I've been going to Helmus for a couple years at this point. Their optometrists are knowledgeable and helpful, and I've never had to wait more than 5 minutes to be helped for my appointment. Even better, though, is the skill with which the employees help you to find a pair of frames that fits. I'm very persnickety with my glasses and can take hours and hours to find frames that feel and look right; last time I needed a new pair, the fine folks at Helmus helped me to find one that worked within twenty minutes. Truly incredible work here. read more

I got my first pair of glasses at Helmus. The staff was friendly and helpful, and they explained everything to me. I was happy with my prescription and glasses and got in and out quickly. read more

I have been coming here for a while. I have had many to help me whether it's fixing my glasses or buying a new pair... Isabelle Quintero helped me (of course she fixed my glasses :) pick out a pair of glasses. Kinda been eyeing (no pun intended) a pair of bendable titanium glasses. I had picked another. Too small. She picked out a pair and I tried them out and asked how it looks and she said those look really good. I agreed. Loved them, bought them. Like I said, I've been coming here for a while. Everyone is so nice and knowledgeable. Love this place and thank you Isabel. read more

I dropped into Helmus Optometry today, attracted by their strong collection of independent frame brands (e.g. Ovvo and Zero Gravity) and great reviews. Deeanna offered great advice and selected some frames that matched what I am looking for. I really appreciated her willingness to share her opinion and solid knowledge of their offerings. She also showed me the Transition photochromic lens colors and darkened them to help me choose one. This was a great customer service experience and I would not hesitate to recommend Helmus. read more

Profesional and friendly service! The staff is very communicative and flexible about appointments. I did not feel any pressure to pay for more expensive glasses, they prioritized the fit and my budget! read more

They run a tight ship here! The most seamless medical appt I've had in a while. It was clear each person I spoke with was very competent and friendly. Communication between staff was on point. My optometrist, Dr. Thomasy(?) was very personable and explained what was going on with my eyes in an easy-to-understand way. Also, they have a private parking lot, so you don't need to park off the street in downtown. They are also woman-owned! I definitely recommend this place. read more

I started coming here when it became nearly impossible to get into see anybody at UC Davis. I do have an ophthalmologist, but for basic annual exams, glasses and contacts, I need a place that is relatively easy to get into and is full service. Helmus is amazing! It's a family owned business. I see either Dr. Julie or Dr. Thomasy . Both are awesome. They are organized beyond belief. They have an electronic check in system, text reminders, and the ability to schedule an appointment online. They are really great about coordinating your vision benefits. I have three VSP plans and they are able to maximize my benefits to my advantage. *AND EVERYONE IS SO SO NICE!!* They have a full size optical department. What's more, they have people who actually know how to advise you on selecting frames. Very patient people! (I say this because I tend to be very indecisive and struggle with the way I look in glasses.) When it comes to contacts, they are really good about getting the right brand for your particular situation. Francisco is an excellent fitter! They will generally send you home with a weeks worth or so and then you come back for a follow up. They are in downtown Davis, but I've never had trouble finding parking. They do have a small lot on the side of the building as well. Highest recommendation! read more

My son and I have been getting our glasses from here for ages. They have excellent customer service and seem to have lots of workers ready to help. I love their selection of glasses. read more

I am visiting Davis from out of town and on a whim went into Helmus Optometry before closing to see about getting my glasses tightened. The people working were incredibly helpful and because it was such a simple fix, didn't charge me! If you are local, I suggest this nice business. read more

Kept trying to get me to opt in for more expensive ways to get same results and would not take no for an answer

Hi, I need to give a BIG shout out to Helmus optometry Both Alicia and Jessica are so tentative and helpful in providing excellent service in search of Eyewear. I come in periodically to get them cleaned and adjusted when I'm in the area. A huge shout out to the owner Julie Helmus, who took over the business from her Dad, Mr. Marc Helmus I've been coming here for over 35 years and will not go anywhere else. You are the best at what you provide!! XOXO read more

Helmus has to be the best optometrist I have ever been to! They tell you exactly what they are going to do and what you need to do. They answered all my questions. They give personalize attention to every patient, and make you feel very comfortable even with difficult questions. They also dilated my eyes, because I have diabetes. And for the first time I felt like I had had a complete eye exam. No need to come back a second time to have my eyes examined by a different doctor on a different day to complete my total eye exam, like some other ophthalmologist. I had a complete exam with one office visit. So there wasn't a visit to complete the test and a second billing. And unlike Costco, they were able to find my eye med insurance right away! Helmus is by far the best optometrist ever. Don't believe me...Try them. You'll be pleased. read more

Seen promptly and had a serious problem diagnosed and handled by Dr. Spilman. I was very impressed. Beth Salvia helped me select the perfect frames. All were very friendly. read more

My first time here at Helmus Optometry, I was seen by Dr. Tu and Jessica. Dr. Tu was very thorough with my eye exam and Jessica deserves high praise in helping me find glasses and sharing the options for my lenses. I have found the right place for me and look forward to continued annual visits. Definitely recommend. Linda S. read more

Veronica is a dream! She is so skilled, efficient, and wonderful to work with. She keeps me coming back to Helmus!

