Melissa is fabulous - she is so good at helping you pick frames that make you look great in glasses! I have several pair to prove it. I am super-myopic (-10.5, -11.25), which dictates the shape and size of my frames. I'm also nose bridge-challenged. Next's special nosepads, matched to the color of your frames, increase my range of choices. And they don't charge for them. Their prices are good and the frames are not what you find other places. read more

Think that you can't afford good design and great service? Think again. It could be on sale. I was expecting I wouldn't be able to afford glasses here based on an experience many years ago. I came back though because they have such great looking glasses. Plus, the glasses I had been trying on at a mall eyeglass place just had too much bling. The service and education is incredible here. Defintely worth my time and I'll come back here first before I go anyhere else. It was great to learn why the glasses I was trying on weren't working well on my face. I bought a pair of glasses that I love and they just happened to be on sale! I spent a bit more on lenses that I was expecting but they are also top of the line. And when it comes down to it, it's not always about money. read more

I went in to get the nose pads installed for my sunglasses because they kept sliding down (bad thing about being an Asian because we have small nose). The nose pads look very high-tech. There are a lot of colors to select from. The price is $45 which is very reasonable since I can't really wear my sunglasses without the nose pads. Very happy with the product, and now I can wear my sunglasses every day without worrying about them sliding down to the bottom of my nose. Very satisfied. read more

Best experience I have ever had at an eye ware place. Rick I believe the owner took great care of me with great knowledge of the product and how to get the best glasses to fit my face. read more

Customer service, customer service, customer service. I've gotten several pairs of glasses here over the past decade. They have been absolute gems about making sure the glasses I got worked for me, adding nose pads, adjusting the fit, helping me identify that the rx wasn't quite right and grinding news lenses that were perfect. On no occasion did I ever feel they were rushing me or anything less than happy to keep working with me to get the best eyewear for my needs. Good selection of frames, not the cheapest but totally worth what you pay for the chance to get a great pair of glasses that are right for you. read more

The customer service for my mom was simply outstanding I recommend this company highly.

awesome, original frames, and honest, friendly staff! plus, they have some great sales! a must-go for anyone in search of frames read more

Next Eyewear has a great selection of unique, stylish, handmade frames. The staff is very friendly and helpful, yet quite honest at the same time. They aren't going to sell you frames that don't suit you. The sales person let me try on a number of frames, yet I never felt any pressure to buy. Also, they aren't going to recommend unnecessary "add-ons." For instance, the sales person asked if my last pair of lens were hyper indexed. Did I remember? No. She said that because of the frames I chose, it wasn't really necessary to spend the extra money. The frames are a bit pricey at regular price, but very affordable during one of their frequent 50% sales. The best part about my new plastic frames are the nose pads they added free of charge. This is super helpful for those of us who have small bridges. I'll definitely be a returning customer at Next Eyewear! read more

Hi. I went to a number of shops along college looking for a comparable second frame to what I had. Nothin'. Last shop in line (about to call it a day), came to next eye and melissa and samantha were friendly and very competent opticians/salewomen. By which I mean they are in business, I was / am a customer (buyer) and it went off without a hitch. They selected a series of frames around the spectrum I was looking for. I found one I selected, one I would never have found on my own. Went through a little negotiation, they were willing to work with me, and when I came back to pick them up, they fitted them perfectly. 5 stars, natch. read more

Melissa picks out just the right frame.....and Next Eyeware stands behind its products. What else do you need. Great quality, great service, charming owners. I can't recommend it highly enough. Don't need glasses? Go for the artwork! read more

I purchased my glasses from here years ago and sent my mom here to buy glasses as well. The workers are so nice and the glasses are awesome!! Also, prices are great as well. read more

Cool cool glasses!! Great variety of styles--most a bit funky and retro! And the people who work there are great--they totally know which frames will look good on your face!! I love my new glasses!! read more

