I moved out of Toronto 8 years ago. Today I drove into the city to see Joe. I started buying eyewear from him in 1991. So happy he was able to see me without an appointment and even happier to walk away with new specs. The frames he found for me took 2 decades off my face (IMO!). Saw the "Courtesy Adjustment" on my receipt when I got home. WOW Thanks Joe! Please move to Port Hope! :) read more

Joe knows his stuff . He has top fashion forward product , at a fair price and he has a great eye for picking out pieces that accentuate your natural face shape/type . Joe at the optic zone is well worth a visit and is a one stop shop. Always friendly and patient. read more

This is the best place for eye wear. Joe will find you a frame that best suits the shape of your face and your prescription. I have been a happy customer for over 20 years. Family and friends that I have referred always find him helpful and his prices reasonable. The space may be small but his selection and stock is amazing. read more

In my review from 4 years ago, I said that the people at the Optic Zone were helpful in finding glasses for my friend and me that really suited us. They were patient and never pushy. They encouraged us to try on as many frames as we wanted. I've returned to the Optic Zone several times, with my sister and with coworkers. Again and again, Joe and Bella have been helpful and patient. I find them uniquely talented at suggesting options that I would not have expected to look good, but that look great. They have held frames for me when I was undecided, and ordered frames in without asking me to commit. I think glasses shopping is fun almost anywhere, but it's more fun here. I truly love this place, and I recommend it to everyone! Plus Bella and Joe have started their own line of frames. Neat, Canadian design. Worth checking out. read more

Wow what a weird vibe. Another eyeglass place with poor, rude service. Ok I'm walking in about 5 minutes before closing because I had trouble finding the place but still. As I'm walking in, a woman on her way out says hi to me. I say hi back. But then she turns and looks back at me as if she owns the place. But if she were the owner, she'd say something to a customer, right? Like "hi, we're closing soon but feel free to look around." The guy there asks me if I'm looking for anything in particular and I respond that I'm looking for new frames. Well he could hardly be less welcoming, starts tidying up right in front of the section I'm looking at. (Uh dude the whole store needs tidying so you don't need to stand in front of me without trying to help me.) I try on one frame i like and snap a pic. Then he asks again if I'm looking for anything in particular, stands behind me, says we're closing now, and shows me the door. I doubt either of these two are owners with such poor people skills. I have a very expensive prescription and this place won't be getting my business. Edit: omg just checked and the guy was the owner. Wow. read more

Optic Zone is family ! They are wonderful, kind and trustworthy. thank you for your kindness and providing wonderful service !

Let's start by saying my eyes are crappier than some, but not as crappy as others. So whenever I can afford to hit the benefits plan for a new pair of glasses, I go and get my prescription updated, try some new frames, etc. It was suggested to me that I try Optic Zone by a friend of mine who had gone to Optic Zone and recommended this guy. A one-man shop, the front of the store is immaculate. Racks and racks of frames are on display, each one more challenging or funkier than the one that preceded it. The stock that is carried here is very usually of the moment fashion-wise, so you'll find that once your glasses are selected and worn, your head will be cutting edge. That's the front of the store. The back is a pile-on nightmare. Don't be discouraged in the least, just be ready for it. Whatever the man's system, it works. Never has there been a mad scramble to find a pair of glasses or frames, contacts, what have you. When helped, the assistants will get a sense for what you're looking for, and will then challenge you with some frames that may take you out of your comfort zone, but will get you thinking. Eventually, you'll settle on a pair of frames that work for you. Once your selection is approved by the owner and optician (yes, there is a nod of agreement that must occur), you can continue with your purchase. The orders are prompt and I've never had any delays with my order coming in. The staff is friendly, the selection wide and challenging, and you can get sunglass clips made for most any of the glasses on display. See you there. Geddit? read more

The Optic Zone - Optic Zone - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Amazing! I was visiting Toronto from the States and, on a whim, walked into this store. Normally, when I shop for frames, I have to count on at least 30 minutes with the specialists to find a frame that is even remotely flattering. Here? She saw me walk in, heard my specs, and then walked over to a pair that was perfect! While she ultimately pulled down at least 15 pairs to consider, it was the first pair she found that was the winner. Unfortunately, being an American, I had only dollars and an Discover card on me. And that credit card doesn't work in Canada. I wasn't judged, they still helped me, and even wrote down the model/make of the frame so that I could order it later at my convenience. Thanks, Optic Zone! read more

