Site for Sore Eyes - Berkeley

If you are looking for generic, cookie-cutter frames, go elsewhere. But if you want a masterclass…read morein eyewear, go see Karen and Aimee. This may be the nicest frame shop I've ever been to What I appreciate most is their honesty. They recently saved me a significant amount of money by advising against anti-reflective coating after I mentioned my frustration with smudging. Most shops would just take the upsell, but Karen and Aimee actually care.

It's hard to imagine a better small business of any kind than The Optician. I've been going to…read moreKaren and Aimee for several years, and each time they've impressed me with their expertise, their integrity and their personal commitment to providing stellar service. Just one example: last year I needed lenses replaced fast on a backup pair of glasses before a trip. Assuming that Karen and Aimee would be too busy, I called a few well-known, branded stores and was practically laughed off the line. Karen and Aimee, on the other hand, didn't miss a beat. Without over-promising, they simply got the job done. I picked up my glasses two days before my trip and left town with an easy mind. On top of all this, they're both super-nice and interesting to talk with. I look forward to seeing them each time I go into the shop. To sum up: when it comes to glasses, I can't imagine going anywhere else.

Interior

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My husband the happy customer at Karen's.

Focal Point Opticians

4.4(168 reviews)

1.1 mi•Elmwood

I made an appointment to select glasses with an optician and I was on time for my appointment. When…read moreI walked in the door John was very dismissive even after I explained that I had an appointment. He was completely unfriendly as if I was bothering him. He pointed towards the glasses and he told me that I could ask questions later. When the next person walked into the store John's tone completely changed and he became very helpful towards her. After I gathered the glasses I sat down to use the mirror and Jeni asked me if I wanted help. Then she proceeded to be extremely friendly and helpful. But the obvious implicit biases of John prevents me from spending my money here. The two stars are for Jeni.

This review is for glasses selection and adjustment only. I popped in unannounced to have my…read moreglasses tightened despite not being a patient or a previous customer. Everyone at the counter was lovely and super welcoming and didn't make me feel awkward for not being a current customer. they tightened my glasses and sent me on my way. on my way out I toured their thousand plus selection of frames. Just maybe I'll switch optometrist based on this experience. I don't know what insurance they accept or what their exam rates are, you would have to call and inquire yourself for that information.

HSA and Flex spending plans are always welcome at Focal Point

It's our 2019 Fall Sale! A HUGE selection of our finest frames & sunglasses reduced 30%-50% or more! Now through December 15,2019

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Blue is a very popular color in our collections....

Montclair Optical Berkeley The Cutting Edge

4.4(16 reviews)

1.2 mi•Elmwood

Julia was great with helping me select my new Sabine Be frames…read more But, the technical aspect of using a computer, and sending my receipt to me in an email escapes the staff at this location. And changing my name in the system to be the correct spelling. "I don't have access" doesn't cut it in this day and age, and sending the receipt in an email is a simple every day task. Owner, please enable your employees technically and train them. Please! Also, they said they would file a claim with VSP and did not. So I just went ahead and filed a claim with VSP myself. Disappointed, most likely will not be using them again. Too expensive and not enough customer service.

A pair of frames called to me from their window display!!…read more Great selection. Very helpful staff.

Women of the Year Frame 2024: Woodys Barcelona

Mattthew Eyewear

Montclair Optical Berkeley The Cutting Edge

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Next Eyewear

4.8(135 reviews)

2.2 mi•North Oakland

Really great and colorful selection of frames! Sunglasses, glasses of really fun and hip styles…read more Wonderfully kind service!

Quick to replace the plastic nose guides on my glasses…read more Mel was fantastic, professional and speedy. Also provided additional guidance.

The glasses I came in with.

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Rims & Goggles

4.8(43 reviews)

1.8 mi•West Berkeley

Lisa is truly amazing!! She explained everything with so much patience and kindness. She helped me…read morerecover a pair of glasses that my brother-in-law had gifted me, which had a lot of sentimental value to me. And on top of that, she didn't even charge me! I highly recommend her with my eyes closed. Thank you so much for the incredible service and care. And Guido is an incredible worker as well!! Professional, kind, and very helpful. You can tell they both genuinely care about their customers. Highly recommend them!!

Knowledgeable and helpful!. Sunny shop with many great glasses. Lisa had good suggestions and…read moreadvice.

Save 20% on Frame & Lenses during our Monthly Trunk Shows and Styling Events!

