It had been an embarrassingly long time since my last eye exam and I was searching for a place that was preferrably nearby. The glowing reviews led me here and I can happily confirm that they're all spot on! I was able to book an appointment for a standard eye check-up quickly, and as a first time patient, I felt welcomed the moment I walked in. The team was friendly, efficient, and made the whole process easy. Dr. Torio was amazing - incredibly kind, super knowledgeable, and took the time to answer all of my (many) questions. He explained each step of the exam in a clear, reassuring way and he made sure to perform a very thorough eye exam. I felt very comfortable the entire time. Safe to say, I'll be coming back here for all future check-ups! read more

I initially started going here since it was close to home and even though I've now moved out of SSF, I will continue to go out of my way to see Dr. Torio and team. They have such great knowledge and expertise, friendly staff, and they really treat each patient well. I usually only come here for an annual eye exam and Dr. Torio is equipped with not only the standard equipment but also this fancy camera that takes retina images. I usually ask for a copy of my prescription so that I can order glasses online, not to say they dont have great options in-house, I just prefer having more options elsewhere. They never try to pressure me to buy anything which I appreciate. I highly recommend them if youre looking for an optometrist! Parking can be tough since it's in downtown SSF so you only have metered parking lots or street parking. read more

i continued going to South CIty Optometry even thought the office feels outdated, musty, and could really use a renovation. The main reason I stayed was because the doctor seems knowledgeable with hard lenses, which is not very common. Unfortunately, my last visit changed my opinion. I was given contacts that I literally could not see out of. When I went back, the doctor insisted my vision must have changed within a month of the prescription, which felt unrealistic and dismissive. The way the situation was explained to me came across as condescending rather than collaborative. If I hadn't firmly advocated for myself, I don't believe I would have received a refund. Even after that, I had to go through a frustrating insurance ordeal to reverse the claim, which took time and effort that should've been necessary. Because of this experience, I can't recommend this office. I ended up switching to the independent optometrist at the Costco HIckey location and have been pleasantly surpised by the professionalism and advanced technology there - I highly recommend them. read more

After years of limited progress with my daughter's optometrist, I sought a second opinion and made an appointment at South City Optometry. Dr. Torio examined her and prescribed contact lenses that significantly improved her vision. We are thrilled to see the remarkable progress in my daughter's eyesight; thank you, Dr. Torio. read more

extremely friendly service! they fixed up my frames in less than 5 minutes, gave it an adjustment for a better fit and a new case for free. Thanks for making my day better! read more

Could not have been more friendly or accommodating. I am visiting my daughter from out of town and Dr. Torio graciously repaired a lens in my glasses that fell out of the frame without a charge, then gave me a new glass case. read more

Experience could've been better. The optometrist I seen was not really informative and trying to get an appointment set was a struggle. Voicemail was full and operating hours isn't really friendly for people whom work a Monday thru Friday job. For the money you pay vs the experience you get, I'd recommend going somewhere else. read more

Visiting SFO and a hinge on my glasses broke. Even though I had a custom hinge pin, they were able to help. Fantastic folks!

Amazing Service!! I just moved here and was looking around for an eye doctor in the area. I had an eye exam and ordered contacts as well. They were able to accommodate me as I needed to get the contacts as soon as possible. The place is super clean and everyone was so nice. I would recommend South City Optometry 10/10. read more

Awesome place to get glasses and check ups. Highly recommended staff is awesome and doctor highly recommend

I'm very grateful they are able to fix my glasses I accidentally lost the screw for my glasses I can't see anything and they are able to fix my glasses very quickly at no charge Thank you so much read more

Dr. Torio and his staff are very helpful and accommodating. I ran out of contact lenses and my prescription from my former ophthalmologist (who closed her office last year) expired in May 2024. My appointment with Dr. Torio wasn't for another 2 weeks, but he was able to get me contact lenses to get me through until I could re-examined for new ones. Highly recommend. read more

Excellent optometrist and services. Very thorough and explained each step of the way. Good selection of quality frames to choose from. Glad to have found a new optometrist near home. I have recommended them to my friends and family. read more

I broke my glasses snowboarding recently and took a shot in the dark to see if South City Optometry could help fix them. I walked in and Ann was extremely nice and accommodating and was able to fix my glasses for me within 5 min. I'm extremely grateful for the help for you all! read more

