Pasadena Optometry Center

I’ve been here on two separate occasions over the last month. My domestic partner referred me as she’s been going to POC since she was 18. I wanted to see their selection of frames and what my insurance coverage would offer before schedule any kind of exam. So when we got there, we were very friendlilylyly greeted by the reception staff. Even Dr. Gee came out and recognized my partner and was very sweet to both of us. I was taken back to the frames boutique by a lady named Joyce? I think? She was so nice and helped me pick out styles based on what I was looking at. My one complaint about this process is that I like to look around by myself, I don’t like anyone hanging around me making suggestions. It made me feel rushed and under pressure to decide when I just wanted to take my time and look at all the frame selections. My partner said that they always do it that way, for some reason they don’t let you just wander the boutique looking by yourself at all the frames. Not sure if they get a commission or what.
Then I made an appointment for a glasses exam because my insurance was covering a good portion of things there. I went in for my eye exam and the nurse tech was very obviously tired. They were short staffed that day and it was one of their longer days when they’re open until 7pm. I had the 5:15p appt. so I was thinking «great, they’re tired and over this sh – , I hope they treat me and my ojos with care.» The nurse tech was just very by the book, straightforward, no nonsense. I didn’t mind, I could tell she was just tired.
I waited for about 10 minutes for Dr. VanWoerkem to come into the exam room. He was so professional and nice. He explained that while my prescription has changed slightly since my last exam three years ago, he doesn’t think it would benefit me to change my prescription at this time so we kept it the same.
I did laugh when he told me how impressed he was with my peripheral vision test. You know, that little «game» you play when you click the mouse every time you see little squiggles in your periphery? He said I have perfect peripheral vision, that I got 100% of the clicks! I was like «Yeahhhh, can’t nobody sneak up on me, y’all…»
Pricing was very reasonable. I wanted glasses and prescription sunglasses. I got the works, both frames were designer labels, and the lenses had all the upgraded bells and whistles. Without insurance, I would have paid close to 1K for both pairs. But with my VSP insurance through work, I only owed a total of $ 380!
I heard that they take kind of a long time to get your glasses to you, around 3 weeks. They delivered in about ten days! Thanks guys!

Dr. VanWoerkem is the best! Detailed, patient, smart, educated. Answers all your questions and let’s you know exactly what’s going on. He’s the best!

Dr. Van Woerkom, one word, is great.
I have been coming to this office for close to 20 years, I can honestly say even if it is
a little drive I would not change Optometry office.
Love the service I receive every time.

Outstanding service! Very impressed with the staff, Doctor and overall experience! I highly recommend getting your eye exam and glasses here!

We had a great experience at the Pasadena Optometry Center. Our doctor was Elizabeth Snowden-​Ifft, OD, who was very attentive, patient, and spent enough time heading our concerns/​getting to know us (new patients). We got new glasses from their selection of frames /​product offerings — so it was a one-​stop-​shop experience. The staff was very nice as well.

This is a review for getting glasses. Not the doctors visit. They have you make an appointment to look in their frame store saying then you will get in on before walk-​ins. One would assume then that they would have someone available to help you at that time. No, they leave you waiting 30 min for someone to even let you into the side of the office that has frames. I asked if I could just look at frames while I waited… No.
Once I was seated, I was allowed in the room with the frames the staff was vary helpful. I really appreciated their input on the frames.
I just wish they would work to the appointment schedule. If I have to leave my job early to meet your appointment time then please don’t leave me in your waiting room for an exorbitant about of time.

I went in for an eye exam the wait before being called in was not long. Dr. Woerkam was great. He was very thorough and explained the different tests as he was doing them. The person that helped me select new frames was courteous and friendly. I was there a little longer than I expected but not too bad. Although it did take close to 3+ weeks to get my glasses because the lab sent them over scratched. Dr. Woerkam called to let me know what had happened and apologized for the delay. He also followed up after I picked up my new glasses to make sure they were a good fit.
Besides the minor delay in getting my glasses. I will probably be return.

