PICK UP THE PHONE!!! I HAVE CALLED 10 DIFFERENT TIMES ON 10 DIFFERENT DAYS OVER MONTHS AND NO ONE HAS EVER PICKED UP THE PHONE. So I make an appointment online only to find out that I can't meet with the doctor because it must be the virtual doctor for a follow up. Really? No one else can just make sure the lenses fit, which they do. Instead I get a lecture about how I should call and schedule an appointment because then they can let me know when I should come in. Well OK THEN PICK UP THE PHONE!! I will never go back. AND THE PLACE IS FILTHY. The customer bathroom is worse than any truck stop/portapotty. And this is supposed to be a place that people get their eyes examined and put contacts in? Disgusting. read more

Empire Visionworks - If the bathroom is this filthy, how dirty is the place generally where customers putt contacts in their eyes and get their eyes examined? - Optometrists Near Me - Niskayuna, New York

See all

The staff and doctors here and friendly, helpful and professional. They go above and beyond! I've been using this location for years and they've always been good to me. read more

great eye Dr who has been working with the company for decades is so great. she made my experience very positive and I was so confident with the results of my new glasses. the prescription is right on and now I can see my phone numbers and my text messages. the staff who adjusts the glasses for a perfect fit he was amazing. very pleasant and loving his job. it was a happy place to be with a positive experience. the staff went out of their way to find me the exact frame I was looking for. high recommend the ball town rd store read more

We have returned to going here following this location's re-location across the street in the Mansion Square strip mall area, and the service here has been excellent. They do repairs without question (our youngest needs them all the time) and in particular the senior optician is quite a delight. The prices, with insurance, are reasonable, and there's a pretty big selection. We have had literally dozens of pairs from this location now and have had only one defect from the lab-produced lenses, which was unfortunate, but thus far the exception. My main quibble with this location is the queue management -- you come in and check in and wait your turn, like anywhere, but it would be nice to have the option of getting an appointment for optical work. Only one of us has used the optometrist service in the past (and we're all on opthalmologists now for a variety of reasons) so cannot comment on the current state of that particular service, but they've always taken external prescriptions without question. Plus for the text-notifications on glasses arriving and the relative promptness of service from the manufacturing lab. read more

Empire Visionworks - Optometrists Near Me - Niskayuna, New York

very rude went in there and asked if they could fill my script from last year because I never got my glasses. The guy was very rude and said they could but how do you know it's the right script since it's been a year and wouldn't mess up my insurance for next year. told him I get really bad oh guess you just have to deal with the next year. very rude walked out will never bring business there. Will not even recommend somebody to go there. read more

Located in Mansion Square in Niskayuna, NY Schenectady Friday, 10/28/22 Husband lost his glasses this morning. Needed to replace them on same day. Got there at 4:15 and out at 5:15 including time to select frames. We received courteous, professional service from initial call and then check in to check out. Even though the place was busy, it was run efficiently because the many workers we observed and worked with were interested in providing excellent customer service. Meghan who placed the order was excellent as was the receptionist who took my call. Meghan explained the buy one get one free offer. It was such a good deal that two pair of glasses were ordered complete with quality bifocal progressive lenses. Parking was a breeze. The store is huge so it is easy to distance. Many workers and clientele wore masks. read more

If I could give a zero I would!! NEVER do business with these people!! Wayyyy too long to make an appointment and when something goes wrong, they pass the buck to their corporate office, only to find out they pass you back to them!! It's ridiculous!!! read more

I went to Empire Visionworks in Niskayuna for a routine eye exam. A few days later I came down with a horrendous sore throat sinusitis and lung infection . I just came back from the doctor now all my family is infected . Thank God I don't think it was covid but I got tested for it today . I don't think Empire Vision cleans their equipment where you have to place your face and forehead for the exam . Not a very good practice and not recommended . Not happy about it , I haven't been anywhere else because I'm basically homebound so it had to be there. Ughhhh read more

Do not go here. I repeat do not go here. They are rude. Appt was 240 and 50 min later I was still waiting for my sons eye exam. Just go someplace else. Just don't go here. I counted six workers and all are horrible. read more

I have an 11am appointment I get here at 1050 and go to the counter. She says to me " oh you came before I could call you. We will need to cancel because we overbooked" after some back and forth they said they will cancel someone else and if I wait they could squeeze me in at 1130, I wait. I wait 2hrs just to see the tech and another 1.5hrs for the doctor. So all in all I waited 4 hours on my one day off. read more

The people here are very nice and we get games when we wait. and i get to look at all the cool machines and look at the pictures they take.

