EDIT: update from 2 to 5 stars -- Alicia called me back and really helped me with my questions step-by-step. I was very impressed with the follow-up, patience, and helpfulness. Turns out they did have some samples in my prescription in stock! I'm glad they helped me out this time. S/o to the girls at the front desk! Generally I've had a solid experience when working with folks here (my file was transferred over from another office in the past) but just had an awkward phone call with one of the staff. I asked a few questions I was concerned about and got some answers, asked if they had my prescription in stock (which they didn't, which is fine), but after that it was followed up with awkward silences after asking if there are any options I could explore, to the point that I wasn't sure if they were still on the phone. I heard typing in the background so I wasn't sure if they were looking into it for me, but looking back I think he had mentally moved on from the conversation. I asked to see if someone else could help me -- but was met with "everyone else is busy". He asked for my info, and I asked "will I get a callback regardless or only if there's a solution", and the way he answered seemed like I probably wouldn't get a callback. Like some empathy or "we can't help you, but you can explore these options (samples, boxes or brands they do have in stock, etc)" to provide direction . Idk if Benjamin was just having a bad day, but I felt like a burden and an annoyance for asking questions and didn't really have the empathy nor the time to want to help me problem solve. read more

Came over as new patients about few years ago. Recently, my kids/adult (being more hands off and let them conduct their own visits. I found in both (separate days) instances , they had done a optic scan vs a pupil dilation (covered by insurance). One signed a consent, one did not. Both were not aware there was an extra charge. The 2nd time around, I decided to point it out, and they had no problem with not charging, but it is the principle and I want to be able to trust my doctor best interest in me (financially as well) vs making a quick dime on these sneaky charges. With the first visit/kid, I let it go). 2nd visit, I had to speak up... probably going to be looking for a new optometry place... read more

Dr Tran is AMAZING!! Such high energy and positive and thorough. One of my top 5 doctor experiences ever! Stop what you are doing and book time w her! read more

I recently noticed a shadowy area in my vision and made an appointment at Borel Eye Doctors. Dr. Tran was outstanding. She quickly and expertly diagnosed the issue as a retinal detachment that required urgent treatment. Thanks to her thorough examination and quick thinking, she arranged an emergency same-day appointment with a top ophthalmologist who successfully repaired my retina. Dr. Tran's expertise and professionalism helped to save my vision. Most retinal detachments and tears occur in people over the age of 50, so if you're in that age group and haven't had a comprehensive eye exam in a couple of years (or more), I highly recommend seeing Dr. Tran at Borel Eye Doctors. read more

Five stars becuase I can't give 12 stars. Dr. Arnesty is hands down the best eye doctor I have seen. She is skilled, won't settle until the fit and correction is the absolute best. She will take the time to make sure you have what you need in terms of lenses, tireless, pleasant and overall just great. After 30 years of searching for contacts to correct for my vision issues, she was able to come up with PERFECT lenses that are comfortable, easy to use and the corrective power is ideal. I simply cannot say enough good things about Dr. Arnesty and Borel Eye Doctors. read more

We just visited to have my mom eyes checked as we had some concerns. It was amazing, from the staff at the lobby to Doctor Terri, super friendly, knowledgeable and they answered every question we had and gave us a very detailed explanation to ease our concerns. The entire place is sparkling and pleasant to the look. Thank you so much!! read more

Dr. Arnesty and her office are fantastic: professional, service-oriented, and highly skilled, with excellent communication and follow through. Highly recommend! read more

Friendly optometrists and staff. Long wait times though and they will try to push their in store overpriced glasses on patients. If your eye health is overall healthy, it's a good place for annual check ups. read more

My wife and I have been coming to Dr. Marcie Arnesty for as long as we can remember. The service is top notch, the entire staff is pleasant to deal with and Dr Arnesty is more a friend than an optometrist. Never ever had a problem getting what we need and now they are in a brand-new office building just a block North of their old location. No problem with parking and the lobby resembles an art museum. We were just there, and the staff was hard at work getting moved in and setting things up, yet they all stopped to handle us right away. The entire office is very professional, and they put their clients first. Very rare these days to find a real gem like Borel Eye Doctors. read more

Today, I am especially grateful for Borel Eye Doctors group. I had an eye injury from a chemical burn over the Labor Day holiday. Unfortunately, I knew the doctors may already be booked and short staffed due to the long holiday. I called and left a message with Dr Arnesty's office this morning to try to get in today to have an examination of my eye, as it was basically swollen shut and tearing profusely this morning. Despite the holiday weekend, one of the doctors in the office--Dr. Marks, was able to see me over her lunch break to examine my eyes and to make sure that there was no infection or serious damage. She was very helpful and I left feeling much relieved. Shortly after, I received a follow up call from Dr. Artnesty, who is also so kind and thorough with her patients. Thank you both for taking great care of me and all of your patients at Borel Eye Doctors. read more

