Marin Optometric Group

UPDATE: A day after my initial post, below, Dr. Levine emailed me to see if they could make things better for me. I returned the glasses and they had a fourth pair made that had none of the initial problems of the first three pairs of sunglasses. The doctor was quite gracious and even thanked me for the original post so they examine the way they work. I have a lot of respect for him and his staff. They treated me very kindly and in the end I have a nice working pair of sunglasses.
ORIGINAL POST: On the good recommendations through Unilocal I booked an eye exam here. I liked the doctor and I did get a decent pair of new glasses (progressive lenses) that I see well out of.
The problems started when I ordered new lens for my sunglass frames, which I loved. The first pair came back with a major flaw. It seems they use numbers etched into the lenses, on either side, to make progressive lenses. Fine, but when I turned a particular way into the sunlight I could see a large dark spot near the the temple of my nose through the lenses. At first I thought it was a bug, then realized it was the etchings on the lens. I took them back and they ordered them again with a «lighter» etching this time. This time I could still see a dark spot but was a bit better than before. The bigger problem this time was that the lenses had a light and dark mottled pattern to them. When I looked through them that is exactly what I saw, light and dark areas. I have never experienced anything like this in all the years I’ve ordered prescription sunglasses. I took them back and they told me that is just the way they are and there was nothing they could do about it and if I wore them a while I’d get used to it. When I asked for a refund they said no, but offered to order a lesses quality lens, or a single vision for the same price — $ 600. Not a refund of any kind. I had no choice but to try once more. The third pair is actually much worse as the prescription is off and I have to tilt my head down so things aren’t blurry. WHAT??? Totally unacceptable and such horrendous optics I will NEVER be back. Such a waste of time and money.
To make things even worse, after I received my first pair of glass there I recommended the place to my husband. This was before things started to go south for me with my sunglasses. He had the same experience with the doctor, a nice guy. He just need to replace an old pair of single vision lenses in his sunglasses. He ordered them and when they came back they had not match the shape of the lens and they did not fit. Back the glasses went. The next pair seems better until he wore them for a few minutes. They felt weird and loose, so he took them off and found the nose piece had been broken in half. $ 200 down the drain.
Extreme buyers remorse!

I started as a patient of Dr. Levine in my mid 20’s. .. that was over 30 years ago. I’ve recommended Dr. Levine to countless people over the years.
I have a very difficult prescription and was told for years that I could not wear soft lens contacts. It took numerous tries but Dr. Levine got me into soft lenses that work great. In the last couple years he shifted me seamlessly into mono-​vision which I adapted to quickly and LOVE the results!
When my son had vision issues at age 8, I took him to Dr. Levine. When he moved in with his dad to attend high school in Petaluma 3 years ago, my son requested I take him to an ophthalmologist in town. After his experience he told me he wanted to go back to «Dr. Bob» even if it meant traveling to San Rafael.
My husband and I travel nearly an hour and a half one way for our appointments with Dr. Levine. I’ve been doing this for 25 years without hesitation. I won’t skimp on my vision care, I want the best and that’s what we get as a family with Marin Optometric Group.

I wish he could be my internist. Levine is the God of Eye Care!

Can’t say enough good things about Dr. Levine and his staff. Fitting me for contacts was a difficult process, requiring numerous follow ups. Through out the process the Dr. Levine was patient and very helpful. My vision is better than it has been in many years thanks to my new, comfortable lenses and the prescription is perfect. I can highly recommend Marin Optometric Group.

Been seeing Dr. Levine for contact lenses many years. Always attentive and professional. Staff is consistent and helpful. No drama here! Highly recommend.

Dr. Levine changed my life. Through his infinite patience he guided me gently towards contact lenses. I was one of those people who was going crazy wearing reading glasses which were always wrong. I was always looking for my glasses, and was never really able to see any distance properly. As a photographer, it was especially making me nuts. Over the course of about ten days he helped me through the process of contact lenses (a solution I had never considered, and which had never been suggested to me by countless other eye doctors) I had a lot of trouble with contacts at first and wanted to give up. But Dr. Levine was so patient, that I stuck with it. Now I am so happy, and now I can actually see the world again.

