241 Optical

Committed to satisfaction

Locally owned & operated

I am shocked to read the (couple of) negative reviews here. This is the best optical store I've…read moreever been to, both in Boston and New York City. John is so sweet, kind, cooperative, helpful (on and on), and Dr. Shah is thorough and kind as well. I can't fathom someone feeling "degraded" or having any kind of negative experience at this store.

Superb service from John; he was welcoming and very helpful; quickly zeroed in on the problem with…read moremy glasses and had a new pair for me within a few days. Then he realized that I needed a separate single-focus pair which would improve my close-up work on my computer - which is very helpful. I will recommend John and this store to everyone.

1.4 mi•Porter Square, North Cambridge

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General Optical

4.3(66 reviews)

Dr. Klaahsen is fantastic!! Here's why. It had been about 7 years since my last eye exam and I…read moregenerally viewed these interactions as transactional until I met her. She explained to me the importance of eye care in a super loving way and walked me through everything she was doing and why. She uses state of the art tech and actually teaches you about your eyes. Dr. Klaahsen really took the time to find the right contacts for me and WHOA...I didn't realize how much I couldn't see anything before! That's a long story BUT the point is that Dr. Klaahsen is a great Doctor. She really cares about her people in a way you don't often get from physicians. The staff is really helpful and inviting when you walk in. I can't recommend Dr. Klaahsen enough! If you don't go to her...switch. It's totally worth it.

I had gone to General Optical many years ago and was very satisfied. The staff has changed. I…read morebought glasses and got sunglasses to go with them. In order to put the sunglasses on your must take off your glasses and use both hands. Obviously this cannot be done when you are driving a car. If I had been warned I would not have bought them. Genevieve C.

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Custom Eyes

4.2(198 reviews)

0.7 mi•Central Square

I love this business because it is much more than a business. They are caring and experienced…read moreprofessionals with a Cheers way of remembering me and my needs.

Friendly service with reasonable prices. I go in often to try on new frames and never feel any…read morepressure to buy. Kevork Tinkjian is lovely to deal with.

Kevork Tinkjian opened Custom Eyes in December of 2003. Kevork has been a licensed Optician since 1998.

Kevork Tinkjian

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SEE - Don't miss SEE's Spring Trunk Show - April 14-May 2!

SEE

4.2(166 reviews)

0.1 mi•Harvard Square

Like a dedicated employee, I went into the office where I inadvertently set a notebook on my…read moreglasses. Smush.... I brought my glasses into SEE where the arms on my glasses were realigned. They were straight and stayed on my face. I was ready to replace them but they were able to straighten them. :) If I need glasses, I am returning. They get my vote.

XLent, XLent, XLent Service, styles and Staff!…read moreNow, lets talk about their corporate design department... they are a little slow on creating new styles. For those of US who buy glasses for THAT reason it makes one want to stray but then there's Staff and Service at this location -Trang and Rob - the best. OH way, we'll just have to wait out the season and HOPE to be surprised by the mothership.

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Medford Eyeglass Shop

5.0(39 reviews)

3.7 mi

•$

I went in to have 2 designer sunglasses fixed. The man in the shop immediately fixed the in less…read morethan 10min and charged only $20. Professional, fast and friendly! Go here for your eyeglass/sunglasses needs. They are the best.

Rick is the best! Very customer service oriented and always willing to take the time to explain how…read moreto pick the best glasses for the customers needs. Highly recommend!

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Tuscany frameless eyeglass assortment and Leader sports and activity eyeglasses and sunglasses

All Eye Care Doctors

2.9(78 reviews)

1.1 mi•Porter Square

No other eye practioners ever told me i have dry eyes. It explains so much. They are helping me…read morewith this condition and stressing the importance of taking steps to combat it. I am truly thankful. Eyesight is so precious.

Bad staff, pushy sales people, they don't apply your insurance benefits and make up the prices on…read morethe spot. Total scam place, they don't even give you your prescription without having to ask for it as is REQUIRED to give you the choice of going elsewhere to buy glasses. Definitely avoid it and go elsewhere!

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Eye-Q Optical - Cambridge

4.1(154 reviews)

0.3 mi•Harvard Square

Certified professionals

Offers payment plans

I had a great experience here for a vision exam. The customer service was excellent and they even…read morehave a special machine that can detect changes to your eye health which my insurance covered with a small co-pay. Highly recommended!