I've been seeing Dr. Marcie Arnesty for years and it's a genuine pleasure every time. She is clearly experienced and knowledgeable but also friendly and fun to chat with on top of it all. I have a pretty weird eye prescription and she's always very patient with me. And she is invaluable in helping me navigate the complicated world of eye insurance, lens types, eye solution brands, etc. The rest of the staff is always so warm and professional as well. It never feels like money is the bottom line in this place. Everyone truly wants the best for your eyes. I'm very glad my previous optometrist referred me here after I moved. I can't imagine going anywhere else. read more

Had my first appointment with Dr Mark at Borel Eye Doctors yesterday. Very impressed! The office is large, bright and comfortable. The front desk staff was great - very friendly and efficient. They did the normal tests on my eyes and the. I saw the doctor right away. She is extremely professional and nice. She did a thorough exam and also took the time to get to know me. I then saw Holly, the optician, to pick out new sunglasses. How,y was very helpful and patient as I picked out new frames. I really appreciated the level service from everyone at Borel. Glasses will be ready in about 2 weeks which is fine. Glad I found Borel Eye Doctors on Yelp and highly recommend them! read more

I have been seeing Dr. Marcie Arnesty for many years as has my husband and kids. We are all thrilled with her and her staff's services. She provides a family friendly yet also a beautiful office and practice. My 20 year old son loves her! So do I. She is both serious, on task and also fun. On my most recent visit, I needed much more than just the regular standard of care. I was experiencing difficult eye inflammation. Dr. Arnesty dug deep with me to get to the bottom of my eye health issues and provided great support. She went above and beyond, exceeding my expectations. Her technical knowledge is extensive. Her awareness of unique and different eye health challenges is too. She provides creative and professional solutions to any task at hand. I highly recommend Borel Eye Doctors for unparalleled eye health and new glasses, etc. offerings and services. read more

I wish there was a 10-star rating for Dr. Arnesty (and her office staff)! She was referred to me by my boss at work because I was struggling to see my computer as well as in the distance. My old prescription was no longer working for me, and the contact lens brand I was wearing was also getting uncomfortable. My previous eye doctor who I loved retired, and I had been in search for a new brilliant eye doctor since I have a tricky prescription. Dr. Arnesty spent hours with me on different office visits and gave me numerous sample lenses to try. All the while, literally being the most patient and kind doctor and human I have ever known. She is truly a gem and I am so happy to have found her. Her office staff is just as nice and accommodating. I finally found a lens/prescription that works for me. I will be going back for glasses! Thank you so much, Dr Arnesty! read more

I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to book an appointment (less than a week out) and the ease of checking in and doing my exam. The staff were so friendly and attentive, and the doctor who performed my exam was very knowledgeable and personable. Also love that they accepted my insurance! (VSP). Everything was sanitized, spaced out, and kept clean for covid safety Very glad I found this place and will definitely be coming here regularly for my eye exams and contacts/glasses. read more

I am a long time customer of Borel Eye Doctors. Dr Marcie Arnesty and her doctors and staff have taken very good care of me. Although I have several vision problems, they take the time to fully evaluate my vision and answer in detail any questions that I have. My glasses always fit well, and my vision correction is great. If you would like expert vison care for contact lenses or glasses, I highly reccomend Borel Eye Doctors. read more

Professional, efficient service from doctors and staff. Excellent service from retinal scans to prescriptions for complex vision issues. Highly recommend! read more

Ive tried several different lens stores and eye doctors and I finally have an accurate lens prescription! Dr Arnesty provided proactive reporting and a thorough exam. She was very kind and generous with her time and recommendations. Im was very impressed with the quality service and thoughtful guidance. I finally understand my various eye issues. All the staff members do an excellent job answering any and all questions regarding insurance, lens options, submitting prescriptions and follow up! read more

I've been going to Borel Eye doctors for ~30 years and they never fail to impress. I've been to multiple doctors in the year though Dr. Marcie Arnesty is my typical go to. They have seen me through vision changes, some medical issues with my eyes, and years of testing, contacts, and glasses. They are professional, pleasant, and customer service oriented. They have recently moved locations after so many years, and the new office is beautiful. I highly recommend checking them out of you are looking for an Optometrist!! read more