Have you ever met a doctor that you wish could be your doctor for other medical needs in your life? That's Dr. Torio. I had an issue with a pair of glasses that I purchased in another state, and while that store would not help me Dr. Torio did. He went above and beyond in trying to fix these glasses, despite their incredibly stupid design that I only learned about after the fact. He was also able to explain what he was doing in a way that was easy to understand while he was fixing the glasses. Him and his staff are both personable yet professional, and I have no doubt I will be coming here for my next pair of glasses. read more

I was worried that South City Optometry wasn't going to be open but they are because they're an essential business. I called to setup an appointment and it was pretty easy to do. They did inform me that I need to wear a mask before coming in. They've been very careful during these times with COVID-19 and limiting the number of people inside of the office at one time. I felt like I was in good hands with Dr. Torio and his staff. They cleaned up thoroughly in the office as well to make sure their office was disinfected. read more

South City Optometry - Face covering is required before coming into the office - Optometrists Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Most people pick new providers when they move 500 miles away. I opted to continue my yearly care with Dr. Torio at South City Optometry because it's a fantastic little practice, and I'm confident in the quality care I receive. Dr. Torio does a comprehensive exam each year. He compares my results on my exam to previous years' to see if there's any deterioration--much more than just a simple comment on any change in my prescription. He photographs each eye annually (and sends you home with a complimentary printed copy for your personal perusal), providing physical proof of any possible deterioration of the blood vessels within the eye itself. As someone who has been told to see an ophthalmologist each year to monitor for macular degeneration, this offers me plenty of peace of mind, allowing me to save money and time by avoiding that visit. Since I live in San Diego, this year, Dr. Torio shipped my prescription computer glasses to me when he received them (he doesn't have facilities to put lenses in your glasses, so it takes a couple weeks to send them out and get them back). I had picked them out and had them fit at my annual exam. They arrived nicely packaged, insured, and at my door before my mom had a chance to drive by the office to pick up her new pair, though she only lives 10 minutes from the office! I didn't think I had vision insurance coverage this year, but Dr. Torio's staff ran my info and found I did have some coverage, saving me hundreds of dollars I didn't realize and wouldn't have tried had I gone elsewhere. This customer service-oriented small business is the kind I love to support. It's why I will continue to do my annual vision exam here... and why I think anyone looking for a good optometrist should come here, too! read more

I appreciate the way they do business here. They were very transparent with the whole transaction. They broke down the cost of my glasses and showed what insurance would cover, item by item. They also took their time. I live 45 minutes away, but will continue to come here because of the service. read more

I've been going to South City Optometry for over 8 years. Even when I moved out of the area I go out of my way to continue to Doctor Torio due to the quality of service, price and family environment. The staff is great at helping me select my lenses and knowledgable with all the products. If you are looking for a new optometrist I definitely recommend SSF Optometry. read more

My vision has always been 20/20, but I had noticed blurred vision in my left eye. I thought, oh crap, I'm finally submitting to old age. I've been seeing Dr. Torio for years, and he would always kid around about me needing glasses one day. Well, I thought this would be the day. After a full exam, he was very concerned about what he saw. The full barrage of tests and pictures revealed something on my retina. He was very, VERY concerned. He wrote up a referral letter that day so I can see a retinal specialist ASAP. He called in a favor and got me seen by Dr. Walter Stern immediately. After yet more tests Dr. Stern verified severe inflammation in my left eye causing retinal scarring. They also found a small granuloma. Well, 2 surgeries and 9 specialists later, my vision went from 20/80 back to 20/30 in my left eye. Dr Torio, followed up with ALL my specialists during this whole process. He even went as far as to call in yet another favor with Dr. McDonald's office in SF who checked me out with 2 other Ophthalmologists FREE OF CHARGE. They were out of network for me. In the end, the army of 9 Ophthalmologists who eventually saw me could not determine the root cause. My symptoms were treated, all is good, but the origin of the problem was never found. Dr. Torio went above and beyond to make sure I found the absolute best care in the Bay Area and showed true concern for my condition. He followed up with all the specialists and made it a point to call me directly each time my specialists sent him updates. He was definitely actively engaged. My vision was eventually restored to 20/30 in my left eye, so I still don't need glasses...sorry Dr Torio. :-) read more

Been coming to Dr. Torio for a while now and he's always very thorough and friendly. I can tell he enjoys what he does and I know my eyes are in good hands. read more

I dropped in on Dr Torio because I'm a trouble maker and wear my glasses in my head and stretch them all out so badly. He was so gracious to help me at the drop of a hat. He took his time, made sure they all fit correctly. He gave me advice on how to care better for my glasses. He's a gem, very professional and super kind. I highly recommend this place! read more

Fixed my glasses (which I bought somewhere else) at no charge! Very professional and courteous - I would highly recommend them.

