After a disappointing experience at Lenscrafters, a quick Yelp search led me to Harvard Square Eye Care. Initially I was a little put off; despite the company's Web site boasting the largest frame selection in Boston, I found a showroom that was literally smaller than my bedroom. However, a guy came over and asked what I was looking for and, unlike at Lenscrafters, he actually *listened* and was very helpful. He was patient while I tried on frames and made a decision (with the help of my brother and future sister-in-law), and once he began pulling frames I realized that the selection was much better than I had initially thought. I walked out that Saturday afternoon with the guarantee that my new glasses would be ready by the following Tuesday; they were, and they came out fabulously. Given that I walked in with a prescription I cannot comment on the doctors at HSEC, but I would go there in the future simply based on the fact that they accept so many insurance plans. The one major drawback is that they are pricey (my glasses started around $400 then it was an extra $100 for scratch- and reflection-resistant lenses), but the investment was worth it to me, and I wound up with something I really love. read more

Almost a full year after getting both a pair of everyday and prescription sunglasses at Harvard Square Eye Care, I still find myself being regularly asked where I got my glasses. Basically, people are constantly complimenting me on my glasses. Even the opticians at the Optical Shop on campus asked if they could take a look at them because "they're such nice frames!" Their customer service has also continued to be great; I went in to have my glasses adjusted and they were super friendly (and quick!), and encouraged me to come back should I have any further issues. Yay! read more

harvard square eye has rapidly gone from first to WORST! once a reliable, reasonably priced retailer of contact lenses and glasses, they were my go-to choice for decades. no longer. this past may,i placed an order for a renewal of a prescription their optometrist wrote for me in september. they were happy to take my money, assuring me that the lenses would be available in "3-5 business days." next they contacted me to say that the lenses would be "shipped" on may 20, two weeks overdue. then, they gave a new shipping date, this time on 6/14, a day that came and went without notice. finally, they told me to wait until august. when i pointed out the obvious fact that they had sold me a product that they did not have, they blamed the manufacturer, advising me to call bausch and lomb. i replied that it was the retailer's responsibility to know what was in inventory and what was actually available, not the customer. they had the nerve to say that it wasn't their fault because they didn't actually make the lenses and that i somehow didn't understand how it absolved them of all blame. throughout the interaction they continued this line, not offering any concession such as new eye exam at their expense. bottom line: don't trust any business that takes your money for a product when they don't bother to keep track of whether its in stock or even available any more. read more

Dr. Florence Lee provided me with the most detailed and thorough eye exam I have had in the 20 years that I have needed eyeglasses. I recently moved to MA from CA and I feel very fortunate to have found Dr. Lee. She is professional, personable and honest. I highly recommend her. read more

Could not say enough positive things about HSEC. Their staff is efficient, professional, and accommodating. Their offices are clean, well-lit, and comfortable. Quality of care if very high. I've been to Cambridge Eye Doctors and can honestly sat this place is far and away the better eye care option in Cambridge. A couple of examples: - When I went in for my exam in May, I was unaware that my old vision insurance wasn't covered by HSEC and that my new vision insurance wouldn't start for another month. HSEC staff discovered the discrepancy and found a work-around on my medical insurance so that I could still get an eye exam that same day and not waste my time. - The doctor - I forget her name, but she is an Asian American woman - took the time to explain everything thoroughly and clearly. My eye exam with her was the most thorough one I've had in years. She took the time to do some preventive testing as well for glaucoma. - Most importantly, I had my contact lens fitting the day before I left for a weeklong trip to the West Coast, and understood that I wouldn't receive my contacts until after I returned. Lo and behold, the day after the fitting I received a package at the office with my contact lenses in time for me to take them with me on the trip. That kind of speed is just unheard of (for example, at Cambridge Eye Care it took me MONTHS to get my new contacts subscription)! The only reason why I'm not giving HSEC 5 stars is because of one little shortcut that I felt they took when they didn't really have to. After my contact lens fitting, it was clear that one of my prescriptions needed to be powered up. Instead of giving me that new prescription right away, the optometrist asked me to stay with the weaker trial lens until the new contact lenses arrived. That said, the new lenses did come the very next day, so no harm no foul. All in all, highly recommended! read more

