Dr. Monetta Optometry

We travel close to 35 miles one way just to come here for our vision. And, we’ve been doing this for years. It’s a testament to the staff and especially Dr. Monetta! We appreciate the samples of contact given when my daughter is in «a pinch».

I have been a client of Dr. Monetta for many years. He is a nice person and good doctor. However, his staff at the front desk is not. Yesterday, I left a voice message (no one answers the phone) from my office phone to make an appointment and they called back (my office phone number) today at 10:30 am (left another voice message) letting me know there was an opening at 3:30 pm. I called them back at around 1:30 pm to let them know I will be coming to the appointment at 3:30 pm. When I got there the man behind the desk said that I was not in their system and he made it seem as if I was disoriented and did not know what I was talking about, one of the staff even said, «maybe you made the appointment at the other site on Union St.» I tried to keep calm and double-​checked my phone call record; I even called my office and asked one of my staff to check for the call record of my messages. After making sure that it was them (Ocean location) who called me to schedule an appointment, I said, «I got a voice message from you at my office phone around 10:30 am this morning from your phone number and I also called back to confirm the appointment.» The same staff said, «I have been here all morning, there was no one else who could have made the call. The number we have on file for you is your home phone number, no other number.»
They told me to have a seat. I took a seat and a minute after the same woman that suggested I contacted the other office came to me and said that she was the one who left a message but that I did not call them back to confirm the appointment. To which I responded that I did. She spoke with her co-​worker and he went inside to check the voice messages. A few minutes later she checked in with him and said that I had called too late that she had booked another person. Oh, and she said «I am sorry» in a very sarcastic way. «I can make an appointment for tomorrow,» to which I responded that I did not need an appointment for tomorrow, that I have took sometime from work to come to the 3:30 pm appointment.
Would you come back to the same doctor office where the front desk staff provides you this type of treatment? NO… to receive the same poor, unapologetic, sarcastic, disrespectful customer service from very unprofessional staff. Nope.
To the Staff who treated me so rudely today: Acknowledge you made a mistake, be truthful to yourself and your customers, validate your customers’ inquiries, if you are not answering the phone for whatever reason, at least, check your messages more often during the day, and maybe out of respect, call the customer back and let them know you already book someone else. Apologize, be kind and humble. Believe me, this job won’t last you forever and you will need these skills to survive.
Have a good day!

I have had significant and serious eye issues in the past, which included a corneal transplant. Dr. Monetta goes to exceptional lengths in order to get my vision to acceptable levels for both eyeglasses and contacts. I personally never have had a Doctor take so much time working to get it right. I agree with some of the reviews that the glasses frames/​lenses get spendy here, but the professionalism of Dr. Monetta cannot be questioned!

I’ve changed this from 4 to 5 since the front desk staff have always been so eager to help with miscellaneous issues. Like reinserting lenses after I dropped a pair, or fixing chips.
Also I noticed a line of incredibly stylish frames in the display which weren’t there last time. Which I’m going to have to somehow forget about until my next exam.

I rarely write reviews… but when someone’s able to provide a better vision than prior optometrists i’m glad to write this review. Dr. Monetta was very professional and prescribed the correct vision correction. Dr. Monetta figured out for all my years wearing glasses the prescription was too strong by 0.75. He actually lowered the prescription and I was astounded by how clear and less strained my eyes felt. Now I feel sooo good wearing these comfortable & new prescription lenses. Plus the assistant was very helpful in selecting an awesome Oliver Peoples frames which matched my face.
And if your a medical nerd, Dr. Monetta also showed my retina picture on the computer screen to show all the veins were in good order and healthy.

Great experience. Dr Monetta is very knowledgable and efficient. He explained the what and why very well and shared with me what he was looking at. I walked out of there a little more educated. Thank you, dr Monetta. Very professional! The staff was also friendly, they got me in quick answered all my questions and set me up w so perfect new glasses.

Dr. Monetta is wonderfull. He deserves a 5 starts, but his staff, well another story. I guess the reason the have groupon is to attain more patient. Let me tell you something, his staff were very rude. I wanted to fax my children’s history so I will not forget, but they did not want it, they did not want to be bothered. Before they saw the doctor, I specifically told them to keep the budget on or below. I informed them, that my children just had there eyes check for contact lens, therefore will not be needing that services. When the doctor was finished, one of the lady wanted to charge me extra for the contact lense dispensing. I informed her again that they just had their contact lense fitting and I refuse to give them my money, when I specifically told them there is no need for contact lense services. When my children were look for lenses, they keep giving them a very ugly lenses that cost more than $ 200. I then again told them that we are keeping everything within budget. When I stood my ground about this, the attitude turned 380 degrees and become really rude and will not even make eye contact. Never again will they have my service… Don’t go there since you have to spend your majority of time with the staff…

I’ve always found Dr. Monetta to be extremely well-​informed, professional, and personable. He has been particularly helpful and insightful with my son, who needed vision correction at an early age and could not wear glasses due to a malformed ear — he immediately assessed the situation and prescribed contact lenses, which have been a complete success.

