Focal Point Opticians

Berkeley, United States

4.5

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 510-843-5367
Website:
www.fpopt.com
Address:
2638 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA, 94705
b/t Benvenue Ave & College Ave
Elmwood
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
300 ftCollege Av & Ashby Av
400 ftCollege Av & Webster St
790 ftCollege Av & Russell St
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes

Today

Today 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Berkeley) 9:42 AM Saturday, June 14, 2025

Business hours

Monday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

The Focal Point is one of the finest eyewear stores in California. Established in 1976, the Focal Point features one of the most extensive collections of quality eyewear you will ever see. We represent Anne et Valentin, Theo, Thierry Lasry, Bellinger, Bevel, IC Berlin, Garrett Leight, Oliver Peoples, Paul Smith, Alain Mikli, la Eyeworks, Orgreen, Tom Davies, Francois Pinton, Lafont, Face a Face, Lindberg, Hoffman Horn, Gotti, Freudenhaus, Chanel, RayBan, Maui Jim and much more.

The staff at the Focal Point are master opticians, dedicated to making your eyewear experience the finest. Whether you are interested in the latest free form lens technology or a «fashion consult», the opticians at the Focal Point provide a level of experience and expertise that are rarely found.

We feature custom clip on sunglasses. The owner of Focal Point invented the world’s first custom clip and now we proudly introduce the first premium custom FLIP up clip.

Be sure to check out our outlet for huge savings on discontinued frames.

Meet the Business Owner

David S.

Business Owner

I grew up in the optical business. I worked in optical shops as a teenager to feed my music habit (I play guitar and sing and needed money to buy instruments). I attended UC Berkeley in the 60’s and continued to develop my optical skills and opened up the Focal Point in 1976. I love the work that I do, and I truly enjoy the community that we serve. I have been involved in community service and helped rebuild the Elmwood Theater after it was fire damaged almost 20 years ago.

I am a member of an optical rock band called Off-​Axis that has performed at the Vision Expo in Las Vegas and New York. I’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of songs published along the way, and if it weren’t for my «day job»…I’d be in the music studio working on songs.

The Focal Point is a work in progress, and I am always «tweaking things» to try to make it a little better — we are never too old to learn. If there’s a way we can improve upon things… let us know. We’re here to serve you.

Focal Point Opticians also recommends

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«Chez Panisse is an education and a dining experience. Everything is seasonal and the preparations allow the ingredients to shine. I love eating here.»

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20 reviews of Focal Point Opticians

