Visions Northwest

I looked for the closest eye shop location to my work and gym. Saw this place across the street and popped in because my old glasses needed to be replaced about 4 years ago. The staff were great, they let me look around a bit before asking me questions and before I knew it I was asking way more than I ordinarily would. Rachel made me feel that comfortable. I quickly selected a pair of frames and they were delivered within a week of purchase.
It’s doubtful I’ll be getting a new pair of frames within the next 5 years, but I’d recommend this place to family and friends without missing a beat.
Great selection for a small shop, too!

This was by far the best experience I have had from the eye exam, follow-​up for the best contact lenses and eye glasses. It took three trial pairs of contacts before we determined the ones that worked best for my multi-​vision needs. Rachel was absolutely amazing at helping me find frames for my glasses. She has a keen eye for what works best with my face shape and was very pleasant to work with. I had to leave town before my glasses came in and Rachel was kind enough to mail them to me all the way in Texas!
I would definitely recommend Visions Northwest to anyone looking for quality service and great eye wear selection.

I’m writing an update and adding a star to my original review in response to Dr. Bird’s follow-​up, which I appreciate.
Dr. Bird, the drops being one of your standard procedures, I can understand forgetting that others might not be familiar with them or periodically neglecting to forewarn someone about the potential resultant sting. However, it was an alarming experience to have something put in my eye that was so painful. I had no idea that might happen, so I wasn’t prepared. I strongly urge you to always let people know the drops might sting, regardless of what standard practice might be among other providers. (And, honestly, I experienced more than just a mild sting; the drops were painful. And while the pain may have been short-​lived, it was a scary experience because, again, I wasn’t expecting it.)
I appreciate that you followed up with me and spoke with the person in question. I think it says a lot that you would make that effort, so I thank you.

I come in pretty frequently to get my glasses frames adjusted, and the staff are always welcoming. This is notable because I’m asking them for help that takes their time and energy, but doesn’t generate any additional revenue. When I bought my frames there, the opticians generously invited me to come back whenever I needed adjustment – which is often because of how my thick lenses gradually push out the curve of my frames, and how my wide noggin quickly pushes out the temples. Visions Northwest’s hospitable and personal help is why I always recommend this shop to friends.
In particular, Rachel has been working on my glasses lately and is exceedingly patient. I’m always sheepish returning a mere week later, but she’s consistently friendly and attentive as I explain the latest way my glasses are cattywampus. (For the record, she warned me that the plastic prodesign frames I chose would likely warp easily because of my thick lenses – and I bought them anyway.)
Which leads me to how I came to choose the lenses. I also appreciate Dena, who was an absolute pro in hearing my preferences in frames and guiding me through the many, many choices. I learned about the Danish brand prodesign through Dena: it’s the only plastic lens I’ve encountered that also has full nose pads, like what are found on metal frames. Despite the frequent adjustments they require, I really enjoy my prodesign frames and bought a second pair just for color & design variety.
I used to a be a person who would buy my frames one place (SEE used to be my brand, until they got a little too wild for my taste) and see a favored optometrist somewhere else. I only switched doctors to Visions Northwest because of the convenient location, close to my office. It’s a relief to find that I can get quality eye care AND excellent frames in the same place. Dr. Bird listens well, explains each process, and seems to be really invested in making sure my eyes are healthy.
Finally, even the desk staff are always wonderful. Holly, before, and now Amanda have both been absolutely organized and efficient, while still being gracious and calm.
Great shop on all accounts!

There is about 10 eyeglass stores in a four block radius. I went to all of them. This was the ninth one, and the first one that gave genuine service. The others were busy dusting or looking at the internet… and mumble hi to me. This one however was awesome! She asked questions and helped me look at several different pairs of glasses. It was a bit dark in the shop and she said yes and suggested I come back during the day if I wanted to see the glasses on me in natural light. I came ina few days later and without me asking she pulled out the glasses I like the best, she remembered me and that is always a plus. I fell in love with a Gold and Wood $ 900 pair of the glasses but they just didn’t look good on me, and I appreciated her honesty. I got a great looking pair of glasses for a third of the price. And got some new sunglasses with the money I saved :) :)

I thought Visions Northwest was a great place. Very clean and warm when you walk in. The receptionist was very friendly and quick to help. I know this is silly, but I really enjoyed their magazine selection. It helps when you have to wait a few minutes to have interesting reading material and they have a wide selection. The Dr. was very nice and thorough. One of my eye’s is getting worse and he offered a corrective approach to my contact lenses and I think it will help improve my long term vision. Overall, I would recommend this place. It is also great that they are located 2 blocks from where I work.

Very convenient, easy to make appointments, Dr. Bird is very thorough! Friendly staff and great with explaining insurance. Very happy to have found them.