I have always loved their eyeglass selection. Lot's of nice styles at different price points. HOWEVER, it's really frustrating to have to leave your mask on while you are trying on the glasses. This does not allow someone to see how the glasses are going to look. Very disappointing experience :( read more

Dr. Arnesty has always taken the utmost care of me and my slowly diminishing eyesight. She is patient, kind and thorough. In all the years I have been going to Borel the staff has consistently greeted me with attentive kindness and consideration. This is especially true as on more than one occasion I haven't been able to decide on which pair of glasses suited me the most! I also appreciate the quality and array of frame choices. If you want to be seen and heard this is the place to go!! read more

Finding the right eye doctor has been a journey for me, and I finally found my home with Dr. Arnesty and the entire team at Borel. From the beautiful, calming office environment, to the wide selection of frames, to the kind staff and high-tech equipment... I know that I am in the best hands with this team. They're always flexible with my schedule and on-time with my appointments. I never feel rushed when I'm with Marcy. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Impressive array of sophisticated technology and skilled professionals. Also, an extensive selection of stylish frames. I've been wearing glasses for 62 years and can honestly say that this is the best of the best. read more

My new progressive lenses didn't work out, although the Borel docs did exactly what I asked them to do. Even though I was solely at fault, Borel agreed to re-do the whole order for 'no charge' to ensure my complete satisfaction. Try getting that level of service at Warby-Parker or on-line. Like all things in life, you get what you pay for. And for Monica S, the reviewer preceeding mine on December 27, the problem is you. not Borel. Shame on you: Just imagine. you walk into a shop where you are NOT the customer, expect to get taken care of 'on the spot for free', don't get what you were looking for and rather than saying 'thank you', turn around and post a bad review on Yelp. Wow! Three thumbs for Monica S.! read more

I have tried a few times in the past few weeks to make an appointment with this business. My calls have either gone to a fax machine when I'm calling the main line or the person who picked up was unable to schedule and asked me to call back. I'm so frustrated. I'm going to take my business somewhere else. read more

Love the staff and the great service I get when I go in. Last year I had a terrible time with fitting on contacts and Marcie fitted me, arranged to get new contacts and basically didn't give up until we were able to get the right fit. This past year, I fell and broke my glasses, and we were out of the warranty period, and the doctor's office didn't carry these. The staff worked with the manufacturer to get me replacement - went way above on this. Every customer gets undivided attention, you don't feel rushed, and get all your questions answered. I've been a patient here for ~30 years - always have had great services. Thanks Borel Eye Doctor!!!!! read more

I am delighted to write a review for Boral Eye Doctors as last week was my first time walking in the door and the staff made me feel really comfortable! I was greeted by the lovely lady at the front desk (Christine). I arrived early so I was able to look at the frames and & the great options they had. I came in find of having an idea of what I wanted and of course I was going for name brand MK glasses! But once I smoke to a lady named (Janet ) Certified Optician I was able to realize that I actually should get glasses that fit my face (mind u its my first time getting/picking out glasses. Janet syaynwuth me for about an.hour and explained the bill to me and plus I was able to get the glasses I wanted!! Yayy.I was able to get some feedback from the staff members working and I can really tell that they were being honest and not just trying to sell a dream ;). Thank you staff! Now that I saved the best for last, I want to definitely recommend Dr. Joy Lam! She is amazing and it shows that she cares! She examined my eyes and explained everything in detail. She made me feel very comfortable!! I couldn't imagine a better experience! Thank you Boral Eye Doctors! read more

I spoke with the business owner and I am updating the review and score because she took the time to reach out and discuss the concerns I had. I very much like the doctors and have always felt they were top notch but it holds true that the front of the house is not nearly as detailed as would be desirable. Any business owner that takes the time to call and connect in a pleasant way is worth another look. read more

very informed doctor and very helpful and extremely kind. so many pairs of glasses to choose from and staff was extremely sweet and helpful. highly recommend read more

The doctors here are good and have good communication skills. However, there are other good optometrists with better staff. I've had similar experiences to Claire S. where the staff could be better. On my last visit, I arrived 10 minutes before my appointment to fill out paperwork as they suggested, and it was during the front desk person's lunch break, which she is totally entitled to but what 1) why have appointments during this time - there's another client in the office too. why is there only one person? 2) rather than acknowledge me, she sits there eating her lunch ignoring me for about 3 minutes before looking up and telling me it's her lunch break and to wait another 5 minutes. at which point, I'm not sure why I bothered to arrive early. The whole time, I was made to feel like I was taking up her time. A few weeks later, I called back in to ask them to email me a copy of my prescription. The woman on the phone said sure, and told me she would get to it when she was done with other things. That was over two weeks ago and I have yet to get anything, so I guess she must have had a huge stack of things to do. read more