Let's start by saying -- thank you, Lord, for always making room for a second opinion…read more I went to Eye Q Optical as a first-time customer, armed with good insurance and high hopes. But it quickly became clear that having great coverage doesn't mean much in a place that prefers to sell the Ferrari of eyewear. Now, to be fair -- the optometrist knows his craft. Truly professional, skilled, and thorough. But if you know the glasses game, you can spot a commission-based shop from a mile away. Here's where things went off track: a thousand dollars for a single pair of glasses after insurance. That's not just unreasonable -- it's why online retailers are thriving while brick-and-mortar shops are losing ground. Eye Q Optical, if you're wondering why people are turning to the internet for eyewear -- look no further than your own price tag.

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Warby Parker Cambridge

3.5(17 reviews)

0.3 mi•Harvard Square

The people at the store are great. But The company stinks…read more i called the store (617) number and got aomeone probably in southeast Asia to ask whether id lefty wallet at the store and they would not connect me. Not Possible. Rather I was asked, " Do you have an account with us? For your problem you should send an email to the store". I wil never do business with this company

A coworker recommended purchasing glasses at this location. In under an hour on my lunch break,…read moreJason helped me find my new pair, explain the coverage/lens/sizing options, and provided a quote with insurance. I went home to think on them overnight, and returned today to purchase. I walked back in knowing I'd be greeted by kind staff, and felt confident understanding my insurance coverage and expected payment.

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Harvard Square Eye Care

2.6(126 reviews)

0.2 mi•Harvard Square

I came here for an exam a couple weeks ago and was so happy with my experience that I was shocked…read moreto see the low overall rating on here. But it looks like the 1 star reviews are at least a year old. If you're in the Cambridge area and need an optometrist, go here! Truly. I stopped into and called several optometry offices around Harvard Square, and this was the only one where I immediately felt a genuinely welcoming, no-nonsense vibe. That was NOT my experience elsewhere. Harvard Square Eye Care is clearly not trying to scam you or push overpriced frames. I never felt pressured to buy anything, and I really appreciated having the option to do traditional dilation instead of being steered toward the more expensive imaging option that my insurance doesn't cover - something most other places didn't even offer. It's such a relief to find a practice that understands the simple need for an eye exam and prescription, especially for those of us who just want the most affordable pair of glasses possible. Honest, transparent, and refreshing. Ignore the negative reviews and go here!

Friendly, knowledgeable and quick. Not aggressive with their sales tactics, which is a huge turn…read moreon. Easy parking or a short jaunt from alewife station.

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15 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Sniffy N.

15 years ago

241 Optical boasts truly excellent quality, price, and customer service. Eight months ago I went to 241 Optical for a pair of glasses; I have a strong prescription and need to wear glasses all the time, so I always opt for high-index lenses with antireflective coatings. I ended up buying a pair of glasses and a pair of sunglasses with the lenses and coatings, plus polarized lenses in the sunglasses. My total was $400 for both pairs of glasses; $100 for each pair of lenses, $200 for one frame, and the other frame (worth $200) was free. Compare to $380 for only one pair of glasses from my university's eye center, which already offers a significant discount. I can tell the quality of a pair of glasses the moment I put them on, and I knew right away that the quality was excellent; this was in part due to an accurate prescription but high quality manufacturing and assembly also play an important role. The glasses were comfortable on my face and looked good. Looking at the lenses from a low angle, the lens was perfect; there were no ripples or imperfections in the antireflective coating, which I have sometimes seen from high-end stores. One day after I started working in California, I scratched my glasses near the center of the lens (where the eyes normally focus). I called Yulia and she said that the repair would cost $100 (due to the cost of replacing the lenses), and I only had to mail my glasses to her. I mailed them to Cambridge and she simultaneously ordered the frames, so that she could do the repairs more rapidly. The repair was hassle-free as she keeps my prescription on file, and she also split the return shipping cost (Fedex 2-Day) with me. Six days later the glasses arrived at my doorstep, and they were indeed good as new! I'm recommending 241 Optical to my family even though they live in the Bay Area, so that they could order pairs of glasses on their trips to the East Coast. They certainly deserve this 5-star review. read more

Hang N.

11 years ago

I've never been compelled to leave a rating on Yelp until now. I've been a long time customer of 241 Optical and I will never get my glasses anywhere else...EVER, even if I'm living across the world. My whole family gets their glasses here. I've worn glasses my whole life and they are the first place that have provided the best quality for the cheapest price. I love their PLASTA brand - they are guaranteed, the lightest glasses you will find and never change shape, recommended to me by the owner. I've worn my last pair for 2+ years and the only reason why I got it replaced was because I stepped on it accidentally. Replacing it was easy as pie, I went in, paid $65 bucks for the frame (which is omgawd incredibly cheap and unheard of anywhere) and got a new pair 1 min later. I now live in New York and just called to replace my lenses which only cost $100 for the thinnest (my prescription is very high), anti-glare, scratch resistant - all the works and they're shipping it to me today. Incredible service. Incredible quality for the best price. I feel bad for the poor people who are spending $300-500 dollars on a pair of glasses from places like Lenscrafter that take a week-2 weeks to turn around. 241 has the prices of cheap glasses like Warby Parker but the quality of a $500 pair. Love you guys! read more

Lee-Ping W.

