Columbia Opticians

Customer service here is pretty deplorable. After scheduling an appointment a week in advance, I received a call from them hours before the appointment saying they had to reschedule because the doctor was sick. A request that was somewhat of an inconvenience but I accommodated understanding the circumstances. Fast forward to a week later to the rescheduled appointment. After having confirmed my appointment the day of, I arrived 15 minutes late apologizing profusely that my tardiness was due to delays on the subway. However, they refused to see me even though there were no other patients in front of me and the doctor was still there. They would not accommodate me even though I accommodated their request only weeks before. Not only that, but they were obstinate and argued with me over the issue. This message is just a warning to future patrons. I’ve moved to another eye doctor.

I got my glasses fixed for free, and I didn’t purchase my glasses there, so that was nice. The service wasn’t so great but aside from that they were decent.

Aside from having a general dissatisfied experience with Columbia Opticians staff, I most recently requested a contact lens order on
that was denied. When I called Walgreens, I was told it was because my prescription had expired. Upon checking my prescription, I discovered that my prescription had indeed not expired.
When I called Columbia Opticians to inquiry about the denial and to explain I needed the contacts for the holiday season — because I was leaving town — I was told that if I came in to order through them that they could be ordered. They would just not approve the Walgreens order. The price, however, would not match the price that I would receive from Walgreens.
Additionally, I had to secretly receive my prescription in the first place, as «the doctor would be upset if he knew that we gave it to you to buy supplies elsewhere.»
This office is incredibly unprofessional and unhelpful. There are MANY other places to get your eyesight checked in New York. Run away from this place as quickly as possible. I’m also pretty sure that what they’re doing is illegal.

I’ve been using this business for many, many years, and I have no complaints. I find the people friendly, especially Randy, the owner. I have never had a problem with prescriptions, and the selection of frames is quite decent. Prices are what one would expect in NYC.

I scheduled an appointment the day before I wanted to see the optometrist for an eye exam. The exam was quick and effective, and I had no problems.
I got the package as a Columbia graduate student: $ 120 for eye exam for glasses and contacts + $ 120 for 6 month supply of contact lenses (Acuvue Oasys — I got a total of 4 packs). They were nice and gave me at least $ 30 worth of Clear Care solution.
I didn’t do much price shopping around because I didn’t want to be cheap on my eye care and needed the contacts asap. But, here are the prices I paid… do what you want with them.

This place preys on unsuspecting Columbia students who are looking for a convenient optician. An eye exam will run you $ 120, the exam simply consists of you reading an eye chart for them, no pupil dilation to test for glaucoma (which every other optometrist I’ve been to will perform).
And most definitely DO NOT purchase contacts through them. They charged me $ 150 for contacts that you can get else where for less than $ 100. Don’t be fooled by this eye exam, contact fitting, and contact «package» that they try to sell you… none of the items in the package are of quality nor of reasonable price.

There should be a bifurcation between the opticians and the front desk personnel. The former are congenial, competent, professional, etc. Unlike their competition on Broadway, these opticians don’t reek of Marlboro Reds, and actually give you an accurate prescription.
The same cannot be said for their administrative support staff. These are stunningly, infuriatingly, incompetent. You have to goad them into doing their jobs. They don’t follow up on the deliveries you ask for: you have to make them call FedEx to discover that they weren’t open during deliveries of trial lenses, for instance. I foolishly decided to support local businesses and order my actual lenses from them; they didn’t call me when the lenses had come in, and i was left wearing my glasses for days beyond what was necessary.
So basically, I would advise you to get your eyes examined here, and get your actual products elsewhere.

