Kaiser Permanente Vision Essentials Pasadena

I got the worst pair of glasses at this Center that I’ve had in decades.
The optometrist who did the exam seemed very good, and the people were friendly. The location is convenient for me.
However, my progressive lenses are giving me a lot of eye strain, particularly when reading. I’ve had better progressive lens experience with another vendor, and I will be going back to them right away.
I have Kaiser insurance and hoped that this would reduce my cost. The eye exam was covered, but the lenses were not, and they were over $ 300, not including frames. So this was not really a bargain for me.
I have had great experiences with Kaiser as a provider of medical services, but I have no plans to return to this establishment for vision care.

Unilocal Challenge 2016: 26÷100− My mother gets her vision appointments and glasses here. It is WAY more convenient than going to the colossal Kaiser Sunset location. Dr. Wang, in particular, was amazingly patient with my elderly mom who wouldn’t answer those «is it better like this or better like this» questions.
The eyeglass ordering is super easy and the staff is great. We ordered new lenses for mom’s existing frames and, although quoted for a two-​week turnaround, they arrived in 5 working days– awesome service! I had asked that they notify me when the glasses were ready, and this too went off without a hitch.
The technician was extremely patient and kind when we picked up the glasses. The office is clean and has restrooms. They have a large selection of generic and designer glasses. A fantastic alternative to the congested Sunset location.

They Suck Period!
It takes longer than 2 weeks for glassses to get ready, and no one will give you a straight answer as to why it is taking this long!

It takes a lot for me to write a bad review, but wow. WORST customer service when it comes to ordering contacts. Nobody ever answers the phone in the contact lens department, so I leave a voicemail. Several voicemails. And NEVER get a call back. This happens every single time. And they never call when my contacts are ready for pick up. The front desk told me the man who does the contacts works alone and is often sick which is why they are always so behind. So hire more people or something please.

Awful experience. I am a new kaiser member and had my $ 0 copay eye exam not too long ago. I am very aware about my eye sight and i just got my glasses delivered to me w the prescription i had received from my new optometrist. However, it was the wrong prescription so i requested a follow up appointment and kaiser wanted to charge me $ 30 copay for THEIR mistake! So i left and canceled my appointment to talk to a higher up. I am very upset bc it is not fair that i have to deal w the wrong prescription meanwhile i wait for a response, when i need my glasses to fulfill my job duties and the only time i am available are saturdays. Now i have to go a whole other week w a serious headache. Who knows what kind of damage that will cause to my eyes…

I been here twice and have had a pleasant experience each time. This time i again was seen by Dr. Wang, she is a very nice lady, thorough and explains the results well.
The staff at the front deak were very nice also. Clean and nice place.

I had a great experience at this optometry office. I’m not sure why there are so many bad reviews of people having a hard time to make appointments and getting wrong information at the front desk about coverage. If you don’t even know about your own health plan then you should probably do a little research online first. I made my apt on the first try and the guy even gave me quotes on contacts over the phone, what discount are available, etc.
The offices are very clean and the staff is nice, attentive, and efficient. I had Dr. Justin Chin and he was great. We chatted a bit during the exam, which took about 20 – 30 mins, normal in California because ALL optometrists are taught to make exams quick due to the high saturation of people in Cali and NY. Office rooms are clean and Dr. Chin was knowledgable and helpful with all my questions. He even went into detail about eye and contact shaping, nerve thickness, and some diseases but I asked about those things because I’m weird and like to know everything about everything.
When you order contacts they can either ship it to their store or your home, but I chose the store because sometimes the stupid ups driver leaves packages outside my apt gate for anyone to take… idiot. The lady I ordered my contacts from was really sweet and chatty and the front desk receptionist even printed me an extra receipt for the mail in rebate.
Overall, pleasantly surprised!

The pro (only one) of the Kaiser Permanente Vision Essentials in Pasadena is Dr. Karen Wang She is wonderful, extremely knowledgeable and caring. Someone you trust.
The cons are:
1.-The first pair of glasses (over $ 500.00) had the lenses ground incorrectly. Not to my prescription. Would NEVER purchase glasses from this facility.
2.-Each time I have made an appointment for a contact lens exam it has been a monumental struggle taking several days and many, many phone calls, messages, etc. to get the appointment and then many weeks wait to see the doctor.
I tried to change a contact lens exam appointment yesterday. The regular receptionist transferred me to the contact lens appointment person. Apparently there is a contact lens appointments person. The problem was (and has been a number of times) is that this person (who you cannot call directly) does not answer the phone. Sometimes there is a message, sometimes it just rings – ? I have left messages and not gotten called back. Impossible to make an appointment.
There is no ability to make appointments online – all of the rest of the Kaiser system has very sophisticated communications. The contact lens appointment center apparently does not have a communications system.
I am a huge Kaiser Permanente fan – the system, except for the vision component – is a gift to the healthcare world. and the Kaiser members Not the vision care. There really isn’t healthcare available if you can’t ever see the doctor

