I really want to thank the staff at Visionary Eye Care Professionals for taking me on at the end of what was probably a long day. I was treated with the utmost care and concern. Everyone went above and beyond. I really appreciated the attention to detail and the explanation of the optical event I experienced. Thank you!!! read more

I always tell myself that I need to leave reviews more often and this was definitely one of those cases where it absolutely NEEDED to be done. I have worn glasses most of my life, and never have I had a more thorough and thoughtful eye exam than I did yesterday at Visionary Eye Care. Dr. Ciszek and his team were so friendly and helpful, they not only explained everything that was happening, but also everything that was going to happen with a new prescription, why I needed it and the reasons behind the change. I will never go anywhere else again unless one day I'm forced to. Thanks, Visionary! read more

I just wanted to leave a good review. Visionary eye care is great. A little expensive but to me is worth it. Unique eyewear and the most current equipment. Staff is very professional, helpful, and accommodating. I'm also satisfied with the doctor. Visionary shows real concern. Don't waste your money elsewhere. Your vision is worth more than discounts. read more

The staff is so friendly and helpful. The doctors are professional. I'm really happy with the experience I had.

Fabulous experience. The whole staff is as nice as can be. Great selection of unique glasses. Super professional and knowledgeable team.

These guys are great! A couple of hours ago I dropped my computer glasses and one of the lenses popped off. I freaked out because I work 100% in front of a computer and right now is my busiest time of the year. I called Visionary to see if they could repair my glasses, and they suggested I come in so they could check out the damage and see if they could be fixed. After arriving, I was EXTREMELY happy when they told me the glasses just needed to be re-strung to get the one lens back in place and that it would take no longer than 20 minutes to fix. And that's exactly what they did. I also assumed the worst about how much the repair would cost, and it ended up being super reasonable. All of this took only an hour, from the time I broke my glasses and walked to the store and got them fixed and then walked back home. A+ experience! read more

There is happiness in the air of this shop so is its loop counterpart. The stuffs are friendly, competent and think for you. I have seen Dr. Ciszek since moving to Chicago in 2014. He is always thorough on his exam and patient to answer all my questions and concerns (I am very near-sighted). The eyewear coming out of this shop is comfortable and high quality. Highly recommended this place. A bonus point-- if you are a Star Trek fan, it is a treat to visit Dr. Ciszek's office in Andersonville! read more

Super helpful, efficient and chill. Fits in the total vibe of Andersonville.

Been going here for 10+ years. I appreciate that when I had a pretty bad vision emergency during the pandemic, they were able to see me and address the issue safely. They followed all distancing & safety protocols. Every doctor I've worked with is professional, patient, and they work to make sure to solve whatever problem I'm having with my old vision. All around - Matt is awesome at adjusting glasses. Jamar is the king of frame selection. Both save me a ton of time. read more

I have been a faithful customer for many ears of the loop branch but now due to my retirement I had to use the Andersonville branch. Very satisfied as usual and plan on continue using them gii ok r the future. read more

The hubs and I have been going to Visionary get my eyes checked out by Dr. Warner and purchase contacts every year for the past five years. Ever since I switched to Dr. Warner, my prescription has not fluctuated much. He's the best eye doctor we've have ever had because he's very personable, he cares about his patient's eyes, provides practical and effective advice for maintaining eye health/comfort, identifies the best fit and value of contacts/glasses for us knowing that we're cost conscious. The office is very clean and modern with updated technology. The receptionists and sales force are very friendly and not too pushy with glasses sales. Highly, highly recommend getting your annual exam here and purchase your contacts/glasses here... they will take care of you. read more

The entire staff is so friendly and professional. Thanks to Brian and Matt!! I felt very comfortable with Covid mitigating procedures. The medical staff helped me feel better about the reason I was visiting. I would encourage visiting Visionary for your eye care. read more

Visionary is an example of everything right with local businesses. For two decades, I've gone to big chains for eye exams. Mostly due to habit from trying to save as much money as possible. My new insurance doesn't cover the big guys, so I went local--Visionary is a block from my house--and I'm SOOO happy I did. At the big chains, they push you through all the machines, making sure to get your prescription quickly to sell you those sweet glasses. At Visionary, Dr. Ciszek put my health first. He and his intern spent a good amount of time examining my eye, and not just relying on the machines to do the work. He was able to identify a previous condition I had four years ago without prompting. He even identified that my eyes have astigmatism, something the big chains had failed to identify. But best of all, he was extremely thorough in explaining what he was doing, what he was finding, and discussing with me how to take care of my eyes. I actually went in just wanting some daily contacts for sports. I left with a pair of glasses, too. One of their opticians, Brian, was working the front, and helped me immediately identify the best glasses for my face and personality. He did not pressure or push, and knew exactly which of their glasses would work for me based off of what I told him. He was a whiz with insurance as well, which helped me understand my true cost for the glasses. Everything about the experience was great. The people working there care so much about what they're doing and doing it well. The glasses are more expensive than what you'd pay in a big store, but the personal service was absolutely worth it. Thank you, Visionary! read more

