Arlington Optical

I have not had an eye exam in two years, I work on a computer for 8 hours at work, and I take on-​line classes! I think I was due. The Arena District location is very convenient for me since I work downtown. Dr. Humphrey is amazing! Really nice and patient (especially with my first go around with contacts, could not get those suckers out!). And Deb was a sweetheart and really funny. She helped me pick out some nice glasses. I can’t wait to go back and I hope next time I can conquer those contacts!

I’m addicted to quality stylish eyewear and honestly cannot tell you how many pairs of glasses I own (let’s just say I have a pair for every designer outfit). While others hang out at museums and cafés when they travel, I end up at optical boutiques and hang out with cool opticians. For me, glasses are a part of your face so I am very particular about the type of frame I will wear. In Columbus, only Arlington Optical carries one of my favorite French designers, Jean-​François Rey (also under the Boz label). Besides a collection that rivals my favorite stores in France and Quebec, I always get impeccable service from the owners Tim and Mary as well as their optician, Linn. I go to their Eye Center location on Neil because many of my doctors are there. Tim has managed to get frames for me that are no longer available anywhere b/​c he goes the extra mile (had no idea one could put out an APB for frames). Arlington Optical has an in-​house lab and they were the only ones I would trust to restore a pair of rare vintage Alain Miklis for me. Tim is the most knowledgeable optician I have worked with here in Columbus. He also works directly with British couture designer Tom Davies to custom design frames for clients. With my Asian features, I have never been able to wear frames without nose pads until now. Tim recently designed my dream glasses for me – custom pink cat eyes with rhinestones WITHOUT nose pads (see photos)! Not a day goes by that I do no get compliments on these frames from strangers. Tim will soon work on a new sunglass design for me to help me honor my beloved late dog’s memory. As for pricing, no, they are not cheap but good quality designer eye wear never is (they also carry other labels that are not as expensive). I can say though that what they charge is not any more expensive than what I pay in Quebec or in France for my particular frames. I have a lot of eye issues and am frequently at the Eye Center for testing. The fact that I can also pop in Arlington Optical to look at cool frames or just to say hi whenever I have a doctor’s appointment has made all my medical visits there fun! I would give this place 10 stars if I could!

Can’t believe anyone would post a review that wasn’t 5 stars… Tim, Mary and the staff at both locations provide OUTSTANDING customer service! I have been buying my eyewear from Arlington Optical for 20 years and would never think of going anywhere else.

Some of the worst customer service I have EVER received came from this place! They are way pricey, and any help you receive is very grudgingly given, even from the receptionist.
I’ve always frequented my local eye place up in Cleveland, and had been putting off getting contacts and glasses for a couple years, since moving here to Columbus. Finally, I decided it was time, and found Arlington Optical through my insurance provider. When I called A.O. up, I was greeted by a kind receptionist, and was pleasantly surprised when I was able to get in that day for an exam.
What followed was not pleasant. I waited a ridiculously long time for the optometrist to see me (I later found out it was because she had been on the phone with my insurance company trying to get them to cover the exam, to no avail, which was my first sign that I should have opted to go elsewhere). She was nice enough, and it only took about 15 minutes to get the exam over with. I already was dead-​set on sticking with my current brand of contacts, so all that was left to do was pick out frames.
HERE COMES THE BAD PART. When I was first sitting in the waiting room, I had seen an elderly woman drop over a grand on lenses and whatnot, and the woman helping her was super nice and sweet. I did not get this woman to help me. Who I got was some sour-​faced, bitchy woman in her 40s who seemed to be hell-​bent on just getting me out of there as soon as possible. When we sat down, I told her I’ve always wanted to find a pair of cat-​eye glasses, and she showed me a couple frames that SORT of resembled what I was looking for, but she wasn’t really that helpful. Not any additional suggestions, barely showed me what was in the cases.
Finally, I settled on some Fendi frames, feeling very pressured to just pick something and leave (even though I was the only customer in there at the time, and hadn’t been there more than 25 minutes at this point), then saw some Paul Frank frames I absolutely fell in love with. The woman had a very put-​out air when I changed my mind as she was typing in my order for the prior frames. Is it not her job to make sure I’m completely satisfied with my choice?
As I was leaving, the receptionist tried to feed me some b.s. about how she wasn’t able to submit a refund claim to my mom’s insurance company, because SHE couldn’t find my information on her computer, although the insurance company already verified I was in the system. Worry not, I solved that real quick when I came in to pick up my frames and contacts, and she was ALL smiles and acting apologetic when I started to probe and question her about why she was refusing to do her job. It’s not my job to submit the claim to insurance.
Also, as a side note, the first woman I saw helping the old lady when I was sitting in the waiting room the first time helped me with my glasses when I came in to pick them up. She was the ONLY thing that made this place halfway decent, and she made the customer service experience great on my way out.
Otherwise, I will NOT be recommending this place to my friends, family, or even my enemies. My money is just as good as anyone else’s, and they still treated me like some second-​rate citizen!