This place is horrible. They are not friendly, not knowledgeable, and question the customer’s concerns (instead of addressing them). I’ve been wearing glasses for almost 30 years and I’ve never had so many problems obtaining eye-​wear. I’ve had to go back into this office over 5 times to address problems with the glasses that they sold me (ranging from prescription issues to problems with the actual frames). I spent over $ 400 on glasses alone (as well as an additional $ 350 on the exam and contacts) and was treated as if I was a burden, rather than a customer. The doctor didn’t tell me what she was doing during the exam, never told me the condition of my eyes; I had to keep asking to prompt her for more information. The technician selling the frames seemed bored that I wanted to try on various glasses; he was pushing me to purchase the most expensive frames and when I said I didn’t like them, he rolled his eyes at all of the other frames I tried. The lady behind the counter was rude and when I had questions or concerns, she shrugged them off and said «there is nothing wrong.» I couldn’t understand why she just couldn’t address the problem I was having and fix the glasses – that they sold me. I was actually told by the technician selling the frames that they «don’t want to waste their time» in reference to the number of complaints I had (as if I enjoyed wasting my lunch break going into their shop and dealing with these people). If I have any other problems, I plan to spend the extra money and go to a different place just to avoid this place.

I braced myself walking into this place, partly because it’s next to the *horrible* dental office they send those of us with Columbia health insurance to. I figured the eye place they send us to would be just as bad, but I have a baby now and just couldn’t bear going to my usual eyeglass places in LES and Chinatown.
SO glad I went in. I think Hilary C.‘s review hit the nail on the head! $ 42 for an eye exam, by a very competent and thorough young OD. Decent selection of glasses (yes, spendy, but glasses are expensive, kids!) Super helpful staff, and when I was going to only buy the frames and get the lenses at my Chinatown place, they matched their price! It was $ 100 less! Amazing.
Glasses were ready fast, and I have a crazy prescription.

I went here looking for new frames, and didn’t need to see an eye doctor as I had a prescription from an eye doctor elsewhere. Since I am a student at Columbia, I thought I would try their selection. The woman who helped me look for frames was NOT helpful and rather rude. When I am about to spend $ 300+ on eye wear, I expect the person helping me to actually BE helpful. I told her what I was looking for and she took out a few frames, and when I was not in love with them, I asked if she had others, and she told me to walk around and let her know if I wanted to see anything in a case. Um, isn’t it your job to assist me in showing me what you have available? When I tried on the frames, she gave me a blank stare. it would be helpful if a person helping you select your eyeglasses actually had an opinion and an understanding of what looks good on what types of faces. I left the store angry and do not plan to go back.
Also, they have hardly any selection of sunglasses. I’ll be taking my business elsewhere.

I’ve worn glasses for more than 40 years and lived in NYC for nearly 20. Let me explain a few things. First even though a specific location of a chain-​shop might be okay in terms of staff and service, there is huge variation from shop to shop in quality of care. The prices are roughly the same but I just don’t trust them. Their ‘discounts’ are for stuff you don’t want to wear on your face every day of your life. This is a good, independent shop. Eye-​glasses cost a lot, but are not really that expensive if you consider that you generally wear them to see properly EVERY DAY for 1 – 2 years. Second, in NYC, the rent for any shop, including opticians, is super-​expensive. Prices will be higher. Third, students and young people are often facing this purchase for the first time after years of having their parents pay and even sometimes sending them to an opthalmologist (MD who treats eyes). Go somewhere else if you have insurance, rich parents, or really need an MD (and you really only need to see an MD every 5 – 10 years unless you have an eye disease). This is an optical shop and the doctor is a D.O. which is a doctor of optometry. The cost of exams here is super-​low and they are done properly. They offer discounts to Columbia community. Ask about that. Fourth, the glasses are competently made (most likely at an off-​premise vendor) and they will order them and then adjust them for you courteously and free when they are new and thereafter if they know you are a regular customer. (And, they charge a truly nominal fee if you need adjustments for other glasses.) Finally, if you’re a busy academic the close location is essential. I think that a lot of students who are not from New York City have written the snivelling reviews here.

I echo SW’s sentiments. I have no problems with this place. I never had to wait and coming here is always a quick and painless process. I’ve been seeing Dr. Jessica Rauch for the past two years and she’s very nice. I’m a little skittish when objects get too close to my eyes. Dr. Rauch was very sensitive to that and gentle with the process of testing my eyes.
Furthermore, this place is conveniently located close to campus, so it’s easy for students to get here. (All those on the Columbia University health plan are referred here for their eye needs, but I think their services are also available for those not affiliated with the university.)