This is a two part review, one with my eye exam and follow up customer service. First, I was able to get in to see the doctor on fairly short notice with expiring benefits to use. So that was much appreciated. The exam was nothing out of the ordinary, put me in the same contacts I've been wearing for years so all good. When I asked the sales side about frames and not wanting to spend tons of money they showed me one pair of purple ones that were on sale. I mentioned I'll probably go check out Warby Parker since I rarely wear them, they immediately started bashing them trying to talk me into a pair I didn't like and were way over priced. Second part, I purchased a years worth of contacts. Now a year later my prescription has changed so went back to ask for a swap out for the correct power. Shouldn't be an issue, I've done it before at other offices. Nope, I'm all out of luck, stuck with 3mo of contacts that aren't correct. Without even calling the manufacturer they flat out said no, not exactly stellar customer service. When I pressed that perhaps they could look into, he acted miffed that I suggested helping find a solution to my problem. Calling the manufacturer myself to find out that indeed they will work with a doctors office to swap contacts out I was surprised by the email(not phone call) to tell me they couldn't help. Truly bad customer service! read more

Hey, here's a fun game. Look through the 1 star reviews posted here on Yelp. See how many reviews have a response from Michael C. saying, "I usually don't comment on negative yelp reviews, BUT..." Ugh, you know what? I had my initial complaints about price and service, but all of that pales in comparison to how one of the owners of this establishment reacted to my yelp post. He's mean, defensive, and abrasive. Worse yet, when I posted a one-star review, he sends me a message THROUGH yelp, which said, and I quote, "quit whinning," "grow up," "I'm sure you'll have some smart response to this," etc. He spent a few hundred words bullying me while rambling about various fair practice law statutes. I thought this was just an employee, no it is the OWNER of the whole place. So if you want your eye doctor to yell at you, harass you, and belittle you when you are upset at his practices, this is the place to go. If you want to go to a place where it's not ridiculously expensive, where they address your concerns via clear communication and calm discourse instead of responding to a complaint with a message with the subject of "WRONG!" and where you don't have to go home every night to find another manifesto written to you by a so-called "professional" who insults you personally in response to a critique of his business practices, look anywhere else. I've never been so poorly treated and so aggressively insulted by anyone outside of a website comments section, let alone by a certified eye doctor. I live in the area and I'm ashamed to call Michael Ciszek of Visionary Eye Care a neighbor. I've probably been more insulted at some point in my life, but it's been a while. Terrible, terrible place. (It's also expensive, and the care is not that great. Did I mention they will yell at you if you tell them this?) read more

In response to the owners reply to my original post. Hi Michael, Thanks for the response and I would like to further clarify... First: I have vision coverage within my medical insurance through BCBSIL PPO. They cover 80% of my vision test AND on top I am alloted $200 for contacts or glasses in any form. I had to explain this to the front desk people number of times and it was confirmed by my insurance after a number of back and fourths. Second: The first bill Visionary care sent to my insurance was not coded correctly, there were misc. charges that were not part of routine exam, therefore they had to be adjusted. Third I was told that the doctor would refit me into previous lenses, but charge me for a new eye exam. Fourth: Okay I get it, the front desk person made a mistake of not giving me the right price on the phone and giving me a higher price in person; but they kind of had an attitude about it and looked it me like I made it up. It was just really unpleasant. read more

I went to this place because it was close to my office, but I really should have saved my time and money and gone to a chain like Lenscrafters. Appartently my follow up visit was not covered by my insurance, which Visionary decided wasn't important to tell me, and then slammed me with a $80 bill before I left. Would have been nice to know beforehand. The other thing that really turned me off about this place was the fact that they couldn't seem to get my prescription right. The first prescription they gave me for "trial lenses" I couldn't even see out of. So I had to go back (hence the $80 for their mistake) and do another trial for a week. Three weeks later and still no contacts, I'm back in the office and decided to just get the lenses so I didn't have to keep paying for their pricey office visits. Fast forward two months and I'm having trouble seeing. I decide to make an eye appointment at my usual eye doctor while I was visiting my parents and lo and behold-my prescription was completely off! So I had to go through the whole process again and explain to my doctor why I needed an eye exam when I had just gotten one. So I got the new lenses and all was well. Do not go here for contacts, if an eye care place can't seem to get your prescription right TWICE then that is a major red flag-that's supposed to be their specialty. Believe me you don't need to go to an eye care place to be looked down on by the hipsters working there. read more

