City Center Optometry

They pay attention to their reviews. That deserves a nod!
Each visit has gotten better. So this place has become A-​OK in my book. I usually come around my lunch time when it’s only me or another customer at the store. Their one on one rapport has grown on me and I like that they remember you from your previous visit.
The glasses I ordered were there and I was excited to pick them up. For some unknown reason Nike didn’t have a case for my sunglasses but the gentleman was nice enough to pick out another case for free. He also adjusted my other pair to make sure they were snug before I left for the office. Too bad I can’t give half stars. I’m updating to 3.5 but I’ll round up. I can see myself coming here for more of my eye care needs in the future and becoming a fan.
That’s my peace

Eye care that affirms your humanity. I’ve been to many places where they treat you like an object not a person with feelings. Some places they aren’t patient with your questions or just rush you through your appointment. Dr. Kelemen is a cut above all other optometrists because he treats each patient as a fellow human being. He is patient with your questions and does not try to push extra tests or guilt you into buying more contact lenses or expensive glasses. He tells you your options and lets you pick.
For me, I he helped me figure out how to make the most out of my insurance without having to pay more out of pocket. What optometrist ever does that?
He also has a cute little dog in the office that is just adorable.

Sophia is so sweet! I love it when front desk staff are helpful and try their best to connect with you. I got my contacts and glasses done here and I couldn’t ask for a quicker and smoother experience. Sophia definitely knows what she is doing and is very helpful.
She called me as soon as my contacts samples came in and as soon as my glasses came in because I noted that I’ve been blind for awhile due to me losing my belongings traveling.
They offer a wide range of brand name glasses from Kate Spade to Gucci. A small selection but definitely styles that are popular!

Excellent service, wonderful office and well managed, kind helpful office staff.
I am so happy I came to Dr. Keleman. He and his team worked hard to be flexible around my goofy insurance situation.
Provided more information on eye issues such as glaucoma, detached retina and other eye concerns.
Had a long chat with Dr. Keleman on similar interests and felt like dropping by and talking to an old friend. Looking forward to working with his team in the future.
Also, Snoopy is such a pleasure.
Again, so happy and blessed to find this office!

Wow! I didn’t know such attentive, educated, and professional services were still around. What a surprise when I had a thorough and informative appointment with Dr. Keleman today. He is «old school» in that he is not rushing you out the door and robotic. He takes his time, explains things, and is extremely professional. Additionally, his support staff is also incredible. Alicia knows her glasses fashion and Sophie was really helpful. Highly recommended!

Dr. Keleman gets down to business. He doesn’t go on with chit-​chat, just asks a couple questions and does his thing. This is totally a matter of taste — I like it, I think it speaks well for his abilities that he’d rather ‘do optometry’ (optometrize? optomete?) than ask me about my day or talk about the kids he may or may not have. He’s old-​school enough that he lectured me for spending too much time in front of a computer screen, but savvy enough to explain the difference between non-​reflective and tinted lenses. They have a refreshingly fashionable selection of frames, and a very helpful assistant who seemed really keyed in to color and shape, and had virtually identical taste to my own, which didn’t hurt the process.
The only tiny snafu was that after waiting a week and a half for them to come in, I called the office to check on their status — turned out the guy who received & checked in inventory had been out with the flu all week and they’d been sitting there in the back room for a few days before I called. Dr. Keleman (who told me himself rather than passing the chore off to staff, major customer service bonus points in my book) was very apologetic, and they stayed open a few extra minutes so I could pick them up and have them adjusted before the long weekend. Ultimately, the real measure of a business isn’t whether or not a problem arises, but how it’s handled when it inevitably does.

I got one pair of glasses off my insurance. The following year iI asked them if they had discount frames and the clerk said it would be «insurance fraud.» I ran out of their office and haven’t been back!

Dr. Kelemen is great — definitely an optometry nerd, but that’s what you want. His exam is very thorough and he doesn’t try to upsell you on things like LASIK, as some optometrists do.

The eye exam at city center eye exam is a cut above average. Dr. Keleman is very affable, and takes a long time explaining his procedures, red flags to look for, and his prescription.
I like optometrists who use the traditional tools of the trade rather than relying on autorefractors. I also like that Doctor Keleman uses the touch test for glaucoma screening rather than that terrible puff of air.
Also, there’s a cute dog in the office, and I have to give a thumbs up to any place with pets.
I’ve been coming here a while, and initially felt that the staff was a little too brusk and cold– I notice that as a complaint with other reviewers too. Well, no longer! The current front office staff exudes a nice Oakland friendliness, making all all the difference in the world between 11 a lot q a good and great experience.
My contact lens order came the very next day, and I couldyr4rrn’t be more pleased.

TERRIBLE
I have spent weeks running around trying to get new contact lenses going back and forth with this office and an on-​line provider. I called this office twice and was assured both times that I did not need an exam and that they had approved my prescription. Finally, it turns out they were declining my perscription. Why tell me it’s fine when it’s not? Now I’m in the position of needing to find a new provider and get contact lenses in time.
Seriously do not recommend

After some sadness, I had to leave my previous eye doctor who was excellent, but had a terrible support staff. City Center came recommended by a friend and is super convenient to get to.
Dr. Kelemen gave my eyes a thorough exam and I found his demeanor to be comforting and his willingness to answer all my questions superb. Where they really excel is their ability to patiently find you frames that work on your face. I read other reviews where people have mentioned the staff being a little cold, but they truly seemed interested in helping me find frames that worked with my face, round as it is. Also, they seemed to be the only eyeglass place in the bay area to have aviator frames for my prescription sunglasses.
I happily ordered new frames and sunglasses from them with the new technology that repels smudges on the lens. A year later, the frames are still rocking. There was a slight incident with a screw that fell out of the sunglasses and you know what? The good doctor, his support staff and the cute little dog that hangs out there all told me that glasses bought there have free maintenance for the life of the frame. WIN!

This place was easy to find and there is a parking garage across the street for a decent rate.
Its small but modern and clean.
Yes I thought staff was a bit… ummm… cold.
Examination was thorough and it moved along quickly. He explained the results to me and was very patient with all my questions.
At the end he handed me off to one the the staff members and she was very nice to me as I proceeded to try on every frame in the place. She was helpful and gave me her opinion about what shape and colors were most complimentary.
I finally settled on some really cute Kate Spade navy blue frames. sounds weird I know but I get many compliments!
I confess I hadn’t been to an optometrist since 1992 but I am happy to say that our family has found an office that we like and trust.

The optometrist is great, she’s very thorough and caring… BUT, her staff is the WORST I’ve ever seen. They’re unfriendly, unprofessional and almost rude. I had two pairs of glasses done there, one for reading the other for regular usage. They had done one of the frames wrong and I needed to see so I decided to keep it. Now I really regret that decision, the wrong frame is for daily use and it makes me look really lousy and I’ll have to spend another $ 400+ to replace them.
Good doctor but really lousy staff.