My coworker suggested I go here for the contacts I was in dire need of - I LOVE her for her awesome reviews. She says she has been going here for years, and loves it. I went, and it totally lived up to her glowing reviews. The staff was incredibly helpful, and even made a copy of my prescription so they can send me more contacts when I need them. They gave me the Costco pricing even though I didn't have a card - crazy nice of them! I will absolutely go back here for all of my eye needs. Really lovely place! read more

Really helpful employees from the moment you enter the store! Welcome you and let you look without any rush. I went to a few other stores before and experienced the employees trying to sell sth immediately. In this one I had the feeling they tried to find the best fit for me. Let me try various glasses. I'd definitely recommend them to my friends! Thank you for the quick and professional service! read more

I've previously had a good experience with Dr. Blalock- and was disappointed to hear that she's no longer with the practice. I had a strange appointment with Dr. Smith. Upon arrival I could hear him (talking very loudly) on a personal call with one of his old fraternity brothers. Our appointment was filled with unnecessary personal stories, television recommendations (I don't even watch TV- but Dr. Smith just wants to talk about what he wants to talk about). I was uphauled when Dr. Smith took a call on his cellphone from his wife IN THE MIDDLE of our appointment (she got info from the auto body shop that he was eager to hear about). Incredibly rude and unprofessional! Dr. Smith also lectured me on how I was rude to the lens retail service people (who share the same space as the optometry office) when it told them that I was planning on getting my lenses at Warby Parker. Umm, thanks Dad. I'm a 40-year old woman... I don't need you to talk down to me. I will spend my money where I want to, thanks. I will NOT return if Dr. Smith is the only Optometrist available. Terrible experience. Very unprofessional! read more

I'm surprised that For Eyes hasn't been rated yet. I have gone there for years, first visiting Ophmologist Robert Schoen, and now Channon Kao who has taken over most of their prescription business. Last time I went in there I asked Dr. Kao "I'm turning 50--how do I get eyes of a 30-year old?" (meaning focusing ability, nothing more). She worked through my needs--reading, birding, hours in front of a computer, desired 20/15 acuity, and came up with a great solution of a mixture of contacts + eyeglasses that works great. Can't rate them on styles or price, but on the basis of finding a solution that works well and on a professional attitude, Five Stars! read more

They accidentally charged me twice as much because of confusion over my insurance. I thought the price sounded fishy, so I tried to correct the surly person helping me, but he dismissed me and told me he had everything under control. When I brought this to their attention via phone, they acted as if I was a dumb, confused customer and said they'd have the associate who made the mistake call me. I said, "I don't want to talk to that guy." Fortunately, one of the staff got wind of it and checked his work. An hour later she gave me the refund. I know that the insurance industry is complicated, and yes, at least one of the people here seems to know what's going on, but I don't appreciate the way they treated me. Obviously they are competing on price and sacrificing customer service, so I'd be happier with somewhere the staff were paid enough to care - even if it cost a bit more. read more

This five star review has just been reduced to a two star review. Let me explain: I'm keeping it at two stars because the vision department has nothing to do with the ophthalmologist. I'd be dropping it to zero stars if it weren't for them. So back to my ophthalmologist appointment I had at 2:00. I get downtown in Berkeley with ample time to get parked and show up to my appointment on time(I mean after all, they've sent me a litany of email and text reminders about this appointment. So you'd think they'd be ready for me at 2:00) So I walk through the door at 1:45. I'm early I tell them I'll be back in ten minutes. I'm there at at 1:50. I'm greeted and given some paperwork to fill out. I knock it out in time for my appointment. So I wait. And wait. Finally at 2:10 I inquire what's going on with my appointment. She (THEN) tells me there was a walk in. What? The walk in had something in her eye. Now here's the thing. Why didn't she tell me this: " sorry but we had an emergency someone has an object in their eye. We're sorry, but do you mind waiting." Not: leave me sitting there, wondering why I'm just sitting there while in the docs office they're in there chatting and giggling(didn't sound like and emergency to me just a bunch of chit chat. Congratulations. You just lost a 30 year client not only cause you bumped me, but because you couldn't be considerate enough to apprise me of the situation of why I would be waiting. If you could have given me that one common courtesy I'd still be a 30year customer. I've been going to for eyes locations all over the Bay Area for over 30 years. This location for 15. Very professional and courteous. Outstanding prices on frames. Just a great, reliable business. I can't recommend it enough. read more

