Visual Effects Optical

Chicago, United States

4.7

Open now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

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Telephone:
+1 773-281-0200
Website:
www.visualeffectsoptical.com
Address:
1013 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL, 60614
b/t Sheffield Ave & Kenmore Ave
Lincoln Park, DePaul
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
390 ftArmitage
0.2 miClybourn & Wisconsin NB
0.2 miClybourn & Wisconsin SB
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
By Appointment Only
No

Today

Today 9:00 am – 7:30 pm
Open now
Local time (Chicago) 11:41 AM Thursday, June 5, 2025

Business hours

Monday 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Thursday 9:00 am – 7:30 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

The premier, fashion forward optical boutique in Chicago. Widely recognized for our expertise in finding perfect eyeglasses for every face.

Dr. Chet here, owner of Visual Effects Optical. In the twenty five years we’ve been in business, I’ve had the opportunity to transform thousands of faces, with eyeglasses that look great.

I’m always asked «How do I find that perfect frame? How do I manage to do it on the first try?» The answer is simple. It comes from my gut; it is my gift, my art and my passion. I look at a face and picture shapes that compliment the natural flow of your features. I will even challenge you to try styles that you would never have imagined on your own.

I wouldn’t be able to do what I do at Visual Effects if it weren’t for our selection of thousands of contemporary and progressive frames all personally chosen by myself.

So — isn’t it time you let us work with you? Join the thousands of Visual Effects faces that for the first time, enjoy eyeglasses!

History

Established in 1989.

Visual Effects Optical was born out of Dr. Chet Steinmetz’s desire to have his own business. After graduating from optometry school in 1983, Dr. Chet worked as an employed optometrist. In early 1989 the location on Clybourn was discovered.

Within six months, the decision to open Visual Effects Optical became a reality, and in October 1989 history was made. It didn’t take long for the neighborhood to discover at Visual Effects an easy going, fashion knowledgeable optometrist in location with parking.

Over the next few years, as the selection of frames grew from 600 to 2000, the reputation of Dr. Chet’s ability to find great frames for faces grew as well.

Today, at 1013 W. Armitage, Visual Effects Optical thrives because of the commitment Dr. Chet maintains to superior service and quality products. It’s loyal client base returns again and again relying on Dr. Chet’s unique ability to find perfect frames for faces, utilizing the huge selection of contemporary & progressive eyewear

Meet the Business Owner

Chet S.

Business Owner

Our loyal client base returns again and again, relying on Dr. Chet’s unique ability to find perfect frames for faces, utilizing the huge selection of contemporary & progressive eyewear. New eyeglasses are the end result of the time spent with each person, matching the face and personality to a new look. Sometimes it is an unexpected result that emerges, surprising the individual. The challenge is to find the one or two new frames (out of thousands) that «click» to become your new look. That challenge is Dr. Chet’s passion. Visual Effects Optical is Dr. Chet’s passion.

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20 reviews of Visual Effects Optical

