Columbus Eyeworks

Absolutely the best. Dr. Koch is super knowledgable and ready and willing to answer any questions you may have. He and his staff are all super friendly, and they offer a great selection of frames. It’s in the Short North, but they have a parking lot! Couldn’t recommend this place any more.

I could have sworn I had written a review about Columbus Eyeworks before! I love this place! The doctors are great and the staff is so helpful when you are picking out new glasses. I have been going here for at least 6 or 7 years now and have never had a negative experience.
Dr. Koch is great, Dr. Hickey is great. The exams are fast and efficient, however they never make you feel like just another set of eyes, they take the time to talk to you if you are having any problems and answer any questions you have.
The selection of eye wear is fantastic. I’ve gotten some great eyeglasses there over the years. It is pricey, but very worth it. I usually only buy new glasses because I want them, not because I need a replacement pair. That staff is really helpful at finding the perfect set of glasses for you. I took the husband there recently and he didn’t like much of what I picked out, but when we started working with one of the staff, he had a new pair picked out in no time! I picked out a new pair the same day and I ended up trying on a lot of pairs I wouldn’t normally have tried on and it was a hard decision which was the favorite!
It is tucked away in the Short North, and it’s a hike for me to get to from the suburbs now, but I would not dream of going anywhere else.

You need an eye doctor? Stop looking right now.
I’ve been going to Columbus Eyeworks for years and years, and I would never fathom going anywhere else. I have terrible eyesight. I started wearing glasses when I was 5 and contacts when I was 9. Want to know just how poorly I see? –10.5 in the right eye, –12 in the left.
I’m not telling you my prescription so you can order me some new lenses (but, heyyyy); I’m telling you so you understand that I’m not an easy patient. I’ve had optometrists try to tell me ²⁰⁄₄₀ was as good as I could see. Another one said that once your vision gets over –10, you’re basically just guessing with the prescription.
Then one day I walked in Columbus Eyeworks, and Dr. Koch said he’d get me to ²⁰⁄₂₀. And he did. Since that day, I’ve had nothing short of superior service here. The other doctor, Dr. Hickey, has since become my regular optometrist, and he is spectacular too. He’s warm, caring, funny, and one hell of a doctor. I’ve seen him with every weird eye issue or eye infection you could imagine, and he never fails me.
The rest of the staff is also wonderful! From making appointments, to checking insurance, to picking out frames, they make it simple, easy, and dare I say – fun? Yeah, I’ll say it: they make a trip to the eye doctor fun!
The interior is beautiful and modern, and everyone is very casual and friendly. If you’re looking for parking, there are usually meters available on the street, and there’s a free lot behind the office too.
One last thing… it’s not cheap. But when it comes to my vision, I’m not looking for a discount. If price is your number one goal, don’t come here. But if you’re looking for the very best eyecare experience in the city, then Columbus Eyeworks is for you.

From all of the awesome reviews I thought this place was going to be wonderful however it was not. The doctor was friendly and nice so kudos there. Buuuut the assistant that helped me out was very standoffish. I had a question about billing which she seemed to become exasperated about and started being rude. I also got lost on the way there thanks to my GPS and the staff was absolutely no help whatsoever when I called to ask them if they could maybe give me some directions. They just sat silently on the phone as I tried to find me way.

The best! Dr. Koch saw me last minute when I was visiting on boston. He was awesome, super friendly and patient and took the time to really examine me and make sure I understood what was going on!
Left wishing I was from around here so I could come here for my regular eye appointments!
His staff was also super professional and friendly, and the office was very clean as well! Thanks:)

There’s really nothing I can give but praise to this place. I haven’t had my eyes checked in years, which is pretty bad, and I was nervous to have them looked at, but Dr. Hickey was the nicest guy ever and made me feel completely comfortable.
He gave me a pair of contacts to try out, and I really didn’t like the way they felt, and after my followup, he was able to get me some that were basically perfect based on the issues I was having with the first ones. Clearly, they know what they’re doing here.
Everyone working there was very nice and helpful as well. I don’t think the prices were too steep. They do have a lot of name brand glasses that could cost you a lot, but I was able to find a pretty cheap pair through them. I don’t use my glasses much, so there was really no point in spending much on it.
They have pretty awesome hours for anyone working during the day. They’re open until 7 pm during the week and 5 pm on Saturdays. Also, this office is a block from the Short North on Hubbard St., so you might be thinking it’s impossible to find a spot, but they have a huge private parking lot out back. I never had an issue getting in and out every time I went.
Overall, I’d highly recommend going here if you live anywhere near the area.