I was really surprised to read any negative reviews here, because my experiences with them have been very positive! I first went to HSEC in July 2009, after deciding the glasses I'd been wearing for 7 years needed to go. I set an appointment, which I was able to get very quickly, and was greeted by a very warm and friendly receptionist when I went to the store. I watched initially as a woman helped a customer pick out frames, and commented myself on which frames I liked best (i know how hard it can be picking out good frames!) After this, I was called for my appointment, and was surprised to find that the doctor was also the one assisting with frame choice! I was pretty impressed by the level of service she offered personally in that regard, and she was really dead on in her frame selections for the person before me. After my own appointment, the doctor walked me to the frame displays and picked out 2 frames without me even needing to say what I was looking for, and one of those two was the frame I picked out. They are unusual compared to most other frames, so the doctor asked if I was certain that these were comfortable for me, and I assured they were. I let her know how impressed I was by her ability to pick out frames so well, and that she takes the time to assist customers personally. On top of that, the frames were ready for pick up in under 4 days! In this day and age where it's so hard to get competent, personal service where you as the customer really feel important, it was a great breath of fresh air to have the experience I did here. I enjoy supporting local businesses anyway, and with the kind of friendly service I received here, that philosophy has been strongly reaffirmed. read more

[This review is only for "buying eyeglasses"; I got my prescription elsewhere.] The selection here isn't super-huge, but the help I got in choosing a pair was most welcome - Despina had (non-dogmatic) opinions about what looked good/bad on me that I found useful. She was also entirely unfazed by the fact that I was shopping around (I went to 3-4 places in Harvard Square that day), and helped fix up my busted glasses so I could wear them rather than my backup pair until new glasses came in. I didn't end up buying from there the first time, but went back the next time I got glasses, where I again got good service. I can't speak to the prices (I have VSP, so only paid partial cost) or the eye exams, but I've been quite happy with their service. read more

After recent cataract surgery, the vision in my operated eye was very poor when I wore my old glasses. I needed to do something before healing was complete and a new refraction possible. My ophthalmologist suggested stopping at an optical shop and asking them to remove the lens. I went to Harvard Square Eye Care because it was convenient, and had a wonderful experience. The staff removed the lens, wrapped it up for me, gave me a cleaning cloth -- and charged nothing for the service. Kudos to them! read more

This happened many years ago and I will never forget. Honestly, I randomly thought to see if this place was still open and because this experience was so baffling, I feel compelled to share. I came here for my first ever contact fitting when I was a pre-teen. My family really struggled financially so I called before hand and was told that it was covered by insurance. I never had a contact fitting before and this was partly my fault because I did not know it was common knowledge that contacts are often NOT covered by insurance. After doing the fitting and finally getting my lenses in we were obviously brought to the front and was told it was about $100+ for the contacts that were already in my eyes as well as the fitting. At the time my mom did not have any money to pay for the visit. The lady at the counter however was very sweet and bless her. She asked who I assume was the manager or owner what she could do and he told her that they needed to have me remove the lenses and give them back. The lady helping us at the counter I remember felt very bad for having to do this and was actually tearing up while watching me take out the lenses and give them back. I know they would be thrown out anyway because they had already been in my eyes. I remember my mother feeling very mortified and me feeling so bad for putting her in that position. What made the experience even more hurtful was the staff (aside from the kind lady at the counter) just looked at us with pretty much disgust (I wish I was exaggerating). The staff spoke portuguese and it was very clear that they were speaking of my mother and I amongst each other. I understand it was a service that had to be paid for but I honestly wish they went about it with more kindness and understanding. I will never forget that even now in my adult life. At the time I truly believe my mom would have paid if she had the money because we were truly mortified that they would have me remove the contacts and give them back. They did not even offer to take me back to the exam room to do it privately. They asked for them back, right there at the counter infront of everyone else. Again this was years ago but this one small experience really always comes back to me and I will NEVER forget how small they made me and most importantly my MOTHER feel. read more