On the basis of a recommendation of a coworker, I started going to Dr. Arnesty when I worked on the peninsula. I don't work there anymore, and the long drive for me now is a bit inconvenient, but Dr. Arnesty is so great and the staff are so wonderful that I haven't thought about changing doctors. Just recently I had some issues with my glasses and changing to soft contact lenses, and everyone stayed late on a Saturday to make sure I was fitted correctly. And to make sure that I had the right correction, I was tested and double checked for a couple of hours and charged only the regular office visit charge. I can't thank these people enough, and now I'm seeing as clearly as I ever have. read more

The staff is just super. They have an excellent selection of products from which to choose, at an affordable price. What I value most is their customer service and willingness to ensure your satisfaction. Special kudos go to Dr. Mark, Michael and Troy. Thank you. Ron Whiteside read more

Dr. Arnesty is an excellent optometrist. She takes the whole nine yards to help you with any eye problems. She is very knowledgeable and skilled. I appreciate her detailed explanation of my exam. Moreover, she is also personable and caring. It is wonderful that there is such a top-notch optometrist in San Mateo. read more

I'm so glad that I'm a patient of Borel Eye Doctors! I was referred by a colleague and I have nothing but great things to say about the practice. Dr. Bautista has been amazing in terms of her examinations as well as her communication with me and my other doctors. She made a great referral for me and followed up closely to check on my health as well. The rest of the staff and the team there has also treated me amazingly. Highly recommend! read more

Great office. Dr. Samantha Bautista is wonderful. Knowledgeable and helpful and concerned with the whole patient and coordinating with other eye docs I see for my issues. Great office - staff is personable and pleasant. Much larger than it appears on the outside - lots of glasses and sunglasses choices. Takes VSP Insurance. I'd highly recommend. :) read more

Borel Eye Doctors gave me the worst and weirdest optometric experience of my life, and I've been wearing glasses for over 50 years. Just about everything went wrong. The glowing YELP reviews led me to try Borel, now I wonder about them. My eyes were examined on August 31, 2011 by Dr. Marcie Arnesty-Olian. The exam seemed to go well. I then chose frames, assisted by Troy, who seemed knowledgeable. At that time, I also ordered reading lenses to be put into a frame I already had; Dr. Arnesty-Olian examined me for that prescription as well. On September 9, I returned to the Borel office to be fitted with my new glasses. I was looking forward to having them, as I was leaving town for a week on the following day. However, when I tried on my primary prescription (assisted by Troy) it was evident that something was very wrong with the right lens. The same was true with the reading glasses. The vision was simply horrible. Troy examined the lenses, compared them to Dr. Arnesty-Olian's written prescription, and told me they matched. Obviously, there had been a slip-up. I made an appointment for another exam on September 23, the first available slot after I would return from my out-of-town trip. I saw Dr. Arnesty-Olian again on the 23rd, and she told me why my right lenses were so bad: she had incorrectly transposed numbers from one form to another, making an "01" into a "9". So, the right lenses on both pairs were incorrectly ground. She then re-examined my eyes, and it was a rather strange experience. She seemed rather flustered, which could have been partly the result of an incident earlier that afternoon, when a robber had come into the Borel office, snatched expensive frames off the display shelves, and fled. It was during this second exam that I got to try on the defective glasses for a longer period of time, and it became evident to me that the vision in the left (supposedly correctly-ground) lens in my new primary pair was not as clear as my old pair. I was able to compare them at length, and the new pair was actually slightly inferior to the old. By this time, I started to wonder what I'd gotten myself into. Dr. Arnesty-Olian then employed a measuring device which fitted and looked like a pair of thick-rimmed glasses with adjustment knobs on them. She asked me to read projected letters on the wall while she turned knobs and did other things with the device. The exam seemed to kind of stall out, and she asked me to turn the little knobs on the device to make the images of the projected letters as clear as possible. No doctor had ever asked me to do such a thing before, and it seemed a bit odd, but in a way I didn't mind because I felt that I had a shot at getting exactly the right prescription. After the exam, Dr. Arnesty-Olian accompanied me to the counter where glasses are fitted, and with the assistance of a young lady, proceeded to double-check my new frames. It soon became obvious that the frames were not the correct size. It occurred to me then that I did not recall Troy measuring anything at all on my initial visit. Dr. Arnesty-Olian and the young lady made necessary measurements, and I left hopeful that next time I went in, my new glasses would be perfect. Still, I had decided by that point that I would likely find another eye doctor in a year or two, when it was time to get checked again. I had never experienced anything like it -- but it wasn't over yet. On October 19, seven weeks after my initial visit to Borel, I received a phone call from them telling me that my glasses had arrived (again) -- but upon checking them, they discovered that they had been incorrectly ground by the lab. They said it would be about another two weeks for lenses to be made -- again! At that point, I had had enough. I told the young lady who phoned that I had expended all the time and worry on the matter I was going to. I said I'd call back after I talked with my wife (her insurance was covering a portion of my prescription), and decided what to do. Later that afternoon, Dr. Arnesty-Olian phoned me, and more or less apologized for the whole thing, suggesting that I let them try again to get it right since, as she put it, we'd worked so hard to get the prescription right. By then, I had no confidence that I would ever receive from Borel the quality of corrective eyewear that I have routinely gotten elsewhere. I told her I was done, and that all I wanted was to not be charged for anything, and for our insurance to be credited; in other words, put me back like I was before I walked into Borel. In a few days, I received in the mail my old glasses (which were going to be made into reading glasses), and a slip showing that my wife's credit card had been reimbursed for the over $700 we spent on nice frames and the extra lenses. Our insurance has also been credited. I'm not telling anyone to not go to Borel Eye Doctors, but this is what happened to me. read more

