I just picked up my second pair of prescription glasses from Visionary Optics and could not be happier. The staff are all incredibly kind and helpful and they really know their stuff. I will definitely be back and highly recommend. read more

Great optic care. Exceptional quality glasses and service. Dr. Gelman and David are excellent at what they do.

I've been coming here for years...fantastic service--very friendly and highly skilled. Example: I came today with badly mangled sports frames which someone in my family--who will remain nameless--had stepped on. Despite the fact that the frames were not bought at the store Gabriel willingly offered to fix them...and succeeded. He charged me nothing, and even threw in a new case. Jordan is also extremely helpful (as are all other staff members I've come across). Bottom line: great customer service and they really know their stuff--which is why I'll continue to come to this store even though I no longer live in Chelsea. Highly recommended. read more

Very attentive and high quality lenses. I specifically look for Zeiss lenses because my prescription is so high and these lenses are the thinnest. This is one of the few stores that carries zeiss. read more

I hate having to knock a few stars off my review but they earned it. The hubby had a very bad experience here. A little background first - before having LASIK surgery a few years ago, the hubby wore glasses for 30 + years and is a glasses veteran. He knows how glasses should fit, feel and work - it's not rocket science. Anyhow, after my great experience, he went in for a pair of readers. The eye doctor assessed him as needing a much higher prescription than he actually needed (she screwed up). He had a very expensive pair of glasses made based on this wacky prescription. When the hubby put them on, he couldn't see. The sales person told him to "give it a few months" and his eyes will adjust. Give it a few MONTHS. His eyes will adjust. Let that sink in..... Translation: Your eyes will get weaker from this super high prescription and then the glasses will be great. In all his years of wearing a very high prescription (pre-LASIK) he never had to wait "a few months for his eyes to adjust." Normally, you get your eye exam, you get your glasses, you put them on, then you see. Done. None of this "wait a few months for your eyes to adjust" business. When we complained we were told it was because they were progressives. Ummm so are mine and I didn't have to "wait a few months for my eyes to adjust." The hubby saw better out of my glasses than his. Also, he had progressives in the past without this mandatory waiting period Visionary Options was mandating, and they were fine from the jump. After a bit of a back and forth, they corrected the prescription and very reluctantly admitted that maybe, just maybe, the doctor made a mistake during the exam (they still didn't completely acquiesce that it was the wrong script, they more or less stuck with the "your eyes will adjust in a few months" and added "in a few years, you may need that level prescription"). Needless to say, we won't be coming back. Too bad, my experience was great and they could have had customers for life. All they had to do was admit that they made a mistake. We all do from time to time.... read more

For me, buying a new pair of glasses is a stressful task. I stress over choosing a pair of frames from the multitudes. I worry the lenses won't be as high quality as advertised. I worry about having to revise the prescription. Zak, David, Jafar and Katie made my worries subside. They are an extremely professional, knowledgeable and pleasant crew! I have a couple of issues with my eyes therefore my prescription is not at all straightforward. With patience, diligence and proficiency the guys at Visionary Optics did everything they could to make my experience as easy and successful as possible. The end result is a pair of glasses that I am very satisfied with. I can't say enough to express the high level of proficiency I experienced at Visionary Optics. read more

I'm surprised that so many people had a negative experience because this was the best eye exam/glasses experience I've ever had. I actually did not realize that it was possible for me to see so clearly. The doctor was incredibly thorough and the equipment was so advanced that they got the exact correct prescription for me. They then spent an hour or so helping me pick out the perfect frames. The guy picked up on my style immediately and pulled several pairs he knew I'd like. When I told him my budget, he readjusted and found some great matches that fit me and my budget. The lenses themselves are so clear and the frame is so light that I forget that I'm wearing them. Despite the fact that I had insurance and the cheaper frames that he helped, it was fairly expensive, at least for my standards. If I didn't have any insurance, it'd cost $805 altogether including the examination. With insurance and awesome (non-progressive) lenses, it came out to $368. But honestly, it's worth it. I used to have headaches every day and my glasses were always sliding off my face. Now, perfect fix, great vision. read more