I really appreciate the thorough eye care I receive from Drs Kao and Schoen. And of course the price is great. I haven't purchased contacts from For Eyes in many years, since I find them cheaper online. The last time I purchased glasses (sunglass and regular), i chose some pretty ill-fitting Guicchi sunglasses .... i wish I would have received better guidance for this $$$ purchase. read more

After a harrowing experience with Sight For Sore Eyes (avoid them at all costs), I was a little cautious about yet another eye care place located on Shattuck Ave. But I was more than pleased with my experience at For Eyes. The staff were all friendly and helpful. Channon Kao was a delight as a doctor, and very professional. I lamented my bad experience at Sight For Sore eyes, and she seemed genuinely sympathetic. I was visiting because I had been given a bogus prescription from the Sight For Sore Eyes folks. Dr. Kao gave me an excellent and thorough eye exam, and gave me the proper contact prescription. She even gave me a few new brands of contacts to try out as well as some solution samplers that she recommended. All free of charge. Quality service, friendly staff, and a knowledgeable expert. I think this could be the best eye care spot in Berkeley. Quick note -- I did not buy any glasses from them. I saw a previous review that said they had a mixed experience ordering glasses, but I can't vouch for this. The whole eye exam and contact lens fitting was $95 -- great deal (I called around). Also, they price match for contacts. If you find your contacts cheaper elsewhere, even online, they'll match the price. Excellent, excellent, excellent experience. read more

Went there for a repair, they didn't seem happy to see me. Made to repair quickly but when I asked for a new case and she said didn't have any. Was it me or was this kind of funny that they didn't have any hard cases for sale. Did the repair at no cost so that was nice Maybe she's not a morning person. read more

I've been going here since I found out I needed prescriptions in college (couldn't read street signs while driving or see the blackboard from the back of lecture course--it was a revelation to me when I stepped out onto the street and discovered the world suddenly clear again. I like this place because it is nice and clear and unpretentious. Nice and cheap too--which is my price level. I have since graduated from glasses to contact lenses, but I have never had anything to complain about here so I thought I would give them a plug. read more

Today I went to the shop regarding my glasses that keeps failing from my nose! The staff who works there are very welcoming, especially David who helps to fix the problem with his magic hands! I'm so happy that I came to the shop and I will definitely recommend this place to my friends and find a great place for my next pair of glasses! He just made my day, thank you! read more

I went to Dr. Kao last year because of the good reviews. She really genuinely cares of her customers. She's really nice and patient during the exam as well as working with me about my insurance. Unfortunately I couldn't get an appointment during a time I wanted this year, so definitely book in advance! read more

I walked in to have my glasses fixed, the lens fell off. I didn't buy these glasses from them, but they helped anyway. They offered to replace both nose pads that were missing and only charged $5. When I got home I found they fixed another thing that was broken. Everybody wore masks. Great experience. read more

Dr Smith went out of his way to accommodate a last minute appointment. Very thorough eye exam and he's very personable. All the staff, both the optometry and the eye glass retail, are very friendly and very customer service oriented. Michael Kiyemba, the store manager, was very patient and helped me choose the best look for me. A super positive experience all around. read more

Every time I go to this place everyone is extremely courteous. They have fair prices and have always delivered the glasses in time. I would definitely recommend them. read more

Dr. Kao was great. Clear, patient, humurous. She took the time to make sure the prescription was just right. Her assistant spent 30 minutes with me while I tried to figure out how to get contacts in and out. They gave me two free trial pairs of contacts while I decide which I prefer. I got two pairs of glasses for $50 while I was there. read more