THE BEST EYE PLACE! Two weeks ago I came in with broken nosepads on my glasses. They fixed it super super fast. I was so happy that they replaced the pads because mine were getting a bit gross. Two days after I got my nosepads fixed, I dropped my glasses and they got completely trampled all over by people walking...I know...rough. I came in today and they fixed my pair of glasses, lens popped out and all. They again fixed it in less than ten minutes and were wonderful about adjustments. Couldn't recommend this place enough :) such nice people!!! read more

I called to see if I could get an eye exam. The person on the phone was condescending and rude. No thanks! There are too many other options for eye exams in the area for anyone to put up with that! read more

I ordered contacts on-line and they did not show up for over a week so I needed to go elsewhere. I found Harvard Square Eye Care through their great reviews on-line. Harvard Square Eye Care was able to get the lenses in two days. I thought these guys were really helpful and professional. They also gave me a pair of trials because I had been wearing my lenses for over the two weeks. It was so nice to be treated like a person instead of just a number. The Optometrists at Harvard Square Eye Care are truly great. They provide the most comprehensive eye exams that I have ever had. Also, I was referred to an ophthalmologist because one of them found a hole in my retina. Everything turned out fine but I was really happy that she did not hesitate to do that. I always buy my frames from Harvard Square Eye Care because they really help with finding the right style that fits my face. I am really picky when it comes to frames and I thought that the eyeglass specialist was really patient with me. I also am picky about the way my glasses sit on my face and they are really nice when I go back a million times to have them adjust my glasses. They do not give me any hassle and I do really appreciate that. I just was to say thankyou to Harvard Square Eye Care and I definitely reccommd them. read more

They should have a place to review each location, because I had an acceptable experience in Harvard location and an awful one in Porter. This is my Porter review, because I am compelled to warn you to STAY AWAY. I waited 30 minutes for my scheduled exam. Once the doctor was available, she rushed through the exam and then out of nowhere told me that there wasn't enough time to complete it because she was too busy. She made me come back another day to finish my exam, and they didn't have any openings for a month. I had to reschedule this second part of the exam a few days before it was going to happen, and the receptionist was very rude and said that if I was going to reschedule, I would have to wait another two months. It would have taken three months to receive a complete eye exam! I called their Harvard location that same day and they fit me in an hour later. Now, as for to the eyeglass shopping experience, buying the frames was another ordeal in itself. They didn't really have styles that worked with my face, and the guy helping me out said he had the perfect pair of glasses for me, and that he was going to order a shipment for the store. He told me they'd be in stock in a week - I called once a week, and a month later, they still hadn't even been ordered. I understand the situation not being a priority from their standpoint, but then they shouldn't have gone out of their way to make it look like they were providing me with a special perk if they couldn't follow through on it. In the end, their Harvard location handled everything (eye exam and glasses) and was so so so much better. My bad Porter experience has really overshadowed it, however, and I will be staying away from this company as a whole moving forward. read more

When I called to make an appointment, I asked whether my insurance would cover any of it, and was told that it would cover a prescription for both glasses and contacts, plus a discount on frames. Great! Then I went to my appointment, and was told that the contact lens fitting wasn't covered and would be $150. Not great. If you're looking for someone in this area of town, try Brattle Square Optical instead. read more

Was forced to leave Parelli Optical because my VSP would not cover them. Found the closest alternative provider and got an appt easily. However on arrival after filling out the usual paperwork, was taken by an assistant to a dingy back area with eye care equipment from several generations ago. Was put through an annoying exam even though I had an exam from Parelli on their modern exam machines in February. Didn't trust Harvard Eye Care's results. Back in the lobby waiting for the doctor, I wondered why even the Watertown RMV where I got my drivers license renewed yesterday, had much better equipment! Decided to check Yelp to get others perpectives. Seeing that those were bad as well opened my eyes to my mistake. Canceled my appt and left. Didn't feel comfortable in getting a good result for new glasses. Addendum: Checked VSP options and Yelp and found Central Square Eye Care was highly recommended. Called them. Turns out I don't need either an appointment or further eye exams to get a new pair of glasses since I had an exam in Feb. Central Square much better than Harvard Square. Go figure! read more