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Bay Bridge Optometry

4.8(153 reviews)

2.4 mi

Bay Bridge Optometry has been consistently excellent every time I've visited. My husband and I have…read morebeen going there for three years, and we've always had a great experience. Booking online is simple, and the team is always friendly and efficient. Their equipment feels up to date, and Dr. Liu does a great job making the exam feel relaxed while still being thorough. He's also super friendly, so it's always a pleasant visit. Definitely a great option for eye care in the Bay Area!

Without a doubt the best experience I have ever had with anything like this. Professional,…read morethoughtful, kind and honest. Staff is terrific and Dr. Liu could and should be teaching others how to do what he does.

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Dr. Liu doing his thing

Tang Eye Center - UC Berkeley Optometry

4.4(72 reviews)

0.2 mi

I've never had a more thorough eye exam. I used to go elsewhere for one, but once I had an exam…read morefrom them I have never gone anywhere else. I have a high prescription and there are some eye health concerns that can come along with that. They always are tracking and educating me about them. I've had to get a recheck once, and it was free. I had to send back a pair, it was free. I have had optometrists in the past who just say "oh you'll get used to it." There is never any fuss about it at UCB.They want to get it right for you. Because they are educating new optometrists, they work very hard at teaching them how to use insurance to get the cheapest lenses. I've gotten lenses that cost half of what they did anywhere else. They just cannot be beat!

I use UC Berkeley Optometry exclusively for all of my eye care. The examination you receive is…read morebeyond thorough. Many years ago I went to a recommended optometry shop and I did not receive the level of care there that I have received at UC Berkeley Optometry ever since. I typically get my care at the Tang Center, and they also have another location on the UCB campus.

1.8 mi•Rockridge, North Oakland

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C2020 Optometry

4.5(101 reviews)

I am extremely impressed by the professionalism and amazing customer care of Dr. Poon, the owner of…read moreC2020. Here is why. I have an expensive pair of Swiss-made frames. It weighs only 2.5 grams, and is thus officially the world's lightest frames. C2020 sent it to the lab specifically authorized by the frame manufacturer itself, to have prescription lenses installed. C2020 also clearly instructed the lab to make no modification to the temples. Yet, (the lab technician must have been new to the job) the lab technician literally melted the temples into pretzel-like twisted twigs, something you would wear only for Halloween. When the lab tried to evade its responsibility, and attempted to argue its way out of it, Dr. Poon purchased new replacement temples to ensure that I would not get stuck with melted-twisted temples. Dr. Poon then personally adjusted the new temples to fit my head. Dr. Poon achieved a beautiful adjustment, because he was both extremely skillful and very patient. In short, you won't find a more skillful, ethical and professional optometrist than Dr. Poon. I have always recommended C2020 to everyone, and will always do so.

I love these guys. First, and most importantly, they are very competent. All of my prescriptions…read morehave always been excellent, providing great clarity of vision. Next, they have really great frames. I've bought some first class frames that were worth every penny. The frame selection is one of the best reasons to go here. That said, one thing I like about this practice is they completely understand buying inexpensive spares online, and they are super helpful. Finally, they are very Covid aware. When you are in a small dark room with another person, it's comforting to know that they are wearing a mask and looking out for your health.

1.8 mi•Fourth Street, West Berkeley

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Warby Parker Fourth St

4.2(140 reviews)

My wife loves this location. They have THE best wide selection of frames. She can just walk around…read moreand try on anything that she wants without being bothered lol. We enojoyed receiving support from Yolanda. She offers a very personable and relatable personality and she knows glasses. She listened and communicated her suggestions effectively. She made this experience warm.

The yippies of Berkeley strike again . Only on Fourth Street will you find hippies with money who…read morethink they are better than you...no matter who you are because you know they are crunchy still and drive an EV. I will never shop here again. I'd much rather deal with the folks of San Ramon or Marin, the Peninsula for crying out loud,shoot even dog eat dog San Jose; just not this location! Let's be honest here, Warby Parker isn't meant for the simple, "I'm using my vision insurance for glasses kind of purchase." Instead, it's a moderate to expensive store for fashionable glasses and it's meant to serve the markets they populate, I'm no fool. However, I do love fashion and didn't mind the à la carte style here, so we bought two pairs of glasses from Fourth Street's Warby Parker. When I found the glasses originally, I was in San Ramon and I was helped by a wonderful salesperson whose name I unfortunately forgot. Once I had my prescription I went to the Berkeley store, out of convenience; big mistake! Especially, since the first salesperson in Berkeley confused me and apparently herself with my prescription, (progressive), and I ultimately ended up with single vision lenses, Instead of progressive. Something I was told only when I returned to a second salesperson in Berkeley Let me tell you about this second salesperson though, cause they were quite rude and judgmental. In fact they seemed to assume I made my purchasing decisions based on cost. No, no, I made my decisions based on confusion! In fact even after a second salesperson and two opticians I am still unhappy and will make sure I go back to corporate with these comments to make sure I get EXACTLY what I need and want. The first optician was nice, but super fast and didn't say much; so I was again a bit confused. The second optician was more verbal but just as rude as the second salesperson. Other than that, Warby Parker is cute.

