I've been going to this doctor for years, and he's excellent. At my first visit, he discovered that my previous prescription was incorrect and that my former doctor had missed my astigmatism. Because of that, my vision had been getting worse. After switching to Dr. Woo, my vision stabilized, and I no longer experience vision-related migraines. I'm truly grateful for his care! read more

Wow... where to start... About 10 years ago, I came down with what I later learned were migraines... totally out of the blue. During the first one, i thought i was having a stroke and went to the ER. The good doctor at UCSF ER knew exactly what was going on (ocular/aura migraine), gave me some meds and guidance, and sent me on my way. The intense migraines continued... I saw a neurologist who was totally worthless. Pretty much, I was left to my own devices and case management. Enter Dr. Woo at Costco! I went in for a regular eye exam, and he detected high pressure in my eyes. It turns out that Glaucoma was causing the eye pressure, and quite possibly the migraines. He referred me to a rock-star ophthalmologist who confirmed his findings. I received glaucoma laser treatment. The pressure subsided, and over time the migraines went away. I never though in a million years that an Optometrist at Costco could find the root cause of a debilitating condition that even a neurologist MD couldn't figure out. I owe my eyesight, livelihood, and wellbeing to Dr. Woo! He is a ROCK STAR, and Costco is blessed to have him in their optical department. As an aside... he also does spot-on optical exams and lens prescriptions, and Costco Optical is wonderful! read more

The eye doctor, Steven Woo is my favorite. I have been going there since my very first glasses prescription till now. He gives me the best prescription that doesn't give me headaches and is the most comfortable. Too bad I don't really like the current receptionists. It irritated me when they asked me to scan my eyeball (not covered by insurance) and lied to me about not doing it during my last visit. (Maybe I wasn't using the correct technical terms because I am a layman, but I wish they checked my records for me when I kept asking if I did it before). I only found out that I did the eyeball scan last time after I scanned it again for $30. Poor me! I felt much better later when I found out that it is good to do the scan more often since I have a high prescription. I probably would have agreed on doing the scan anyways if it was recommended, but I just didn't like feeling tricked. Please learn how to check my records accurately for next time. I feel bad for subtracting one star from my all time favorite optometrist, but I'm bitter. read more

I have been seeing Dr. Woo for over a decade and I always look forward to the examination because I consider the health of my eyes as important as my blood pressure or cholesterol. His staff is professional and easy to work with. I have never had to wait too long for exams on the fly without a previous appointment. Dr. Woo continues to invest in his practice and recently upgraded his office with the latest state-of-the-art eye examination equipment. His expertise is always present, his bedside manner always comfortable and now with the newest equipment, we get through the exam faster and there is no question in my mind on the accuracy. read more

Dr Woo is not only my eye doctor , he is a friend. It is a little strange to go through the Costco security to see your eye doctor , but for me it's worth it. When I am in his office, he make you feel like you are family. Always there is time for question about your eyes or prescriptions. Somehow, during the last of 5 years, my vision improves. I ask him is that normal, should it instead be worse? "No, this happens sometimes, it's fine. You are a healthy man." That can make you're whole day, hearing that. When I was 20, long time ago, I was under pressure from other students and tried a drug called LSD. To say simply, it was a strange experience and I am so glad we had a lifeguard with us who was not on drugs. I bring this up because for many years, my pupil was stuck open all the time. I am certain it was this drug. So usually, I wore the sunglasses as result. I asked Dr Woo about this years ago, and he just laughed. read more

Have been seeing Dr S Woo for several years and find he is a very fine OD who is able to figure out my prescription each time. I've been having some difficulties and he has been the one to figure out how to help me read more