I came to Visionary because they accept VSP and they were close to my place in Ravenswood. It's a nice shop with a good selection of stylish frames, though many of them are very expensive. I tried on a pair of plastic frames that looked good on me, and the price was quoted as $400. I gingerly put them down and went for a cheaper pair of plastic frames that looked just as good but for half the price. The staff is very helpful and polite, and if you don't have enough to pay the copay, they will allow you to pay half of it that day and pay the rest of it when you pick up your glasses/contacts. That's great when you're between paydays and you just paid your rent. I really hate getting eye exams, especially the "air puff" test. But the Dr. is really cool and makes me feel comfortable. read more

A relative recommended I visit Visionary for my next check up. I am new to the Chicago area and was looking for a new eye doctor. The service I received at Visionary was excellent, from start to finish. Every staff member I came into contact with was friendly, welcoming and helpful. I received several communications and updates about my doctor appointment and I also received both an email and text when my glasses were ready to be picked up. This practice also offers Sunday hours and appointments which is fantastic! The Dr. I saw was excellent as well and made several suggestions for some issues I was having. The space is well lit, clean and smells great! Their selection of frames was great too and ranged from low end to high end. I highly recommend Visionary Eye Care for your next check up and/or frames purchase! read more

Just went to Visionary for the first time the other night, and I was really happy with the level of service I received. The staff were extremely friendly and made sure I was comfortable while I waited. Dr. Ciszek's intern was super sweet. She even gave me a choice of which eye-pressure measurement I wanted to use, since I told her that blue light thing really freaks me the hell out. Dr. Ciszek was very helpful as well. He gave me some tips on how to avoid eye strain at work and gave me a couple of samples of eyedrops to see if I'd do well with those before jumping into a new prescription. Unfortunately, I still have headaches and will have to get glasses, but on the plus side, I get to peruse the VERY cute selection at Visionary. Oh, and Dr. Ciszek has some rad Star Trek action figures in his office. They are doing push ups and in other strange positions. I like it. read more

I have been going here since 1997? I think. I dunno. It's been forever. I started going here because they take VSP. And they are sort of part way between work and home. Dr. Cizek is full of awesome. He has corrected my vision to 20/15. Yes, that's right, he gave me better than perfect vision with my contacts. I have also gotten glasses there. I even had one pair of frames that I loved turned into sunglasses. They tend to be my favorite pair. I have sent lots and lots of co-workers here over the years. And everyone who has gone has also loved them. Or maybe they just lie really well. What I really don't get is the people who have reviewed them and said they were snotty and rude. Hm. They must hide all the snotty and rude people when I come in, cause I've never seen them. Some of my very best glasses frame choices have been with the aid of their extremely helpful salespeople. And dude. Dr. Ciszek? Totally into Star Trek. That alone would get me to go there. read more

Love love love this place. The staff is super friendly and fun!! Beth has helped me so much over the past couple of years with picking out the perfect frames. I have bought two pairs (La Fonts and Prada's I believe) over the last three years and they suit me perfectly!!! I recently just got a great pair of Blinde sunglasses. They are huge, red,slightly vintage-y and just my style. Beth gave me a few choices based on my description of what I needed/wanted and was able to get me my pick quickly! PS. Love that super cute pup!!! The dog gives the place a laid back, homey feeling and he is soo friendly. read more

Best eye doctors I've ever seen. First, they were EXTREMELY thorough with their exam. That might mean more time in the office but in the end it's worth it to test for a wider variety of eye problems. They also did extra work to make sure I had no long-term scarring from an eye injury I suffered years ago, something no other eye doctor has done. Everyone in the office has a friendly and helpful attitude, the doctors seem to really remember your individual needs and try to help meet them as much as possible and they're very professional. Because I mentioned that money was tight they set up a really good deal for me with a year supply of contacts at just above $100. They will really work with you and your needs to make sure you get the care you need. I've only been to their offices twice so far but they have earned my loyalty for as long as I live in Chicago. read more

I really like doctor, and I love my glasses. Their selection of frames is fantastic! Very stylish, nothing you will find at Pearle or another chain. I think the staff has changed, for the better. The customer service has improved greatly. The gentleman who helped me this time was not working there when I have visited before. I'm happy to say that I have increased my rating to 4 stars because of their improved customer service. read more