Extremely disappointed in vision works. Felt "mislead" and sales people did not inform us that by purchasing there under what they claimed was a promotion would null and void any insurance reimbursement we would have been eligible for. read more

Not happy with their service and it's a nightmare to get in contact with them! It's been almost 6 months since I went in for an exam and to order glasses & contacts! I still don't have my 3 month supply of contacts! You also can't get in touch with this store and neither can your insurance company! (Update: I am told this is a brand-wide issue the company is trying to fix.) I went into the store since I couldn't get in touch with them. The manager couldn't tell me what was taking so long for my contacts as the system said they were ordered and there wasn't a delayed status or anything. He promised me he would call me back in a week or two personally but it's been over a month and still nothing. I'm currently working with corporate to switch my order to a different location as I'm fed up with all of this taking so ridiculously long! I understand COVID has made things difficult but this is outrageous! read more

Another wonderful experience with this business. Nancy was very pleasant professional and efficient! She measured me for my order, then when I returned to pick them up, fitted my glasses perfectly. I was in and out in minutes. Will definitely return again! read more

My recent experience with VisionWorks on Balltown Rd. in Schenectady was absolutely pleasant! I was in and out in less than an hour. The ladies were respectful and patient with me as I figured out my insurance. The teledoc was thorough and answered all of my questions. I felt heard and I felt valued during my visit. A no judgment zone! Their eyeglasses selection is great too; lots of frames to choose from. I will be back for my next annual visit. Thank you! read more

75 year old with mobility issues,-no help-,Niskayuna store on 8/22/23 picked up my glasses,was told they cannot adjust or tighten them_WHAT?-When I got into car and opened case there was not even a cleaning cloth-will get my frames from bj,s from now on read more

I must say that I have never been so frustrated in all of my life over a place. I normally can breathe through things and it will be okay but for some reason my frustration level is sky high right now. So my youngest son has broke his glasses and I was trying to get him in to get an appointment because the website states that broken glasses are considered essential and they can get you in faster. I called this store and waited on hold for almost 40 minutes until someone picked up to tell me that this was not the case and he could not get in to get his glasses looked at until October! I asked when he was do for another eye exam while I had him on the phone and the phone disconnects while I am talking to him, he has all my information now and he does not return my call to answer the question because the disconnected line and i am not waiting for another 40 minutes listening to that automated lady, that made me want to bounce my head off the door a couple hundred times, Oh my word. I am not happy at all with this service and please we can not blame Covid because there are many businesses doing the exact same thing and keeping up with calls. Mind you there are four of us that go and get glasses yearly and it is about $350 per by the time we are done with the addons and I think it is time we take our business elsewhere. Now, understand this is just my experience I am not drawing conclusions for anyone else and would never do that they have been a great company for many years so try them out and see for yourself this is just my experience and my review and I truly hope that they see this and correct there website and wait times because this is not a good image for your company. Thank you so much for listening. read more

Empire Visionworks - Signage - Optometrists Near Me - Niskayuna, New York

Great and speedy service! I walked in for my appointment 15 minutes early and was having my pre-screening within 5 minutes of walking in the door. I did not have to wait to see the optometrist following the pre-screening. After that, I browsed the glasses while waiting for the optician, but even then I only tried on 1 pair before I was sat with her. She let me browse the selection and the entire appointment took about 40 minutes, only because I took so much time looking at the great selection of glasses and sunglasses. The service and quality were excellent and I would recommend this location to anyone. It was also great to go to a place where my insurance covers such a substantial amount of the bill! Strongly recommend to anyone! read more

Waited on hold for 35 minutes to order contacts. No one picked up. Early am. I guess I have to drive to store really ?!!!