This review is of Dr. Woo's staff. I was the only person in line, yet his staff continued to look over me. Finally, one guy acknowledged me, who said, "Let me finish this up, and I'll be right with you." He was one of maybe three people on staff. Everyone, it seemed, picking up something new to do rather than attend to me. Or so, that's what it looked like. Finally, someone else "helped" me and by "helped," I mean, he tried to persuade me to go to another optometry office. At every turn of our conversation, it felt like he was trying to get rid of me. He contradicted himself, stumbled over his words when he realized that he was being inconsistent, and then tried to save himself by trying to sell me a service any normal person knew I would reject given the nature of my question. To be fair, maybe they all thought I was homeless? Maybe be there was something about what I was wearing that made them ignore and then later try to get me to leave? To you, the reader, I promise I was on my best behavior, and I was polite, and tried my best to give them the benefit of the doubt. But as the saying goes, if it walks like a duck, and sounds like a duck, then the customer service representatives probably don't want to help you. read more

This was my first visit to this office and everything went normally until the end. While I was waiting in line to pay, the optometrist (Dr. Lincoln Service) came up to me and gave me his number on his business card in case I wanted to meet up. I did not contact him and a few days later received a text asking me out. I never gave him my number so he must have gotten it from my paperwork, which feels like a complete invasion of privacy. Unfortunately, the rest of the staff and service is great, but I don't feel like I can ever return to this location. read more

Stephen Woo, OD - Optometrists Near Me - San Francisco, California

Always courteous service. Been going for years. Lost my prescription from December, and he responded early in the morning to my email request for a copy. Delightful professional, and competent staff. read more

For busy people everywhere, check "get eye exam/lens prescription" off your list and head to Dr. Stephen Woo's office conveniently located inside Costco. While you don't need a Costco membership to get an eye exam with Dr. Woo (at Costco's entrance, explain to the Costco entrance police- they annoy me- and they'll wave you in). That said, I bet most of Dr. Woo's patients have a membership card because Costco has dirt cheap contact lens prices. Briskly efficient yet thorough, you're in good hands with this optometrist who will get you in and out the door in minutes. Three steps away, hand your new prescription to the Costco optical department (you do need a membership to buy the lenses here) and you're on your way. Or, in my case, to combo my eye doctor appointment with a quick Costco shopping trip. Streamlining errands and chores, oh-so-helpful and sanity-saving. Now I won't dread that line item on my "to do" list since an exam with Dr. Woo is fast, convenient and keeps my eyes healthy. 5 star. read more

I usually dread going to the optometrist and trying to get a prescription for driving/outside and one for computer use. Easy to talk with Dr. Woo and staff. They did retinal imaging which doesn't require dilation, and he showed me the images right then on the computer. For the prescription he wasn't pushing me to put astigmatism or a higher strength like they sometimes do, just put the same in glasses and contacts so they are all the same. With an extra less strong prescription for computer use. read more

Dr. Woo is top notch. However one of his staff members disrespected me horribly. Young gal with long black hair. She acted like I didn't deserve ordinary customer service. I had come (pre paid) to get my contacts. This person talked smack, rolled her eyes- even jumped out of her seat and pointed her finger at me! Is this a Bravo TV show or a business? She must not want a job. She, with those oddly thick fake eyelashes growled and glared at me before I said hello. I am disappointed that Dr. Woo retains someone like this as an employee. Security had to come to calm her down. Yes, I was sure she was on drugs. Dr. Woo is a very qualified doctor- and the rest of the staff is so kind-- but this gal. This person needs to be fired and find a job that isn't customer facing. That gal/person is obscene. Dr. Woo is too good for that. I almost called the police.!. Luckily security came and removed her. That's how ratchet she became- all because I said hello and checked in. Shame. But Dr. Woo is awesome! read more

I have seeing Dr. Woo for probably 10 years and he is great. Very thorough and personable. As my eyes have changed a lot in the past two years I have visited him about every six to eight months. He was able to correct my vision with contacts at each visit. Finally, he advised that I should have cataract surgery in order to have my vision improved. He gave me a referral to a very highly qualified ophthalmologist. I can't say enough good things about Dr. Woo. I have referred countless friends and family members - and all are equally impressed! He is located in the San Francisco Costco store so easy parking! Appointments are usually readily available without much delay. Very nice office staff. read more