I've been wearing glasses of over 2 decades bouncing from store to store searching for a solid place to get my glasses. I'm happy to report that my search is over! I will never go anywhere else for a pair of glasses ever again. Next Eyewear has a great selection of frames and Samantha (who helped me pick out my frames AND fitted them) was patient, honest, and professional. Now I have the PERFECT pair of glasses AND a store I can keep going back to. I'm so glad I found you, Next Eyewear. read more

I've looked at the other shops along College Avenue (as I am a Rockridge resident and prefer to spend locally), but keep coming back to Next (just recently purchased my 5th pair of glasses from them). They offer a wide selection of the latest styles, good prices, and most of all EXCELLENT customer service. Melissa provides great recommendations and makes the whole process of choosing just the right frames an enjoyable and efficient endeavor. I've had nothing but good experiences with them for the past 6+ years. read more

Wow, just bought frames there last night and had a great experience. It's so nice to have someone who knows something about glasses help you find ones that fit. read more

Amazing!! Their costumer service, attention to detail, selection of frames and friendly atmosphere is what makes Next Eyewear so incredibly special. They understand your needs and will work with you. Love them!!!! read more

Still love this place. Went back two years later with my new prescription, and Samantha helped me pick out a few new pairs. I put them on hold and brought back a friend a few days later to look at what we'd chosen, and we tried out all of the pairs in the place -- and settled on one of the pairs Samantha originally picked out with me. Love them, and have gotten nothing but compliments. read more

I'm the shy type who browses frames on my own, but take it from me - ask for help at Next! I loved a lot of the frames I picked out for myself, but the woman at the counter (I wish I remembered her name, she was great) picked out some I never would have had the guts to try, and I ended up falling in love with a pair of electric blue frames! Ultimately my insurance didn't cover enough, and I couldn't afford them, but my experience shopping here was great. Amazing selection, and friendly staff who will give you great advice. read more

Next is the type of business we don't see much anymore. The staff are artists in every sense of the word. I highly recommend working with Melissa. Her advice on frames and how they visually "fit" your face is tremendous. I drive up from the south bay because the service is just that good. read more

I randomly wandered into Next last saturday, and wandered out with a pair of glasses. Melissa gave me one of the best sale experiences I can remember. My boyfriend and I were just having fun... not really there to buy. But she asked if we wanted any advice, and I said sure. Next thing I know, she's handing me frame after frame- and they all look pretty great. She totally pegged what would look good on me. I even took out my existing glasses, and she helped me understand what worked about them--and what didn't. And she's right. I was impressed with her knowledge of the store-she just danced around it finding the frames. She knew also when to lay off. Decisions like that are hard! And she just stepped back and let us go to town agonizing. So great. read more

Everything I read in Yelp about this place is true. In the short time I was there, the saleswoman showed me at least five pairs of frames that worked well and that I liked--she look at my face and presented them to me. The ones I chose out of the bunch were perfect in every way. They are so helpful, professional, quick, and friendly, but not overwhelming. I had gone to numerous shops before this experience, coming away either with not enough of a selection, people who ignored me even though they said, let me know if I can help, or some that paired me up with strange frames that did not fit my face. Thank you Next Eyewear! :) read more

Been wearing bifocals since I was 3 (and my prescription doesn't qualify for contacts), so I've seen it all. Next Eyewear is the BEST place for glasses by far. They know how to help you select frames that will compliment your look, flatter your face, and then they know how to make them work for you. If the frames you love don't have nose pads and you need them, the opticians at Next know how to add nose pads that match your frames. They took an old pair of frames I had and DYED them to a shade I liked better. They got my difficult bifocals in record time. Mel and Samantha are SUPER. Love them. read more