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Eye To Eye

4.0(61 reviews)

1.8 mi•Berkeley Hills

I had such a genuinely positive experience at Eye To Eye…read more Xavier helped fix an issue with my sunglasses quickly and with great care. What really stood out, though, was his kindness. Xavier is warm, patient, and clearly takes pride in helping people, not just making a sale. This kind of service is rare these days and deeply appreciated! I'll definitely be returning in the future and would highly recommend this shop to anyone looking for honest and thoughtful help with their eyewear.

Xav -- thank you so much for the fab glasses!…read more Xav did an amazing job. I have a strong prescription, which always results in thick lenses. No longer with Eye to Eye. They are so thin and there is no way to tell they're progressives too. I don't normally wear my glasses except at night when I take out my contacts, but these are so cool and my vision is better with these glasses than contacts, so I'm wearing them all the time.

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Susan M.

0

1

0

7 years ago

Site For Sore Eyes is absolutely Outstanding! Yes, they have really cool styles (I found at least 6 pair I Loved - which doesn't ever happen) and every name brand that would make a eyeglass aficionado feel like they won the lottery. But it is the exemplary staff that has won my loyalty - for life. The moment I walked in, Grace's open smile along with her graciousness immediately made me feel at ease. Ernesto heard my problem as well, and stepped into action, enlisting Tino, the Hero. Tino is an artist with a firm grasp of physics - their expert technician. You see, I wasn't there for eye glasses this time. I had accidentally stepped on my favorite, and yes, chichi expensive sunglasses - and for me, it felt dire; with light colored eyes, I literally cannot see in the sun thus spend $$$$ on good sunglasses. Two other places said: they are not fixable. Tino did the impossible with Grace and Ernesto adding their support. They saved me. 11 Stars*********** read more

Zuzanna D.

0

1

0

6 years ago

I went on a month-long trip to the U.S. and on the second day I sat on my glasses and broke them. I went to Sight For Sore Eyes and asked for help, and the worker there fixed them no charge. It was a true relief because in Poland, where I come from, I'd be able to get new glasses for about $30 so the prices of frames in America were pretty overwhelming!! I'm really thankful for his help, moreover my glasses were apparently in poor shape and the fix was supposed to be only temporary, so that they'd make it until I went back to Poland, however they survived another five months. Also, the worker Tino was incredibly friendly and helpful, he put quite a lot of effort into fixing my glasses (in a different place I was told it was impossible to fix them and I'd have to get new frames) and he did that for free. I really recommend this place, from my experience I can tell they really care about helping their client. read more

Stefan C.

0

1

0

7 years ago

Went in hoping to buy a glasses repair kit because one of the screws on my pair went rogue. I'd bought the glasses at Site for Sore Eyes a couple of years ago, and while it turns out they don't sell repair kits, they will do free maintenance on glasses they sold you. Felix told me about the policy and did the repair, which took five minutes max. He was very nice and helpful. Site for Sore Eyes was also really helpful a few years ago when my old eye doctor tried to force me to have another eye exam before they'd sell me contacts, even though I already had a valid prescription for contacts. Walked the prescription down to Site for Sore Eyes, where they happily sold me all the contacts I wanted. read more

Ronnie P.

0

1

0

7 years ago

Wow my experience with site for sore eyes was great... I didn't have any experience going to the eye doctor myself... But they have this 1 woman name Kenisha very helpful, she made me feel at home very easy to talk.. she gives advice help tighten up glasses...overall I give her 2 thumbs up and a big thank you Kenisha... 5 stars your an all star read more

Abhay A.