Excellent service from start to finish!
I update my eyeglasses every year. I have to move around so finding a good eyeglass place is always a top priority when I get into a new city. The website for Columbus Eyeworks was very helpful, I was able to see they had some nice styles and they carried my type of contact lens (I wear gas perms, not everyone fits them).
Once in the shop I was able to wander around their expansive displays. They carry a variety of reasonable styles (the ones I picked out were from $ 150-​$ 300 a frame). Their sales staff was very helpful. Dr. Koch was very professional and friendly. He took the time to chat with me about my contact lens care, how I wore them, what type of glasses I preferred, etc.
Overall, I was very pleased with the experience. If it costs a lot of $$, well, yes, it’s on your face. It’s the first thing people see. I for one want to love my glasses and get a quality product. Columbus Eyeworks definitely provided that.
BTW, parking is in the back, it’s not too hard to get to, and it’s within a short walk of all the neat shops in the short north.

This was my 1^st experience looking for glasses– bc they had great reviews on Unilocal!,I decided to go here first. I was not disappointed.
Carla came right up to me to offer help without being pushy. She let me take my time and checked in once or twice to make sure I didn’t need anything. I felt like I was shopping w a friend. Great service!
Large selection. I found a great pair w/​prescription for $ 225. I definitely recommend checking this place out.

It had been about six years since my last visit to an optometrist, so after landing my cushy (…) new job at OSU, I decided I ought to take advantage of the benefits of health insurance and get an eye exam and some new glasses. I’d bookmarked Columbus Eyeworks after reading Bryant’s rave review, and since it’s conveniently just down the street, called them up to book an appointment. They were easily able to get me in the next week.
The office is tucked away off High Street behind Hubbard Grille, and has an open, bright, modern design. The eye exam went quickly and seemed a lot shorter than the ones I’m used to (though that may just be because time goes so much slower when you’re a kid [granted, I wasn’t actually a kid six years ago]). The dilation with eyedrops was pretty trippy though, and made me glad that I was walking home, not driving. It also made picking out new glasses a bit challenging!
It’s always been tricky for me to find glasses that work, since I have a small face and tiny nose; big bold frames are just overwhelming. The last pair of glasses I got were actually for children. These folks were great about helping me find frames that worked for me, and though the frame I eventually selected wasn’t one that I would have tried out myself, I ended up really liking their suggestion!
If I hadn’t been insured, the cost of the visit and one pair of glasses would have been over $ 800, so it’s definitely pricey (though isn’t everything related to health care these days?).

Excellent eye care and a very courteous staff.

I was a little cautious when I saw the $$$$ other reviewers had warned about, but honestly, glasses aren’t cheap! I got a pair here for 225 $ (pretty standard) and I got crizal lenses for another 113 $~ish. I mean come on, its to be expected, especially if you get a quality pair of glasses.
Dr. Hicky was the best, very cool and explained what was going on with my eyes, rather than just writing a prescription. He took his time and I felt comfortable knowing that I had a thorough eye exam, vs previous doctors who have rushed me through at different clinics.
The staff was great! They aren’t uptight scrub-​wearing snobs, very friendly and very helpful. The lady that helped me pick out my frames found the perfect pair on the second try! (Maybe I’m just easy to please?)
BONUS: They don’t do the air puff test, for glaucoma. Instead they do a blue light test which is way less startling and way less nerve wracking.
Will definitely return here for my yearly exam.