Joe and his staff are friendly and will give you candid advice. I've come to The Optic Zone for the last 5 or so years and will keep returning because they are excellent at what they do. I've had them find me new frames + lenses that I wear daily, as well as a pair of prescription sunglasses. The staff knows how to match frames to you face. They'll ask you a few questions about what you do to get a sense of your job and personally, and then pick out a bunch of frames to show you. No pressure, no being upsold. And when you pick up the glasses, they'll make sure they actually have a snug fit on your face, so none of us have to push up glasses and look like a librarian (unless that's your thing). read more

Yes, I am a fan! The Optic Zone has a huge selection of trendy frames, super friendly and responsive service, and the cheapest eye exam rate ($70) in the St. Lawrence Market/ downtown Toronto area. I'm really happy that I chose The Optic Zone for my 7-years long overdue eye exam and frame/lens provider. The front store staff clearly know their products and about glasses care, plus they are such a delight to talk to! The optometrist was also incredibly friendly and kind - I felt very comfortable under his care during my eye exam despite coming in a bit anxious beforehand because 1) I felt guilty for not following up on my eyes for way too long and 2) I'm super sensitive about people going near my eyes. Because I ordered my frames and lens right before Christmas I was able to get a 10% discount :) read more

Nothing but praise for this place. I have been going here for decades and never disappointed. Joe is attentive and has that great balance of customer service where he steps in at the right moment to offer suggestions and then leaves you to consider your decision without being pushy. He knows his stuff! The vibe of his shop is great. He is not pushy but has remarkable intuition as he makes recommendations for a new "look". Have referred many others to him and they are all now long term customers. Thanks Joe for many years of feeling great in your spectacles! read more

Excellent customer service!!! Joe is fantastic. Reasonable lens prices (top quality - Varilux). Great selection of frames. Highly recommended. read more

The Optic Zone - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

My wife and I have been going to Joe for years. My latest pair of sunglasses had a unique problem with glare from the frames [they came from Germany. Pretty cool eh?]. Joe and the crew went above and beyond to solve the problem and I am now the happiest man alive. We have lots of friends who go to The Optic Zone because Joe understands all the technical aspects of eyewear and he also knows about style. Not just "fashion"..."style". Toronto's eyewear sensei. The Optic Zone also does eye tests on the premises. read more

I must say, the service in every respect here exceeded my expectations. From the moment I walked in the door, until I picked up my glasses, everything was top notch. I was pleasantly greeted, and was given approximately 6 different frames to try on within 5 minutes of arriving. The staff member put them into two rows, and had me try of the first four pairs, then told me the last two were her favourites for me, based on face shape and some other observations she had made. She was bang on. I loved both, and settled on a pair that she liked the most, and when she went on to explain why, talking about what drew her eye, and even asking me what I did for a living, I was totally impressed with how "on" she was. The owner, Joe, fitted the pair, and they did everything so efficiently, I left there with such a satisfied feeling. My glasses even came in earlier than I expected which is another reason why I liked this business. It's all about managing expectations! Joe looked after me when I came in to pick them up. I was given some free goodies, and again, left with very clear instructions regarding breaking in the transitions properly, and even a lesson on how best to clean them. My experience was superb. I will definitely go back here for all of my eye wear requirements, and will recommend them highly, whenever I have the opportunity to do so. Thanks Joe to you and your team. You were all awesome. read more

Very friendly and knowable service.

Been very happy in the 6+ years I've been coming to Joe. The store is a bit frantic looking, and is not a polished experience by any means, but Joe really knows his fashion and the right "look". I've bought 4 different pairs here, plus re-lensed another old pair that i loved but my prescription changed. Even if the store is busy, he will take the time with you and focus on what is good for you. He'll tell you if something doesn't look good too, which is important. Eye exams can be done, but i think only on Tuesdays. You'll have to call ahead. Bit of a pain for me schedule-wise, but the doctor is very good and thorough. There are a lot of very cool designs...very cool stuff you won't find in Hakim, etc read more

One step inside this shop was enough to see this is not where I would want to get my frames/glasses. Messy, disorganized, it looked like a hoarder's den or a rummage sale -- tons of drawers, boxes, glasses packed close and on top of one another, often dusty. The staff was decidedly unhelpful, and the prices seemed completely arbitrary. read more