Dr. Levine and his office staff are so great! Not only do they have parking, take VSP, have a tiny children’s play area, but Dr. Levine and his staff are SO nice and take extra time with you during your appointment and otherwise. On my first appointment with Dr. Levine, he was so friendly and warm AND he even let me bring my infant to the appointment. I was so happy with the appointment I referred my husband who was equally as happy with his office. THEN– to top it off– the other day I accidentally stepped on my husbands very expensive, new frames from Dr. Levine office and I brought them back in to have them potentially fixed or replaced. Not only did his staff fix them on the spot, but they didn’t even charge me!!! How great is that? With only a few interactions with them so far, I have been VERY impressed. I hope they stay that way!

I walked in and was able to get an appointment very fast. The staff at the front desk was really kind and catered to my schedule in every way when it came to ordering and picking up my glasses. Had a slight panic attack while doing the exam since I was so nervous about my vision and Dr. Levine was extremely patient and helpful and I was able to relax and finish the appointment totally comfortable and confident.
I would definitely recommend them to anyone in the Marin area!

I called because my husband procrastinated and our coverage with VSP was ending and a new coverage was beginning in a week! He CLAIMED he could not find an appointment.
I called this office and Donell completely got it! She made an appointment for 2 days later– in time to take advantage of our VSP coverage! Yay! When my husband came out of his appointment he said «Wow honey, you found me a good one!» High praise! He said Dr. Levine was so nice, and checked everything to make sure he was healthy. He is also finding some different types of contacts for my husband to try since he has such a high correction and has not been happy in the past with contacts!
Donell helped with frame choices and I even found a frame I loved and she got me an authorization right there on the spot! This is as good as it gets!

I had this situation last week when I opened my eyes and got up from the acupuncture table. My vision in my right eye was blurry. I could not focus on anything with that eye and it lasted for about 3 – 4 hours.
At my age (which is not your business Mr. identity theft seeker), physical issues arise which give opportunities to wonder, be concerned, or freak out. I chose all three of those responses.
I immediately called an optometrist and Marin Opto Group was the second call. They asked when my last eye exam was and I thought maybe 10 years ago. They suggested to come in for a full eye exam with the good doctor Robert Levine. If I want, he can give me a retinal scan to get a closer look for any eye disease.
Dr. Levine is great. Very calm, thorough, and explains everything so you completely understand your eyes. I have a very mild Presbyopia which is having difficulty focusing on close objects. So mild, he said very few people ever where vision correction for it. Not the reason for my temporary, focal impairment.
When I did the retinal scan (Fundus Imaging — a special camera — way cool and worth doing) it revealed two healthy retinas. Good for me! (I now want them as a screen saver). He did not know what caused my right eye to temporarily lose focus, but he said it may have been an ocular migraine or more specifically, a retinal migraine.
The speed at which they saw me, the quality of my exams, and the helpfulness of both staff and doctor were top notch. Fully recommend.

How many optometrists advertise «Specializing in Hard to Fit Contact Lenses»??? A boatload based upon my experience.
Well, I tried 2 who failed miserably before seeing Dr. Robert Levine. This is a professional who can back up the claim. I’m kicking myself for waiting close to 9 months before I took a friend’s advice to make an appointment. Frankly, I was burned out and lacking optimism.
Right away, Dr. Bob had me in über-​comfortable lenses that worked on the first visit! Not only that, he has a real knack for simple explanations for fairly complex concepts (like monovision for me). I learned more in 4 minutes at his practice than I did in multiple visits at 2 others.
Patient, knowledgeable and extremely available, these folks were ‘game changers’ for my particular Rx and situation.
Before you think you’re ‘saving’ by hitting a shop located in a giant warehouse that rhymes with Bosco — or anywhere else in the Marin area — maybe follow my lead and give Dr. Bob a shot.

Super friendly, super knowledgeable, all around super! One can be certain that you will only be seen by highly trained and skilled individuals at Marin Optometry, no «assistants». They care about your health, your appearance and overall your happiness. The only thing that supersedes their ophthalmic talents is their integrity. The best in Marin as far as I am concerned…