Most painless eye exam to date for this longtime glasses-wearer! I needed an appointment ASAP and Dr. Woo's office scheduled me for an open slot two days later. The entire appointment took ~30 min, but I never once felt rushed. Dr. Woo was very straight-forward and kind with the eye exam and made sure to clearly explain things to me, as needed. I had issues with my contact lenses and he made sure to try out different kinds of samples with me and work with me on selecting the right kind. I was also sent home with a bunch of sample lenses (score). Top-notch service and price point for optometry! read more

Dr. George Contos at Dr. Stephen Woo's Optometry is racist, unprofessional, rude, and dismissive of the patient's feelings (including discomfort in the eye) and questions. Avoid him if you can. I paid for an eye exam, a contact lens exam, and a training session, hoping to find my first contact lens that would work for my sensitive eyes, but Dr. Contos turned the entire process into a nightmare. First, when I asked if I could try a product that friends and online reviews have suggested would be a top choice for my sensitive eyes, he said something along the lines of "no, you have to schedule more visits and pay again to do that" and only allowed me to try the one thing that he would offer, a different brand and product that I didn't want. That was just the beginning of a traumatic experience. When he was taking my prescription, I asked politely if the new prescription and my current prescription do not differ by much, is it possible for me get the contact lenses with my current prescription, so that I don't have to switch between glasses and contact lenses with slightly different prescription. That wasn't even a request, and was just a question, to which Dr. Contos responded with racist comments -- "why? why do you Asian people always ask that? It drives me crazy." Then, after the horrible exam, a staff member who was super friendly (thank god!) gave me the training session. I continued to feel discomfort with the sample lens Dr. Contos gave me after the session, so I asked the staff member whether I could also try a sample with my current prescription, to help us figure out if the discomfort is due to the new prescription. The staff member went to check with Dr. Contos, but even before she could finish her sentence, Dr. Contos all of a sudden started talking angrily at her and towards me in front of all the staff and customers, along the lines of the following "She wanted to try that brand from the beginning. I told her no. She cannot. I am done." After the staff member and I tried to explain to him we were not talking about the brand, he went on raging at me "you don't tell me what to do. I told you I am done today." Dr. Contos' behavior is not acceptable. I have filed a complaint with the Board of Optometry but also wanted to warn other customers. read more

I should've updated this awhile ago, whoops! Dr Woo is great. I highly recommend and I have had better experiences with his staff since my last review 7 years ago! I highly recommend him as a doctor. read more

Do not go here and give your hard earned money to a business that does not treat the patients with respect. The young lady that works here is very RUDE. I will not allow my insurance to pay her salary. read more

Dr. Woo's office is in Costco - but don't let that fool you! You don't have to be a member of Costco to visit him and he's independent from Costco - he just happens to have his office there. Just let the Costco membership doorman know you are going to the optical area and he will point you in the right direction. Dr. Woo seems to be a really nice, professional and courteous guy. An eye exam with him is an affordable $49. I called and was able to schedule an appointment the day before - and once I arrived the wait to see him was less than five minutes. I don't think you have to necessarily make an appointment - I think walk-ins are welcome as well. In/Out, Boom, Boom, Done. read more

Stephen Woo, OD - Little blurry? Then check out Dr. Woo. - Optometrists Near Me - San Francisco, California

He's the best! First time going in for contacts here, normally I pay a lot more elsewhere. Dr. Woo is funny and operates very efficiently without cutting corners. $129 for eye exam for astigmatism contacts. He sent me home with some samples of contacts to wear - Thanks for keeping it real! Can we make the air-shooting-in-eye machine test obsolete? read more

My go-to optometrist. Located inside the SF Costco, this busy practice is always able to accommodate an appointment. Dr. Woo offers affordable/ reasonable prices for his cash-pay services. The office also has updated, latest and greatest technology to boot. I would have assumed that a business/practice would be self interested. I asked whether or not lasik (a second time) would be beneficial. He agreed it would. If you are looking for no-frills, straight to the point eye glass and contacts exam, well this is the place for you. They accept insurance as well as cash pay fees. Do yourself a favor. Skip that optometrist that has a month long wait and come to this office. read more