I brought in a pair of glasses that became mis-aligned and asked about any options to fix them. They said they could try bending them with pliers, but they might realistically break. I asked if there were any other safer options, and one of the employees chimed in unprompted with a snarky "Do you have a degree in opticianry?" Unnecessarily sassy, though quite unintentionally funny. No need to be rude. I was cordial and just left. Got my glasses fixed elsewhere in 5 minutes without issue... read more

They r terrific the service is great. I am very happy with the people that work there. RobinlWalters

They have a good selection of product, but what surprised me was their disinterest in providing good customer service. The man in charge of the store, Jafar (spelling?), had the worst customer service skills I have seen for a store like this. Speaking down to his potential clients, locking the front door while a client waits outside, mistreating his employees, and passive aggressively stomping around the store (nearly throwing keys on the table) while we were waiting for him to answer a simple question. Final remark: If you want to drop some money on your new glasses, go somewhere where people thank you for being their returning client. read more

I give this place the highest review. Before I ordered my glasses I must have made at least 3or 4 visits with my questions and concerns. Each time no matter who I dealt with I was treated with care and friendliness as they repeatedly and and througly answered all my questions explaining in detail the difference it would make to use Zeiss lenses. I happen to have a very extremely complicated prescription. As I was getting progressive lenses, it was even more complicated. The first pair were not exactly right, but as they explained with my prescription that isn't unusual. They had their eye doctor fine tune the prescription with the already made frames so that the second pair were perfect! Anybody who goes here know you are in kind, courteous and very capable hands! read more

Great selection of high-end glasses and the sales people were pro (especially Jafar). I mangled my frames recently and they were able to get them repaired with new lenses at no additional cost. Awesome! read more

This place used to be great, but they've gotten lazy and don't care much anymore. They originally sold me on the 'shop local' and 'use our neighborhood optician,' but the only thing they promote now is prices. Wide eyeglass selection, but they always try to upsell people to the same overpriced brand, the ones from Japan, or with bone in them, aka the hugest mark up. Dr. Gellman smiles a lot, probably because he knows he's ripping UES'ers blind. Overpriced with poor customer service A classic example of why local stores fail. read more

Thanks to you,Dr.Lee Gelman, and the staff for the wonderful service through the yrs(10+).Beyond satisfied customer. Orrett Layne read more

We could not have had a better experience. We had to get glasses for our 7 month old, and from the start they were so accommodating. We contacted them in advanced and they made sure to have multiple options of glasses in store for him to try on, ordered extra colors for us to decide between, and made the day of pick up seamless. Even in the middle of the pandemic, they made us feel so at ease with everting. They are so responsive and just overall friendly. Will be recommending to anyone who needs glasses to come here! read more

I've been to Dr. Gelman for the past 4 years. I only have the best to say about him. Very professional, seems very knowledgable, doesn't rush. Jafar is THE MAN when it comes to choosing your frames. Love his taste and completely trust his judgment 100%. If he says the frame looks great, it does! If he says no to a frame, I'm like alright, next... I love, love Jafar! When I go to look at frames I hope that he is there, and today when I went for a new frame, he was - and I probably would not have felt completely confident in making a final decision on one without him there. Love him! read more

Lenses were completely overpriced - Zeiss. Owner is arrogant, doesn't seem to care. Too concerned he has a "Hamptons" location. Couldn't get my lenses to fit into my Robert Marc frames because they were slightly oval and curved (wrap around sunglasses). Went back 4 or 5 times and gave up. read more

EXTREMELY RUDE STAFF. I walked into the store interested in buying some new sunglasses. When I asked the woman sitting in the front where the sunglasses selection was located she proceeded to tell me in a sassy tone that the sunglasses were the glasses with dark shades while the glasses had clear shades. With this bit of obvious information, lack of proper help, and unwelcoming demeanor I decided to take my business elsewhere. Needless to say when making a purchase it is expected that the staff would have a better attitude. With the numerous other eye boutiques in the area I would recommend looking into other businesses. read more