I have needed new glasses for almost two years, but dreaded picking them out. I finally went to have my eyes checked six months ago, so I could buy new glasses and ended up not liking any of the glasses at the optometrist office I went to. Back to square one, but at least now I had an updated prescription. Then came Yelp. I found Next Eyewear on Yelp and read the reviews. I had nothing to lose at this point, except for the fact I was about to start a new job in desperate need of new glasses! I walked in and instantly thought I wasn't funky enough to be in this store. The gentleman behind the counter (soon to discover he is the owner, Rick, aka eyewear expert, Jetson lover, and really fun passionate person who's good at what he does) offered assistance, but let me browse at my own pace. We finally kicked up conversation and I am glad we did! He went browsing for glasses for my square face and knew how to accentuate the correct angles of my eyes, cheekbones, and jaw line to make me look balanced and the glasses like they belonged on my face. I couldn't decide between two different glasses, so I ended up buying them both! Which is amazing, since I only need glasses for one eye and therefore, they're not a necessity the majority of the time. So spending money on two pair is definitely overkill, but I loved them both and couldn't decide. When I went back the next day to pick them up, the girl who helped me was just as friendly and helpful, assisting me on figuring out when to wear each pair so they would accentuate my outfits and not distract. I highly recommend this place! read more

This is my second time to Next and the service was as good as the first. Have to admit, I was tempted to find cheaper frames, but as i looked at other places, the quality wasn't what i wanted. Nor did they have as nice frames. Melissa is wonderfully helpful in providing frames that fit your face. Having a narrow face, my choices at other places were slim. Melissa had a large selection of very nice frames and I found several pairs that I liked. The hardest part was narrowing it down to which one i wanted. Melissa has a very good eye and will guide you as much as you want or need. Next time I need glasses, I will just come to Next Eyewear first. read more

My friend took me to Next when it was time to get my first pair of glasses. She swears by them and knew I would love the variety of styles they carry. Samantha worked with me and she took all the time I needed to both ease me into the idea that I needed glasses and to pick the right frames. She clearly cares about what she does and understands what a personal decision it is to chose something you'll be wearing on your face everyday. It was a great experience all around - thumbs way up for Next! read more

I've gotten all my glasses here since 2008 because of the impeccable service. Friends I've referred here have also been very impressed. First, the selection is excellent - and of that large selection, the staff will expertly direct you to frames that are a great match for your face and style. Second, the lenses are of high quality and the staff will advise you on the materials that make sense for your frames/prescription/lifestyle. They keep good records on each customer so will even know what you ordered last time. Third, Next is easy to work with on the logistics, such as flexible spending and other billing details. Fourth, and most importantly, once you're a customer, you are taken care of. I've stopped in many times for adjustment to make sure my frames are still fitting well or even for repairs, and these have been done with a smile and at no charge. read more

Everything positive you have heard or read about Next is true. A wonderful selection of well-designed & comfortable frames, excellent staff, great lenses. We've been going there for many years, have gotten to know everyone and can simply say there isn't a reason to go anywhere else. You can trust Melissa & Rick! And anybody else there! I love the frames Melissa has suggested and tend to keep them a long time until I head back for an adjustment and find myself ogling the new frames! Take Melissa's advice! You'll look your coolest! read more

These opticians have no clue what they are doing. So many of their customers end up in my store thus becoming my patients so I cannot complain about that. They should try to give better customer service rather than running potential clients off with a snotty attitude. They have all been so grateful by the time they find us a block or so away they almost always immediately become life long patients. It just irritates me to have a bad apple in the optical field at all. Such a shame. read more

It's all true what everyone has said about this place - that the frame selection is funky and cool (Sama is a brand I bought recently and loved), the sales are 50% off and occur frequently (no sales tax as this is classified as a medical expense), and that Melissa and everyone there are very helpful and very knowledgeable, but the thing that sets this place apart for me is that they will add nosepads to any frame. This opens up a whole new world of frame possibilities for people who have ill-defined bridges on their noses and would like to wear glasses that are only offered without nosepads. And they don't just stick 'em on willy-nilly. They go in and drill tiny holes into your frames and then insert these very nice nosepad contraptions (you can select from a variety of styles of nosepads) - it takes a while but is worth it. It is such a precise and brilliant procedure that when it's all over it appears as if the glasses came that way originally. It costs about 50 bucks to get this feature added to frames that you bring in yourself and it's free to add to any frames you buy at the store. Brilliant! read more