Update: This review is in regards to an appointment with Brenda Cronin, not Lauren Dickerman, as was previously stated. Worst eye care experience ever. Had to wait almost an hour in the waiting room. Was told it would be "just a minute" four times. Then twenty more minutes of waiting in the back room. No apologies. Then came the longest, most excruciating eye exam I've ever had. Took forever even though she was rushing the entire time (more people waiting outside). Then I got a bizarre prescription. One eye went up, and the other down... even though I was having no problem with my existing prescription. Then she had me get my pupils dilated (more waiting, more brusque handling of my eyes) just to hear her say she'd like to get another look at them next week, and that she'd call. I was furious at this point and hurried to leave. My prescription ended up being completely wrong. One eye was too weak, and the other couldn't focus on anything within two and half feet from me. I ended up going somewhere else, where I had to pay out-of-pocket (my insurance only covers one exam per year). I can't speak for the other optometrists that might work here, but I would definitely avoid this particular one if you can help it. ...Also, she makes you sign this idiotic slip of paper, saying that you'll adhere to proper eye care principles and practices, or some sh*t like that... as if I was some fourth grader getting my first pair of contacts. read more

it'd be nice if you could tell me that you didn't take my insurance before i got to the appointment that is a 1 hour train ride away and after i told you exactly what insurance i used over the phone. the receptionist was extremely pleasant however. A+ read more

I more than agree with m.g. from Somerville with the statement that they seem way more interested in taking your money than actually helping you. I went in with my boyfriend searching for a new pair of frames and before I could even ask to try on a pair, the man working started hounding me to see my prescription. He seriously told me he would like to see my prescription before I try on any frames! The reason? He didn't want me to get my heart set on some frames that I couldn't have because they wouldn't work with my prescription. I've worn glasses since I was 10 and NEVER in my life has anyone said this to me. He said fitting some prescriptions into glasses is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. That may have some element to truth, but I explained to him that I was just browsing for now and would let him know if I found a pair I was interested in and show him my prescription then. He insisted! "Well I really need to see your prescription before you try any frames on!" and all under the guise of "helping me" not get my heart broken over a pair of frames. On top of that, he was being rude to his employee in front of the customers telling her that she needed to finish what she was doing before moving on to something else when she was obviously helping a young woman in the shop. I'm not the only one either. There was some other woman in there buying a pair of glasses and they were being SO pushy telling her she needed to buy this extra, and that extra and explaining everything to her like she was a three year old. In the end she was like, "I'm really not worried about it!" (whatever explanation they were trying to force on her). They had a couple of nice frames, but I left completely disgusted with that man. I would have complained to the owner about the TERRIBLE customer service, but I have a feeling he WAS the owner. I recommend anywhere but there! I hope they go out of business. read more

I had an awesome experience here at Harvard Square Eye Care. My most recent prescription was expired leaving me on my last ragged pair of contacts and a broken pair of glasses. I called Harvard Square Eyecare in hopes of a same day appointment and by chance they had an opening and fit me in a few hours later. The doctor was very nice and I was seen right away. She helped me to decide to switch to a new contact lens that was less drying and also walked me through the best way to get the most out of my insurance coverage. I decided to use my insurance benefits to get a new pair of glasses and then buy my contacts out of pocket from 1-800-CONTACTS like I have done in the past. When I was done with the exam, she set me up with the gentleman who works there to find me some frames within my coverage price range. I was sure they would all be horrible looking granny glasses but when he opened the case he assured me "Would not go over your allotted coverage" I was please to see they weren't even heinous at all. I picked out a nice simple pair of black rimmed glasses and was out the door for less than 100 dollars for a full exam, a contact fitting and a new pair of glasses. It was way more painless than I had expected and I will definitely be back. read more

