Visual Images

What they did to me in there was still illegal in 14 states until 2003. Yep you know what I’m talking about, and it has nothing to do with eyes.
I got ripped off by 165 dollars and don’t even have a contact lenses prescription, even though getting a new contact lenses prescription is the ONLY reason I entered this place in the first place. When I said I would think about it (= paying 600 USD for contact lenses) I was dismissed, kindly asked 165 USD and given a prescription. 165 usd bill came as a surprise and a bad one.
I realized too late the ‘prescription’ didn’t have as many numbers as it should have had (for a contact lenses prescription) so I called… well as it turns out, the doctor gave me a prescription for… GLASSES??? Which I never asked for, we never talked about glasses. So now I have to go see another doctor and pay for… the same service.
Also the Dr. kept calling me ‘darling’ and making obnoxious comments about not being the ‘Mc Donalds’ of opticians.
Well at Mc Donalds, when you ask for fries, you don’t get a frozen carrot, you get fries!
AVOID AVOID AVOID.

I am a repeat customer and I recommended Visual Images to a family member who is also very happy with the outcome. For several years I went to a optometrist covered by my vision insurance plan. The examinations took perhaps ten minutes and then she would say, «are you happy with the lenses? ok we’ll continue with those». I no longer have a vision plan, so I tried this store based on the glasses in the window. Being fitted by Dr Geula was a completely different experience. He does a very thorough exam and really listens as I explain what’s happening with my eyes: how I feel about my vision when reading, driving, working at a computer, at the theater, etc. Then he recommends lenses for me to try for a few days; following that I confirm that I want to place an order. He understands my subjective needs given my activities, and prescribes what is going to work best for my combination of near and distance vision under various conditions.
My eyes are not super complicated, but this is the first time I was able to get progressive contacts which work with my astigmatism. Contact lens technology is changing fast, and not every doctor can/​will keep up with the new products and take the time with the customer to get the best fit.
In terms of glasses, the store is very good: Stylish, high-​end, large selection. Service is excellent. The people who help you try on frames were very experienced, their feedback was honest, their suggestions helpful.
Pricing: yes, the exam is more expensive than at the optical chains — as I said above, it is a totally different experience and the results are much better. The frames are priced comparably to other places — I have browsed designer styles elsewhere and the pricing seems pretty standard. I like a bargain as much as anyone else, but I am willing to pay up for glasses which contribute to the impression I make on everyone I meet, every day.

I am almost embarassed to be posting here because I was so taken in by this shyster. But I wish there had been a review like this before I went in, so I would have avoided going to him, so maybe this will help someone else.
In short, this guy charged me SIX HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE DOLLARS for an eye exam and a contact fitting. Yes, I should have asked about the price before I sat down in the chair. But you just never imagine something like that could happen. This was for about forty minutes of his time.
On top of this, amazingly, he kept trying to say the best way for me to get my contact lenses would be to get them from him, ‘at very competitive prices’, though never giving me a number. Needless to say I did not want to keep doing business with the guy. So this weekend I ordered them online. Today, the online order place checked my prescription with him, and he told them the prescription (which at this point is three weeks old) is EXPIRED, so they CANCEL THE ORDER.
Then, someone from his office has the gall to try to sell me the exact same lenses I was ordering online for $ 396 (9 month supply). The guy at Visual Images tries to sell them to me for $ 495, telling me it’s ‘the same price as you would get online.‘
Incredible. Just… do not go to this guy.

SO RUDE on the phone — I called with a simple question and she refused to be helpful. I asked to speak with her manager and she hung up on me. Will never get my business.

I have been coming here for years to get my eyes examined, prescription lenses & sunglasses, and for contact lenses. I have always been 100% satisfied. While it is on the more expensive side, you get what you pay for: high quality customer service and a selection of quality brands not found at chain optical stores. I recently got a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses from here that are the best pair of glasses I have ever owned. It’s really cool that they let you customize the glasses, allowing you to choose lens colors, frame colors, lens mirrors, prescription lenses, etc. They will even special order something for you if you see something you like in a brand’s portfolio book that they don’t happen to carry that specific model in the store.

Ripoff and terrible customer service. AVOID.

This place is a HIDDEN GEM!!!
I stumbled in on my lunch break after having sat on my favorite and DISCONTINUED pair of Tom Fords begging them to fix it. The woman who first greeted me was skeptical about being able to handle the repair but the optician soon emerged from the back and said he would take a look at it.
He did some voodoo magic and returned with my frames about 5 minutes later — cleaned and tightened. He then offered to adjust the frames to better fit my face for free. Thank you!
I went back in two weeks later when I passed by and remembered his kindness to say thanks. I ended up buying two more frames! This is my new place!

This place is fabulous and has a quality staff with a detailed knowledge of what they sell and do. If you want quick and cheap and don’t need anything further then sincerely this might not be the place for you. It’s my impression that the folks who gave a low rating to this business wanted a different type of place. For someone like myself who has eyes that have a very difficult presecription, this place is a God send. I have never, ever been able to get glasses that actually didn’t look like Coke bottles until I came here. I mean my whole life; I’ve been wearing glasses since I was 9 years old. I started crying when they showed me the first pair they did for me. I hadn’t thought it was possible for me to have glasses that I was not ashamed of. Now I wear my glasses in public without being embarrased. I’ve bought all my sun glasses here as well. Yes, they are a bit more expensive but they last and have quality lenses that protect my retinas. In short I love this place and highly recommend it.

Miracle Workers… the good folks at Visual Images were the only people I could find who would do precisely what I was looking for in fixing an antique pair of glasses. I wanted very specific lens materials and while everyone I spoke to wanted me to use plastic, Visual Images not only found me authentic lenses but they did an incredible job in restoring the frames to a perfect condition. I highly recommend them if you really care about quality and superb service. Absolutely the best in NYC!

I went in and spoke to an older brunette woman about fixing my cheap AE sunglasses and she plainly told me that they were not a «quality» product and that they did not support the repair of this type of product.
Frankly, if you want someone to be a repeat customer for any reason you will change your language regardless of the «quality» of the product that the customer is bringing in. She was pretentious for NO reason.
I work in the area and frequently browse that store window because I am an eye accessory freak. I won’t be making any «quality» purchases there.

DO not go here. I was charged $ 100 for what they called «an eye exam and a consolation» no prescription. I was told b/​c I have astigmatism I would need to pay an additional $ 600 to get fitted for the lenses.

Great glasses… has many styles you wont find in a chain like Lenscrafters. A local glasses joint.