I failed to read Yelp reviews more thoroughly before going into Dr. Woo's office... Well, the price I paid for it was $40 in the end. He was one of my in-network providers so decided to visit him for convenience. At the check out, he asked for $40. I just assumed that it was a $20 copay for me and my boyfriend. Well, surprise.. surprise... Our copay was $0, but they charged me $40 for the contact lens fitting. I didn't even try new contacts. I specifically told him mine had been working fine, and I was there for an annual check up to get an updated prescription. I walked into the office wearing the same ones I had been wearing for the last 4 years. For some reason, he failed to mention that one-minute exam he conducted during the check-up was not covered by our insurance. Oh, and let me remind you again. That one minute check up (a.k.a. contact lens fitting exam) was to see if my contacts were fitting well. THE SAME KIND I'VE BEEN WEARING FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. Oh yes, this was one of the first information I shared with him. From my understanding, contact lens fitting exams are usually done if you are having discomfort with the ones you are wearing, or if you are new to contacts (or certain brands), or you are trying new ones. My situation didn't apply to any of those. So word of advice for new patients: before going in, decide whether a contact lens fitting exam is necessary for you. For someone like me who knows that your contact lens are working fine and you are going in for an annual check up, you need to specifically ask him to take that part out of your exam. Otherwise, he will slip it in and will charge you extra $40 at the check out :). Also, no credit card. Only debit or cash. read more

I've been a patient's of Dr. Woo's for many years. He is the BEST. After adjusting my progressive contact lenses for the past several years, I no longer need reading glasses! His prices are extremely reasonable and he's a very nice, talented optometrist. Thank you Dr. Woo!! read more

I saw a Dr woo for many years, until -- at his recommendation -- I had laser surgery for glaucoma. I found him to be helpful and engaging, and would recommend him to anyone. read more

I have visited Dr. Woo twice. Once for a prescription and again, recently, for a prescription and an eye exam. Both were very positive experiences. His office is located in Costco at 10th and Harrison streets (South of Market). My first experience was for a simple prescription. This second recent visit was for a prescription and an eye exam. Dr. Woo is efficient, but you still get good, high-quality face-to-face time with him. On this latest visit, I paid a little more for the eye exam. The eye exam was nice because they didn't have to dilate my eyes. Instead, the eye exam is performed digitally, by looking into a piece of equipment that essentially takes a high resolution mapping of your eyes. Dr. Woo then, with patience, let me see the results and explained the results to me. I was very impressed, because I have been a patient at many so-called "top ranked" hospitals (ahem, UCSF!) and the quality of care has not been so high or articulate. I also really like that the prices are listed *very clearly* on the board when you walk into his office. There's no guess work. It sounds like some people had insurance issues, but I was paying out of pocket. At less than a hundred dollars for the prescription and eye exam, I could afford it. It was money very well spent. read more

Blown away by the office staff and Doctor Woo. They were all friendly, prompt, and knowledgeable . Thanks for the great experience. read more

Dr. Woo did a great and efficient job at evaluating my vision and prescribing corrections for contacts and glasses. He is an independent optometrist, but his office is inside Costco. Interestingly, you DON'T NEED TO BE A COSTCO MEMBER to see Dr. Woo. Just tell security you have an appointment with him and walk right in. He is friendly, competent and directed me to just get one contact to correct far-sightedness since the vision in my other eye was pretty close to 20/20 and I would lose near sight if I got both. All this for $99. Only takes debit cards, check and cash. I took his prescription to Warby Parker in SF and got a very cool set of frames for $95. I'm stoked. read more

I called and spoke to the receptionist who I got her name just so I could write this review. Verena went above and beyond to help me out. I just moved to a different city and I couldn't find my contacts anywhere. My current contacts were hurting my eyes. My prescription was expired and I told her and she spoke to the doctor and they extended 6 months for me. I couldn't believe how amazing they were to help me out. This is beyond five-star customer service. I am so happy Verena and the Dr were able to help me out since I don't have a doctor where I moved yet. Thank you thank you thank you! read more

Quick and simple. Extremely knowledgeable. Everyone was super kind. Great experience.