I've had a difficult time finding the right frames for my face (wide face, narrow bridge). Popped into the shop to see their new options and was super happy with the help that Jessica offered. Not only did I find a new pair of frames, but they are both fun and beautiful! I will be requesting her assistance again next year when I select new computer glasses. I have had nothing but good experiences with everyone at Helmus, so happy to have them close by and highly recommend them! read more

My son just went to Helmus for the first time. He needed an eye exam. He was able to use our insurance, which has covered all the eye exams of our family of 5 for many years here in San Francisco. He's a good kid, so when he was told afterwards that he owed $117, of course he paid it. He called me right away, recognizing that this felt weird, so I call Helmus. I was told that besides the $10 copay, he had to pay for 'retinal photos' ( which he didn't ask for), and for a contact lens prescription. They said that this extra charge (~$65) was for the effort the doctor has to go through to provide a contact lens prescription. I call BS on this nonsense. They also said they tell patients ahead of time what their cost will be, but my son said they didn't -he would've run it by me ahead of time! Needless to say he will not be going back there. read more

I have been coming to Helmus Optometry for a few years now. I love the selection of frames and the patience the staff has with me as I take forever to choose the perfect ones. I'm happy I was informed about the alternative option to getting pupil dilated. I'm so much happier to take the photos than have to wear sunglasses all day, unable to see or read anything. I take all recommendations given and the staff are very patient, kind, and professional. The process usually goes very smoothly as well. I plan to continue come here as long as I live in Davis. read more

Helmus Optometry - Me in my latest pair of glasses. I love them! - Optometrists Near Me - Davis, California

Dr. Julie Helmus is fantastic and her office runs very well. It's easy to schedule an appointment, her staff is professional. And Julie is also a great mentor! I've asked her 4 years ago to take under her wing the son (Cristian Stan) of one of my friends. He wanted to become an optometrist....and guess what? Under her guidance, Cristian got to be very good, he was accepted at best optometry schools and will start it this summer! Cristian followed her advice and he's graduating college earlier. Thank you Dr. Julie for your mentorship!!! read more

I have been coming to this practice for many years. It's wonderful to see how much it's grown. For all that growth though their staff and practitioners are still caring and helpful. They have spent time with me to answer my questions and make sure that my glasses fit perfectly. I recommend them wholeheartedly. read more

Love this place and the people working there. Always met with a pleasant personality and smile. They make you feel at ease and not rushed. Front desk personnel are thorough and informative. Francisco, whom is the contact expert, is amazing. He listens and works to make you comfortable. This is important to me as I transition from mono to multi. As for Julie, what can I say? She has great energy and makes you feel welcome. She is personal, knowledgeable and just an overall good person. She manages many people and one can tell everyone enjoys working there. The energy of this place is a reflection of the owner, which is Julie. If you don't work or live in Davis it is worth the drive to be a part of this place. read more

I've been a loyal Helmus customer for decades, and even though I no longer live in Davis, I've been driving in for my glasses & eye exams. But my experience with them this year has persuaded me to find a new optometrist & optician. Herewith, my months-long saga: My eye exam with Dr. Julie Helmus was fine. I then worked with an optician to order several pairs of glasses (visit #1). The next day the optician emailed & asked me to return because she'd forgotten to take a measurement. Kind of a hassle, but you know, these things happen. I drove in the next day to get that done (#2). The glasses arrive several weeks later & I return to pick them up (#3). The staffer who "helps" me just hands me each pair, doesn't look at me, makes no attempt to fit the glasses, only asks, "Tighter?", before moving on to the next pair. I had no chance to see if the glasses were actually okay before leaving. After a few weeks, I return because none of the glasses really fits & the sunglasses don't work properly at all, like I cannot see through them. The original optician adjusts all the glasses & confirms that the lab made a mistake with the sunglasses lens order, and reorders them (#4). I go in to pick up the (now properly lensed) sunglasses (#5). The optician *breaks* the frame while adjusting them. I have to make another trip (#6) to pick up the fixed lenses in new frames. By now I'm so fed up I talk to the manager, who offers me a free lens upgrade for a set of frames I already own. I wait a few months, as I'm really sick of driving to Davis, but today I finally went to pick up this last pair of glasses (#7). I bring these gorgeous glasses home -- and there's a screw missing in the upper right corner of the frame, so every time I touch the glasses, the lenses wiggle. Now I'm going out to get them fixed by someone local, even if I have to pay for it. Not going back to Helmus for an 8th visit. Or ever. One or two issues might be bad luck. This run of mistakes & problems is more than bad luck. It's just bad service. read more

