Union Square Optical

Have been a customer for 5 years now. Started bumpy but service has improved vastly. One of the few places that can retrofit existing lenses (only if recent presciption). still slightly overpriced but well worth it.

Doctor Lou and Mark the manager were both really terrific… I love the selection of eyewear they carry as well as the speed of the service. I think it only took 30 minutes for the exam and fitting of new glasses. I don’t usually write reviews, but I felt they were both exceptionally professional and courteous in a genuine way that was refreshing and needed acknowledgement. I’ll definitely be back!

Dr. Sarantakos is the best. I’m getting contacts for the first time and i have had sooo many issues between dry eyes and scratching my cornea I’ve probably seen him at least 8 times in the past two months. He’s so patient and thorough every single time. I feel well cared for both by him and his staff. Getting contacts for the first time has been an ordeal (for me personally) but he’s definitely worked to make it as painless as possible.

I will never go back to this place. I had a 9:15 AM appointment. The technician did not see me until 9:50. Then I had to wait another forty minutes to see the eye doctor. I left the office at 11 AM. All in all, a nearly two hour visit in which I saw the doctor for a total of five minutes. Also, the doctor’s office smelled badly. It feels a bit like a factory.

By far the coldest reception i’ve gotten going into a store. The staff were extremely prejudice treating my husband and myself as though we weren’t good enough or rather; couldn’t afford their high end prices. My husband was told to step back and not allowed to go near the sunglasses area since this wasn’t behind a glass cabinet and the shop assistant insisted she finish with me before allowing for him to see the sunglasses from up close.
The pair of frames I selected was crooked. They refused to order me another piece so I asked if they could straighten it so I could see how it would fit since I was happy to buy it but I wanted make sure it didn’t feel as though it was falling off my face as it currently did. I got a flat no and was told not unless I pay for the glasses will they do anything to the glasses to correct them.
This was enough to make us realise what a mistake it was to go there in the first place. Their loss since in the end we ended up at the opticians near University Place/​East 10^th where we ended up buying and spending a lot more than we had planned on to begin with purely because we were so very well taken care of.

They squeezed me in last minute, appointment started on time, and Dr. Harzvi was very helpful.
I received several samples of contacts to determine which one feels best, and received tips on how to keep my eyes less irritated.
Great experience over all!

They cut the glasses well

Got (very expensive) frames here, but the hinge broke right after the one-​year warranty expired. The staff was extremely unhelpful, saying that all they could do would be to give the glasses to a guy who maybe could solder them for $ 100, but they wouldn’t guarantee it and didn’t think it would work. I took the glasses to another place that fixed them for $ 50.

Staff is friendly. Eye doctor is okay. Not very expansive, not too engaged. Here’s the reason for the rating. My last visit, my second, I decided I wanted to switch to a different type of contacts, daily. They said that would be a $ 49 «fitting fee». It wasn’t really clear what that entailed. I think it’s just a way for them to charge their patients more money. I asked the doctor what the charge was for. «Oh, um, just to see if the new contacts fit your eyes comfortably.» What she did to determine that was NOT worth $ 49.
That got me suspicious, so I checked the prices of the contacts I ordered through them. Holy moley! They are so overpriced! Do not go here. You can definitely find a better doctor and less greedy place than here. If they’re out to gouge their patients for money as much as it seems they are then their priority is not your health.

Why does this place have such low reviews?
I have been going here for years, and have seen the same, kind people They are always there to help you, and give you honest opinions! The doctor on site is very kind and helpful as well.
Trust me, I have been here so many times, I KNOW this place deserves a 5 star rating.

I’ve been a customer of Union Square Optical for several years and I’ve always had a good experience. I’ve had my eyes examined here several times and the doctor was always knowledgable and friendly. The staff is also very helpful and friendly. I also order my once daily contacts from here and have never had an issue. If I ever run out of my daily lenses before my order comes in, they always give me a couple of spare contact lenses, which has saved me a few times!
The location is also very convenient.

I had to double check that I had the right place when I saw the current 2 ½ star rating.
My experience with Union Square Optical has been pretty positive. Sucks that so many seem to have issues with it for various reasons.
Staff is ultra helpful and enthusiastic.
Frame choices are great – have a little bit of everything from trendy to classic.
Eye exam seemed thorough.
I can’t say many bad things. I’ve purchased two pairs of glasses here in the past few years and it’s always been pretty smooth for me.

The eye appointment is good — but don’t buy your contacts from here. Buy them from 800-​contacts. They will be 20% of the cost that Union Square Optical will charge you.
One reason for the low rating. They were not open during their posted hours.
I went there to pick up my contact lens solution and they closed 30min early next weekend.

Blah

I waited 45 mins past my appointment time and then was sent to another doctor, not the one I had the appointment with. The office staff could not have been more rude, humorless and disinterested. The doctor was fine, I must say, but quite expensive.
The worst part is that they began spamming me with robo-​calls and texts to my cell phone, for months after my visit. I called to ask them to stop and I got another dose of rudeness from the office staff.
This business is the descendent of a great eye clinic at Beth Israel Hospital. Unfortunately this place bears no resemblance to its former incarnation.
If ever a business deserved zero or negative stars, for me this would be the place!

I’ve always had a great experience with Union Square Optical and have been getting my eyes tested here for 4 years.
The only downside was they were little to no help suggesting a doctor when an issue arose that couldn’t be taken care of in their office.

I got a standard eye exam and took the prescription to Warby Parker, here is why.
1. I asked for water and was told no. How weird is that? I had to leave to get water and come back. Not much for customer service.
2. The energy of the place was so negative. The staff was really quiet and depressing. No one was interested in showing me the glasses. I was ready to pick a pair and use my insurance to cover it yet the lack of enthusiasm or interest was making me uncomfortable. You will note this same trend in other reviews btw.
3. The selection was limited and very expensive. The frames were a bit dated and there were not many pairs under $ 300 dollars.
The locations are convenient, unfortunately not the most friendly place or helpful.

I’m so surprised that Union Square Optical has such a low Unilocal star rating! I’ve been nothing but pleased with my experience here.
Fast and easy to book an appointment, which itself was fast and easy. Reordering contacts has been so effortless, too. Just a matter of calling and speaking to one of the helpful staff members for a grand total of 20 seconds. (Bonus: ran out of contacts before my reorder came through once. The sales associate there was kind enough to hook me up with a few days of my dailies brand to hold me over. THAT is some four-​eyes serendipity.)
I’ve needed to get my prescription for lenses and contacts on separate occasions. Both times, staff have been more than happy to oblige and I’ve received the prescription in an email not 5 minutes after getting off the phone. Can’t get any more convenient than that.

Good selection of frames… all overpriced! Two of the salesmen, one apathetic towards helping me, and the other a used car salesman type who was pushy. I shopped around different stores and the rest were cheaper for same frames that USO sells.
Also, I had an eye exam here and the doctor seemed nice, until she told me she doesn’t have time to dilate my eyes and that I need to return (and pay an extra $ 70!). Why should I pay extra just because you can’t schedule your patients in a timely manner? No, i won’t be returning. Ever!

Don’t take my insurance? Oh, well no sale.
It’s a shame b/​c you are more convenient to my home & had a decent selection of merchandise.