Two Stars: "Meh. I've experienced better." And It's true, I have experienced better. I never got a call the day before to remind me that I had an appointment the next day like most offices do. So of course it was no surprise when I showed up at 10:30 (like my records showed) instead of 10:00 (like their records showed.) When I showed up the salesman in the front was pretty rude when I told him I had an appointment and didn't know where to check in. For some reason the reception desk is all the way in the back of the room. The first receptionist was very helpful and nice and the second one seemed disinterested and a little bothered by me. Since I was late I didn't get a chance to see the doctor. I have an appointment for next Thursday at 11:00 to which I'll write a follow up review. read more

Participates in that absurd notion that contact prescriptions only last one year (the law is that they have to last at least one year - not only one year). When new contacts are needed, they wont do a fitting off of the still-valid eye glass script, but instead require a full exam again. I'll find another provider. read more

The staff here are wonderfully warm, chatty, and skilled. Rather than balk at the vintage frames I bring in, they usually "ooh" and "aah" and inquire as to where I've found such lovely rhinestone-encrusted spectacles. Service this great is harder and harder to come by. The exams are thorough and the price is very reasonable; even if you don't have vision insurance. Plus, they throw in lots of free eyeglass cleaning supplies with your new specs! read more

There is a great doctor here that is very knowledgeable and takes his time to explain the process. I bought two very different frames here that are both stylish and work great for me. It can get a bit busy here but I feel it's worth the wait. Everyone is very friendly! read more

its much better than the two site for sore eyes and minor hall in term of pricing. Minor hall lenses would cost me ~400 dollar (i wear high index) while site for sore eyes 260. this place only charged me 160! =) Amy who served me was very patient and nice. she explained everything in detail and showed me differences between different coatings, and she leaves us alone when we just wanted to check out the frames on our own, until we asked her for help and opinions. read more

This place should not be confused with Site for Sore Eyes, which is a different store. FOR EYES made my shopping so easy. I walked in and immediately a salesperson helped me. I told her what I wanted, cheap glasses that look okay 'cause I wear contacts most of the time. She helped me select some glasses, explained how thick the lenses would feel, showed me the options that I could have for them, and waited while my optometrist sent over my prescription. The glasses were ready sooner than expected and the salesperson BROUGHT MY NEW GLASSES TO ME AS I WAS DOUBLE-PARKED IN FRONT OF THE STORE!!! WHOO HOO! :) Who does that?? So nice! I will always come here for glasses and I think I'm going to try out Dr. Kao for my next eye exam (my current optometrist is far away). read more

The glass is nice and I did see some pretty frames there. But the customer service is horrible. They make me feel like I am not a customer. When I try my glass on, they talked to me in less than 5 sentences. Very unhappy experience. read more

My mother is a huge fan of For Eyes on the East Coast, so I thought I would give this one a try.So far I've purchased two sets of glasses through them. I had an issue with one set of lenses and they fixed it for me, no problem. The manager was there and even helped me pick out a size frame that would be centered on my face-- I didn't know there were specific sizes for glasses. But here's why I will keep going back: I took my other set of frames to Site for Sore Eyes down the street to get adjusted one time when I was closer to that store and they BROKE the frames down the middle, not even apologizing, just saying "well, it's at your own risk." I went back to For Eyes (where I should have gone initially for the adjustment-- they carefully heat the glasses up before adjusting them) to see about buying another set of frames. The assistant manager was so understanding and figured out a way for them to connect me with a new pair of glasses for a reduced price. The customer service is excellent-- they are friendly and want to help you out. They are fully accountable and go above and beyond to work with their customers. Thank you For Eyes! read more

After my glasses broke, they fixed them free of charge on the spot, even though I purchased them elsewhere! I will certainly be back as a paying customer! read more

