An identical pair of eyeglasses costs from $164 to $400, depending on which of the area's opticians or optometrists you use. For a one-year supply of continuous-wear, disposable contact lenses (including an exam, fitting, and follow-up visits) costs vary from $235 to $749. The good news is that we have identified firms where you can get your glasses at a good price and get excellent service also.

Read our article and findings (available exclusively to CHECKBOOK subscribers)

Back to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK Table of Contents.

Sample Subscriber Comments/Reviews About Opticians

CHECKBOOK provides subscriber comments on their experiences with the firms they use. Please remember that individual subscriber comments are informal. Subscriber comments may give you insight into the types of features and problems that exist in a service field, but are not the best basis for selecting or rejecting a specific firm. To assess the quality of a firm's performance, we recommend that you give more weight to the percentages of favorable ratings. Those percentages are generally based on much larger numbers of consumers' ratings (the number of consumer ratings is noted above).

As You Can See Below, Some Opticians Get High Praise from Their Customers. Some Others Don't. So Choose Carefully.
Here Are a Few Samples of the Thousands of Comments CHECKBOOK Has Collected on Hundreds of Different Opticians.

• Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote Another Store: Very welcoming........
• Subscriber from SAN RAMON, CA wrote Another Store: We have used Diablo Valley Optical for years, and they have always delivered the right..........
• Subscriber from ALBANY, CA wrote Another Store: Both Dr Chen and Dr Woodring are excellent optometrists........
• Subscriber from PALO ALTO, CA wrote Another Store: Owner is busy on personal phone calls behind counter when customer stands and wait. Ordering..........
• Subscriber from PALO ALTO, CA wrote Another Store: Delay in promptness was caused by an "out-of-stock" situation at their source for my frame..........
• Subscriber from SAN MATEO, CA wrote Another Store: Dr. MacDonald and Dr. Filer are very good and kind. The other professional staff is..........
• Subscriber from DANVILLE, CA wrote Another Store: Limited products. Had a problem with the earpiece, but they cheerfully fixed it three times...........
• Subscriber from PALO ALTO, CA wrote Another Store: Leslie is a thorough and competent optometrist. Only two down-sides: her prices are high, and..........
• Subscriber from SUNNYVALE, CA wrote Another Store: I went in to have a prescription filled. He charged me one fee for glasses..........
• Subscriber from RICHMOND, CA wrote Another Store: Good products and service. Expensive, but you don't have to wait, or if you have..........
• Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote Another Store: Have used this group for at least 13-14 years, based on a long-ago checkbook rating...........
• Subscriber from FOSTER CITY, CA wrote Another Store: Did not prescribe strong enough contact lenses........
• Subscriber from DANVILLE, CA wrote Another Store: I've been coming here for years. Quality through service........
• Subscriber from CROCKETT, CA wrote Another Store: Bifocals? Costco will NEVER get it right. After too many pairs, too many adjustments, I..........
• Subscriber from ATHERTON, CA wrote Another Store: Expensive but probably worth it........
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Store: Was lowest in price overall for frames I wanted, but couldn't give an accurate price..........
• Subscriber from CUPERTINO, CA wrote Another Store: High ratings for Dr. Matteson; not so for Dr. Most........
• Subscriber from PALO ALTO, CA wrote Another Store: Would ever go any other place........
• Subscriber from MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA wrote Another Store: Highly professional with prices to match........
• Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote Another Store: Front desk staff improperly made glasses and would not do anything to resolve or fix..........
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Store: These folks are fabulous! Every person in every role provides patient and informative care and..........
• Subscriber from BURLINGAME, CA wrote Another Store: Outstanding!.......
• Subscriber from CUPERTINO, CA wrote Another Store: I get $175 off a pair of glasses every two years, plus an employee discount...........
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Store: My glasses haven't been right since I got them, despite having them redone twice (I..........
• Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote Another Store: VERY COMPETITIVE PRICES.. GOOD KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF........
• Subscriber from CUPERTINO, CA wrote Another Store: Very good prices if you know what you want........
• Subscriber from PALO ALTO, CA wrote Another Store: These people claimed a minor fracture in my glasses frame could not be repaired and..........
• Subscriber from LAFAYETTE, CA wrote Another Store: High prices........
• Subscriber from KENSINGTON, CA wrote Another Store: My experience was based on help from Kay Santiago. Not all the other staff were..........
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Store: Isn't it amazing how much glasses cost now?.......
• Subscriber from RICHMOND, CA wrote Another Store: After years of using Costco, they switched the brand of bifocals they carry and I..........
• Subscriber from FREMONT, CA wrote Another Store: Small shop, so the selection is more limited than a big retailer (no safety glasses..........
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Store: Very professional, and friendly........
• Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote Another Store: Staff is very knowledgeable and friendly........
• Subscriber from PIEDMONT, CA wrote Another Store: Personalized service is exceptional........
• Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote Another Store: EXCELLENT FOR PRICE. GOOD SERVICE. I HAVE BEEN A CUSTOMER FOR 40 YEARS........
• Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote Another Store: The management here over the past few years has made an attempt to increase courteousness..........
• Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote Another Store: I had an unsatisfactory experience with this firm........
• Subscriber from BURLINGAME, CA wrote Another Store: Sloppy workmanship, undependable, arrogant.......
• Subscriber from PIEDMONT, CA wrote Another Store: Dr. Chun and the staff are great........
• Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote Another Store: Every exam is done in depth with an emphasis on eye health. Exams are done..........
• Subscriber from RICHMOND, CA wrote Another Store: You have to wait a long time for glasses to be made - difficult if..........
• Subscriber from ORINDA, CA wrote Another Store: Poor quality of progressive bifocals repeatedly.......
• Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote Another Store: I am particularly sensitive to changes in my prescription. This group has served my needs..........
• Subscriber from RICHMOND, CA wrote Another Store: Not a great selection of frames.......
• Subscriber from REDWOOD CITY, CA wrote Another Store: Checkbook recommended them, so I went there and was very pleased with the service........
• Subscriber from CUPERTINO, CA wrote Another Store: Made error in prescription, had to tell optician how to test! Also made error in..........
• Subscriber from TIBURON, CA wrote Another Store: R & G has the best selection of styles. Prices are high. Best if you..........
• Subscriber from RICHMOND, CA wrote Another Store: This optician is not cheap, but they carry very high quality, fashionable eyeware and in..........
• Subscriber from MILL VALLEY, CA wrote Another Store: Most of their glasses frames tend to be expensive--they do not have a very wide..........