I have purchased four pair of glasses at the Optic Zone. Each time I made thorough price comparisons with many other eyewear shops. The lenses are much less expensive here, and you get the best quality. All the top-notch lenses have tiny certifications, so there is no fakery; other opticians around the corner on King street charge close to twice as much for lenses and considerably more for frames. read more

The best glasses shop anywhere if you care at all about good glasses. These folks carry only good frames (stylish and durable) and Joe is a magician at helping you choose great glasses. He may try to get you to choose something a little jazzier than you feel comfortable with at first, but stretch your comfort level as far as you dare! Nice glasses make you look great. Quality is excellent, and they will adjust your glasses and clean them whenever you like, as well as ordering extra bits and repairing them (for free!) if you happen to have a three-year-old who happens to have sat on your glasses. For instance. It definitely looks like a jumble-sale inside, it's true. But don't be fooled, there is an organizational system, it's just not necessarily discernible to the casual observer. They're never ever lost anything for any of my family or friends. Just trust and you'll be rewarded. True story: weekends, especially weekend mornings, are very busy. You may need to wait a few minutes. However, when your turn comes, you won't get the rush treatment either - someone will help you until you're happy. You'll never find this quality of service at any cheapie big-box store, even if they get you back out the door (in your plain, indifferently fitted, semi-okay-quality glasses) a little faster. I recommend everyone I know here. Protip: they only do eye exams Tuesday afternoons. But they're totally fine if you get your exam elsewhere, so I typically do that. read more

This store is great! The proprietor is very good at figuring out what style of frame will suit you best and is very helpful in helping you decide on which to buy. The store has a huge inventory but don't think you'll be able to find anything yourself as their "filing system" is, er, Zen-like. The owner's name is "Joe" read more

I just bought my fifth pair of glasses from Optic Zone. Each time the owner, Joe, has walked across the room and handed me something that pushes my comfort zone, and that I end up loving. Today I brought a friend. She picked out the best pair, and like me, she found the cost reasonable. Best frame shop I've been, too. read more

Best eyeglass store with the most hip & personable service I've ever encountered. Had no idea I had to go to Canada for the greatest eyeglass shop I've ever encountered. Joe is the best! read more

The Optic Zone - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Great service. Fantastic selection of glasses frames. The main dude is a nice guy and very helpful. The optometrist is friendly as well. But, that place is legit messy. Fire hazard messy. How can anyone run a business like that? If you use their washroom, you'll notice crackers above the toilet bowl. Weird. read more

I'm a repeat Optic Zone customer and fan. I've been going here for years, as a result of the old fashioned referral system. Why do I endorse this store... it comes down to a few things really. First off, the prices are fair, if not great for designer lens, and you won't bust the bank. I have yet to find cheaper designer glasses in Toronto. Second, selection is excellent. They don't just carry a few brands, they seem to be always mixing it up with even lesser known designs from around the world. Thirdly, Joe (Optician) is great at what he does, and he'll ensure the glasses you pick match the natural features of your face. He is also very patient, which is a must for a good shopping experience. To be honest, Joe has chosen a few pairs for me, that I would not of chosen myself, that ended up being great buys. Service, style, selection. This place is great. read more

Tons of glasses in this space. My first couple of pairs I was pretty happy with. However, they failed on the last 2 pairs in a huge way. I needed them to work at the computer, but they got everything wrong. The focal point was way off. I had eye strain, dry eyes and couldn't really see at the computer. I went back and had them make another pair with my old prescription, which they totally screwed up too. Actually I could never wear those glasses because Joe just bent the arms in this huge curve to make them fit. Apparently the glasses were "splayed" and bending the arms around in a huge curve to make them fit is a no no short cut. Finally I got tired of not being able to see and I started looking around for a place that understood the issue of actually being able to see with a progressive at a computer. Spadina Optometry knew what I was talking about as soon as I called. I bought 2 fantastic pairs there and I can actually see now! Unreal. I was so happy I took them the pair Joe had bent the crap out of. Luckily they were able to save the frames with a lot of bending at the front corner of the frame. Optic Zone is way way over rated on Yelp. Joe actually doesn't know what he's doing at all. They're cranking out tons of glasses and he doesn't know how to configure progressives. I can say that after like 3 pairs. There are much better optical places in Toronto. My current favourite is Spadina Optometry. They actually know what they're talking about. Wow. I lost a couple of years of not really being able to see thanks to Joe and Optic Zone. So, my advice is to take your business elsewhere. Do your research. read more