The people here are great, from the front office to the doctors in the back to the people who patiently help you find the right pair of glasses. Great selection of glasses too. The only caution is the parking. It’s not free but not too expensive either. The parking lot only accepts cash, so be sure to bring a few bucks.

As a follow up to my last posting about the Pasadena Optometry Center, I was contacted by Dr. Woerkom and he told me there was a misunderstanding between him and his office staff concerning the charge for nose pads. He has refunded my $ 10 and promises my next visit to the office should be a better experience! Thank you Dr. Woerkom for following up with me. Yay! I’m a fan.

Is it possible to give 6 stars?
Dr. Sandy Gee
Quality of Health care: Low cost + high quality.
She really went above and beyond any other optometrist I had ever been to in my life. She’s incredibly meticulous and thorough.
She did the standard visual field+glaucoma tests in addition to figuring out what my perscription was. But she also looked at my red-​green color balance, the range I could focus, and several more.
Additionally, she used techniques that were fairly low tech and low cost (compared to what other optometrists had used). The exam cost a lot less than what some other practitioner had charged.
Overall quality of experience: Fun + engaging
The two things of the things that I really appreciated were 1) her willingness to explain every single test that she administered to you, and 2) how transparent she was willing to be in how the different tests were interpreted.
People who fit your glasses: Nice + Accommodating.
I have no bridge + a weirdly shaped face, so it’s usually pretty annoying to find a pair of glasses that fit.
But the staff there looked through all of the options to see what size they were, and spent a good 15 – 20 minutes adjusting the nose pad on different glasses.
One thing that I REALLY liked is that they were upfront about what insurance covered, and what I would have to pay out of pocket, so they didn’t try to push me to spend the most amount of money.
Staff
I would give a mixed review on this one. Some of the staff were pretty unfriendly when I came in (the ONLY downside). However, it might have been because I came in early in the morning.
I would have given it four and a half, but you can’t give half stars so. :/

I requested Dr. Sandy Gee, whom I have seen for over five years now, when I went in for my exam a few weeks ago. The place has a boutique feel to it, not the massive behemoth of the popular competitor on Colorado, Lindens, which is something I appreciate and crave when it comes to something as important as my eyes. I found street parking a block away with no problem, to avoid paying the lot fee.
After a brief ten minutes or so wait in the waiting area, I was ushered in to get my peripheral vision checked, then led to a room for the doctor exam. Dr. Gee was very patient with me, told me what she was doing, and asked me if I had any questions and answered them thoroughly. When I went in two years ago while pregnant, she made sure to let me know I could postpone my glaucoma test. And when she recommended Transitions lenses for my prescription because I had some sun damage to my eyes, I knew she was telling it like it is, and not trying to gain a profit off me just because Transitions cost extra.
When I asked for a copy of my prescription as I would possibly want to fill it elsewhere, such as online at
, I was happily accommodated. The front desk staff were nice and personable. At Pasadena Optometry, you won’t find the throngs of people that Lindens handles. Great choice whether you’re nearby to Pasadena proper or not.

I appreciate the professionalism and skill of Dr. Elizabeth Snowden. I have been made to wait for up to 45 min to an hour before, however, for a brief eye exam. They do NOT validate for parking, and the lot is expensive. Street parking nearby is hard to come by and they frequently ticket. ³⁄₅ for wait and poor parking situation.

i have gone here for years. I don’t live in Pasadena any more, but still drive cross town to get my eye are and eye wear. When I had an emergency last year they got me in right away. Love everyone from the front desk to getting eyewear picked out.

I’ve been a patient here for over 10 years, and I usually see Dr. van Woerkem.
The other day, my wife woke up with bad pain in her right eye. She’s pretty tough, so when she said she needed to see a pro, I knew it was serious. We live in Long Beach now, but this is where she wanted to go (she’s also been a patient for a while).
We showed up first thing in the morning, no appointment, and they were amazing. She was with Dr. Snowden within 10 minutes, and they quickly sorted through the paperwork. Dr. Snowden even made herself available for phone call follow up throughout the next couple days. I never once felt like an inconvenience or a problem to them. I doubt they can fit anyone in at any time, but I know they did whatever they could. We are grateful. And my wife is doing much better now.