It’s nice to be able to get your eyewear from an independent retailer. Much like my dentist down the street, everything here is pretty state of the art, which is another plus. The eye doctor was friendly and chatty, and made the exams pleasant. The real highlight though was the service I received from the… uh, associates? Sales staff? Assistants? I hadn’t had my eyes checked out or purchased glasses in six years so I kinda had no idea what I was doing or looking for. A gal named Alyssa (no clue if I’m spelling that right) spent considerable time advising me and helping me try on various frames.
I narrowed it down to two pairs that I couldn’t choose between. Turning to friends didn’t help much either. It was a toss up! One pair was definitely a bit flashier than the other, and I ended up going with the safe bet when I determined I couldn’t afford both (I almost did it!). I think I made a good decision because they look pretty darn good if I may say so.
Last weekend, a couple of my friends had a house warming party for their new place in Weinland Park. I walk through the door and head for the kitchen. Standing there is Alyssa, who says «hey!» And I’m like «hey! We know the same people apparently.» What a small cowtown we live in. Then, I shit you not, a short while later some other guy I haven’t met yet comes up and is like «hey! You sold me my glasses a few years back!» And Alyssa says «You got such and such frame.» Craziness.
They will refill your cleaner solution for life, so they said, and will also make lifetime adjustments and stuff to the frames. I’m about to go in a few hours to get mine tightened up a bit, in fact.

Almost never a wait, a witty DR and a staff that can crack a few jokes. Oh and I can see again sooo automatic 5 stars!

Their service is very nice.

I’m impressed. I’ve seen the same ophthalmologist back in Rochester for 20-​ish years (I had really poor eyesight as a kid, long story), so I was skeptical about a) seeing an optometrist and b) going anywhere that didn’t include my former doctor.
But I digress. I had to order new contacts, and I was definitely up for a new prescription. I did some looking online (and on Unilocal) and found Columbus Eyeworks. Located right near Hubbard Grille in the Short North, it’s conveniently located *and* they have Saturday hours. Hmm. That’s a big win.
I have to say that the staff and doctors were very friendly and thorough. I ended up ordering contacts, which arrived at my apartment barely a week after ordering, and I feel confident that this prescription is right for me.

Despite not having an appointment and their a/​c not working, they got me in right away because I was having a vision problem. The doctor is super nice, and explained everything that was going on. I was excited when someone asked me for an eye doctor recommendation the following day.

I love this place.
The doctors are friendly, professional, and clearly passionate about everything dealing with vision care.
I really enjoy the selection of glasses this place provides. I got a pretty rockin’ pair of glasses back in 2007 and I’m about to get a pretty rockin’ pair of prescription sunglasses in a week or two once they’re ready. Exciting stuff.
I definitely recommend Columbus Eyeworks.

I was looking for an eye doctor after not being to one for 5 – 6 years an djust getting vision insurance.
Eyeworks is within walking distance of me, everyone was very friendly.
Dr Koch was very thorough and extremely nice and friendly and even made my appointment to the corneal specialist for me while I waited.
Definitely recommend!

After enjoying a phenomenal and extremely moving performance of «Blackbird» by CATCO down at the Riffe Center, the four of us young professionals decided that the most intelligent way to restore our spirits on a beautiful Sunday was to have some drinks and snacks around the Short North.
Our little tour began with cocktails at Mojoe on the Cap, (a stop at Europia for some St. Germain,) two bottles of wine and small plates at Marcella’s, martinis and mojitos at Black Olive, followed by Miller High Lifes at Mike’s Grill and a prompt pass out upon a bare bed in our cozy hideaway apartment. Now, at some point during the night, this young (and practically blind) professional had to use the loo and upon returning to bed, fell belly first, over the laundry basket (laundry day, hence the unmade bed), face first into the night stand, smashed a thigh into the corner of the dresser, and finally came to rest on eyeballs & forehead, legs askew, with my glasses embedded in the vintage hardwood floor.
Fast forward to two days later, I wasn’t so much pissed about the purple and green bruise along my right side, more so that my only pair of spectacles were severely bent out of shape to be totally unwearable. And hence the five stars for Columbus Eyeworks — they completely restored and tuned my glasses to perfect working order, for a big fat sum of zero dollars. They have terrific service, an unparalleled selection of beautiful frames from every major eyewear maker, and are ridiculously skilled at repairs. I could not be more relieved or thankful for having such a great business just down the street. Should I happen to take another intelligently inspired spill and wreck my frames (lawdy forbid), this is where I’m coming to replace them.