I’d give this place 0 stars if I could. I brought very expensive glasses here to get lenses put in and the frame came back MELTED at one corner. I also ordered lenses but they delivered the wrong prescription and the horribly obese, extremely rude guy at the contact lens department couldn’t help me with my issue. Also, they won’t be open Saturdays from now on! They’ll be open Mon-​Fri literally during the time when everyone is working and can’t make it in. Kaiser is really starting to go downhill.

Very friendly staff! Told me that the office was recently renovated and it showed! Very clean and bright inside.
Dr. Wang checked my eyes and even showed us what changes were in my vision (thank goodness it wasn’t much). It allowed me to figure out if I wanted to get new glasses made.
Parking is free as long as you’re there for less than 3 hours and you get your ticket validated. Just take a ticket, go to the right, and park where it says «Kaiser Visitors.»
Will be back next year to get my eyes checked again!

Do not get your contact lens exam here.
Kaiser considers contact lenses cosmetic, so it costs $ 79+ (more for astigmatism). There are few places that charge the same amount for a full eye exam.
However, with Kaiser, you get an eye exam, return for a contact lens fitting, and then return for a follow up. Three visits! I asked the «contact lens fitter» why I needed separate exams, and the fitter said Kaiser wants to maximize productivity. In other words, Kaiser wants to cram more patients through the system at our expense.

I don’t know why They give apt. Times here. The past 2 visits I have shown up on time and they don’t see me for 20 – 30 minutes.

Went here for contacts. Pretty satisfied. Front desk is not very attentive, rarely will even greet you when you walk in. Free parking (get it validated) in the building’s garage is nice.
The appointment center incorrectly told me that the contact exam is part of the general health insurance eye exam which is covered. It is NOT.

I had a nice experience there while having my contacts and glasses updated. However, my experiences before and after the appointment were rough. I had to wait at least a few days to schedule an appointment, because the phone wouldn’t be picked up when I would call. Eventually I was able to schedule my appointment. Then, after my appointment, my contacts were shipped to the wrong address! Thankfully it was sent to a place where I still knew the people who lived there, and I was able to drive (out of my way) to pick them up. After clearing up the situation with my contacts, I tried calling a suggested number to check the address on my glasses. I was put on hold for at least 30 minutes before I was able to spend 30 seconds confirming my address with the person on the other end. I think this facility just needs a few extra receptionists, and it would be better.

Kaiser Permanente Vision Essentials, after waiting for about 1 ½ weeks for my glasses they called me. I go to pick up my glasses, the receptionist gave them to one their technicians for the fitting. Upon him opening the glasses, they had a noticeably deep scratch on the surface of the lens. He mentioned the scratch on the lens and proceeded to make the fitting. Then he asked whether the deep, noticeable scratch bothered me. I said it does because 1. It was $ 600.00 pair of glasses and 2) it was quite obvious the scratch. The pair was rejected and asked him how long it will take to have the lens fixed. He said an additional 2 weeks probably longer. I asked him so, this means that I have to do without my glasses for an additional two weeks maybe even longer? You are telling me that in order to get my glasses is going to take a month? Then he said that he was going to see about trying to get them done sooner. I know that’s lip service since he didn’t commit to anything to begin with. I filed a complain with Kaiser Membership Services which was quickly answered but, until this day, it hasn’t been resolved and no, I still don’t have my glasses after yet another week of waiting. Ultimately, I had to go Linden to get the same prescription done in a few hours so I could see. So, no only I had to pay Kaiser but I had to pay for another pair from somewhere else for an additional $ 300.00 while waiting for a new pair. The pair I was using was an old prescription and I could see much out of them and couldn’t afford to wait any longer for glasses.
Despite the fact that I have optical coverage and an allowance for glasses, wasn’t even worth it because their glasses are very expensive to begin with and the discount are just gimmicks because even after applying $ 250.00 allowance, the $ 100.00 «discount» for frames over $ 149.00 I still had to pay $ 300.00 more, wait two weeks, now four and likely even more because they didn’t have the foresight to check the workmanship at the lab and upon receipt. Not wait to be unpleasantly surprised by noticeable defects and/​or damaged goods at fitting time thus saving the aggravation and the waste of time.