Great, fast assistance! I've walked by this location several times and noticed they have a great high-end selection, from Alain Miklis to Chrome Hearts. In immediate need of using up my flex spending and vision benefits, I popped in the last week of the year specifically for a corporate rock star look. Straight to Miklis and Chrome Hearts, the sales guy looks like in his mid-twenties, was extremely helpful but suggested I head down to their 17th and 7th location for a more rock star look. I rush down to 17th and 7th, jackpot! The sales guys were wearing Chrome Hearts like it's their business. Giddy as could be I selected two pairs of Chrome Hearts one was around $990 and the other $650. I was leaning toward the $990 pair because they had the excessive, "Look at me, I'm wearing Chrome Hearts" look I was aiming for. But the sales guy was honest and made a valid point about the pair washing out my complexion. I ended up going with the $650 pair, a purple/gray/brown tint with silver Chrome Hearts crosses on the side temples. $650 sounds like a lot but with my insurance covering $200 off the frame and 80% of the lenses I ended up paying a total of way less than what the frames cost. Awesome! The optometrist was able to check out my eyes/prescription New Years Eve day and was extremely helpful, accurate and attentive without wasting time. He was also young and in his 20's. I was definitely surprised by how young yet knowledgeable and professional the staff is. Whoever said health care reform was a crappy idea probably had that insurance that doesn't cover Chrome Hearts. read more

I stopped by the store a few days ago and asked for help finding an affordable pair of glasses that would be mostly covered by my insurance. The person I met with showed me ray bans and told me they were all $160, so I sat for measurements and they said they'd call back with the final price. When they called me back, it turns out that the price they quoted me initially was incorrect, and the total price was more than three times as much. They did not offer a discount or any sort of apology for the mistake, and it's clear that they didn't care about my experience. I wasted hours that I could have spent looking for other glasses at other stores. Also, the salesman taking my pupillary measurements put his arm around me and was a bit touchy feely - enough for me to get uncomfortable. Not a great experience overall. read more

I've been getting my eyes checked and buying glasses from Visionary Optics since 2009, and have always been pleased with their selection and service. They take my insurerance provider (VSP) and they have a very quick turnaround time. My daughter scratched my lenses while they were on the 2 year warrenty and they replaced the lenses in about 30 minutes. HIghly recommend. read more

Great selection of frames with a nice range from conservative to colorful styles. Staff really helped me think about options, allowed plenty of time to try different frames, and made great suggestions. I'm completely happy with my new glasses-- great fit on the frame and with the progressive lens prescription. Since picking them up a couple of weeks ago I've needed a few small adjustments (typical for me until the feeling is right) and the people at Visionary have been welcoming and eager to help every time. read more

Best and nicest opticians I have visited recently. Will definitely go back when I am next in NYC.

Great service and really great glass. I wasn't sure about how the famous Zeiss lenses would work for optical, but these are the best glasses I've ever worn. Looking forward to finding new frames from the impressive selection soon too. read more

Have been going to downtown location for years, tried uptown and brought my father in for a new prescription as well. As someone who's worn glasses his whole like, I tell you Visionary Optics is the best shop I have found. Brilliant, quick lens making with no errors, superlative service, great selection of frames. The best team ever. read more

My son wanted some Masunaga glasses but was unable to locate any in the UK.I rang Visionary Optics at Eastside to enquire about purchasing them and obtained their e mail address.I emailed his requirements ,along with his prescription, and registered credit card details.This was carried out on the Thursday evening.On the following Monday morning, my son took delivery of the glasses in the UK!!!! The service was excellent! We could not believe the speed at which the order was carried out. Well done visionary optics!!! read more

Dr. Lee Gelman and his colleagues at Visionary Optics deliver personal professional service above and beyond ... and have done so for me and many friends for years. When it comes to special situations of finnicky orders, they have the patience and perseverance to conjure the perfect fit. read more