This place is really bad. Be thankful you are reading this before going and cancel your appointment. They try to sell you frames/options as if they are used car salespeople. Watch how quickly they'll have you paying over a grand for frames and lenses with every imaginable useless coating/option. Also, after being coerced into this, I called back almost immediately after leaving to cancel and say I'd come back to pick out a cheaper pair. I was told they had no refund policy and that the glasses had already been made, but I couldn't come pick them up until the day after. Yeah right. So they went ahead and made them despite the fact that I pleaded with them over the phone not to. Seriously, these are the worst kind of people. read more

The exam seemed thorough but that was because I was getting a contact lens fitting that I did not ask for ("to check my astigmatism," they said). They assured me I would not be charged and the doctor (Cohen) offered me a "free" trial contact. Magically my insurance company denied my claim for glasses because they said I already got a contact lens fitting. I did not get contact lenses, did not ask for a fitting, and yet this office charged me for a fitting, leaving me with a $300 bill for my frames. These people are liars and theives. $145 is an outrageous price to pay for a contact lens fitting. Also, their "exam room" is a cubicle and sink at the back of an office. The eye chart is tacked onto a door that leads to a storage area and there are water stains all over the ceiling. For all the money they are stealing from people you think that they could provide a more private space for healthcare. Seriously, eye care is not just about fuzzy vision. Patients may have serious health issues that they might not like to discuss in such an open area. Also, street parking is hard to find, garage parking is expensive, the frames are overpriced. Save your money and go to Four Eyes down the street. On the plus side, after you get ripped off here you can always walk across the street to Au Bon Pain or Finale to drown your sorrows with a cookie or cupcake. read more

This place is unprofessional and they overcharge like crazy. $175 for a 20 minute appointment to give me a prescription for contact lenses? Cambridge Eye Doctors charges $75 for the same thing. read more

Very sketchy place from the start. AFTER they finished my exam they told me they didn't take my insurance. When I said I would get my glasses somewhere that would take my insurance the doctor signaled for me to walk in the back (away from other customers) where she offered me $100 off in lieu of the insurance. Since this was all my insurance allowed, I accepted the offer. LIttle did I know that the lenses and frames would come to over $500 (even with the discount). The equipment used during the exam is old. It reminds me of getting eye exams as a kid back in the 80's. The office and exam room are a cluttered mess. They told me the glasses would be ready in 5 days. When I called 6 days later they told me it was going to be 3 more days. When I asked why they gave me an excuse about the insurance company holding it up. When I reminded them I didn't use insurance they told me it was 'out of their hands'. Ummm...that makes no sense. Do yourself a favor and steer clear of this place. There are plenty of other options in the area. Good luck! read more

Great service, and a great selection of frames. Very friendly staff, and quite helpful. Definitely going back for my sunglasses, and a second pair (backup) of glasses. read more

The service at this location is much better than at their porter square location! Went there recently and although they are busy and you may have to wait a few minutes, they are much friendlier. read more

The staff is friendly but VERY unprofessional. The general sense I get is that they don't really care about their patients and are more interested in taking your money. Insult to injury, the service is terrible. During exams, a very young technician - one who looked like she was barely out of high school - did the preliminary tests. The Dr. was in and out and hardly made time to answer any of my questions. She seemed impatient and ready to be somewhere else. I got talked into Acuvue Oasys lenses which were fine but they insisted that I have a follow-up appointment to "make sure they fit" costing me additional (over $100 just for the appointment). When I went in for the follow-up, the Dr. merely asked me if they felt okay and sent me on my merry way - a visit hardly worth my time or money. Additionally, I really wanted new glasses but at both of my exams, no one bothered to help me with glasses even after asking repeatedly. They said I would have to wait to be helped but after waiting for over 20 minutes (both before and after my exam), no one ever did. Lastly, they offered to clean up my old glasses which I thought was nice of them (finally). But when I got home I realized that the technician scratched off the UV coating on sections of the lenses. It doesn't seem like a big deal but when I put them on, the parts where they were scratched were right in my line of vision leaving blurry patches and rendering them completely useless. So fed up, I went to another eye place in Harvard Square to have them replaced. Also, their facilities were rather underwhelming. The area where they did the exams was very dated and well...ghetto...especially for Harvard Square. I'm not expecting anything crazy but the way things were set up seemed very amature. They might have done renovations since I've been there though. The only thing good about this place is that they have a great selection of eyewear. Otherwise, if you are considering this place, I strongly recommend against it. read more