12 years ago

241 Optical boasts truly excellent quality, price, and customer service. I went to 241 Optical for a pair of glasses and a pair of sunglasses, with high-index lenses, anti-reflective coatings, and polarization on the sunglasses. My total was $400 for both pairs of glasses; $100 for each pair of lenses, $200 for one frame, and the other frame (worth $200) was free. Compare to $380 for only one pair from my university's eye center, which already offers a significant discount. I can tell the quality of a pair of glasses the moment I put them on, and I knew right away that they were well made; in part this was due to an accurate prescription, but high quality manufacturing and assembly also plays an important role. One day after I started working in California, I scratched my glasses near the center of the lens. I called Yulia and she said that the repair would cost $100 (due to the high cost of the lenses), and I only had to mail my glasses to her. I mailed them to Cambridge and she simultaneously ordered the frames, so that she could do the repairs more rapidly. One week later the new glasses arrived at my doorstep, and they were indeed good as new! read more

Sh R.

12 years ago

I read all the reviews here as I searched for a good store around Harvard square (the last one I tried 3 years back was horrible) The person at the store was very competent, not pushy, extremely friendly (and actually suggested a frame I would not have gone for myself), and said that one of my 2 glasses I bought would be ready in an hour....they were ready in half that time. The other pair is ready today. Cant recommend the store strongly enough (much much better service than any other store in the area...and I've lived around here since 1992). The selection is limited, but the customer service, prices and competence beats out all the other stores hands down. read more

peter m.

15 years ago

Just got 2 more pairs of glasses from these guys. My first purchase was 2 years ago, and the glasses were great. They still look brand new, but my prescription changed, so I opted to update the frame styles. The selection of frames at 241 is awesome. Everything from really funky to conservative. But the best part is price. For $200 I got two pairs of glasses with super thin lenses and all the coatings. And on top of that, if you have insurance you can get reembursed (mine paid $75). If you are shopping for glasses, be sure to check this place out. read more

A B.

10 years ago

The people here couldn't be nicer. They went out of their way to help me when I realized that the pair I had ordered was not right for me. They had no obligation to do so, but they displayed exemplary kindness. They were also very patient and helpful (though not overbearing) as I proceeded to try on endless pairs. On top of their exceptional customer service, 241 also has a lovely selection of frames and far more reasonable prices than the other local opticians. Cannot recommend more highly!!!! read more

Jo C.

10 years ago

I've shopped at 241 Optical for 2 pairs of glasses now, and the results have always been great. Not only are the products great, but the service is amazing. The owners are nice and not pushy (a very big deal for me). Just today I went in about a nose pad that had come off (of a pair of 2-year old glasses) and they replaced both pads for no charge. read more

M. S.

10 years ago

I have bought glasses here twice over the past 10 years and they are great. The staff is very professional and friendly. They will answer any questions you have and at the same time won't be pushy at all. Also, I need to make some changes to one of my glasses and they were very accommodating. read more

James S.

16 years ago

I just got my 4th pair of glasses from 241 today. They have a range of interesting styles, spend copious time with their customers, are never pushy, and have superior value overall. I tell all my friends to go there for their next glasses and have always had good comments on my frames. read more

Helen L.

16 years ago

VERY helpful customer service experience. VERY affordable, attractive selection of frames (most places have one but not the other). Extremely fast (one hour!), accurate lenses. Found them through co-worker who came in happy with her new, fabulous frames! read more

Lee G.

12 years ago

Just used 241 for the second time. The brother/sister team are reliable and honest. The service is the best, and prices are much less expensive than the national chains. I recommend this company without hesitation. Lee Gagan read more

Daniel P.

7 years ago

The gentleman at this establishment is AMAZING! He's kind, friendly and eager to help, also the prices are quite affordable for store near Harvard square. This place will forever have me as a loyal customer. read more

Agnieszka K.

12 years ago

Great personality of the owner, fantastic selection of frames, eyeglasses ready in 40 minutes. The best in Cambridge (the same day we visited 4 other opticians in the area). read more

Christine G.

9 years ago

I was walking by and stopped in was so surprised at the great prices and the value. Glasses were done in about an hour!! I'd definitely go back :-) read more

Patrick S.

6 years ago

This place always makes me feel like I'm at home.

241 Optical - opticians - Updated August 2026

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