Dr. Ciszek and the staff of opticians at Visionary Eye Care Professionals have, as a team, genuinely transformed the mere science of Optometry into a healing craft. They are professional, dedicated, cheerful, patient, and adept. I can honestly say that they have all made a tremendous difference in the quality of my life; and I feel like I have gained a some more family members over the past few months. A good optometrist is easy to find...but if you are looking for a stellar team, you need to look no further than these fine folks. read more

This has been my eye-care place of choice for about the past 15 years, and I've never been more satisfied with an optometrist more than Dr. Ciszek. He and his partner literally built the place themselves, and his hands-on style, professionalism, and personality keep me coming back. Dr. C keeps a handle on my special needs as a "maturing" diabetic, and has walked me through the transition to bifocal contacts. He's thorough with his examinations, and thoughtful about the needs of the patient sitting in his chair...as long as he's there, I wouldn't dream of going anywhere else. I've never had any issues with the staff--they've always been friendly and professional with me--but I do wish the waiting area could have a few more chairs. read more

Very honest staff; if the frames you pick out make you look like crap-they tell you. It's this honesty that keeps me a patient. The Doctors are super sweet and friendly too. I had an issue with my insurance and they totally did all the legwork of sorting it out (and without bitching about it too). read more

I've been going here for two years because it is close to home and accept VSP. It is also the most thorough eye exam I gotten. I recently got new frames and the staff was great when I came in to have minor adjustment. They also send out a reminder card when it is time for your exam, which offers a $10 off if you bring it in. Which helps, because the prices are higher then the big box frame shops. read more

I'm baffled by the 1-star ratings and stories that people are telling. I LOVE these people. They've been my eye care professionals the entire time I've lived in Chicago (6 years now) and I've never had anything that even resembles a problem with them. They're friendly, welcoming, prompt to follow up. What more do you need? One year during my annual exam, I was having a really hard time with the whole "better/worse" portion of the test. (Honestly, after a while they all start to look the same and one "wrong" answer can really steer your prescription in the wrong direction.) Dr. Joe (Warner) grabbed an old-timey case of lenses and we went OUTSIDE, he had me focus on a street sign in the distance that should be razor sharp with the right rx and we "better/worse'd" until we nailed it. Effing amazing. The front desk staff is super cool, with many of them knowing me by name (or even by voice when I call to order contacts!). I don't even live in their neighborhood anymore and I still shlep my way to them. I'd say if any of you have had bad experiences, TELL THEM. I'm sure they'd rather know that you feel they missed the mark so that they can be mindful in the future rather than have you go on yelp! and drag their good name through the mud. read more

I live in the neighborhood and I stopped in because the part of my glasses that I've taken to calling a 'nose guard', because I've no idea what it's rightfully called (that thing that cushions your nose on wire framed glasses)... anyway, THAT part, fell off on the right side. And that was okay for about five days, until I realized that my nose was slowly being chiseled away by the unguarded metal nub. I finally found the guts to walk into Visionary to see if they had a solution (fully expecting to be charged $30 bucks for a piece of blastic the size of my pinky nail). Anyway, the guy behind the counter took them without question, gave me a new whateveritscalled and sent me on my way - no money exchange, no questions asked. And since I'm broke as shit, I'm regarding him as my personal saint of the week. So please, people with money, go spend it here. I overheard they have a trunk show at 5pm on Friday. Which I would show up to, except I'd find the perfect replacement pair of glasses and wouldn't be able to purchase. And that might break my broke-ass heart. read more

Excellent experience. Definitely my new frames store. Matt and Jamal are considerate and very professional. Matt "got" my style immediately. There's a real art to this ability - pulling the right frames that suit an individual upon first meeting them takes a level of passion that often isn't found in retail stores such as this. They keep a file on each guest, so if you're interested in any frames that you can't afford on a particular visit, Matt or Jamal make a note of that in your file along with any and all pertinent vision information, of course. Visionary Eye Care Professionals is not for the corporate junkie. It's small, personable, and promotes individuality. And it's located in a neighbourhood that supports this, the best in Chicago. read more