I took a pair of Ray Bans with the lens popped out to be fixed (not purchased there). The man gave me a disclaimer that he would try, but something might break. He spent 10 full minutes working on them, and although he wasn't able to fix it all the way at least they are wearable and not broken! read more

I am definitely surprise by the other reviews. I had a great expreience here last week. I was taken in to see the doctor, on time, and she was great. Very thorough and not only did she answer my questions, she took the time to explain some possible causes for the issue I was having. I also brought old lenses in with me and I felt like they were very honest in recommending that I keep what I had and just update the prescriptions. So many place just want to force you into new frames. AND, they fitted two pair that I was doing NOTHING to, for NO COST! Love that. Sorry others had those experiences, but maybe chalk it up to a bad day...we all have them :). I will be back next year for my exam for sure! read more

When I called to make the appointment, I got one price quote. When I actually got there, the price was 3 times as much. Aside from this, everyone I interacted with was very nice and professional. read more

Dr. Hope was very knowledgeable, informative, and spent more time reviewing my retinal images with me than I expected. She was able to answer all of my questions in detail and even show me a comparison between my images and warning signs she was looking for. I would definitely recommend this office for anyone in need of an eye exam. Back story: I had concerns about an issue with my retina. Not enough to go to the ER, but I wanted to book an eye exam quickly, just in case. Harvard Square Eye Care was able to fit me in the next day. The office is small, but the wait was minimal and the time and attention taken with my eye exam surprised me. I left very satisfied and would definitely return. read more

I've had good experiences at both the Harvard Square and Porter Square locations of Harvard Square Eye Care. The doctors and staff are professional and patient. I've worn glasses and contacts for over 20 years and I can honestly say that my experience here was excellent. Dr. D. worked with me to find a pair of glasses that worked with my perscription, face shape and personal style. She must have tried 20 glasses on me before we found a pair that really worked. She told me the first pair that I picked out would not work with my perscription - thereby saving me from the distorted vision that I've always had when wearing glasses. Thank goodness she did! I've had some problems with my contact lenses that require me to wear glasses more often. I can see out of my glasses and I like the way they look! In my experience the other doctors at Harvard Square Eye Care - and the staff are also professional and patient. They provide excellent care and take the time to explain exactly what is going on. Now I'm thinking about getting another pair of glasses... read more

Harvard Square Eye Care has my back. I've been going here for years. First, they gave me great glasses and nice contacts. Then they recommended a Lasik consultation for me when I asked, and took excellent care of me after the procedure. My happy, 20/20 eyes shine when I think of Harvard Square Eye Care (and TLC). Hurray! read more

I went here after reading the reviews and was totally disappointed. First of all, their selection is TINY, even compared to Lens Crafters or other chain optics store. Second of all, the service was laughable. Upon walking in, the person sitting closest to the door (there were two people working at their desks) quickly wrapped up the lunch she was working on and asked if I needed help. I told her I'd love to get the help of someone who's familiar with the frames they have because I know pretty much exactly what I need/want down to the measurements. She called over for the optometrist to help (weird?). I told him I wanted square, dark-rimmed plastic frames that were no bigger in eye size than 53. He proceeded to grab random frames that didn't match my specification at all -- in fact, most of them were rectangle, and even though I kept pointing this out, he kept giving me more non-square frames. He was totally unengaged; just handed me a frame and waited while I tried them on. He seemed like he had no special knowledge of their frames offering whatsoever; everything he did for me, I could have done for myself. Fortunately, after going here I went to Custom Eyes at Central Square and had an AMAZING experience. You can read my Yelp review on the page for that business. Bottom line: Don't waste your time by going to Harvard Square Eye Care! read more

