Smart Optical

Absolutely ridiculous that I had to pay for two different eye exams for prescription glasses and contacts! When I first entered, I told them I wanted an eye exam for glasses. They asked me in response if I also wanted contacts to which I responded, «Not at this time, but I will soon.»
Fast forward a month later. I tell them I wanted to order contacts now, but they tell me I would have to do another eye exam. What, WHY?! According to them, if I wanted glasses and contacts, I should’ve gone with the eye exam for contacts because the Rx is the same with glasses and contacts. I was not informed of this so how was I suppose to know?!
Whatever. They’re my new optometrist now. I’ll do it. «So how long till the arrive?» About week they said. Literally 13 days have gone by and I haven’t receive a phone call, so I walk back into the store asking if they’ve arrived yet. Nope. 19 days later I walked back in to check on them and there they were! They didn’t even call me. I’ll say it again 19 days later and I had to check on them.
I won’t be bringing my business back here. Eat the cost for the two eye exams, that’ll be the last buck you receive from me.

Wonderful service. And FAST. Alice was kind, sweet, and very very interested in helping me get prescription lenses in my favorite non optical frame sunglasses. Most places won’t attempt it due to liability, but they not only did it, they had them ready in a couple hours. Fast, friendly, and very affordable. Would recommend to anyone.

I’ve decide to make a Unilocal account just to review this place. This place is very aggressive and forceful with convincing you with all the unnecessary upgrades you need for your lenses. I have never felt so pressured and overwhelmed by someone before. They don’t give you a chance to disagree with them and pretty much forces their sale on you. I am so angry with this place that words can’t really describe it. I will never return to them anymore and don’t recommend this place unless you know how to say no. (However, the eye doctor, Dr. Wong, is very nice!)

I have been going here ever since I started wearing glasses (third grade, I am now in my third year of college) and every time my mom came with. I don’t know if it was because this asian thick/​big lady knows I am young and does not know much about glasses because I bought a coupon on groupon for 39 $ that covers the 39 $ eye exam and 200 $ towards the frames and the whole price came out to be $ 401+ or almost 500 $ if i chose the super thin light weight lens (not sure what the exact term for that was)… The pair of glasses I have on now and the new one i chose are pretty much identical because i am very iffy about change… and my prescription is not that huge of a difference either. (the doctor and lady did not tell me what my prescription was until i asked) and I do not remember pair of glasses I have now coming out to that price… It took me a long while before I finally decided on the frames, which i now kinda wished i chose another (very indecisive person) but the lady was patient with me and showed no emotion of being annoyed, etc. But, she did not explain anything to me and just gave me two options and the price of the two options. It was my fault for not asking her more questions but i did not know what to expect since I really do not know anything about glasses especially since my mom normally does the talking in Chinese whenever she came with me (i am not that great with that language) I had to pay $ 200+ out of pocket and I don’t know how i feel about it because I am a broke college student. What’s worse is that the doctor said my contacts prescription expired so it is time for a contacts eye exam and hopefully they will give me my contacts prescription so i can just order my contacts online because my contacts are from here too and it is cheaper online or even from a store like Walgreens where they always have 20%+ off on contacts… (I think, or i am just bias right not since I felt like they ripped me off)…

Good prices but the optometrist was impatient and not the most helpful in fitting me for contacts.

$ 140 for two boxes of contacts that is a standard cost $ 100 online (cheaper often with rebates)?
Without VSP insurance the cost would have been $ 150 for an eye exam and fitting? Please, for the 15 minutes it took to ask, «1 or 2? 2 or 3?» and see that I’m not color blind that’s a big F’ing joke. I had a copay that covered the cost, but the fact that «Actual» cost is even the above print is a laughing joke. The health care industry in america viewed from the ratio of value/​cost for practioners (bad) and goods (worse) is disgusting.
After being so lucky that my VSP covered the «246» in expenses now I’m left with only a % off to be applied towards glasses, if I would want those too. $ 400 for frames/​lenses? Jesus.
Oh, and if their day is running busy/​they scheduled poorly you may be rushed through your exam, or be asked to skip over simple normal parts (was told to pass on getting my eyes dilated due to time). Pass on this one.

As a poor college student, I am penny pinching. I brought the Unilocal offer for $ 25 off so that I can spend it on my contact eye exam and ordrr the lenses online. I had a really good experience there. I got a trial pair for a week to wear before they finalize my prescription. They also told me that she wont hold my prescription.

Great selection of prices. Cool and fashionable frames. Knowledgable and polite staff. Prompt service. Totally hot doctor. And I am not just saying that cause he is my husband. Go check smart out. You wont be disappointed!

If you’re looking for a large selection of fashionable glasses, friendly and well-​informed staff, Smart Optical is the place to purchase your next pair of glasses. Oh… by the way, their prices are unbelieveable as well. For those who appreciate value, I invite you to check out this place.
Smart Optical has two stores: one in Chinatown and one located in Lincoln Park.
I recently purchased a pair of really cool pair of glasses from Smart Optical. I was a bit nervous because my new prescription calls for bifocal. I was a bit nervous because I didn’t know how my eyes would adjust. The sales person helped measure my eyes, and took a few other measurements.
About a week later, my glasses was ready for pick up. I was so impressed with their craftmanship… and thankfully, my eyes adjusted rather well to the new frame.
I can’t say enough about this establishment. Anyone in the market for a new pair of glasses or contact lenses, I encourage you to stop by Smart Optical.

The glasses selection is DEFINITELY bigger than the choices at other places I’ve been to.
Most of the frames are really expensive though. Gucci, Prada. It’s a bit hard to find frames since they put all the colors of the same frame out, and you can easily be trying on the same frames in different colors.
The optometrist is nice – not the best, not the worst.
The staff is always friendly and they speak three languages: English, Canto, and Mandarin, which comes in handy if you come with your Asian parents/​family.
Huang Tai (manager) is a nice lady, but she always tries to get you to buy more.
The service is a bit slow… 2 hours for frames. Which is a hinder if you’re keeping the same frames like me & hafta walk around Chinatown blind as a dingbat for two hours.

Totally agree with Helen C, but overall this is a good place to get fashionable and affordable glasses. Their customer service isn’t bad, but there’s room for improvement.

Its nice and cheap there. The staff is very friendly. Eye exams are free if you buy their glasses. They have a lot of glasses to choose from. From cheap ones to brand names.
The only thing that I hate about it is if you go somewhere else to buy your glasses or your contacts they ask why. Or if you only get contacts they ask why not get glasses? They try to persuade you to spend more money there. But when you say you didn’t bring enough cash with you for the other stuff, then the pressure will back off.