Came in with new glasses I bought last week and bent them at work pretty bad. Came in thinking I had to buy new frames and Christine said let me try and fix them. She came back 2 minutes later and they fit better than they did brand new. If you need glasses adjusted from bad bends ask for Christine. 100% coming back read more

The Optometrist was rude as she was dismissive and cold despite how friendly and respectful I was to her. This was my experience with her through two different eye exams. Also, the exam stations are filthy and so you need to check and make sure they were cleaned before sticking your chin and forehead into the exam face frames. Poor selection of frames too! read more

The location on Balltown road has the worst customer experience I have ever experienced. The girls that work behind the front desk are rude and do not know how to assist you when you have basic questions. I waited over 3 hours for an eye exam for them to only have me wait over a month for my contacts to magically be delivered. Good luck trying to call someone on the phone because that is also a dead end. I will NEVER be coming back this location or any other location and I will let my friends know about the terrible customer service. read more

Have been going to there for about 15 years now and I've never had any issues scheduling appointments or picking up my glasses. The staff are always very professional, especially when dealing with customer issues. Definitely would recommend to anyone looking for good selection in glasses as well! read more

They do NOT answer their phone. I will send a message to cooperate. There is NO way they are that busy that ANYTIME you call they do NOT pick up the phone. I will take my business elsewhere! read more

This place made me feel like I was part of a factory just pumping out prescriptions with little customer service or care. The little service I did get was stopped abruptly when I informed the employee I would not be purchasing glasses or contacts. She dropped me like a hot potato and moved on to the next sucker in line even though I had follow up questions. I should have known better - it took (literally) 8 days of calling every day to get someone to answer the phone so I could make an appointment. I would normally give up, but this is one of only a few places that takes my insurance. The person who answered made the process incredibly difficult. I had to suggest multiple days and she refused to just tell me when the next appointment was available. Finally, after suggesting six different days I miraculously found an open time slot. The eye exam was the fasted one I have ever experienced. The doctor had very little interaction with me and was not particularly personable. I felt rushed and invisible. I would rather pay for my exam than use my insurance to come here again. read more

They used to be awesome...a lot has changed. You can't call... online tells you to call. You finally get in, they tell you it's a virtual exam...in person. Also, they scheduled my spouse and I for back to back appointments...20 minutes apart...for a 40 minute appointment. ...makes sense to me...NOT!! read more

Extremely slow service. If you're going to this location, give yourself plenty of time. Contact lens station was also dirty.

Worst experience ever. When they called my name I thought I was being helped but they were just doing part of my exam and made me take my contacts out for it then sit in the waiting room for 15-20 more minutes without contacts/ glasses. When the doctor finally saw me she asked what contacts I use. I blanked and she seemed annoyed. I asked if she could see on my chart that they should have received from LensCrafters what I usually wear. She only answered by saying I don't look at that. Needless to say I was frustrated and had to start asking her to name popular contact brands till one sounded familiar. Furthermore the staff did not provide options that I had with my insurance or talk me through any of the charges that were being made. When I asked for a run down of the charges the specialist was rude and rushed me through. When I said I noticed that sounded high and that I was going to call LensCrafters afterwards to check the price she became short with me and started pushing samples at me. I was so flustered I left my rebate code at her station because I just wanted to leave. When I realized that I called the store both to confirm the price of my contacts at LensCrafters ( which were cheaper without insurance) and to see if I could get a rebate flyer when I had to come back in to pick up my contacts. They transferred me to the contact lady and she cut me off and started reading my charges before I was even done speaking. Frustrated again I said "ok" and hung up then called the front desk to ask for a rebate. When I explained the situation she said " yea our contacts person isn't great." And was very nice in trying to make me feel better about the situation. I will NOT ever go back for another yearly visit there. read more

They double booked my daughter's appointment and then didn't call to let us know. I brought her in and they couldn't see her. They were completely unapologetic. read more

This place is horrible, they ordered me glasses that were discontinued. Then when I called they wouldn't pick up the phone for hours. I drove over to the store which didn't have a single customer in it, at least they worked with me to order a new pair of glasses and put through a refund because the new ones were cheaper read more

Update-although the company asked me for my contact information and I gave them my email and phone number, no one contacted me and I had to wait a month to pick up my glasses-which I did today. I was in and out in ten minutes. For that I waited a month. I will not go back read more

Incompetent staff. Poor selection of frames to choose from. I would NOT recommend this place to any of my family and friends. read more

Horrible customer service. I ordered glasses and they never got back to me. And they never pick up the phone.