I see Dr. Dickerman at the Harvard Square location and she is very helpful. Her exams are quick but thorough and she offers honest answers to all of my questions. When she had to gently remind me that wearing my contacts for 16+ hours a day she did so with a smile so I didn't feel like a child being scolded. Overall, a positive experience - highly recommend them if you are looking for a new eye doctor! read more

Very displeased with the service here. First, the staff is rude and inappropriate. For example, one front staff member was complaining to another about a third staff member's inability to complete work on time. I appreciate that this might be a problem, but it's not one that should be discussed loudly in front of customers. The staff was also obviously annoyed at me when I asked about prices, various glasses options, and other products. Another issue is that patient files are left on desks where patients pass for exams. I stood next to someone's desk as she looked up (begrudgingly) my insurance benefits, and I saw names of several patients because their folders were on her desk. Major violation of health privacy. Also, the doctor who did my exam didn't tell me until I was leaving that my contact exam wasn't covered by insurance. Then, when the woman at the front desk said the copay was $20 and then the contact exam was $99, the doctor giggled and said she couldn't do math and didn't know the total. Not what you want your eye care provider to say. I will never return. read more

Like many of the other reviews I have read about HSEC, the only thing they seemed concerned about as soon as I walked in the door was selling me a pair of glasses. I felt that way immediately and after reading the reviews, I feel like I'm right. The doctor seemed a bit aloof as if it was an act or something but I would not go back, there are many other places to go in Harvard Square. read more

this is my 1st review for Yelp. I usually can't be bothered to review stores and products. In need of a new case for my glasses, I walked into this small shop, was greeted by a gentleman who asked what I was looking for, took a look at my glasses, and recommended a very simple black case that isn't huge and looks sleek enough, and appears to be of decent quality. $5. I was in and out in about 1 minute flat. If only all of the chores in life could be handled with such efficiency. read more

I went to the Harvard Square branch for my eye exam and picked up my glasses at the Porter Square location. The exam was more thorough than other optometrists I have been to in the past. The selection is extraordinary and they carry many boutique frames from European designers. I landed up selecting a sleek frame from Denmark ... LOVE THEM! Overall experience was excellent ... two thumbs up! read more

If I could give 0 stars, I would. I went to Harvard Square Eye Care a few years back for the first time, and things were generally okay, which is why I decided to go back for renewing my contacts last week. I had my eye exam and was prescribed the exam same contacts that I got from them earlier, and I paid the amount they asked, and was told that I was all set. This week, when I went to pickup my contacts though, they said there is an additional $75 dollar charge for contact examination/fitting. I told them no procedure was done last week regarding this, except my routine eye exam. Then I ended up speaking to the manager. He told me that this is a routine procedure for prescribing contacts, and since my last contact exam expired some time ago (which I wasn't told about), I would have to pay this amount or I wouldn't be able to get my contacts. So I asked him about the arbitrariness of this whole thing, that if I showed up and they told me to pay $150 for a random charge or I wouldn't get my contacts, then what happens? He said he apologized for the inconvenience and about not mentioning this charge the previous week. Well, I won't apologize for my decision to never go back there. read more

Similar to a lot of reviews on here: Poor customer service and high prices. First time I arrived they misquoted my insurance policy on contact lens fittings (which I only found out later when I tried to schedule a follow-up). In response, I was at least told "sorry for the mixup." Yep I was pretty sorry you screwed up. So this time, I called in advance to figure out what it was going to cost me. When I arrived, they got ready to just sit me down and do a full exam, which wasn't what I had an appointment for. I stopped them before we even started and asked what we were doing. Oh, you need a new eye exam too. Hmm, funny you didn't say that when I called... Anyway, don't go here, especially if you are affiliated with Harvard in any way (student, staff, faculty) - they have a clinic in Holyoke that is much higher quality and cheaper. read more