I have been going to Helmus Optometry for years and always receive excellent and kind care. Thank you to Dr Zada, and a special shout out to optician Jessica Lally for helping me to find the perfect frames read more

The staff is incredibly nice. Shout out to Jessica who repeatedly provided quality input and diligent effort. I rate Helmus lower for two reasons. First, I have been handed glasses that were wildly incorrect for my vision and had to request several retries. Second, different ophthalmologists give different prescriptions, regardless of patient input. Long version: I've had two prescriptions and purchased three pairs of glasses from Helmus (~$1200 out of pocket). First pair: ~2020, The doctor gives me best contact lens/glasses prescription I have had. I bought nice frames with simple lenses, and still love them. Second pair: I ordered wrap-around sunglasses with the same prescription. The view was telescoped. Tried a different material - still sucked. Helmus optician blamed the wrap-around shape (I have safety glasses with same shape that work perfectly). We changed frames and simplified lens material - final glasses were within acceptable range. Third pair: 2023, new doctor gives new prescription. I insisted current prescription was correct, but change was still imposed. First pair of glasses are like telescopes. Doctor insists change is so small I shouldn't notice - for which I wonder, why do it at all? Changed lens material - second pair are better, but wrong again. Helmus's response to issues, "Let your eyes adjust to them". I don't see the need to force a change on my eyes to accommodate improper refraction of light. The doctor's hubris is overriding the patient's input. I plan to keep the frames and buy lenses elsewhere. read more

Great doctors, great staff. Very thorough. I trust them completely and they are very patient with an elderly person like myself. I feel so lucky that I found these people to take care of my eyes. read more

I've been coming to Helmus for five years now, using my VSP insurance, and I've been extremely satisfied with the care they provide. From the front desk service to the employees who help with eyeglass selection, they've shown great customer service and friendliness, which is so refreshing. Their space is very open and bright, with lovely floor-to-ceiling glass walls that enclose the office space and lend a lot of natural light. If you're looking for glasses, they have an immense selection with lots of different brands. They can also show you which ones qualify for discounts, depending on your insurance. The employees are good at helping you find a fit that complements your face. They're also very patient and let you browse frames to your heart's content, putting back the ones you end up deciding against. Over the years, I've gotten Kate Spade, Lucky, and Lulu Guinness brands. Depending on the time of year, I've gotten my glasses made in 4 days - 2 weeks. They can text you or email you when they're ready and you can walk in to get them fitted. They also welcome you to come in for complimentary cleanings and adjustments. They have an online feature that allows you to book appointments through their website, which I have found very helpful. There's the standard Davis street parking available, PLUS they have a small private parking lot off of C Street, which has about three spaces. Definitely park there! read more

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I went for an eye exam & new glasses. Dr. Julie and Dr. Spilman gave very thorough exams. Majid helped me select my frames and I trust his honest opinion. This is my third visit there for eye care. They all provide the finest of care. read more

Jessica was awesome! Super helpful and informative, loved working with her 10/10 def ask for her by name!!

Had a wonderful experience top to bottom at Helmus Optometry! The entire team I interacted with was excellent! The ladies at reception (Adriana and Heather) greeted me with a warm welcome and quickly got me settled in with Ryan to start my exam. Ryan was friendly and thorough. Dr. Zada was also very thorough, answering my questions and making sure all my eye needs were being met both discussing glasses and lenses. Jessica helped me pick out my glasses and was so much fun to work with. She had a great process of elimination in deciding which frames were most suitable for me. She also went over and beyond in determining how to best use my insurance coverage since I was getting both glasses and sunglasses. I really appreciate the extra time and care she took to work with me. There is an awesome team assembled here! read more