Where’s the beef? I’ve gotten at least 2 orders of contacts and 1 pair of glasses from here and am surprised at all the negative reviews. They are extremely flexible with appointments which I needed when I was in school and had to cancel/​arrive late due to class. Also, compared to other eye doctors I’ve been to, I rarely had to wait regardless of arrival and they didn’t try to slap on hidden fees (Lenscrafters, I’m looking at you.) They even hooked me up with the student discount after graduation.
True, their selection could be better. They don’t have monocles for your thesis presentation or maybe even Ray-​Bans for your trip downtown. And the doctors can be a little brusque. Dr. Sheth, if she is still working there, is the friendliest. At times, when I lost a contact and was walking around with one, they saved my ass by giving me a new pair without an obligation to buy.
If they messed up your prescription, that sucks but it has never personally happened to me. To be fair, I do not have a complicated prescription. Still, from the customer service I’ve gotten, I feel they would resolve it. And so what about the index cards/​equipment? If it gets the job done, who cares.

The in-​house optometrist was nice enough, though the exam seemed a bit rushed.
My big complaint, however, was the actual frames and lens purchase. The shop sold me scratched lenses, and then argued with me about replacing them, though they eventually did.
I noticed two scratches in the lenses about two to three hours after I walked out of the shop. I didn’t notice them in the shop, likely because I was a bit disoriented from the new prescription and was in a headache-​y fog for the first few days that I wore them. I had worn glasses for several years, and it had taken me those several years to scratch that pair. It’s not as if I am so ignorant or careless that I would manage to scratch brand-​new lens within hours of getting them – and the odds of pure bad luck occurring in those two to three hours are next to nil.
This shop, however, accused me of doing that very thing, even though I called them immediately upon discovery of the problem. (i.e. within hours of walking out their door). When I returned, it was suggested that I was probably caused the problem, because there was no way they would have allowed the lenses to leave the store, and that I had likely irresponsibly handled them, though THEY had in fact cleaned them with a a paper towel (read: a scratch-​causing wood product) in front of me before giving them to me (I’ve only ever cleaned my glasses with cotton or cloth products). After repeatedly making these arguments and emphasizing my ability to complain to the University that seems to funnel them clients, they finally agreed to give me new lenses, though only on the assertion that they were doing ME a favor and had done nothing wrong. Yeah, right.
I would avoid this place unless you’re a cost-​constrained Columbia student who’s willing to argue if they mess up. I’m giving them two stars, because they did, in the end, fix the problem, though not graciously.

I am a Columbia Business School student, and unfortunately this is one of the only opticians near the university that provides a student discount. I’ve been wearing glasses and contacts for almost 20 years now, and can very honestly say that this was the worst experience I’ve had with an optician in that length of time.
The doctors got my prescription wrong twice, causing me to have to re-​do the new lenses I had just paid to have made for my eyeglasses, and after almost 3 months of back and forth my contacts prescription still doesn’t seem to be right. The contacts that I was given as trials were uncomfortable, ill-​fitting, and most likely an incorrect diagnosis.
The equipment used by the doctors is severely outdated, and no computer system even exists (providing for a difficult time if you have to see a different doctor). All patient records are kept on index cards — which I found somewhat unsettling.
While the staff was fairly courteous with arranging appointments for re-​fitting and check-​ups — the process of trying to have my prescription updated was an absolute nightmare. While the price you’ll pay for an appointment here as a student is less than other places, your time is valuable too and I would highly recommend paying a few extra dollars to go somewhere reputable.
ITS NOT WORTH SAVING A FEW EXTRA BUCKS TO SEE A SHODDY OPTICIAN!!! GO ELSEWHERE!!!

This place was terrible. I felt like I was being sold glasses by used car salespeople, and then they botched my lenses TWICE. (Actually they botched them three times, but the third time they actually checked their work before having me come up and then leave again empty-​handed.) I wish I’d asked around before going here, because once I relayed my story to people, I found that we’re in agreement: don’t go here!

I saw Dr. Sharma here. I thought he was pretty nice although there’s a limit to how much I can like doctors. I told him so and he said he understood. Billing seemed pretty standard. For contact lenses you pay for your order but then you can keep trying different types and brands until you find one that works. I would see Dr. Sharma again but hopefully I can get by without seeing an optometrist for another ten years.