Golden Gate Optometry

Welcome back Carla. I’m so glad you are back to health. We missed you.

I had a pair of glasses that I had purchased elsewhere. However, I stopped in and asked if they could help me adjusting the eye-​ware and they did it right there and then. Super friendly and did not even charge for their work. I will be back when I need new glasses!

Well, somebody lost their glasses at the club like a 25 year old dude would and figured it was probably time to get contact lenses and new glasses. On short notice, I was able to book a spot from someone who canceled for the next day.
Came here & Dr. Ko was great. Organized, funny, and the location was super close to my office.
Not going to lie, the services and frames seem higher than other places. The contact fitting also seemed awfully pricey. Not sure it cost so much when I had it done last year in Berkeley, but it was probably covered under my insurance. But having VSP as my provider definitely sucks – so no surprises there.
Overall, I’d recommend Golden Gate. Decent selection of designer frames & sunglasses.

My wife go to and check up, they said that is no charge, and later on we receive the bill and need to pay $ 51.00, my wife call and ask what the hack is going go, after my wife talk to them for more than 30mins, they still not able to do any credit, the main thing is they send us the bill without any note, so beware

These guys are disorganized and failed to deliver me some contact lenses that I really needed, in spite of starting the process 2 weeks before I needed them.
I needed an eye exam and new contact lenses before a trip to India.1) appointment card was written for a date (date, day of the week) that doesn’t exist, so I had to correct it 2) doctor said I could try wearing the new lenses then call and order the ones I preferred; receptionist would not let me do that, but insisted I come in again, 3) finally ordered me contact lenses with assurances they would arrive in 1 – 2 days. Three days later and… never heard back from them, 4) tried calling and there is no answer, no voicemail, no message nothing.
I will be heading to India without enough contact lenses. Thanks, guys.

Dr. Shen is amazing! Got a standard eye exam and it was the most thorough exam I’ve had! She is very patient, friendly, and knowledgable. The staff is great as well. A fantastic experience!

Not recommended. Sold me frames that were too narrow to fit my head because that was only size they had in stock. Worked hard to make them fit without cutting into my ears and face, but have never been comfortable. They have a very small range of expensive frames, so that’s why they’ll push whatever they’ve got. Bad experience.

This is a really great optometry, especially good compared to Hall and Szeto only 4 blocks away.
They are small and their selection of frames is extremely expensive, however they make up for price with service. This includes tune ups and cleaning for your frames. They also answer questions for any problems you have with your eye any time of the year.
The tests and pretty standard, but the attitude and smile of the optometrist is always welcoming and friendly. She is also open to questions and gives great tips!
This is my third visit and I will definitely come back in the future!

A small boutique optometry shop tucked away just off of the Embarcadero on Davis street. Staff are super friendly and professional. They’re especially helpful if you’re trying to pick out new eyeglass frames as they make sure the frames you select are comfortable and flattering to your face. I’d vote with my dollars here rather than say… Lenscrafters. :)

Good optometrist. Professional & efficient staff. I bought a pair of glasses that have lasted for more than 4 years. I will continue going here.

I was happy with the service I got there. I felt welcomed and Dr. Kim was very thorough and knowleadgeable. My vision has actually improved per her exam. :)