I sought out Visionary Optics through Yelp because I wanted Zeiss lenses. I was pleased with the glasses I got. However, what I have not been pleased with is the store's refusal to file a claim with my insurance company. Visionary Optics is in-network for my insurance company but unless the optician files for me, the insurance company pays me at the out of network rate. Buyer beware. read more

HORRIBLE SERVICE!!! My husband and I, along with my brother and sister in-law walked in and were immediately treated as if we were unwelcome. All four of us wear glasses, and in the spirit of the new year were looking at our options. As we perused the frames the clerk continually talked down to us making negative comments about how difficult it was to fit frames and certain lenses, insinuating that the prescriptions we looked to fill were not the kind he wanted to work on. The icing on the cake was an accusation of theft!!! When a set of frames were misplaced he immediately asked us if we knew where that frame was. As four professionals with mean$, we were completely taken aback. It turned out the frames were just put back in the wrong spot. As the only brown people in the shop, I can only assume that the accusation stemmed from our appearance. Looking at the other reviews on this place, it seems there is a pattern of poor service. It is shameful that in this day and age in the diverse city of New York that a business can continue to operate while negatively profiling potential clients. read more

I have been going to Dr. Gelman for a number of years and have always found the service outstanding. This past week I saw Dr. Gelman due to developing a "floater." Upon his examination he determined that I had a hemorrhage in the back of my eye and that we should watch it for a few weeks. I thanked him, left and went home. No sooner did I get home when I received a call from Dr. Gelman telling me that he did not want to take any chances and wanted me to see a retinal specialist right away. Not only did he make the recommendation, but had already called the Dr., set up an appointment and made sure he took my insurance! Twenty minutes later, I was in a specialists office being examined. Fortunately, everything was fine and I just have to go for a follow-up, however, the situation could have been extremely serious and I have Dr. Gelman to thank for his quick thinking. In this day and age, where do you find customer service like this? Nowhere. Dr. Gelman is the consummate professional, an excellent diagnostician and truly cares about his patients. On another note, I have read some disparaging comments on Jafar...which I find extremely surprising. Jafar has always been extraordinarily polite, helpful and I truly rely on him when it comes to picking out my glasses. Additionally, he was extremely helpful in assisting me to adjust to my progressive lenses. He is patient, knows his product and his customer. read more

AMAZING! I was impressed with the experience. It was my first time buying glasses and a friend who lives in the area recommended I see David. I must of tried on 400 pairs of glasses and he patiently gave me constructive feedback on each one. I was still indecisive. Then he asked if he could chose a pair which ended up being my favorite ones! This guy is a pro, so knowledgeable on the brands and about my insurance. Will def go back for my next pair. Thanks!! read more

All staff, especially Jafar, were extremely helpful and responsive. My new glasses are great, and I'll definitely be returning to update my other pair. read more

I have been going here for four years now. Thorough exams and excellent customer service. To day my newish frames broke in the morning, they checked and had my frames in stock so had my glasses back within two hours. Thanks Jafar, you rock! read more

Very professional approach to eyewear focusing on having an accurate prescription, a frame size and shape that will work with your prescription, and a frame style that you like and looks good on you. They are direct and honest and I trusted them 100% with all the information that they provided me. As I was on the cusp of needing progressive lenses but work at a computer a lot, I worked with the optometrist with different approaches. They are selling you a solution, not just a fancy frame that looks good on you. My glasses were ready in 3 days, I bought 2 pairs (ic berlin and mykita) for general usage and they changed the lenses in a pair that I currently owned to use when working at the computer. Looking forward to going back in a year for my next exam but will probably go back sooner to get another pair as there are so many different styles to choose from. read more

Even after I moved to London, UK, I still come back to Dr Lee and his team. The best ever!!!!

I live in Florida but will only deal with Visionary Optics. The customer service is superb, especially Jafar. The selection is top of the line. The entire staff really takes time to understand your price point, style, and preferences so they can assist you with the best purchase possible. I had a pair of frames shrink do to climate change. I called the store, they sent me a shipping label, and they repaired the frames free of charge a year after purchase. read more