It's difficult to write a review like this. I always try to support local businesses, that's why I got my glasses here even though I may get this at half price as Costco. Everything was smooth until I got the glasses. The glasses don't fit me. I came to adjust it several times but it still doesn't fit. It either slipped down my nose or hurt my ears. Most importantly, it's too heavy for daily use. When I chose the frame, I had an appointment with a consultant to help me. He was supposed to give me honest suggestions since he is a professional. However, I chose whatever style I like and he just said it looks good. Should he tell me this might be too heavy for daily use, I would choose a different one. Now I decided to go to Costco get another pair, and only use this one as my back-up. I hope you will provide better service and actually act as consultant to help us choose the glasses that fit our needs. My family still uses you and my husband had a good experience with you for his glasses. This review is just for my glasses, not for the clinic department. The optometrists are great and professional. We have used your office since we moved to Davis and will continue come here for exam exams and other clinic needs. You were very patient in teaching my kid use contacts. Overall I am disappointed. read more

Helmus Optometry - A pair of nice looking, but too heavy glasses - Optometrists Near Me - Davis, California

I recently had my glasses scratched and couldn't see through one lens. I called in to see what options I might have as I had gotten them from Helmus. JESSICA took amazing care of my situation. I had older glasses that had broken frames and she was able to repair them so that I could have a back up pair while my current glasses go in for repair. Jessica saved the day - literally!! She is professional, courteous, and her customer service skills are top notch! Thanks Jessica! read more

Dr. Julie and her team have a terrific practice. Everyone is so professional yet relatable. I've seen several doctors there, and each one is very knowledgeable and caring. I'm especially grateful for the glasses that I was prescribed, which have helped reduce my double vision. It's been a problem for a while, but it's better now. Also, I bought a pair of the migraine glasses they have, and they've been phenomenal. I often put them on when I'm in front of a screen so I can focus on studying for school. I've taken my parents here before, and they've also commented on the quality of care they received. Definitely check out the practice! read more

I had such a great experience here. I've been going for years and even though I moved away, I still make the drive because they give me the most focused attention and help me with everything. I never feel rushed. Eddy was great with helping me pick out new glasses! read more

Nice optometrists! This place is pretty neat. Lots of selection of glasses inside. Lots of qualified folks who can answer your questions and actually knows their stuff, and can recommend the right lens, the right frames etc. There is a large selection of glasses inside, so you can try on a lot of different kinds of glasses and see which one fits your face best. The inside is brightly lit and has lots of open space, with a lot of rooms in the back for eye exams. We got some contact lenses here and they were very knowledgeable and helpful. Definitely our go-to spot for contact lenses. read more

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Recent first time patient here. My entire experience, from making an appointment to picking up my new glasses, was excellent. The Dr. and every staff member were very helpful, knowledgeable and professional. They had a nice selection of frames for my budget and having them fitted was easy as I was treated with patience and kindness. read more

I've been going to Helmus Optometry for nearly 25 years. They always have a great selection of frames, the staff is friendly and helpful, and the optometrists are top notch. They are always willing to make adjustments to my frames or make small repairs, plus I like supporting local small businesses. read more

My husband and I left Helmus Opthometry after 25+ years and few increasingly unprofessional issues. Matters like having a bifocal misplaced twice and no recourse. A pair of glasses with frames that lost a part in the first couple of months with no assistance when I phoned. Most seriously, a few weeks after a full exam I was referred to a Retina specialist - the Retina specialist than requested a particular test that Helmus assured me they could perform for my rush Retina specialist exam. However, the Opthometrist at Helmus insisted she must do another full eye exam first because it "is state law" . I repeatedly mentioned I must have my requested test and didn't need another eye exam. She finished the exam and told me she didn't have time for the test I needed AND the front desk said no one could do the exam before my Retina specialist appt setting everything behind. Frantic I phoned Another Davis Opthometrist who immediately agreed to fit me in their schedule. I left Helmus because they wanted to charge for an unnecessary exam and didn't make any effort to do the necessary test for my eye health. read more

I needed two separate prescriptions, one for reading and another for computer work. Dr. Thomasy was terrific! Friendly, efficient, thorough and saw to it that she knew exactly what I needed to get some relief from eye strain. I can't recommend this place enough. A++ read more

The BEST optometrist to have in your corner. Great and responsive customer service, wide selection and most of all, no shenanigans. my family all go to Helmus for checkups, glasses and contacts, and repairs and adjustments. Location is perfect as well!! read more

The office is really nice & big. They have a lot of selections, I'll have to go back to buy my pair! Dr Clamsey was very thorough and she had a lot f patience with my 10 year old who kept wanting to wiggle, she recommended eye drop for my dry eyes and went over my rx info detailed. I would recommend the office, the front staff was also friendly! read more