Very thorough practice. This is my third visit this month. I was on my last pair of contacts when I got allergic pink-​eye and was desperate for an appointment ASAP to not be stuck with only my sort of old glasses. I just go coverage through work finally signing up for VSP, which meant not having to pay Costco’s optometrist out-​of-​pocket. They got me in right away and my VSP insurance covers the visit.
But let me emphasis… THIRD visit. I have pretty normal eyes and prescription, so the series of events leading up to this has me a bit surprised.
I have been meeting with one of the gals that’s only there Wednesdays and Thursdays (I forget her name, but she splits her time teaching on Mondays and Fridays) VERY thorough and VERY friendly, which I can’t say I’ve had that upside before in an eye doctor. She’s easy to talk to… just a heads up she talks very fast (like me so I don’t see it as a negative!!).
But I’m not a huge fan of taking on a new optometrist, because it leads to things that to me don’t make much sense, lot of red tape and a lot of what I feel is selling. I’ve been wearing the Bosch & Laomb soft lenses for over 10 years now. Every new eye-​doctor wants to put me in a new, modern lense. I try it and lo-​and-​behold, my eyes bug me. So when I went to GGO and she proposed it, I told her flat out there was no way in hell I was switching until the manufacturer stops making it.
She was very professional in not pushing me further on it. We talked about my glasses, which I said were steadily not providing me with clearer vision. She discovered that my mild case of astigmatism had gotten bad enough to where my glasses prescription needed to be changed. Awesome. But as for my contact prescription, very different. It became obvious after my analysis that even though I’ve had the same contact prescription as the last 7 years and nothing had changed since my last exam, she was going to make me order a pair, try them for a week and come back to see how they were doing. Meanwhile, she was encouraging me to go pick out a pair of glasses, which I wasn’t ready to do yet.
I had to go back 3 days later to pick up the contacts. Kinda annoyed. Then, I had to go back AGAIN in another week and have them checked. Starting to get annoyed.
Again, she was super thorough, said they fit perfectly. Duh, I could have told you that! Started trying to get me to order my contacts with them, which I told her I would likely do through Costco, as I always had, unless they price match. They don’t. And then she said that she noticed irritation and that it might be due to my contact solution. She recommended I change to one she used, gave me a pretty lengthy talk about why it was so great… but it was kinda expensive and wasn’t as easy to come by. I told her if it’s not available at Costco to buy in bulk, because getting to the store in SF for where I lived to buy contact solution was not convenient, I wasn’t going to go for it. So she put me on another one. And then told me I’d have to come back AGAIN to see if the irritation disappeared.
On the way out, I made an appointment with reception to check how my eyes were doing in a week with the new solution. By then, I was super tired of coming in. It’s right around the corner from my work, but can’t we just talk on the phone for this one? They also asked me if I wanted to order contacts, which I again said no and asked for the prescription so I could go order at Costco. Suddenly, it became «well I need to ask the doctor if you’re approved with that lense prescription in order to give it to you.» And yet they were just willing to order for me themselves seconds ago and the only issue was the contact solution, not the lense. A bit frustrating that every time I told someone I wanted to shop elsewhere that it became either a hassle or an «OH OK» moment. And that the receptionists aren’t in sync with what data the doctor has… or maybe, the doctor didn’t write it?
Anyway, good news is she was right about the contact solution. My eyes immediately felt less dry, irritated and didn’t have red veins. I’m thankful she suggested it… and I was even more thankful when I called just now and pushed them to let me skip the appointment so I don’t have to miss anymore work when I really couldn’t. I also went ahead and ordered my contacts. But only because I was no longer going to see the Costco optometrist and it would mean my having to then make 2 trips to Costco to get my contacts ordered and picked up since they don’t do phone service unless you have a Costco Amex card.
Long story short, maybe I shouldn’t be annoyed so much with thoroughness. It’s not enough for me to using them as an optometrist, even with plenty of VSP providers in the area. They’re really great and professional, but a bit stiff with their process and policies as well as with getting things approved. And who knows, maybe they’ll likewise be happy it’ll be another year before we have to see one another!

Don’t mean to be a party-​pooper here, but here is my experience. I was wearing glasses on and off for over 25 years, using them mostly when reading and for computer work (farsightedness and astigmatism). Did an exam here. Dr. Ko insisted that I should wear glasses all the time, as it won’t affect my vision and should just make me more comfortable. Here I am now, about a year later — HAVING to wear my glasses all the time now, as I don’t see crap without them… Enough said. My vision has gone a lot worse after their doctor’s opinion. Now I have to erase many years of eye training, and start over again and train my eyes to work without glasses.
Yes, the front desk staff is nice and friendly. Doctors are nice and friendly — always communicated well over phone and email. But this is not a coffee shop where you come to chat. Do yourself a favor — always get a second (and third) opinion before any major changes.

I was looking to become a new client to a local Optometry near my work in SF. Right down the street (2 blocks away), I stumbled across this location due to Unilocal. I instantly emailed them, they got back to me quick. Before making any rash decisions, I had a couple questions regarding my insurance (VSP). Lillian was glad to assist in any way possible. The best thing was, it was all done by email! That’s a super plus for me. Providing her minimal amount of information she was able to look up my insurance and see what I was covered for. She shot me another email, and we set a date with Dr. Kim.
Showed up 15 minutes before my initial eye exam, filled out paper work which literally only took less than 5 min. Was instantly seen by Dr. Kim. EXCELLENT OPTOMETRIST! She really knows her stuff. My eye appointment lasted no longer than 45 min (so in and out) exactly what Lillian told me via email.
After my exam, I was looking into glasses. I thought i didn’t have time to look around, BUT the young lady that helped me asked what I was looking for. (which is a good thing to know, style, color, price range, etc…). She pulled out 3 frames in less than 15 minutes. BAM! I purchased new glasses. Quick, easy and convenient.
Within 7 – 10 business days I received a phone call at work, my new glasses were ready to be picked up. Got fitted, and walked back to work a happy camper.
STAFF: EXCELLENT, Knowledgeable, Friendly and Inviting.
You will def see me again. GREAT JOB GOLDEN GATE OPTOMETRY!

