Lang Optometry & Eyewear

I have been seeing Dr. Lang for many years. He is a very good eye doctor and located in the hydrostone. If you need an eye doctor you really cannot do much better than Dr. Lang.

Dr. Lang has received several ‘Best of’ awards from the Coast, and deservedly so. He’s a good optometrist (I’ve been to three in my life and haven’t actually found an AWFUL one… not sure what that would look like). But the real appeal for the hip downtown crowd is his, or his ordering staff’s, unerring taste. In his Hydrostone location, he’s giving Gaudet a run for his money as the go-​to for fun, funky, awesome eyewear. No boring glasses here. There’s a gorgeously designed display in the centre of the shop with one-​of-​a-​kinds — only one pair each is ordered of these colourful designer frames, ensuring a unique look.
The unfortunate correlation is that the frames are expensive — I looked at more than 20 frames and they were all between $ 280 and $ 525 (frames only). There were some that cost more in the designer display. If you’re a ‘buy one get one’ accustomed shopper, or used to online pricing, this can be a shock to your system.
I am an easy mark, for the most part, and it’s a shame more businesses don’t realize this. I had had my eyes tested two weeks ago, and had to take my daughter in to get hers done yesterday. While I was waiting for her, I planned to shop for frames. I believe in supporting local, and I like the idea of some unique funky frames. I was prepared for the expense.
But I had an experience similar to that scene from Pretty Woman. (Not THAT scene, the shopping scene). There were two sales associates who were occupied with people when I started looking. Neither of them really acknowledged me or said, «I’ll be happy to help you as soon as I’m finished» or even asked if I needed assistance. Fair enough, I *could* have been killing time waiting for the kid. But I did state out loud to the kid, before her appointment and after, several times that I was looking for new glasses. I picked out several pairs that I quite liked and left them out so I could find them. I paused to pay for kid’s appointment, and came back to find one of the sales associates had put them all away. No one really insulted me or said I looked like I couldn’t afford their products, it wasn’t that overt. I just felt like it was assumed that I wouldn’t buy anything. Several times the sales associates pointed out to me (discouragingly) how expensive the centre designer frames were (in an offhand way, not in an ‘I see you may be interested in these’ kind of way). I guess it became a self-​fulfilling assumption.
Their loss. I came home and purchased from Clearly Contacts. It was disappointing, but they helped me save a lot of money, ultimately. I was still able to find fun, funky frames, but for hundreds less.
It’s funny how offended optometrists are when you say you have shopped online for glasses, or god forbid, contacts. Guys? This is why.