An appointment was easy to make. Checking in was pretty quick too. My overall appointment was fast and i like that! Dr Woo seemed nice and it went smoothly. I had a 5 star experience until it was time to pay. My insurance co-pay is $10. I made it clear up front i wanted only a contact lens exam and did not want my eyes dilated. I knew i had it done recently enough and did not need to pay the extra $ for another one. Dr. Woo agreed. We finished up and i was to pay $50. I mentioned my co-pay for a contact lens exam was only $10 and inquired what the rest was for. Front desk said it was for my contact lens fitting! What?? I didn't realize this was a separate cost. Let me back up and mention i both gave information in my sign up sheet that i've been wearing this brand and told Dr Woo i've been wearing loyal to the exact brand and type (for as long as i can remember). My eye sight worsened ever so slightly and he gave me a new pair from this brand to try on and "fit". I had them on for just a minute before he checked my eyes out to make sure they were okay. Short story: This is all fine with me and i don't disagree you should charge for more services ... just be up front and TELL your client this will cost more. This didn't happen and i was caught off guard. Instead, it came off shady. Also, i've never had someone check the fitting so quickly without a true trial. Usually i wear them for a short period of time before buying more. None of that, just a thumbs up it looked good and out the door i went. read more

Writing all these reviews sure takes a toll on one's eyes. I've worn glasses since I was six years old, and I definitely understand the value of eye exams. Sadly, my company does not, so I have to pay for said eye exams from my own pocket. Enter Stephen Woo, O.D. A fellow Cal graduate (Go Bears!) set up his small, yet functional office right in Costco. Get your 1.75-liter bottle of Ketel One, 1200 aspirin tablets, a gross of tangerines, and an eye exam. Eye exam is $49, or $69 if you need to have your pupils dilated. Dr. Woo is very friendly, thorough and attentive. Although your eye exam seems short, don't worry: he does everything he's supposed to do. He actually noticed something during my exam last year that no other O.D. had noticed before. He even referred me to an ophthalmologist for further examination. The prescription he gave me worked perfectly. He gave me a copy of my prescription, so I was free to order my glasses right there at Costco or elsewhere. I don't believe he's affiliated with the Costco Optical that sells frames and contacts. That's even better, because he doesn't have to pressure you to buy glasses and/or contacts from him. I strongly recommend Dr. Woo if you're a Costco member. I believe it's a requirement. Get your shopping done AND get your vision checked, all in one trip. Free parking at Costco, too. read more

I like Dr. Woo for several reasons ... 1) He's honest and direct. He saw that I've been using Bausch & Lombs FW contact lenses for nearly 10 years and told me that I had other options now that newer and more breathable lens are available. All along, I thought dry eyes was a normal consequence I'd have to live with after wearing contacts for more than 8 hours. None of my other optometrist told me I had other options but Dr. Woo assured me that using eye drops was not a requirement for comfortable lens and I didn't have to be in discomfort anymore. Hooray! 2) He isn't pushy. He asked me how many contacts I had left and recommended I come in when I run out to test out a trial pair of "breathable" contact lens. Apparently, he allows his customers to try on contacts for 1 week before a purchase. SWEET! 3) He tried to help me save money. He knew I was a student and researched different lens options where I can cut costs on my contact lens purchase. COOL! 4) I called to make an appointment this morning and he had space in the afternoon! My eye exam took ~15-20 minutes and only cost $49! (no tax) I recommend bringing in your most recent contact lens or eye-glass prescription. The process goes much faster and Dr. Woo has a more thorough review of your history. He's also really honest and tries to improve the care of his customers. I'll be back to try on my trial pair of breathable lens when I run low on my old contacts! read more

Stephen A. Woo, OD is the best! My Glacoma diagnosis was discovered by him and for that I am forever grateful. Thank you so much for all you do read more