I informed Dr. Monetta about my experience in his office with respect to his staff. Dr. Monetta was very concerned and wanted to make sure that type of response/​treatment/​behavior did not ever happen again in his office.
I was pleased with how quickly Dr. Monetta got back to me on this matter as well as his response.
Overall, if you need a doctor who will give you a thorough eye exam, see Dr. Monetta.

I have been going to Dr. Monetta for 13 years. He is thorough with my diagnoses and checkups. He is also very nice. Their selection of eye wear is numerous and very good looking. His staff are also very helpful in helping me find glasses that suit me.

I’ve been going to Dr. Monetta since 2003 when had moved here. I was a sucker for that vision therapy program advertised on the radio and it wasn’t working for me so I found Dr. Monetta by looking for a local vision therapy doctor. Since going to him, my vision which was escalating every year by .25 nearsightedness started out at –5.75. So we’re talking «blind» or on the verge of legally blind. I first had glasses in 4^th grade that started at –2.00 and every time I went to the eye doctor they would increase it until I was at –5.75.
Now I can see ²⁰⁄₂₀ at –4.25! I’m so happy! I get underprescribed prescriptions and do eye exercises every day and I don’t have to get thin lenses or small frames anymore! When your prescription gets that high you have to get small frames and superhigh index lenses to mask the thickness. But the glasses still make your eyes look smaller and distort your face through the lenses.
Dr. Monetta is very nice and personable. I too, like other reviewers, have had issues with appointments and staff and confusion over the costs.
The staff is nice but I don’t very often see the same staff when I go back once a year or every six months. I also have had to be adamant that I can only do Saturday appts and it tends to fall on dead ears. They also sometimes (actually a lot) forget to give me my prescription when I leave and if I forget before I walk out of the store I have to call, go back, or ask them to mail it to me.
But through thick and thin I feel like it’s worth it b/​c Dr. Monetta has the same goal as me which is keep my nearsightedness at bay and to try to reduce it. I probably won’t ever see ²⁰⁄₂₀ without any assistance but I would like to be around –3.5 or better if possible. The improvement tends to taper so I don’t expect huge gains quickly. Probably at most -.25 per year. But it adds up and my eyes feel so much better.

I chose this optometry office due to it’s location but will surely come back next year for the great service I received. Dr. Monetta was extremely friendly, humorous, generous with information, and inquisitve about my eye health. The office was clean and had a great atmosphere. Unfortunately I couldn’t get any glasses because I’m not due for frames yet but I could tell they have a great designer collection. I got contacts instead, and the price was more reasonable than I expected. Also, they have low vision services so I say this is intergenerationally-​friendly. On a final note, everyone in the office is exceptionally good-​looking. I definitely recommend this eye care provider.

I’ve been to Dr. Monetta’s office a couple of times the past 2 – 3 years. He’s quick and efficient. However, sometimes his appointments are so fast I wonder if my eyes are really thoroughly checked.
A couple of gripes:
— appointments can feel rushed as his office is always busy no matter what time of the day. I don’t think an appointment last for more than 30 minutes
— agree with Eileen B. review that they charge for EVERYTHING. Each time you come back it’s a different charge. Yes you do have to make a separate appointment to get your contacts fitted.
— the assistants/​secretaries are sometimes snooty but usually ok
The good:
— wide range of designer lenses.
Now that i’ve moved to another part of the city I will not be back at Dr. Monetta’s. Not that he isn’t a good optometrist but I’m sure there are better. Maybe the next one won’t make me feel so rushed!

Today was my first visit to Dr. Monetta’s office, and I had to Unilocal about it because this was the BEST experience I have ever had at an Optomtrist’s office!!! I was like a kid in a candy store… they had Prada, Gucci, Dior, and more. If you are not planning to spend money on designer frames, I would not suggest this place because that was the majority of their selection.
I walked in on a Friday, and they told me the doctor doesnt work on Fridays. The receptionist and other staff members were all very cordial and professional. They kindly fit me in the next Monday in the morning.
Dr Monetta did a very thorough exam and explained everything he was doing. I spent about an hour there. Fortunately, they didnt do that horrible test where they blow a gust of wind into your eye. He tried the «computer glasses» sales pitch on me, but I couldnt get another pair because my VSP insurance doesnt cover much. Apparently, the Monettas are father and son, which makes me like them even better because my family has a business also. Heather was very patient and sat with me while i tried on 50+ pairs of glasses. Dr Monetta was very knowledgeable, friendly, good looking, and able to answer all my questions. I just have one more question…
Why do they call it Eyes in Disguise? That name is not very appealing…

Very friendly service, fixed the glasses that three other optometrists couldn’t fix (the funky ones that use fishing line to hold your lenses in, but where you have to melt the ends). Thanks guys!