Despite all the poor reviews, I wanted to relay what a wonderful experience I had there today. I came to the store in a desperate situation (my fault...I let my contact lense prescription lapse) and they squeezed me in for an appointment right then and there! Every person I dealt with was courteous and willing to help me with my situation. I am SO GRATEFUL for their kindness and wonderful customer service! read more

Had an eye appointment and waited an hour to be seen, then had to wait for another person to order my glasses. So today i go to pick up my glasses and waited at the front sign for 10 minutes for a girl to ask it i was taken care of. After that she disappeared for and came back to the desk i had to go ask her if she got my glasses and she said she couldn't find them. Great communication skills. So then she says her manager is looking for them and he comes out in another 10 minutes and says they are lost. HELLO DO NIT GO THERE. read more

I have to say I had an eye exam for contacts and frames and lenses in November October 2022 and I had a telehealth visit and while my contacts were fine for that visit because I got the prescription that day. My insurance doesn't cover progressive lenses, so I waited and then of course, you know, wife comes apart to where you know things get busy and I had to save up for the progress progressive lenses which very expensive, so in January of this year 2023 I tried calling the 800 number sitting on hold for. I can't tell you how many hours so I decided to go to the location on Balltown Road in Niskayuna the girl that was at the desk was very unpleasant, very unhelpful , so I want to give kudos to I don't know if she's a technician she helps you you know if you got your frames and you know Mark shirt face for the glasses placement your face I believe her name is Amanda and she deserves well over 10 stars because for my glasses prescription whoever the telehealth person was that I did it with did not put my prescription in meaning I never got a call for them so she went out of her way to help me with getting a second pair of lenses and frames that was more cost feasible for my progressive lenses. We're about $500. So in my closing I've been going to this location for can't tell you a very, very very long time and again I'm not sure if she's like the tech that helps you with your glasses not sure with the proper Title is for that. But she is definitely one of the nicest ones I've dealt with an over 35 years And again I don't like the fact that I can't speak to a specific location without calling an 800 number and waiting on hold for 900 hours it's very frustrating because nobody ever picks up and I know you guys are a very big company and you're taking calls from all over the states but there's got to be a better way to assist people instead of leaving them on hold for hours waiting for a rep to help them because nonetheless your online chat on your website I don't believe I was chatting with a human when this first situation happened when I went to the location for help and some answers Even though I was trying to explain simply what I needed. It gave me the most asinine answers and then questions after that you really need to figure out your online site and figure out how patrons can contact their locations because this is seriously ridiculous. read more

On hold for too long for a simple question now imma have to drive there like smh it's not dat hard to call a place and ask about some info.

Impossible to make an appointment, they don't even answer their phones. When you actually go in for the appointment, they make you wait forever. I waited an hour and a half and they still haven't taken me. DO NOT GO HERE. read more

I like to go to the Empire Visionworks store in Crosstown Plaza in Schenectady. Stopped by to get my glasses checked and adjusted. I also had to pick up my new lense . They replaced a lens and did a great job. The gentleman that waited on me was very friendly and made me feel welcomed . I would definitely recommend this shop for glasses and all accessories. read more

I had a terrible experience at this Empire Vision. I went into the store to get my glasses adjusted. There were no other customers in the store. There was one guy behind the main desk and a lady sitting at a table to my right looking at a box of assorted glasses. I had been waiting 15 minutes when I asked if someone was before me. I was told it would only be a few more minutes. This woman was still looking at the box of glasses. After 5 more minutes she showed me to a table. I showed her my glasses which needed adjusting. She placed the glasses on the table and twisted them around and them handed the glasses back to me and said "here you go" and promptly got up and left. She never tried them on me to see if the adjustments she had made were correct. I guess she had no interest in helping me because I was buying anything. read more