I've bought three of my frames from this location. I love my Ralph Lauren, ProDesign (from Denmark), and Diesel frames that I purchased here. The proprietor was nice enought to provide me with feedback as to which frames suited me better. I will definitely buy my next set of frames here! read more

I would fully like to echo the review of Harold. I read in an interview in Toronto Life that most people leave with one of thethree frames Joe Sing has recommended. He has a great and honest flair for what looks good on a person. Also, I am part of the 5% of people who cannot get used to progressive lenses. We tried three different sets of lenses before reverting to Plan B - flat tops. Joe was patient and keen to find a solution. When we kicked in Plan B I was bowled over that after all this trying (of course at a cost) Joe volunteered to refund the difference in cost. I considered this a sunk cost and insisted on not doing this. Small wonder that I have referred oodles of people? Small wonder that actually lots of people have heard of this store? I am a customer service consultant by profession and a demanding customer, but Joe gets five stars from me. read more

Good for big heads like mine. Went here based on yelp reviews. Went in the morning not too busy (if their busy must be good...so browse or wait). Great customer service. Showed me what I was looking for and bought something in less than 30 min. Now I can see clearly again! Will definitely go back. read more

Stopped in a couple of times to find a pair of frames. Staff were immediately helpful and patient, taking the effort to find me numerous frames to try on. I didn't end up making a purchase yet, but when I decide to, I'll be sure to come back. Go take a look, it's worth the trip. read more

This place is really lovely. The staff are wonderful and as attentive as humanly possible given how super busy they usually are. Seriously they are really busy, the place is always packed, so expect to wait around a bit before they can get around to helping you. It's worth the wait though. They have a great selection of unique frames, not your standard, boring run-of-the-mill stuff. Joe and his staff are incredibly skilled at helping you find the right frame for your face, style, and general fashion sense. Both times I've bought glasses here, Joe has recommended really out-there, unique glasses where my initial reaction is "Yikes, really? They're so crazy!", but then they quickly grew on me, and I get tons of compliments and absolutely love them to bits. It's like they know what will work on my face way better than I do. ++ recommend read more

Such incredible service! I was in the store for perhaps two hours (I'm want to find *the* perfect frame and they had sooo many nice ones to choose from) and the staff were absolutely wonderful during my lengthy visit. They were happy to help me out and offered many nice suggestions. I also love the fact that I didn't feel pressured to purchase anything and was able to really take my time. It felt like they genuinely wanted me to help me, which I really appreciate. On top of that, the selection is amazing! There are so many fantastic frames to choose from. I've browsed at several other stores prior to this one, and usually I find one or two frames that I like. But with this store, I found over ten pairs that I was quite fond of (and that's after narrowing down the selection of my favourite ones)! I'm seriously impressed. And the store was quite tidy when I was there. I noticed how precious reviews mentioned that there were bins to rummage through, but I didn't see such a thing. Everything was sorted out nicely during my visit. The frames were either on the shelves or neatly placed in drawers. Anyways, I am super happy with my experience and have a feeling that this will become my go to spot for glasses (although I'll try to not take two hours next time, haha!) read more

Friendly. Idiosyncratic. They replaced my lenses; now I notice my glasses creak when I clean them. (I also don't see as clearly as I used to, but I'm not sure what that is about - can lenses have a blind spot?) Best thing? The gift of really big cloths to clean my new lenses. read more

I highly recommend the Optic Zone! I like to get a fair bit of help when I choose glasses. I don't change frames very often so I want to make sure that I get something that I'll like as much in a year or two as I do when I first try them on. I also find it tricky to really see how frames look on my own face when there aren't prescription lenses in them. Joe and the optic zone are perfect for me. There is a ton of selection of cool frames in the shop and Joe does a great job of helping choose ones that will work for your face and style. Try them out! read more

What a frustrating place this is. I will never go back. I called and asked to make an appointment for an eye exam and specifically asked if I would get a full prescription where even if I got glasses somewhere else it would be a full functioning prescription that anyone could use anywhere. They said yes, not a problem. My prescription is missing pupillary distance (PD), so when I emailed in asking if they could include those figures, the response was "it is part of making glasses". I have to now rely on an old prescription for those measurements. On top of it, I went in a week before Christmas and I was told that a new shipment of Céline glasses would be in in 2 weeks. It's been 7 weeks and no shipment. Really poor customer service and their prices are not competitive at all. Not sure how they stay in business. If I treated my clients this way I would be fired. read more