I was hesitant to visit this center after reading Unilocal reviews but I’m happy I didn’t cancel my appointment.
This was the best eye exam I have ever received. Dr. Gee is very professional and detailed. She spent more time with me than my primary care physician typically does. I even left the office with a medical referral for some of my eye symptoms.
After my exam I tried on frames and was impressed by how sweet and helpful the entire office was. I’m always indecisive about eye wear and the ladies at the front desk went out of their way to help me choose a pair. My only complaint about this process is that the selection is a little limited.
I highly recommend Dr. Gee and staff.

I get my eyes checked once every two years. When I get my eyes checked this is where I go. I always thoroughly enjoy my experience at the Pasadena Optometry Center. The staff is very friendly and my exams are always a pleasant experience. After my exams I pick out my frames from a very wide range of options. I have never been disappointed with the selection or the friendly service. Book your appointment today!

Overall an «ok» experience. 3 stars instead of 2 because Dr. Gee is very professional and has a very pleasant manner about her. A few items to improve upon. 1. I would consider opening on more Saturdays. I know your target customer is the Pasadena housewife or retiree or folks who work around Lake but if you had more Saturday hours, you may expand your customer base. 2. The girl who did my fitting was very quick to grab my glasses off my face and run them to the back to do adjustments that weren’t necessary (before I even really knew what was going on). I had to send her back to correct what she did and it still wasn’t right. I didn’t realize my glasses needed to be re-​shaped back to the original shape until the next day. Because you aren’t open on Saturdays, had to go to another business and ask for their help.
It’s worth noting that it took me 4 trips in to get my glasses since the first prescription wasn’t quite right and then an additional trip to another business to help with the misshaping. Another item to improve upon would be if at the fitting, if the prescription turns out to be wrong — why can’t the customer see a Dr. right then and there, even if it is a short wait? I know you have a schedule but that would have saved me one of the inconvenient trips.

My family and I have been going here for 15 yrs. The Docs need to know that the girls running the front are rude and have caused them to lose 3 patients. Thanks for the 15 yrs of your service

Do NOT go there– NEVER going back!!! I didn’t read the bad Unilocal reviews and wish I had! I had been here a long time ago and didn’t think good or bad — but it had been a long time and knew I needed to go back– should have gone some place else!!!
SO– I checked in — I waited 56 min before the doctor saw me. No one said anything, no apologies for the wait or the doctor was behind — nothing but for me to wait and wait and wait. The doctor was nice but spent less than 15 minutes with (after waiting almost an hour — that is not acceptable). Prescription didn’t change — standard check up.
Then I went to pick out new frames– the woman helping me asked me to wait when another man walked up — I told her no I had waited long enough earlier– she still helped him before me. Why ask if you are no going to accept the answer? I picked something out, purely based on the fact I was so annoyed and just wanted to leave.
I went back a few weeks later to pick out the frames– they had the WRONG ones … why was I surprised??? I told them I did not order tortuous I ordered black frames, the same lady gave me a nasty look (like I made the mistake) she went over to the samples that everyone else has tried on and stretched out and put my lenses in THOSE SAMPLE frames.
I PAID a lot of money for new frames and I didn’t get them– I got used frames!!! NOT COOL — I am still so mad but I never EVER want to go back!!!

Brought my dad here for an exam and couldn’t be more pleased. Dr. G is excellent. Very thorough, courteous and patient. The staff is friendly and fast. The tech who helped fit my dad for his glasses was super friendly and helpful. She was able to get us an amazing glasses package that fit our budget.
I came back for my own exam and the experience was just as positive as my father’s. The exam was more thorough than any other exam I’ve had in the past and she answered all questions to the issues I was having. She has a great sense of humor and really knows her stuff.
I highly recommend!