I was getting tired of my glasses and I wanted those sweet contacts again.
The rustic sign and established look of Eyes in Disguise always caught my attention. I imagined well seasoned, older, experienced optometrist who doted over his patients and a staff that’s been there forever. My previous optometrist for 20+ years was all of the above and more. (If anyone is moving to Norther Virgina go see Dr. Livaditus.)
I google Eyes in Disguise and make a call. The girl on the other line is all over the place. No pen, no clue and I have to call back. She says she is new so I let it go. It happens, can’t blame a girl for being new. So I call back and talk to someone else and make an appointment.
On the day of the appointment, I’m driving over and I call the receptionist and ask «Where’s your parking?»
OMG THEY DON’T HAVE FREE PARKING! This place is far enough away from the city to have some designated parking. Whatever. I find a metered parking and freed the meter for 1 hr.
I walk into the shop a few minutes early and they hand me some medical forms to fill out. I handed back the completed forms in about 10 mins and start to wait. I wait and wait and wait… 35 mins pass before anything happens. 35 mins! Come on I have a schedule too. Whatever, these things happen.
Finally, the receptionist leads me to an exam room. She explains the «spot the dot» test and prompts me rest my chin on a testing equipment. Okay~ I’m thinking «Where’s the Dr.?» Before I knew it the RECEPTIONIST is administering the exam! WTF? The girl looked like she was in high school or maybe just started collage. What is she doing giving me a test? Maybe she is certified or trained but that was not what I expect from an optometrists office. I want my exams to be done by a Optometrist, Nurse or a Board certified professional.
After the «spot the dot» test was done, Dr. Monetta shows up to escort me to the main exam room. I notice that 45 mins have passed and I excused my self to feed the meter again.
Dr. Monetta is nice, professional, he knows what he is doing. Runs his tests and I’m done. All in about 15 mins and I didn’t like it. My exams usually takes a lot longer since my left eye is unaffected by huge degrees of magnification. It’s really hard to get the right measurements. I tell Dr. Monetta about my crazy left eye and he acknowledges my concerns and explains that if the prescription is off we will change it. He wants to start off with the lowest prescription and work our way up. Good idea.
At the reception area I make an appointment for 1.5 weeks out and fend off their sales push to get «Computer» glasses.
A week passes and I couldn’t make the follow up appointment so I call to change it. They’re closed on Saturdays and Sundays… only thing open is on a Tuesday 1.5 weeks later.
The day before the appointment I get a courtesy call. Cool. An hour later I get another one… hmm. 30 mins later I get a third one explaining to me that I don’t need to come in since I’ve seen the Dr. a few weeks ago. I explain that I need a follow up and the appointment is (re)confirmed… again. Couple hours later I get another one, WTF! An hour later I get a FIFTH call. THAT’S IT! I lose it and told the person that «You’re wasting my time, stop calling!» (To the person on the other line. If you are reading this I apologize for being curt with you.) They had no idea who called whom, when and why.
Next day, I show up 30 min early for the appointment but I was just felt uneasy about the whole experience. I called my vision provider and got them to reset my benefits, canceled my appointment with Dr. Monetta and I’m not going back.
Dr. Monetta your staff is terrible.

I totally agree with the Jane M. I made an appt to see Dr. Monetta three weeks ago (as that’s the only appt time they have), and mentioned that I wanted a contact lense fitting as well. When I went in today at 9:45am for a 10:00am appt, the gal in front said, we were way early. When 10:15 am rolled around, and we weren’t called, I went up to her, and then she said, the doctor is running late. Finally called in 10:20am. I was only given an eye exam, and at the end, I was told to make ANOTHER time for the contacts exam!!! and it will cost me another $ 160 which WILL NOT be covered by my insurance!!!
I told her I am assumed the contacts fitting would be the same day, she says «oh no, it is another visit, I can fit you in another week at the earliest» I mentioned, I work in Stockton, CA, and would not have time, she promptly asked me again if 10am next Saturday would work??? She doesn’t hear a word I said.
Since I have to pay for another contacts fitting, I am shopping around other VSP optician that doesn’t charge me $ 160 for a fitting. I’ve been wearing contact lenses for the last 25 yrs of my life, don’t think I need $ 160.00 worth of fitting time with Monetta.
Good luck to other suckers who went in there. Sorry I didn’t read the previous review before making that appt.

Someone should tell this guy that being handsome really isn’t a reason to charge so much. The prices are insane here, the staff is snotty, and the doc clearly doesn’t realize there’s a difference between his Ocean Ave office and his Union St office. I’ll never go back.