Originally I wanted to try out the optometrist that just opened on Berry Street since that would mean i'd only have to walk half a block. Sadly Mission Bay Optometry didn't take my eye insurance (MES). I started looking for others and narrowed it down to Dr. Woo and Dr. Lem. Both were booked solid but luckily Dr. Woo had a cancellation. Dr. Woo is extremely nice and efficient. I was able to ask some questions without getting run around answers. Even though he was super busy with back to back patients, I waited for only a minute before getting seen. Another great thing about Dr. Woo is that he has no qualms with giving you your prescriptions. Some doctors make you sign your life away for the prescriptions because they don't want you to buy your lenses somewhere else. But the best thing about Dr. Woo is that it's in Costco! It worked out great because I got to kill two birds with one stone. Only thing I forgot was that I wouldn't be able to see much right after the dilation. I think I may have freaked out a few customers when I asked them to help me read the price for some of the items. :) read more

Dr. Woo's office is located inside CostCo on Tenth Street here in San Francisco. I did not seek him out, I simply had seen CostCo Optical every time I was in the checkout line of Costco. Apparently there are two businesses in the CostCo Optical department, CostCo Optical, that sells contacts, frames, sunglasses, etc. But inside a separate room is Dr. Woo's independent "shop." Bottom line first, Dr. Woo is fantastic. He is professional, extremely competent and made the whole process of getting an eye exam easy and stress free. And while I had every test done, including my pupils being dilated, the entire exam [including a set of Acuvue disposable contact lenses and wetting/cleaning solution] was about $103. That's a damn good price in my book. especially with a set of one-month contact lenses tossed in. Another nice thing, the Doctor gave me the prescription without asking. [I hate when the big houses almost refuse to give you a prescription slip because they know you will be going on the Net to buy lenses.] Dr. Woo filled it out and handed it to me. Dr. Woo explained every procedure and does every test [included in the price.] He even tells you the benefits of doing dilation, but he gives you the option of not having it done. If you opt to do it, it's an additional $20 [so my $103 would have been even less money if I had opted not to have the dilation done.] As you know, many doctors' offices tack on significant charges for additional testing. The doctor and his assistant operate quickly and efficiently. I will be going back to him for all my optical needs. I did not have insurance so I don't know if his prices took that into account. I had called ahead of time to ask about pricing and the assistant told be it ranged from $79 to $130 [something like that.] I was prepared to pay the $130 so I was very happy to get out of there for $103. And I did not expect that a free pair of contact lenses were going to be tossed in. I asked the Doc on leaving how CostCo Optical prices for contact lenses were compared to the Net. He told me that CostCo had the best prices. He said I could get six lenses for each eye for $26 at CostCo and the same brand [Acuvue] would be $30 on the Net, not including shipping. Bonus Tip: I make my lenses last a long time. He said not to do that. He said that disposable lenses are made to last about a month before they start becoming uncomfortable. So even though they can last longer and look OK, they really should be disposed of after 30 days of full time wear. Sidenote: Dr. Woo has a University of California Berkeley diploma on the wall. I asked him about it. He got both is undergrad and medical degree from CAL. As a CAL graduate myself, I have to say that is why the Doc is so competent, he went to CAL. :) read more

That was the quickest eye exam I've ever had! My eyes have been stable for a while - I just needed a current prescription so I could get a refill on my supply of disposable contacts. I was in and out in about 20 minutes - exactly what I was looking for! The only thing I might be worried about was the thoroughness of the exam. I have fairly severe myopia and I know I have two spots of thinness in my cornea. Past optometrists have always brought up the thin spots (granted, I didn't get a dilation this time) and made sure I understood the dangers of my myopia. For a quick prescription check and lens fitting, Dr. Woo was perfect, but I don't know if he's the best guy for keeping an eye on my overall vision health. read more

Dr Woo was incredibly late in seeing my relative, even though we made an appointment and arrived on time. Doesn't seem like they are respectful of the patients' time and do not have a good handle on their caseload. What was presented to be as a 30 mins exam ended up taking 1.5h because of the delay. I called at 10:30 am the morning of my 11:30 am appointment, wondering if there's a chance we could come late because we were working with my newborn's nap schedule. They told me that everything was on time and the next appointment was at 2 pm and I had to arrive punctually for our 11:30 am appointment. Well, we worked with the baby schedule to do that and arrived on time. Then they said they were running late because of a contact lenses appointment (something I should have thought they would have had foresight into). They said it would be a 45 mins delay. I have no idea why an appointment would take 45 mins longer than expected. When my relative was finally seen, she got a dilation exam which they said would just take 20 mins and the doctor could take a look after. It turned out that we had to wait for the doctor for 40-45 mins. It was very aggravating that the doctor and his staff was not respectful of and couldn't have a good handle on his appointment timing. It's really hard to work with a newborn schedule and we made it work because they told us we had to be on time -- only to be left in a lurch. I think Costco needs to have a better handle on its partners and will be reaching out to reflect my feedback. In the meantime -- others be wary - if you have limited time and need to make an appointment, find a doctor who has a better gauge on his timing and staff who are more on top of it. Otherwise, understand that they do not abide by their appointment schedule. read more