I tried making a contact lens appointment online but everything showed up as «No appointments available» so I had to call. Pain in the arse! We played phone tag for a good 4 days until I finally asked for the Contact Department’s direct line. After that bump in the road, everything was smooth sailing!
I always come to this location because of my insurance and it being the closest to work. The office is large, clean and comfortable. The ladies at the front are all so sweet. The contact guys are friendly and helpful. After ordering my lenses, he tried to find rebates for me so that I can save as much as I can.
My optometrist this time was Dr. Houson. He was AWESOME! i’ve been here a few times and this guy is my absolute FAVORITE! He’s very gentle, kind, knowledgable and does everything he can to make me feel comfortable being there. He was quick, and still very professional.
I didn’t have time to stay and pick out new glasses this time, but they have a decent sized selection there. Most likely I’ll be back for those soon!
Finally…don’t forget… park in the structure! The entrance is on Wilson, and there is validation for 3 hours (not that you’d be there for 3 hours). Although each year I dread finding out that my prescription gets a little worse, coming to Kaiser Pasadena Vision Center makes that process so much more bearable.

I have mixed feelings. Dr. Jin was great. I would give him 5 stars! He was friendly, professional, efficient, and on time. He even tried to show me a way to text on my phone using voice recognition. (I was turning my phone off as he walked in for my appointment.)
The facility itself is very clean, including the bathroom. The receptionists at check in were nice. I checked in and was seen right away. I didn’t catch her name but the first woman checked my prescription on my glasses, did the eye puff test, which I fear, and did one other screening (involving a picture of a hot air balloon at the end of the road) in a machine. It was the one that focuses while you look in. I asked what it does and she said it was for figuring out the basic prescription.
Then I was seated back in the waiting area and Dr. Jin came out. He took me to another room. He made a little bit of small chat about my phone, school, work, and family. He then proceeded to examine my eyes to determine my prescription. He told me my prescription and asked if I wanted to get glasses. I was in and out in about 15 minutes.
Then I waited for the optician in the waiting area. This took quite a while. At least 15 minutes. I didn’t catch her name because she didn’t introduce me or have a name tag on. She was not friendly at all. I would give her 1 star. I asked her if she could adjust my current glasses because my prescription turned out to be the same. She said she wasn’t responsible if she broke my glasses. She then poked fun of my glasses stating what was wrong with them and that they were old. She had trouble adjusting them, which is funny because I usually adjust them at home on my own without any problems. I think she just wanted me to buy new ones. She was the only negative part of my experience.
I’m considering contacts and asked about the contact exam. They have another office inside the offices solely dedicated to contact exams. It costs $ 109 or $ 159 if you have astigmatism depending on your Kaiser insurance.
They have a wide selection of glasses. They seem a bit pricey. I looked at several and they ranged from $ 150 — $ 300. They also have sunglasses.
So, I would go here for the optometrist and eye exam because my experience was positive but I am not so sure about the optician and actual glasses. However, there was another optician who seemed a lot nicer and bubblier. I was actually hoping to work with her. I guess it is the luck of the draw.
5 stars for the eye doctor 1 star for the optician averages out to 3 stars.

This place is great to me. It use to be on Lake street. But they moved. Nice location. Across from Rite-​aid. Very friendly and helpful receptionists. Also the tech are very helpful in giving info to your questions. The nurses are also friendly when prepping you to see the doctor. Great place to get glasses.

Dr. Irene Wong was wonderful! She is the only reason I’m giving this place 2 stars. The second person I met with, Nelly, was horrible. She was rude and talked to me like I was a child the entire time I was with her getting «fitted» for contact lenses. I’ve never had anyone, in my 12 years of wearing contacts, incessantly ask me what reasons I had for mistakenly forgetting to change my lenses. Who does that?! I’ve worn the same brand of contacts for 5 years, but Nelly thought it best to educate my ignorance like I was stepping into a whole new world of foreign objects in my eyeball. She also asked if I switch between contact solution formulas, to which I replied «I did once.» She then went on to tell me, like the ignorant child I am, that I’m never to do this. Naturally, at the end of my visit, she suggested a new random formula I should start using. I’ve never met anyone who could make you feel so uncomfortable about getting a test pair of contact lenses. When I go back next week, I will ensure that I do NOT meet with this curmudgeon who clearly hates her job.

i am in love with Kaiser Pasadena Vision Center
1) Friendly receptionist — no matter what kind of hectic day it is they are always extremely friendly !!!
2) Good opticians /​technicians who care about your glasses
3) Great Optometrist ! Dr. Ho was one of the best!!! Can’t wait for my yearly check up. He was efficient and fast!
4) Easy Parking behind the buildling — they validate for freee
Vast amount of glasses and i love the customer service!!! I go to Pasadena all the time instead of Sunset b/​c it’s just easier to get in and out and the customer service is awesome!