Finally! A good selection of frames for people with smaller faces. I have sometimes spent as long as four years searching for frames that don't overwhelm my face. A friend told me about Next in Oakland and I went in. The man and woman who run the business directed me over to their "petite" section. (Yes, they really do have a petite section!) With their help and feedback, in less than five minutes I had said "yes" to the glasses! I've received more compliments on these frames than all my previous frames combined. I stopped by yesterday hoping to find a second pair of colorful, playful frames. Once again, I went over to their petite section and quickly found what I wanted. Lightweight pastel teal metal frames, contemporary and classy - and the perfect size for my small face. I am a very satisfied customer who will continue to shop at Next. I'm so grateful that someone is thinking about the eye wear needs of our pint-size demographic. read more

I walked in looking for glasses and right away, the salesperson said, "I have some glasses in mind for you." We tried a bunch of different pairs, narrowing down to the ones I bought. Lots of stylish frames to choose from here and reasonable prices. Cheap enough that I payed out of pocket instead of using my insurance coverage elsewhere. read more

This place has a great selection of frames and very helpful staff. The prices are what you would expect for a boutique eyewear store, and the frames are high quality and you'll feel confident that the store will provide whatever maintenance/repairs that may be needed in the future. The staff was very helpful to me when I was choosing my frame. I worked with Samantha, who had a good eye for which glasses were right for my face. I've never seen so many beautiful frames in one store--this place has a great eye for stylish and quality glasses. read more

Based on the Yelp reviews, I went to Next Eyewear to have my glasses repaired. The accolades are deserving. Despite having purchased my glasses at For Eyes, Next Eyewear repaired my glasses on the spot and refused payment. This place is the real deal. As other reviews point out, the eyewear selection is much better than what you'd find at For Eyes, A Site for Sore Eyes, and Lens Crafter. Prices are roughly the same, but the selection is far more trendy and attractive. I'm going to Next Eyewear when it's time for a new pair. read more

I found this shop years ago after spending lots of time in a German city, looking at every eyewear shop in town which means A LOT of shops, but for naught. Same here in Berkeley. When I walked into Next, Melissa looked at me, pulled out 3 pairs of frames, and the first one I tried on was IT! And I've never gone elsewhere since. Plus I always purchase half-off frames. Have brought many friends and relatives here. She is pure genius plus she's smart and very nice. The absolute best place to go for frames. read more

Cute little shop w/ friendly, unpretentious and knowledgeable staff. Found a pair of frames for me in about 10 minutes and I subsequently bought them. ...Love 'em! Thanks! + Great customer service, too... read more

GREAT place to get glasses! The staff is so helpful and friendly that I went out of my way to buy contacts from them even though I could have gotten the lenses for less money at another place. That incident aside, their prices are really reasonable. But, more importantly, you get your value. As other reviewers have said, the staff are not afraid to make a suggestion or express an opinion, and that's really refreshing and helpful. They see people try on glasses every day, so they know what works and whar doesn't; I wouldn't dare second guess theit opinions. read more

I miss this place. I wish I still lived in Oakland. I have never before had such a skilled optician that really knew how to fit glasses. I really can't get over how they take the time to really fit you, and really make sure that the glasses fit properly. I am considering flying back to Oakland just to get my glasses fitted in the future here. A+ read more

nifty selection of retroish eyewear http://www.rockridgeshop.com/pages/next_eyewear.html

The staff at Next Eyewear are super helpful and knowledgeable. They have an awesome selection of frames.

show up. ask them to find a bunch of frames. within 3 minutes you will have cutest, funkiest, never-thought-to-choose-them-and-now-i-look-amazing frames on your face. i swear. every person that works there is incredible. if i had a picture of my face in my glasses i'd put it right here. these babies are hot. read more