Visionary Eye Care Professionals - New #eyeglasses #etniabarcelona #visionaryeyecareprofessionals 5222 N Clark Street Chicago, IL 60640 773-275-2538 - Optometrists Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm really surprised that people have had negative experiences here! The staff at Visionary have been by far the nicest and most helpful of any doctor's office I have ever been to. I have had to visit every other day for the past two weeks due to a painful eye condition, and I feel like we are family now. The eyeglasses staff helped me pick out some cool frames that weren't very expensive. The contacts were indeed pricey ( I did read these Yelps before going, and was prepared for it) , but they informed me that they would PRICE MATCH from any place online! So of course I will definitely order my contacts from them. Dr. Warner and Dr. Ciszek are both awesome doctors who care a lot. They took time to explain things to me and even stayed late on more than one occasion to make sure my condition improved before leaving. Dr. Ciszek even gave me his cell phone number to call if my eye got worse! I had just switched jobs so my insurance lapsed for two weeks, and they were extremely accommodating to my situation. I will be sad when my eye is better because I enjoy visiting so much. read more

I've been going to Visionary for some time now. I've always had stupendous encounters with the staff and my appointments. They helped me pick out some cool eye wear and have never been disappointed with this place. The location of the place kinda bites only due to the parking but over all service is fantastic. read more

I had great service and great assistance when I went here. The girl who helped me pick out my frames was very honost about how the frames were looking - and I appreciated that! Just because a set of frames is funky looking on the shelf, doesn't mean the look righton your face! Would defintely go back! read more

Friendly staff, good selection of frames! My new employee plan gave me a few options and I chose Visionary because they were close to my house. I did not expect such good service! Ordered new glasses, and took one of the employees advice on getting non-scratch lenses. The glasses took only a few days, and I love them! Parking around there is HORRENDOUS so give yourself a lot of extra time. read more

Yes, there are closer places to me (especially since our last move). Yes, there are cheaper places (probably by far). ...But we don't like to hop between doctors (to keep our records straight, and get better care) and they not only take our vision insurance, but were recommended by my ophthalmologist, Dr. Kraff, who performed my LASIK surgery in 2003. The doctor is always really nice-he even got me in during an "emergency" when I started to have "floaters" and horribly bad headaches during work. Sometimes the front office staff can be short (I have experienced the snobby/rude staff sometimes), but its not usually an issue. Yes, they are more costly-but when we have used up our vision benefits-they usually give us a discount on the remaining total (sometimes up to 30%) and take installment payments from us. For now (at least), we're sticking with Dr. Ciszek. read more

Great service, thorough exam, great selection of eyewear. I've struggled to find an optometrist I've liked since arriving in Chicago 5 years ago. I finally found it with these folks. Big pluses included Sunday appointments; very thorough checkup with Dr. Joe who was really helpful in explaining how my eyes have changed; very helpful, friendly service from Charlie. And, no issues when I had to reschedule the appointment a couple of times. I haven't gotten the frames yet, but so far very good. No bike racks right in front but not far away. read more

Finally went in today as my prescription for lenses as running out and I had an insurance benefit burning a hole in my pocket. I didn't know what exactly my benefits were and the staff were super helpful. They called up my provider and found out all the details and gave me the news. Bad news was that with my prescription expiring so soon I'd need to be seen before they could sort me out with lenses. Bummer, but it's only a week's wait and they were very accommodating for my need in the meantime. Good news, appointment booked, lenses deals explained, and even a $120 rebate when I buy 12months supply with my brand of lenses. It all being covered by my insurance plan was the icing on the cake. I have already reached out to my visually encumbered friends and recommended them. read more

I went to Visionary for the first time 2 weeks ago to be fitted for contacts and get new glasses. The front desk staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. In addition, when I arrived twice ten minutes before they opened, the staff let me inside so I did not have to wait out in the cold. The eye exam itself was great. I have a family history of glaucoma and the eye doctor (whose name I unfortunately cannot remember at the moment) was incredibly thorough. Additionally, he explained all of my test results to me in a manner that I could understand, and was up front with me about any extra costs I might incur (which ended up being none). When I went to find new frames, the young lady working the counter was super helpful, finding frames and bringing them to me to try on, and also giving me her opinion, which I greatly appreciated (fashion really isn't one of my strong points). When I went in for my follow up appointment the following week (yesterday) the doctor listened to all of my concerns, adjusted my prescription and found a wonderful solution to my extremely dry eyes. Despite the fact it takes me at least thirty minutes to get to Visionary by public transit, and I spend at least one third of that time walking in the biting cold, I will continue to go back to Visionary. Their staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and wonderful with their customers. read more

The level of care I received from Dr. Ciszek is above and beyond anything I've ever experienced! Michael took his time to explain exactly what was going on and answered all of my questions. You can honestly tell he has a passion for his work. Steady hands and a great sense of humor. Everyone in the office is friendly and the wait time was short. Best eye care center in Chicago, hands down! read more