My experience with Dr. Torio was top notch. I have a relatively rare eye condition, but still need to get fitted for glasses and contacts annually. In my lifetime, I've seen loads of eye doctors, so it takes a lot for one to really stand out. My experience with Dr. Torio and his office couldn't have been better. Not only did Dr. Torio complete a thorough exam to confirm eye health, he had the most amazing bedside manner throughout. I was most impressed with his skills in fitting for the best possible prescription. In the past, I haven't enjoyed wearing glasses much because my prescription is so different between my right and left eyes. This new prescription is completely different. I love wearing my glasses now! I couldn't be happier and I definitely will be back for all my contact and glasses needs! read more

I took my glasses in for a repair and the nice people tried to fix them but I used super glue and screwed them up! MY BAD! They were very kind and explained exactly what I did wrong and never to use super glue. I was very impressed with their professionalism, kindness and advise. I will definitely go back to them in the future! I highly recommend them to everyone! NICE PEOPLE!!! read more

Even through this Pandemic, Dr. Torio and front desk staff has been able to see my family and I so we keep up with our annual exams in a safe and socially distanced manner. We have been going to this office as a family for several years now and have always been satisfied with the professionalism and customer service provided by all staff including Jessica, Christoff, and Nadia. What made me finally write a review was because Dr. Torio was able to help me the other day salvage a pair of my favorite sunglasses that had been broken for over a year by repairing these very unique broken nose pads that no other optometrist or clinic could do! So thank you South City Optometry for all you do, you're very much appreciated! read more

I absolutely love Dr. Torio and his staff. My whole family has been going to see him for the last 5 years, and the service has always been outstanding. You can tell that Dr. Torio really cares about his patients. read more

My glasses broke and I stopped by to see if someone could fix them. The sign said they were closed for for lunch. He opened the door for me and fixed it on his lunch break and did not even charge me. What a nice guy! It's nice to know that there are still people out there that will go out of their way to help someone. Thank you so much for helping me! read more

I've been going to Dr. Torio for my eyecare for over 20 years. The office has always been friendly and helpful. Dr. Torio always explains everything clearly and will give referrals for eye issues beyond his expertise (eg. He referred me to a very good ophthalmologist when I had a disturbing cist on the corner of my eye). The exam is thorough, performing all the important tests, they are really helpful with insurance and have a great selection of eyeglass frames. Seeing Dr. Torio just helps me see better. read more

Wow! Dr. Torio was incredibly affable and thorough. I am very impressed. Who knew going to the eye doctors could be an enjoyable event?! I will definitely be going back. read more

I understand the severity of the Covid 19 situation and the shelter in place, but Dr. Torio is completely unavailable. A doctor with no exchange or answering service? No email address? No way at all to reach him. He has a message machine but what good is it if he doesn't check the messages. I understand he was ordered to close. I have a team of doctors and I have no problem reaching any of them. Very unhappy. read more

I currently work at Genentech as a technician and my job requires me to wear safety glasses/goggles. I was directed to South City Optometry through a coworker of mine and BAM! I am currently the owner of some safety glasses, contacts, and regular glasses. STAFF: Dr. Torio is very approachable and easy to talk to. He knows what he is doing and his attention to detail is why I decided to continue using his services after I got my safety glasses for work. He is professional, personable, and I trust his expertise. Jessica is just a bundle of joy! Dr. Torio has a great staff and Jessica brings a lot to the table. She has a lot of knowledge on their selection of glasses and what works best for certain types of faces. Her advice and opinions helped me to make my final selection on my glasses. Nadia is patient and provides great customer service. She has a lot of great advice on how to wear contacts and take care of them. She is easy to work with and I feel comfortable talking to her. They make a great team! GLASSES: My first purchase was the safety glasses. They have a wide variety to choose from which is one of the reason why I went there. A lot of other optometrist either don't offer safety glasses or they have a limited selection. I got my eye exam and my safety glasses came a few weeks later! After picking up my safety glasses I decided to get contacts because I was going to Croatia in a month. I had my contact fit examination and then came in to learn how to put them on and take care of them. For this very reason is why I would recommend South City Optometry to anyone. I have never worn contacts before because I was afraid of touching my eye and not being able to get them on/off. Nadia sat down with me and went over the basics and then we started practicing. You will not leave their office if you do not know how to put/take them off properly. Nadia sat with me and was patient with me the entire time! GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE! The more we practiced the better I got and I went home with the confidence to put my contacts on and take them off. I went in for a followup a week later to see Dr. Torio to make sure the contacts were working out. I just went in today to get regular glasses and I found a great pair! Jessica and Nadia are very honest and helpful in finding the perfect pair. I believe that picking out glasses by yourself is difficult and having a females perspective is crucial. (Women are the toughest critics and I trust the woman at South City Optometry!) Plenty of street parking and they even have a self serve candy bowl ;) read more