High level recap of Borel Eye Doctors: Great optometry experience, staff dropped the ball on multiple occasions and screwed up my prescription. Getting glasses at Borel Eye Doctors made sense since I worked up the block and they had a decent yelp review. Had an appointment with a younger optometrist who was great and order a pair of glasses. The staff gave me an ETA of a week. Two weeks into waiting, I hear nothing from the store. Two and a half weeks after the initial visit, I called the store and the receptionist assured me that she would follow up on this issue the next morning since the lab was already closed--NEVER RECEIVED A CALL OR EMAIL BACK. We are hitting week three after placing my order for these glasses and I finally call the store to complain about what is going on. The very next day, they leave a message to let me know my prescriptions has finally arrived. At this point there is an amazing sour taste in my mouth--to top everything off, THEY SCREWED UP MY PRESCRIPTION. At this point, they offer me a ~30% off the cost of my glasses as an apology but I declined to take them up on their offer. Management was notified of this issue, and they quickly refunded my for my glasses and writing up a prescription to get my glasses else where. In short, I am giving this place TWO stars, one for the great exam experience and one for management handling this with such pose. I do want to warn future patients that doctors are great here but multiple staff gave me poor customer service by NOT giving me a proper ETA on a frame that could be on back order, NOT notifying me when there was a delay in the glasses, NOT following through on a calling me back with a status update, and NOT properly assuring my prescription was correct. I did not expect Spa quality service from an optometrist, my only expectation was to get an exam and receive a pair of prescription glasses (which I paid for). In the end, Borel Eye Doctors did not deliver. read more

I've been going to Borel Eye Doctors for about 15+ years now, and Dr. Mark and Janet and the rest of the staff have always taken really great care of myself, the husband and the kids. Once a year we all traipse in for our eye exam, order up a bunch of glasses and contacts and usually do not see them again till the following year. I've never seen Dr. Arnesty-Olian or Dr. Lew - that was until this weekend when I needed some special attention. I had the most unbearable eye infection and was able to get in on Saturday at the last moment to see Dr. Lew. It's busy on the weekends, but she saw me anyway, gave me her cell# a prescription and had me scheduled for a follow up with Dr. Arnesty-Olian who I saw today. Voila, infection gone. They were both just as fantastic as Dr. Mark and I can see why they have such a loyal following. I love that this place is open in the evenings and on Saturday. I always enjoy seeing Janet to pick out new glasses, she's always patient with me (i have to try them all on) and I never feel rushed. Everyone is always professional and pleasant and they turn over the styles frequently, so there's always a lot to choose from. read more

They won't pick up the phone during scheduled operating hours!! It is so frustrating when you call a place during their advertised business hours and they don't pick up the phone. It just gives you voice mail and then they don't check it and call you back. This has happened to me 3 times in the past two months. While they seem like good eye doctors, they need to answer their phones. If you don't answer your phones, at least move to the modern world and accept online appointment scheduling. This technology is widely available. read more

I've been going here for several years. I've been extremely satisfied with the services provided by the Borel Eye Doctors and their staff. My particular Optometrist is Joy Lam and I would definitely recommend her to anybody. Also they are able to check your eyes without having to go through the standard dilation process and that is a major plus. Give them a try. read more