400

5

2

4 years ago

I had broken my glasses (a screw had popped out and alongside it the lens) and I went in to see if it could get fixed here. Free of charge he was able to put everything in the right place within 2 minutes! Would highly recommend read more

Site for Sore Eyes - Berkeley - opticians - Updated August 2026

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For Eyes

4.0

(183 reviews)

I had an outstanding experience at For Eyes in Berkeley today…read more Even though I wasn't an existing customer, Amy took the time to carefully examine two pairs of sunglasses that I thought might need major repairs. One had a stubborn Maui Jim nose pad issue that I had been unable to solve myself, and the other had a bent hinge that caused the temple to come off. She was able to fix both, and everything is back in perfect working order. Amy was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and generous with her time. Michaela was also very friendly and welcoming, which made for an even better experience. It's rare to come across service that is this thoughtful and customer-focused. I highly recommend For Eyes Berkeley for eyewear adjustments and repairs. Thank you again!

I had a good first experience here, and my new distance and reading glasses seem just right. I had…read moreneglected an eye exam for too long, and Doctor Lam said that my left eye has changed a lot (much worse astigmatism), and he asked if I had been having headaches (which I had). I've now been wearing both pairs of glasses for over two weeks, and it's clear that they have fixed the eye strain that I was having. I see that some reviewers have complained about long waits to see the doctor, and in fact I didn't see the email and text messages that they sent me nearly an hour before my appointment saying that the doctor was running behind, suggesting that I come a half hour later. But I would prefer that the doctor spend however much time turns out to be needed for each client, rather than rush people out the door to stay on time. And it was not a problem because the technicians in the front area worked with me in the meantime on lens and frame choices. The technician Chris was especially helpful at answering my many questions. It took 13 days after the exam and my purchase for both sets of new frames and lenses to arrive, but they were certainly worth the wait.

Berkeley Optometric Group

3.3

(50 reviews)

I called Berkeley optometric group to schedule an appointment more than a month ago. The…read morereceptionist I spoke to told me that the next available appointment will be in June 26 at 2:30 PM with Doctor Fujikawa and I confirmed the appointmen. I took some time off from work for my appointment but when I get there, the receptionist said that I was not on the schedule. My name is there but no schedule. What a waste of my time.

Very disappointed in the poor customer service here for getting frames, I have been going to this…read morelocation for over 20 years now and I will not get glasses here ever again. Once they had excellent glasses and super friendly staff to help but not anymore it's be bad for at least 3-5 years if not longer. Very disappointing.

Warby Parker Fourth St

4.2

(140 reviews)

My wife loves this location. They have THE best wide selection of frames. She can just walk around…read moreand try on anything that she wants without being bothered lol. We enojoyed receiving support from Yolanda. She offers a very personable and relatable personality and she knows glasses. She listened and communicated her suggestions effectively. She made this experience warm.

The yippies of Berkeley strike again . Only on Fourth Street will you find hippies with money who…read morethink they are better than you...no matter who you are because you know they are crunchy still and drive an EV. I will never shop here again. I'd much rather deal with the folks of San Ramon or Marin, the Peninsula for crying out loud,shoot even dog eat dog San Jose; just not this location! Let's be honest here, Warby Parker isn't meant for the simple, "I'm using my vision insurance for glasses kind of purchase." Instead, it's a moderate to expensive store for fashionable glasses and it's meant to serve the markets they populate, I'm no fool. However, I do love fashion and didn't mind the à la carte style here, so we bought two pairs of glasses from Fourth Street's Warby Parker. When I found the glasses originally, I was in San Ramon and I was helped by a wonderful salesperson whose name I unfortunately forgot. Once I had my prescription I went to the Berkeley store, out of convenience; big mistake! Especially, since the first salesperson in Berkeley confused me and apparently herself with my prescription, (progressive), and I ultimately ended up with single vision lenses, Instead of progressive. Something I was told only when I returned to a second salesperson in Berkeley Let me tell you about this second salesperson though, cause they were quite rude and judgmental. In fact they seemed to assume I made my purchasing decisions based on cost. No, no, I made my decisions based on confusion! In fact even after a second salesperson and two opticians I am still unhappy and will make sure I go back to corporate with these comments to make sure I get EXACTLY what I need and want. The first optician was nice, but super fast and didn't say much; so I was again a bit confused. The second optician was more verbal but just as rude as the second salesperson. Other than that, Warby Parker is cute.

Solano EyeCare

4.0

(71 reviews)

New place for me. I was able to find frames that weren't overpriced and my lenses were made very…read morewell. My ophthalmologist had recommended I inquire re where the lenses are made. I asked the right questions, got the answer and staff fit me well. My glasses were ready when they said they'd be and I didn't take long to adjust to my new prescription . Thank you!