Dr. Woo is fantastic for a number of reasons: 1) He's located in Costco. I don't know about you but I'm at Costco every weekend so it's nice that he's right there when I need him. 2) He's efficient. He sees a lot of patients every day but he's always calm and quick. 3) You don't feel like he's rushing you out the door, even when you need him to say "E or F" a few times. Scheduling can be a bit of a challenge because his office is tiny and he only has one receptionist. They can put you on hold for a while but hang in there. The receptionists are always really nice and you're sure to get the appointment that you need. I hadn't seen Dr. Woo in a few years =T and I needed a check up and a contact lens fitting. The total ran me $109. read more

I first discovered a small tear on my right contact lens in late November 2009. Miraculously, it had lasted this long without bothering my eye, but by yesterday, the tear had grown into a quarter-radius split and an irritation that made me weepy. I had run out of old lenses sitting in solution - I'd saved two pairs from way back when my parents could still claim me as a dependent, which I gradually used up over the two decades since my last eye exam. I'm pretty sure whatever I have in my left eye is the oldest contact lens still in use in the entire universe. I squinted through my DMV eye exam a few years back, but I passed. The prospect of going to a 3D movie with only one eye in working condition spurred me to take action. Being that I'm cheap (and uninsured for vision), I searched for "cheap eye exam" on these pages, and Dr. Woo's listing came up. I liked what I read from the reviews: (1) Dr. Woo gives you the prescription straight up without trying to sell you stuff - excellent; (2) Dr. Woo is a Cal grad - the second best school in the Bay Area, not bad; (3) His office is inside Costco - free parking, very good. I was able to make an appointment for the next day. The whole thing took less than 30 minutes, but it was a thorough, no-bullshit exam, and I got what I wanted - a prescription - and a free pair of disposables to boot. The exam for contact lens is $89, more if you have astigmatism. Well, it turns out that I do have moderate astigmatism, but at my age, Dr. Woo said, it's not going to get worse, and I'm okay with not correcting it. So he didn't charge me extra. I wanted to get "permanent" contacts instead of disposables, being that I am cheap, and God knows that I will make them last forever! Dr. Woo gave me some suggestions as to what brands to get. I agree with his advice to get the first pair at Costco (instead of ordering online), because if the lenses don't fit well you can always return them. I also asked to be under-corrected. I have always intended to work on eye exercises to make my vision better. Mostly I don't really want to see so clearly the imperfections on my face and my kitchen floor. Dr. Woo answered all my questions and didn't try to push any products on me. All in all, a very good experience. One of my clients is actually good friends with the Northern California franchise owner of Site For Sore Eyes. I probably could have finagled a freebie deal if I worked the connections, but it's just not worth the hassle. Instead, since he has a Costco card, I'll ask him to help me fill the prescription when he shops there next. read more

There's a lot of eye doctors who get rave reviews simply for being nice. Definitely, Dr. Woo is extremely nice and most professional. That being said, it cannot escape notice that he is very adept at making the more complicated aspects of vision accessible to the common customer, and I quite appreciate it. I think that his ability to communicate so effectively and ask the right questions ends lets him figure out the little things and make adjustments can makes the difference between simply great vision and perfect vision correction. read more

Took both my children in for their annual exams and Dr. Woo was very polite and worked well with the kids (8 & 10). The non-insurance price was $54 and is about average. If you want/need your eyes dilated, it's an additional $25. All in all, great place for an eye exam! read more