I just went to Dr. Lillian Shen today for the first time and had a wonderful experience!
I’ve been visiting the eye doctor since a young age to due to some bad vision genes (thanks Dad) and so I’ve seen many different doctors but had not found on in SF yet. Today, I needed to make a last minute appointment for some eye redness and the staff was very helpful, scheduling me in for that morning.
Dr. Shen was extremely kind and friendly. What I loved the most was how informative she was about different eye care and options to treat the symptoms I was experiencing. I could tell that she really cared about me feeling better and eagerly gave me her card with cellphone number, in case I needed a perscription over the weekend.
I would definitely reccomend Golden Gate Optometry.

I Love Golden Gate Optometry!!! :D
I was nervous about going to the optometrist a little, but Dr. Shen made me feel COMPLETELY comfortable and at ease.
As everyone mentions, she’s very informative and walks you through every procedure, so there are no surprises and you receive the gentlest treatment you could ask for.
When I first emailed the office to make the appointment, it was actually Dr. Shen who emailed me personally and told me about my insurance options/​coverage! I thought maybe they were low staffed, and that’s why she was responding to my email rather than a random office minion, but it’s only because she is a very personal, helpful Dr! (When I actually arrived at the office, there were plenty of people running around working.
The people in this office are very nice, very professional, treat you like a friend, not a patient. To top it off, I fell in LOVE with these very chic, designer frames at the office– more expensive than what I actually needed (I’ll only be wearing my frames for driving) — and they actually discouraged me from buying them! I realized later that they were right and the money would only be worth the investment if I was to wear these frames all the time. The woman helping me was honest about what looked good on my face (in the nicest way) and helped me choose the best frames to fit my face.
I would HIGHLY recommend this office. You won’t be disappointed!
Dr. Shen, I’ll be back! :)

by far, the friendliest staff and best eye care services i’ve ever experienced!
i have had glasses since middle school but i’ve always hated wearing them. (i was one of those people who put them on for driving only =x). i discovered with the help of their friendly (and knowledgeable!) staff the perfect frame that’s not only my best prescription yet but also fits my face and helps put together my outfits on those days where i just feel blah. i actually wear my glasses every day now and have the raccoon eye-​tan lines to prove it.
they also have the BEST frame selection i’ve ever seen! the assistants and optician were really helpful and selected a variety of frames for me that suited my face shape, simple personality, and prescription. i had so much trouble deciding which frame to get in the end ’cause i wanted so many. they were patient and genuinely sweet. i felt like they weren’t trying to put me into the most expensive frame or lens material to work my wallet. they explained and recommended options to help me get the most out of my glasses.
also and probably most importantly, it was the most thorough eye exam i’ve ever had. no cutting corners here. Dr. Shen was professional yet friendly and fun. all of the doctors here are grads of the UCB optometry school, extremely smart, and amazing care providers.
i want to bring all my friends and family here!

Just got back from my first visit.
20 — 15 vision :) YEA!!!
REALLY color blind :(BOOOOOO!!!
I can barely see the screen to write this as my pupils are still dilated.
They were great! I was in and out of there within a half hour. Very thorough, very clean, very friendly, very efficient, very professional. You can tell that everyone who works there feels like they are part of a family.
I would highly recommend them to anyone.

I’ve been going to this office for as long as I can remember. Alway friendly service, clear on the insurance/​payment situations, informative on what is/​needs to be done, and prompt on the appointments.
How much more can you ask for from a health care provider these days?

I’ve been going to Dr. Lillian Shen for about 6 or 7 years. And I’ve been an optically challenged person my whole life. I have to say that she’s one of the friendliest and comprehensive eye doctors. They found more stuff wrong with my eyes (which I wish wasn’t true!) but had recommendations on how to improve my eye issues.
Very thorough, very friendly.
However, they have a limited glasses selection, but they did help me find a nosepad installer for my fancy glasses. Yes, nosepad installer.