After a hostile encounter at Site For Sore Eyes, I veered into For Eyes and and the lady greeted me with much warmth and kindness and answered my question about their special deal, and I knew immediately I will be coming back there to purchase my much needed glasses. Never ever will I ever step foot in Site For Sore Eyes even if they come up with a better deal than any eye glass store! read more

I was on vacation from the Boston area and sat on my glasses and mangled them . I was turned away from one glasses store up the street from your store and I was a little desperate . Paula was very friendly and sweet to me and fixed my glasses saving my vacation, we have a four eyes store in our home town of Weymouth and have gotten many pair of glasses there. Thank you Paula! read more

I had an accident late one Wednesday night when I was taking out my contact lenses; I accidentally (badly) scratched my cornea in my left eye. The pain was awful, so my husband jumped onto Yelp to find the best eye doctor in Berkeley. After reading For Eyes' great reviews, I called early Thursday morning to make an appointment. Unfortunately, they didn't have any timeslots available for appointments until the following Monday! However, the Dr.'s assistant took my name down and promised to call if they had any cancellations that day. Sure enough, about half an hour later, I got a call from For Eyes telling me to come on in. Both of the usual doctors (Dr. Kao and Dr. Schoen) were out, and Dr. Tanya Watson was filling in for the day. She was SO great - very thorough and careful. She gave me a bandage contact lense which helped alleviate most of the pain and told me to come back in the next day (even though there weren't any available appt slots, she said they would definitely squeeze me in). Then, as I was going to leave, the Dr.'s assistant who takes care of the billing, etc. informed me that instead of going through my insurance, which would count this doc visit as a "full eye exam," the office would just charge me for the office visit - $25 out of pocket and let me save my full eye exam for a later use. How often does a doc's office tell you how to save money?! I returned the next day (Friday) for a check-up on my eye. Dr. Kao was in that day, and she has excellent bedside manner. She informed me that my eye still hadn't fully healed and that unfortunately, I'd need to leave the bandage lense on for the weekend. However, she told me how to remove the lense in case it began to irritate me. As I went to leave the office for the second time in two days, I went to the dr.'s assistant's counter to presumably pay another $25 for my visit. But Dr. Kao walked out, smiled, and said not to worry about payment. She didn't even charge a co-pay for my visit! I couldn't believe it. An eye doctor's office that provides excellent care AND saves me money - I couldn't ask for anything better. I HIGHLY recommend For Eyes for anyone looking for a new optometrist. read more

I'm conflicted. Dr. Kao was great and took the time to explain things that had been a mystery to me for some time. She even had the glasses people fix my old manky frames for free. But on the other hand, I was shopping for new frames and got no help at all. I'd expect that they'd really want to sell me some glasses, but the three people working in the front were more interested in gossiping or chatting on the phone. Also, frankly, their selection of frames wasn't great, and I ended up walking out without ordering a pair. read more

Making an appointment etc was no problem. I saw Dr. Smith who was friendly. But the first thing I noticed when walking in was a strange smell. Then when I got to the exam room there was overwhelming air freshener or cologne or perfume smell (probably covering up some other smell.) It was overpowering. I was almost gauging during the exam. I don't think I am allergic to perfume but just being there for half an hour made me feel sick. I couldn't wait to leave. I recommend they address the bad smell directly (pot?????) instead of trying to cover it up. The whole office was a bit messy and a bit dusty/dirty. I went here because it was in my insurance network, but overall I was not very impressed. read more

Aya is the best doctor! She was great at calming my optical fears and presenting solutions when I started having contact irritation. She explained all pricing details ($64 eye exam; $109 for contact exam) and was extremely patient with me. She has a bright, cheery disposition and it was delightful having her as my doctor. She went above and beyond. Highly recommend her. Her staff even replaced part of my glasses and tightened the screws for me free of charge. Great service! read more