This place is the place to go to when you want to stand out. It isn't inexpensive, but then again you're going for designer here. The shop is small, and somewhat messy looking, but Joe, the owner, knows his stuff. He completely got my look immediately, went in a direction I wanted, and then took me a little further out there then I might have wanted to go, but in the end I was glad I went there. A lot of people comment on my frames all the time now. By frames, I mean i bought two pairs there because of the success of the first. read more

I gave up on these folks. It's true, they have a huge selection, and they make some decent suggestions. They're nice enough, I suppose (although I did find Joe a tad arrogant). But don't expect them to go too far out of their way to help you. I ordered a frame in another colour. They kept saying they'd call when it came in. I checked back at least two or three times and no sign of the frame. I eventually grew tired of the waiting game (and never did hear back). On the other hand, I was generally delighted with the service at Specs & Specs on Queen W. read more

This place exemplifies the reason to buy from a bricks and mortar, local business. The best customer service ever for glasses.

I love this place. Amazing customer service and very knowledgeable about products. They helped me buy a pair of sunglasses but also fit them to my face for free. I would definitely recommend. read more

I am picky about my glasses and I shopped around the city looking for something I liked for a few weeks. Out of all the places I went I have to say that Optic Zone had by far the best selection of frames in the entire city. They had everything from your standard classics to your wild and quirky. Their store is small and somewhat cluttered, but don't let that deter you. Their staff is great at finding out what types of frames you're looking for, picking out ones to try on that look great and push your comfort zone a bit, but they don't go crazy unless you ask for it! They are really good at helping find something that works with your face/eye shape and style. Hands down best frame shopping service I had. I always try to give my business to stores/people that offer great customer service with a smile (and knowing what they're doing is a plus!) Along with the selection, their prices on frames were some of the lowest I could find in the city. On the frames I ended up liking the best, they were $50-$60 cheaper than the other shops I went to. I'm only giving them 4 out of 5 stars because their store is somewhat cluttered and can be a little intimidating when you first walk in, but their staff makes up for it by leaps and bounds. I unfortunately didn't end up getting my glasses with them ONLY because I had purchased a groupon through another store. But if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have found the frames I fell in love with. For my next pair I am absolutely coming here without hesitation. read more

Went here based on a friend's recommendation, and I absolutely loved it. I'd been looking for prescription sunglasses for a while, and had tried 4 high-end places and a bunch of cheapo places, all to no avail. I got here on a weekday morning so it wasn't busy at all, and I was in-and-out within 20-30 min. Joe pulled down around 7-10 pairs for me to try. Shockingly, I thought all of them looked great, or at least better than pretty much all the ones I had tried before at other places. Joe pointed out his favorite, and at first I wasn't sold--I didn't think it looked all that much better than another pair he'd picked that was half the price. But when I tried them on again, and took a few selfies from different angles, I realized he was totally right--the pair he liked was definitely the best looking by far, and I would've missed out on them if I had been picking them out myself. I was also impressed by how Joe could tell how comfortably the glasses sat on my face just by looking. He would point out right away if they seemed too tight around the hinges, or sat too heavily or low on my nose bridge. He'd also tell me if any misfit was something he could adjust or not. I also appreciated Joe's honesty. He admitted that, although the sunglasses might last 10 years, I wouldn't be able to switch out the lenses after 3 years due to the wear-and-tear of the plastic; that if I broke or cracked the plastic frames, he wouldn't be able to fix them; and that the pair that looked the best wasn't the pair that sat the best on my face. In the end, he picked out 2 glasses that he thought looked the best and 2 that sat the most comfortably on my face, and didn't pressure me to make a choice. He gave me time to hum and haw over them without being impatient or pushy. Finally, he showed me two lens tints that he thought would be a good match for the color of the frames, and gave me the pros and cons of each tint (grey is light-neutral, brown has a color-shift but sharper contrast). Price-wise, the frames Joe showed me were all between $200 and $450, and lenses were about $200-$300. Joe said it would take about 1.5 weeks to make the polarized lenses, or 2-2.5 weeks to make the non-polarized ones with a gradient tint. I agree with other reviewers who said the place is very messy, and I don't think I would've been able to navigate it myself. It's got such a huge selection, bigger than any other place I've seen, but Joe somehow manages to understand the organizational system. Just ask Joe or another employee to help you, and you'll be fine navigating the mess. Overall very happy with this place, and I'll be coming back when I need a new pair of regular glasses. read more