Today I called this office to schedule an appointment. The female staff member was polite at first…read more She asked for my date of birth, the last four digits of my Social Security number, and my first and last name. Surprisingly, she said she could not find my information in the system. She then gave me VSP's 800 customer service number to call. I contacted VSP, and they immediately found my information. The VSP representative then placed me, the office, and VSP on a three-way conference call and provided the office with an authorization number. The office told us to wait while they checked the information. After waiting for about 30 minutes with no response, I called back again. Later, a man who identified himself as the office manager called me. He said, "I overheard your conversation with our staff, and I don't think you are a good fit." He then told me to go to another eye care office on Solano Avenue instead. Throughout the entire process, I remained polite and respectful. I never raised my voice or said anything inappropriate. No one gave me any legitimate reason for refusing to see me. Simply telling a patient, "I don't think you are a good fit," without any explanation is unprofessional and unacceptable. I later contacted VSP Customer Service to report what happened. They told me they would investigate this office, and if my complaint is found to be valid, the office could be removed from the VSP provider network. I never even had the chance to see the doctor, so I cannot comment on the doctor's professional skills. However, based on my experience with the office manager and front desk staff, this was one of the worst customer service experiences I have ever had.

Rims & Goggles

4.8

(43 reviews)

Lisa is truly amazing!! She explained everything with so much patience and kindness. She helped me…read morerecover a pair of glasses that my brother-in-law had gifted me, which had a lot of sentimental value to me. And on top of that, she didn't even charge me! I highly recommend her with my eyes closed. Thank you so much for the incredible service and care. And Guido is an incredible worker as well!! Professional, kind, and very helpful. You can tell they both genuinely care about their customers. Highly recommend them!!

Knowledgeable and helpful!. Sunny shop with many great glasses. Lisa had good suggestions and…read moreadvice.

Eye To Eye

4.0

(61 reviews)

I had such a genuinely positive experience at Eye To Eye…read more Xavier helped fix an issue with my sunglasses quickly and with great care. What really stood out, though, was his kindness. Xavier is warm, patient, and clearly takes pride in helping people, not just making a sale. This kind of service is rare these days and deeply appreciated! I'll definitely be returning in the future and would highly recommend this shop to anyone looking for honest and thoughtful help with their eyewear.

Xav -- thank you so much for the fab glasses!…read more Xav did an amazing job. I have a strong prescription, which always results in thick lenses. No longer with Eye to Eye. They are so thin and there is no way to tell they're progressives too. I don't normally wear my glasses except at night when I take out my contacts, but these are so cool and my vision is better with these glasses than contacts, so I'm wearing them all the time.

Target Optical

4.3

(24 reviews)

I visited Dr. Chia and her team this week and had a wonderful experience. I had some issues finding…read moremy updated insurance and they were very patient over the phone before my appointment to make sure my visit would be covered. The appointment went well and ran on time. Dr. Chia was very kind and knowledgable, and she took the time to answer my additional questions about lasik. It's also very convenient to be in Target to do errands afterwards or if you need to come back to pick up glasses/contacts. I highly recommend seeing her for your eye doctors appointments!

After trying to reach Target Optical North Santa Rosa for a couple of weeks via telephone then…read moreTarget Optical Petaluma and receiving only a "Mailbox Full" message, I called the Oakland Emeryville Store and Lo and Behold! A genuine human named Steve answered the telephone after only 3 rings. More amazing, he was able to comprehend my question and respond with a clear and concise explanation comparing two types of lens treatments. WOW - a professional with superb customer service. Give this man a raise or promote him to regional manager. Thanks, Steve, you made my day and restored hope in mankind.

Stephen R Chun, OD

4.3

(9 reviews)

I had a very good experience with this practice after my usual provider couldn't see me in the time…read moreframe I needed. I plan to return.

I had a horrible experience with Dr. Chun. He was not very personable and seemed distracted…read morethroughout my whole exam. In the middle of the exam, his phone was ringing really loud... He even had the nerve to start listening to his voicemails DURING the exam when I was choosing between lens 1 and 2... and so forth. I became fearful that my prescription would not be accurate and I was really tempted to demand a refund. I was very appalled by Dr. Chun's lack of professionalism and needless to say I have found a new optometrist!!! Despite the Dr.'s behavior, the ladies up front were very friendly and helpful. I am surprised they still schedule out of a book.

Sun Shade Optique

3.0

(5 reviews)