Dr. Torio and his staff were exceptional. They really take the time to show how much they care for their clients. They were super thorough in explaining everything they were doing. I felt very confident that they knew exactly what they were talking about with respect to the health of my eyes. They also have a GREAT selection of glasses to choose from (because that's the most important part right?!) read more

I was referred to Dr. Leonilo Torio to get my prescription safety glasses for work and decided that i might as well get a new pair of specs for myself since i wont need contact lenses anymore. Dr. Torio is a very friendly yet professional eye doctor. My old optometrist was a cranky old man that was difficult to relate with, whereas Dr Torio is much more easier-going and has a good sense of humar. the eye exam itself went by very quick and was fairly easy. i got both of my glasses a week later and am very satisfied with the results. i even got a free Nike backpack thing that came with his shipment of Nike frames. also the front desk lady, Nadia, is very helpful and friendly. she helped me pick out my work glasses and personal glasses with an honest opinion. id gladly come back again the next time i need a pair of glasses read more

Dr. Torio was listed as one of the preferred providers for my VSP vision insurance, and he was one of the closest in proximity to my work. I made an appointment with no expectations. I was glad I was able to schedule an appointment quickly, and I liked that his office was open a bit later, so I could have a 5:30 appointment. He turned out to be nice, funny, helpful and had good "bedside" manner (not sure that I'm using the right term for an optometrist). Regardless, I was very comfortable - he's not a close-talker, which some optometrists can be. Fun stuff: He gave me a printout of my eyeballs, and told me a bunch of stuff you could learn about the condition of a person's health through the vessels in the eye. Nobody had ever done that, and I thought it was interesting. I'd definitely recommend him. http://www.southcityoptometry.com/ read more

A gem in the heart of downtown South San Francisco! Where science meets art, Dr. Torio provides a service that ensures both precision expertise and modern stylings to meet your customized needs. A loyal patient for over a decade, my experience here has been nothing less than superb. From the moment you enter the glass doors you are greeted with beautiful smiles from one of the lovely ladies at the front (Jessica, Nadia, or Anne). A warm reception to say the least, their hospitality is always a wonderful compliment to the ever present family atmosphere here. Dr. Torio is an award winning Optometrist, and his practice shows. Dr. Torio ensures you are provided the latest medical techniques, leaving you with a sense of ease and comfortability. Dr. Torio makes the experience both fun and educational - IMO a rare quality found in Bay Area Optometry Services. As far as the inventory of frames and lenses here... Expect a substantial amount of choosings that include hard to find Ray Bans, Armani, Juicy Couture and of course a selection of custom lenses to your liking. And if you don't see it - well fear not, Dr. Torio will wave his magical Ray Ban wand and VOILA your needs are met by 2 Day Fed-Ex. Give this place a try and experience the magic FIVE STAR service yourself. read more

Thought I'd go visit the optometrist since my work involves staring at a computer screen all day (7-8 hours). I've never had my eyes checked before and this place made the process painless. I was greeted by Jessica at the front, who then proceeded in assisting me in filling out the required documentation. Once I completed that, I quickly went through the eye exam routine with both Jessica and Dr. Torio. They were both very kind and helpful in addressing my concerns. After the eye exam, Jessica helped me pick out some frames and options. Overall, this place is great. Don't hesitate to come here if you're looking to maintain your eye health. Tl;dr 10/10 would visit again! read more

Best things about SCO: super easy to make an appointment, usually same week Dr. Torio leads you through everything and makes the experience stress free very conveniently locate with easy parking in front everyone there is very friendly read more

I wanted a pair of RayBan frames that only Lenscrafters carry. Unfortunately, Lenscrafters does not accept VSP! So I went to South City Optometry. I got prescribed safety glasses a couple years back from them and I remember they had a vast selection of designer frames. Although,they did not have the frames I wanted in stock, they were able to pre-order them for me. Jessica from the front desk was very nice and helpful. She scheduled myself for an exam with Dr. Torio for the next day. The exam was quick and straight forward. Dr. Torio is very passionate about his work and his clients. South City Optometry is highly recommended!! read more

3 Reasons why you need to go to South City Optometry... 1. Great Staff 2. Family Environment 3. Elite Service. read more