknowledge this is on me) I felt a little nervous about going back again after not having been able to convince them, twice, that I wasn't seeing well. I cancelled the appointment to avoid going through another experience of feeling gaslit. A year later I went back to my former eye clinic in the UDistrict. I had my prescription sent over from Eye Clinics of Seattle; my doctor here told me after scanning my glasses that the lenses in them did not match the prescription that was sent over (lens scanners aren't 100% accurate, but the difference was much more than the amount they can be off). I also needed correction for astigmatism--something Eye Clinics of Seattle had observed, but they told me my eye exam suggested I would prefer lenses without correction. (Again, this must have been on me--I guess I thought option "1" was better than "2" at some point and I was wrong. I don't blame them for this.) I decided to reuse the same pair of frames, and this time the dispensing optician spent 45 minutes with me working extremely carefully to adjust them. They took additional measurements. They switched the built-in metal nose pads for a silicone pair and turned them upside down, both of which made the bridge sit much more securely on my face. They also shortened the arms and put replacement temples on them, bending them meticulously so that they hug my ears instead of sliding off. Finally, at Eye Clinics of Seattle, there was zero conversation about different progressive lens types. I was told they were going to use a "premium" lens and that was that. The dispensing optician at my old clinic didn't have a very high opinion of the lenses I was given, which are apparently made by my vision insurance company and retailers get rewards for dispensing them (I didn't know this). The lenses he recommended were no more expensive on my same insurance policy, have a larger intermediate distance viewing area so it's a million times easier to use my laptop, and have a better antireflective coating (I can actually tell that they clean up more easily than my old lenses). I have now had my new glasses for a week and they are a revelation. I don't even feel like I'm wearing progressives. I can just *see*. Everyone at Eye Clinics of Seattle was friendly and professional, and once again the fact that I spent a year unhappy with my vision was my own fault for accepting the situation and not going back again to get more help. That said, I really can't recommend this place for progressives wearers--especially first-timers who do not know what to expect.

Scheduling: My first interaction was a hot mess tbh. It was…read moreabout scheduling a new patient visit over the phone, and it was with a person that seemed quite flustered. They never sent over an email confirmation (they said they would) after we'd scheduled an appointment over the phone. With no confirmation email, I thought I had not been scheduled. I then made two online appointments, ended up cancelling the one that didn't work with my schedule. Thats when he proceeded to reach out for a call back (voicemail & email). Essentially, I got on the phone for him to tell me that I was in the wrong. Apparently, if you make an over the phone appointment, they don't send an email confirmation. SIGH. Whatever. Dr. Appt: Once I got in for my appointment, it was smooth sailing. Met with Dr. Amaraweera who was super thorough and took her time to ensure my prescription was accurate. She helped me find a contact lens that works with my astigmatism, and her recommendation was spot on. First time ever that a contact lens fit like a glove and my vision was crystal clear with contacts! That's saying something for people who deal with astigmatism and contact lenses. Glasses Sales Rep: I feel bad for not remembering this person's name. They helped me pick out glasses, and they were fantastic. Young white brunette with a cool facial piercing, loved them! We had over a dozen glasses strewn all over the table and had fun finding two that worked really well for my low nose bridge. They also helped me fit two old prescription sunglasses and glasses with my new prescription. They broke down all the costs and how to best use my insurance to cover the most expensive glasses. Patient Portal Rx Follow Up: It's been over a week since my appointment, and I thought I'd be able to easily access my prescriptions for both contacts and glasses online (as was advertised). There was nothing uploaded to my patient portal, no documents at all about my visit. I had to call the front desk and confirm my contacts were working for me. I didn't realize they needed verbal confirmation after the appointment was over. I've never had to confirm my contact Rx after I've left the clinic, so that was new for me, but obviously my bad. They did finally upload my glasses prescription after my request. Small victories. Overall: I think the clinic is worth the visit. Just be prepared for regular human shenanigans. I don't know if all front desk staff are given a training on passive aggressive "bless your heart" kind of attitude, but it is rare to walk into any clinic and be treated like an adult instead of a toddler who's name you just can't pronounce. Dr. Amaraweera was wonderful and so was the glasses sales rep I worked with. WOULD RECOMMEND!

I just had my second appointment with Dr. Amara and she is the best eye doctor I've ever had. Her…read moreexams through and I never walk away without feeling well informed on my current vision. The staff is friendly and very attentive to your eyewear choices. I would highly recommend Ballard Optical.

After filtering through tons of clinics covered by my insurance provider and sifting through one…read moretoo many disgruntled reviews, I was frazzled and ended up just visiting the closest clinic to where I live. Long story short: I had a great experience at Wallingford eye care despite passing over it during my initial search. I called for an appointment and the guy who picked up (John, I believe?) was patient and understanding. It was the first time I needed an eye exam and was very confused by the process and what I needed. He scheduled me for a morning visit and even had a reminder a few days before. On the day itself, I waited a little for Dr Susie roh, a wait I expected like all clinics. Dr Roh was very thorough in explaining the process and recommending solutions. I was comfortable throughout the process as she was proficient at her job. After the checkup, I decided to buy a pair of glasses. The optician was not pushy and gave me space to decide what I wanted. She even came up with many options to help me out. When I was finally done, most of the paperwork and insurance coverage was already completed. I paid the balance and was on my way. Received an email four days after and my glasses was ready to be picked up! Great experience. Would recommend

Don't buy your eyeglasses here. They sell Bevel eye glasses. (One screw came undone and I can't get…read morea replacement Bevel screw. As a result, I have a floppy, loose right arm to my eyeglasses. It's very annoying.) More details below: After a few months, the screw fell out of the right hinge of my eyeglasses. I bought an eyeglass repair kit from Amazon to insert a screw and a bolt on the bottom of the screw. But since the screw is too thin (too small of a diameter), the right arm of the eyeglasses are loose and floppy. It's very annoying. I went to Wallingford Eye Care. They sell replacement screws. But they were all too thin. (So I would still have a floppy, loose right arm for my eyeglasses.) But their screws are too short. So I can't add a bolt to the bottom of the screw to help prevent the screw from unscrewing. The receptionist said that there's no official replacement Bevel screws and it's a known problem. I've worn eyeglasses for 40 years and my Bevel eyeglasses are the ONLY eyeglasses where a screw came undone. The next time I buy eyeglasses, I'm NOT buying them from here. (They only sell Bevel brand.) And I'm not buying the Bevel brand from another eye clinic.

Well, this is a first for me. Did I come on to Yelp just to share my incredible experience with…read morethis practice? Sure did. When I moved to Seattle, a friend recommended another large opthalmology practice. Scheduling required weeks of advance planning; in-person waits were long; while my doctor was lovely, the contact lens fitters constantly rotated into the practice and so there was feeling of never getting to know someone. It was... fine, I guess? When this same office moved to requiring separate days for the contact lens fitting and the annual check-up, it was the catalyst I needed to search for an alternative. Two friends happen to see Dr. Lo at Eye Clinics QA. I seamlessly transferred my records and easily made an appointment. The first time I visited the clinic, my exams went quickly and smoothly. Dr. Lo listened to my very nuanced concerns, had me try out a newly-tweaked prescription, and it made all the difference in the world. My second annual appointment with him this year was no different (only it was moved to the Ballard location, as this one is still being renovated!) I cannot recommend this office, this doctor, and this experience enough. My only regret is not finding them sooner. Thank you Dr. Lo and team!

Great selection of frames and wonderful folks working in Optical. Every interaction is kind as well…read moreas professional. Very comfortable space