This was my first eye doctor when I came to Seattle and had been recommended by my insurance. I was very disappointed by Dr. Bird. His personality is flat and he is very awkward. There’s no joking with him, no getting him to smile. And I can live with that. However, it was my first time using contacts. I told him I needed help and wanted to be taught how to put them in (as if this wouldn’t be an obvious thing for him to do anyway). He was literally going to let me walk out of the office without giving any real advice! He shied away and claimed his secretary would help me because she was «better with that stuff.» Are you kidding me? My contacts were a horrible fit to top it off, but with me being new to all of this, I trusted him and figured this must just be how contacts are sometimes.
After talking to friends with contacts I realized no one had these «problems» such as contacts blurring without notice off and on to the point where you just can’t see most of the time. I contacted him about this, he rechecked and basically said there was nothing to be done.
I went to another eye doctor the next time I needed contacts (Dr. James Mccrum of eyeballs Seattle) and told him my problems. He set me up with a better brand for my eyes and worked with me until we got it right. He was very professional and could actually carry on a conversation without looking like he wanted to run out of the office! He also told me he had «lessons» for new contact wearers before they go home and also told me there was a top and bottom to my contact! I had no idea and it helped a lot with putting it in and initial blurriness. Wish I would have gone to him from the start and saved myself a year of agony with crappy contacts.

I was introduced to Visions NW by a co-​worker that was impressed by their service. I had an eye exam and contact lens fitting done by Dr. Bird and was very impressed by his manner and thoroughness. I have very sensitive eyes due to some eye rx I use, and he gave me some excellent tips which have helped tremendously. I brought in my own frames to be fitted with lenses with no problems. Everyone I’ve dealt with has been great.

This is a great optometry office. Dr. Bird and his staff are always friendly. When I didn’t have insurance eye exams were reasonably price, and now that I do they make it easy and painless.
They have a pretty good selection of glasses in store and they can order any frame you want as long as it’s within the brands they carry.

The eye exam went smoothly and the optometrist was nice enough. When it came to getting the glasses, it’s been a disaster. First I get a call telling me the glasses would be late 7 – 10 business days. This is after already waiting 10 business days. When I asked if this was excessive the woman on the phone got defensive and, even though I said nothing wrong nor raised my voice, rude when I asked if that’s how they perform customer service. When the glasses finally came I hated the Transition lenses. That’s not their fault, I just don’t like them so I asked them to swap them out which they did. The same woman that was rude on the phone was the one that swapped out the lenses. This was evening. I work days, and get out often after dark. Today, Saturday and my day off, I went out for the first time in daylight since earlier this week to discover the woman had only swapped out one lens. I have one regular lens and one transition lens. I will NEVER go here again except on Monday when I will have to take time out from work and go to the store in person since they are closed on Saturdays. Do yourself a favor and go to Blink Optical in the Polyclinic or Broadway Vision instead.

I walked in, thinking I had scratched my eye. Dr. Bird saw me immediately, verified my insurance and made me feel at ease. I was so impressed that I’m going to start coming here for my regular eye exams… etc.

I have been seeing Dr. Bird for a long time. He is great. I like doctor’s that keep it simple and don’t try to sell me anything. They also have a pretty nice collection of prescription frames. They take all major insurance (s) and process everything quickly.

I have the best optometrist in town! I’ve been going here for about six years and four pairs of glasses (I like to buy a really nice pair roughly every year, since I wear them daily and think nothing dates a lady of a certain age like out-​of-​fashion eyewear). I wouldn’t dream of going anywhere else.
Dr Bird and his staff are incredibly nice and very patient with my both my somewhat complex prescription and with the lengthy process of picking out the next frames. And then there’s that year they unflappably dealt with me choosing a pair of frames they don’t actually offer — the Judith Lieber salesman happened to be in the store that day and I lost my damn mind (whaaaat? they were sparkly!). The selection they *do* carry is lovely — Fendi, Kio Yamato, Wood and Gold, OGI, Anna Sui, Boucheron, to name but a few.
Of course, it’s the equipment and the quality of care that really matter, and this clinic is *always* improving, upgrading, and adding new techniques and features. The quality of care here is exacting; my glasses are unfailingly perfect upon receipt, and the transition from regular glasses to progressive lenses went without a hitch. (And now let’s agree not to tell anyone else I’m wearing progressives; so far nobody’s guessed. Shh.) If great glasses are a priority for you, this is the place.

On a customer service level alone these guys deserve a ⁵⁄₅. I had bought a pair of glasses and the lenses just didnt work right. I took them in over the period of two months and they finally got them to where the glasses didn’t give me a headache. Even know when dr. bird rechecked my eyes and came up with the same RX he kept working at it till we found what would make the glasses work for me. I was a pain, i know i was, but they worked with me till the glasses were correct.
On top of that they also have a really nice selection of glasses– something for everyone.
No complaints here, top notch kind of place.
I will be back.

Really nice business. i’m a currently serving Peace Corps Volunteer and living in the tropics, my sunglasses were about to give up the ghost. Called up Visions NW and requested to have my prescription and pupil distance emailed to me and they obliged the next day. Friendly and helpful service.

Have been scouring Seattle clinics for frame selection, this shop stocks some of the best — all top designers from mass couture to lesser-​known, hard-​to-​find labels including Persol, Jai Kuo, Fendi, Gucci, D&G, o.g.i. Professional staff with great alacrity. Accepts VSP.

Be sure you know what «progressive lenses» are all about beforehand if you are interested in those. They didn’t tell me ahead of time that the area of focus could be very narrow (have to be looking almost directly at the thing you want in focus and there is something of an hourglass shape involved, be informed). I’m evidently what they call a «non-​adapt», others can like them better. To their credit, they are replacing them with a normal set of glasses though it took some whining. I wasn’t the easiest customer yet they were polite and professional throughout. Pretty good.