No registration required
Place rating: 2
San Francisco, CA
Beware, the sales people are great, meaning they can and will sell you anything. But the service ultimately not great.
Place rating: 5
Benicia, CA
great people skills… actually did what they said they would, in the time frame quoted.
definitely a keeper.
Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA
It’s great energy in Focal Point. The staff are helpful and I might add the Manager Maria Morales is fun and excellent at being with the customers and in the business of optical sales. It’s wonderful to waltz in on the twice a year sale too. I walked out with a Barton Perreira frame for about half off. Wow! And thank you!
Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA
I was taking a walk in the neighborhood when I realized my sunglasses had broken. I stopped into Focal Point to see if they could fix them. The staff was very friendly and shop was clean and organized. A staff member took a look and said he could replace the screw and make the repair on the spot. Only took a few minutes, cost me $ 3. Great experience.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Great selection of brands such as like Alain Milkli, Masunaga, Ici Berlin, Face and Face, La Font, Oliver Peoples, Bevel, Blackfin, Ray Ban, Persol, and Gold & Wood to name a few. The opticians here are great in selecting frames to considers — styles that I normally do not gravitate to. With their keen eye I purchased a Face a Face Alium, and after picking up that pair of glasses, purchased a pair of Oliver Peoples Public School (Matte Black) sunglasses with prescription lenses.
All in all — one of the most comprehensive collection of high quality frames for one to spend hours to ponder and choose from (I certainly did!).
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
One of the optical shops with the biggest selection of frames I’ve seen. They carry brands like Alain Milkli, Face and Face, La Font, Chanel, Dior, Cartier, Oliver People, Bevel, Blackfin, Ray Ban, Persol, Gold & Wood and many many more. I got a pair of eyeglasses and a pair of sunglasses here. I think I could’ve bought a few more pairs if not for budget issue! The opticians are fantastic. They are very expertise in helping you pick out frames contoured to your face and taste. Then they take the time to go over all the lense options with you with your prescription in mind and explain to you the options you can choose, whether it is digital, flash mirror, polarized, additional nose pads and etc. Never once do I feel pressured to buy anything or rushed. The wide selection of frames enables you to try on frames that are unique. Love this place!
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
Dario just fixed my broken sunglasses for free! I tried to pay him but he wouldn’t take my money. Five stars! Not because the repair was free, but because where do you still get service like that anymore? When I finally admit to my old-​lady eyes, I will come to Focal Point for eyeglasses. Their customer service is much appreciated!
Place rating: 5
La Jolla, CA
As an ophthalmologist myself, I am very particular about my glasses. After wrecking my old sunglasses I needed a replacement. Here is how you can tell a good optician: she will ask you what you’re looking for, then take a look at your face and present you with the best options right away, making the job of selecting from so many frames much easier. But I am very demanding and will not settle on quality, i.e., a tough customer. Unfazed, Maria never lost her smile, spent the time needed and thanks to her expertise, we found the perfect pair fairly quickly.
Since I could see Focal Point was the real deal, I went ahead and ordered some custom reading glasses, too. Picked them up the next day, and WOW, this 57 year old is reading like a 20 y/​o! Another great result! If you are using store bought readers, you owe it to yourself to get at least one good pair of professionally-​made reading glasses. You won’t believe the difference!
I wish the optical shop at the practice where I am employed was staffed as well as Focal Point, but sadly, it is not and we don’t have nearly the selection. The staff I met at FP were all super friendly and seemed very knowledgable and competent, so I will be buying all my glasses there in the future.
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
I have come in more than once with eyeglass ‘emergencies’ and have always been taken care of. The staff here are knowledgeable, kind, funny and patient. I will be forever thankful for Paula’s help in replacing my favorite stolen glasses during a week when nothing was going well. She has a great eye for what will look good on people, and will share her opinion so you don’t leave with something on your face that doesn’t work.
Place rating: 2
Oakland, CA
I always looked forward to the selection of high end frames from focal point. This time I was dissapointed to see so many older, outdated and sale frames throughout the store. What happened to all the Japanese designers that only focal point carried?
It felt like I was in an outlet store which made me very sad because I miss all the edgy, funky and huge selections of designer frames. I didn’t see anything current in the lines I was looking for.
I will have to cross the bridge to go to Invision which has a fantastic array of styles and frames.
I did apprecIate being acknowledged when we arrived and the help we got from the staff.
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
What a selection of frames!
Cheri is up-​front honest; such the fashionista, how could you not trust her professional opinion!
Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA
When did buying several pairs of glasses a year become the norm? Since I started shopping here 5 years ago. I love their selections and the staff is very helpful.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
They will take great care of you here! I came in after calling around to a bunch of opticians in the area. I had gotten super glue on a students’ glasses after trying to repair a broken frame for her. Without question of where the glasses had been purchased (they were from Haiti) Dario took the glasses to the back and not only did he remove the superglue, he mended the broken frames all for no charge! For a small non-​profit running a youth program with international students on a budget, this was a LIFESAVER. I was so impressed with the customer service that I’ll be coming back when it’s time for me to get my next pair of frames. (all the time in the waiting area gave me a chance to peruse their extensive and super-​fashionable collection!) Thank you Dario and Focal Point!
Place rating: 3
El Cerrito, CA
Following the Unilocal reviews, went there to get frames and prescription lenses. They are indeed quite expensive (specifically the lenses — but they were high quality Zeiss lenses). Quite pushy to sell you more expensive stuff but that’s OK. 2 weeks later got the lenses but the edges were clearly ugly. They were quite accommodating and found a solution (painted the sides). Was sufficiently happy to order sunglass lenses. Again withstood the push to buy the most expensive ones. 2 weeks later got a message that their lens vendor made the wrong lenses. A week later they called and I left work early to collect my glasses. Could barely see with the new lenses. Turns out they made them incorrectly again. Need to wait another week. Hope they get it right this time (no apology BTW). Quality is high but for the prices they charge, I would expect them to get it right the first time.
Place rating: 4
Berkeley, CA
A stranger ran into me on the street, taking out the left leg of my Karen Walker Number One sunglasses. I’d worn them nonstop for last couple years, and was pretty devastated to find that the hinge on the leg had completely come off the body, which meant it wasn’t a simple fix of just turning some screws around.
Luckily, I found Focal Point nearby, and they were able to send the pair out to be repaired for $ 65. Not exactly cheap, but much better than the cost of replacement. I got them back within ~3 weeks, and while the pair won’t ever be the same (impossible to fix 100%), I’m really happy to be able to wear my favorite sunglasses again.
Their frame selection looked superb, albeit on the pricy side — I spent a long time looking through the store. I’ll definitely come here for my next glasses!
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
My toddler broke 4, yes 4 pair of my sunglasses. I looked on Unilocal and found Focal Point. They provided me excellent service and were able to fix three of the four broken glasses. I was impressed with their selection while waiting and have suggested my husband go here for his next pair!
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
I LOVE THIS PLACE! Paula is my favorite. I go to her for everything. They have a large selection of frames and they know what they’re talking about.
My favorite place to shop for eyeglasses. :)
Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA
Went in with some vintage glasses and looked around as well. They have excellent selection of designers and the service is very friendly!
They were able to send in my vintage glasses to be repaired and were also very helpful in explaining the types of lenses available and showing me more than a dozen potential frames. They can also cut custom lenses.
I recommend going here for glasses needs!
Place rating: 5
San Leandro, CA
First time visiting Focal Point Opticians. I lost a screw in my sunglasses leaving the stem disconnected from the frames. Olivia kindly greeted me and I was stunned when she offered to repair them while I waited. I hung out and browsed the very clean and well-​lit shop.
I don’t wear prescription lenses but appreciate many of the styles of glasses, particularly the use of wood from a product line displayed behind glass. I tried on some Ray-​ban wayfarers that always give me the warm reminder of my father with the tortoise frames and Croakies slung behind his neck. While I waited, another member of the staff offered assistance demonstrating a culture of attentive service among the staff.
I waited less than five minutes when Olivia appeared with my sunglasses in hand and surprised me again by refusing any payment. Her generosity and kindness demonstrates the exceptional quality of her character and remarkable dedication to the clients of Focal Point Opticians.
Place rating: 4
Berkeley, CA
I have a little ici Berlin addiction I must confess, and these guys have an impressive selection. They stock lots of other great brands as well, and they are such nice people.
I have also done special orders through them and they have always been so helpful!