I've been seeing (pun intended) Dr. Schoen for 24 years, so that probably tells you how pleased I have been with his work and the work of For Eyes in general. Dr. Schoen is intelligent, competent, knowledgeable, and takes time to listen, all essential qualities, and he has never steered me wrong -- and many times has steered me right -- in taking care of my eyes. Though I have only seen her for an appointment once, and consulted with her on the phone once, I have only good things to say about Dr. Kao as well. She is friendly, bright, and responsive. When I had an infection that needed antibiotic eye drops, she was able to assess, diagnose, and order a prescription for me, while I was in S.F. and I was able to pick up the needed medication on my way home that day -- and able to alleviate the problem within 1-2 days. There's a reason I have trusted my only pair of eyes to Dr. Schoen and Dr. Kao for about a quarter of a century. I would highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for an optometrist. read more

I really like this place. Dr. Kao is very sweet and she really took her time with me. They have a great selection of frames, but Dr. Kao didn't mention them at all when she gave me my glasses prescription. I hate it when you go in for an appointment and they try to make a sale. The staff was very friendly and overall I was extremely pleased. read more

I am very pleased with For Eyes. Dr. Robert Schoen is a stellar person, as well as my trusted eye doctor for over 15 years. He cares about my whole well-being, and does his part for my eye health and vision. I've always been pleased with the staff. And did I say Dr. Schoen is COOL? Well, he is... that and respectful and funny and a well-rounded human being, too. Quite a bonus! And the staff -- well, the woman named, is it Ella? Or Emma? -- well, she has helped me thoroughly many times, and she has adjusted my frames to fit perfectly when they were bent, and she recommended I choose bifocals when I was too resistant to the fact of my aging, and I did not purchase those bifocals, and I have regretted that choice, and I think of her wisdom now and again. read more

Found this place through Yelp while seeking an eyeglass repair shop. I advised the two ladies, Amy and Lisa, that I needed repair for sunglasses that was missing a screw...they not only did excellent repair, but fixed it at no charge and gave me a free case! I was so thankful and shocked, what an awesome and kind gesture...Highly recommend this place, thank you again ladies!!! read more

I've been here a few times over the years, the most recent one a week ago. I usually go in for the convenient location because my glasses need adjusting or lost a screw. I have interacted with several of their staff. They are always extremely courteous and professional and go out of their way to help solve my problem. I offer to pay them but they have refused payment for these minor services, asking me to come back when I want glasses. I have insurance elsewhere that makes it a hassle to go out of network, so I am writing this yelp review instead. These are good folks - very highly recommend. read more

This staff was so incredibly rude on the phone they made it impossible to make an appointment. I've lived in NYC and they are giving that city good competition. read more

My previous optometrist informed me that they no longer accept my insurance. So - after checking YELP - I decided to try For Eyes. My exam was thorough and I didn't have to wait. I found the doctor very informative. Amy, the eyeglass technician, was very patient and a great help in selecting my new frames. Best of all, their prices are excellent! My frames and lenses came out to $171 (with insurance) and included UV coating, anti reflective, Transitions, etc - the works! I was told my glasses would be ready in one week. (Which I doubted because of the holiday.) But my new glasses were ready to be picked up in one week and they are beautiful! read more

This review only pertains to the optometrist Dr. Robert Schoen. He was efficient, professional, courteous and friendly while performing my eye exam. He thoroughly explained my astigmatism and how my new lens will affect my vision. His 34 years of experience in the field of Optometry is a boon to the Berkeley area. read more

I was pleased with my initial eye exam and glasses purchase. This negative review is solely about the subsequent customer service. I revisited For Eyes on Shattuck in Downtown Berkeley today to have my frames adjusted because they sat crookedly on my face. Many customers were waiting, and one employee (who was not wearing a name badge) got my attention by standing behind me and saying, "Hello!?" with the syllables drawn out. She then proceeded to make my frames *more* crooked instead of less. I finally left. For Eyes, please teach your employees how to make eye contact, smile, and say, "How may I help you?" because "Hello?!" is an extremely immature and inappropriate way to greet a customer. read more