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I’ve only been a customer of Chet Steinmetz’s for a few years but I have been nothing but impressed by his skill and the service at Visual Effects Optical. He has a fantastic sense of style and a gift for helping you pick out frames that flatter your face.
I get compliments on my glasses all the time. Thanks Chet!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I have been a satisfied customer and patient of Visual Effects and Dr. Chet for nearly 20 years. Dr. Chet has seen me through the transition from single-​vision glasses and toric contact lenses to progressive lenses and another pair for computer work. As a software developer, this is important as I spend many hours every day at my desk working on my computer.
Visual Effects has cutting edge fashion eye wear and vision technology. They offer frames that you won’t find elsewhere, so you won’t see yourself coming and going, and they have a wide and varied selection. They’re not the usual «designer» names on cookie cutter frames, they are high end international eye wear brands. You will stand out. Or if you want frames that are less dramatic and blend in, they have those as well. Chet will work with your budget both on frames and if you can’t afford to include every piece of laser or high definition technology in your lenses, he will prioritize them and tell you the benefits of each. He also won’t sell you something you don’t need, for example, if your chosen frame structure is wider and you don’t need the thinnest lenses (which are more expensive) for your prescription with that frame, he will tell you.
As others have noted, Chet is a master at selecting frames — he has an eye for what complements your face shape and your coloring. Before I went to Visual Effects, my glasses were nice but didn’t always complement my face or look good with every hair style. I have not made that mistake when going with one of Dr. Chet’s suggestions (or his blessing, if I happen to pick a frame on my own that does look good on me). He has never pushed me to select something I didn’t like, if I push back on a selection or trend (like the huge frames a few years back), we keep looking. And I always have a few «winners» to select from.
I made the mistake of going elsewhere once based on vision insurance. I ended up unhappy with my glasses and they cost nearly as much after paying insurance premiums, so I admitted my error and returned to Visual Effects to salvage my eye wear satisfaction and have been much happier ever since.
Glasses are my main accessory — I have to wear them at all times, I want to look good and see well, and Visual Effects makes that happen for me!
Place rating: 5
Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL
Randomly came here for exam only. Dr. Chet is very thorough and personal in all aspects of exam and choosing frames. He saved me from buying a pair of frames that would constantly fall off my nose bridge. He has the best frames in the area if you are looking for premium names and styles. Highly recommend and will be a loyal patient/​customer.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
My mom and I have been buying eyeglasses there for years. Chet is the best. He has impecable taste and will tell you the best frames for your face-​he has an opinion and I like that! After all, if you are wearing glasses– they are a noticeable attribute. They have many unique and stylish frames for any type of taste or look that you are going for. Great place to do business with — highly recommend!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Dr. Chet is an outstanding physician and his shop is a just a wonder to purchase optical eyewear. I have been going to him (on and off mind you) for the last 18 years. I’m a guy that is stubborn to get medical exams done. He is very discerning (but in a positive manner) in terms of his practice and his opinions (which I highly value.) My insurance doesn’t cover his exams, that’s fine. No big deal. His eyewear is retail priced. No big deal here. I have always carried the mentality that if you need to wear eyewear, it directly reflects your character, who you are. Who am I to place on a price on quality optics? So any who, I am a proud supporter of local business and if you are in the market for quality eyewear and an exam, Dr. Chet is the man to see (pun intended).
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Never look ridiculous in old pictures again!! Dr. Chet is simply the best. I am not a trusting person but I trust Dr. Chet implicitly. He has proven himself to me over the last ten years of frame selection. He is honest and has an amazing sense of style. His selection of frames is outstanding and he can narrow it down to just then frames that work for you. If you want to try in every frame in the store you are welcome to but you will be wasting your time. Dr. Chet can do it for you in minutes. If there were an option to give more stars I would do it in a minute.
Place rating: 5
Burlingame, CA
If you value quality and perfection, this is the place for you. The inventory is uniquely current, if not ahead of the fashion curve, and Dr. Chet is an artist. He has the instincts to very quickly find the perfect frame based on the criteria you tell him as a guide. I’ve been a customer for 15 years and even though I live 2,000 miles away now, I still come back and wouldn’t buy frames anywhere else. Period!
Place rating: 5
Riverside, CA
While traveling in Chicago, C was experiencing extreme discomfort from her glasses due to a not-​so-​great adjustment done by our normal eye glass provider (different Unilocal for a different day). We were walking by this place and in a moment of desperation, C decided to see if she could find someone to adjust her glasses. The lady who was working there was very kind and made the necessary adjustment. She took the time and did it right. Very great service, even for someone who is not a customer. Thank you!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Great customer service and an amazing frame selection, from classic to amazingly, one-​of-​a-​kind, unique! Recently I went back to Dr. Chet, and it had been over 15 years since I had been there. I had moved around quite a bit and he did not miss a beat! In the years I was gone from Chicago I had great optometrists, but never felt the care and expertise (with a thorough and careful eye exam, frame selection and fitting) that I experience at Visual Effects. Many thanks to Dr. Chet!
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
They have an excellent selection of frames and are well worth the price. The doctor and staff are extremely knowledgable and will help you find the perfect specs for you.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I’ve been buying my frames from Visual Effects for ten years at least. I’m hard on my frames, over 40 years of wearing glasses I’ve busted many. I know what to look for-​a quality, sturdy, well made product. I can find many to choose from here.
Recently I had a pair of frames fall apart after 18 months-​I brought them in, said nothing except give the receptionist my name. No crabbing at me «what did you do» or «do you realize how old these are». One week later a new set of replacement frames are on my head. $ 15 bucks for shipping. You get what you pay for, people. Dr Chet is a stand up guy.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Visual Effects Optical specializes in finding glasses that fit your face type. Dr. Chet is awesome at that, so make sure you see him.
Be ready for his strong, educated opinions, because he delivers them with the weight of an expert and won’t hesitate to tell you, «Those make your cheeks look puffy — try this pair instead,» if that’s what he sees (my girlfriend said the same pair made my face look fat, so he seemed to be right on).
I’ve worn glasses for over 25 years. These are the thinnest, lightest lenses I’ve ever had, and they’re like seeing in high definition for the first time. And in the first two months after I got my first pair from here, I received more compliments on my glasses than I had in two and a half decades.
I was overseas when I found out about VEO; I complimented someone on his glasses, and he said he got them here. He told the same story, about how this place sold him the best glasses he’s ever worn, and people kept asking him for recommendations. That seems to be a common experience.
That said, this place isn’t for everyone. If you need them to submit your insurance (you can often do this yourself; it takes 5 minutes), or if you’re budget-​conscious and $ 600 for a pair of glasses is too expensive, then you can check any of the hundreds of other places in Chicago. (I say this simply because a lot of the lower reviews seem to be from people who either have different budgets or bad vision coverage, and it seems a bit unfair to lower the store’s rating for that.)
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I have been going here for at least 12 years. I will never go anywhere else, even if I move out of town, I’ll come back to Chicago just for Dr Chet’s help on his amazing selection of frames. Some may say he is a bit pricey, but I wear glasses all the time, so I don’t mind spending the money to get something that 1– fits my face properly (I have a long narrow face, in other places mainly their children’s frames would fit) 2– are uniquely an expression of who I am and 3-​are on the cutting edge of fashion.
In addition, I have gone to Dr Chet when something scratched my eyeball to make sure everything was okay. He and his staff were very caring and helpful. Really there is no other place to consider. I don’t know what I will do if he retires!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Excellent selection of frames. & the Dr. is in. I was very happy to find THE pair of glasses. There is plenty of parking right in front.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Yes its true I have been tempted by the new barrage of slick eyewear shops that have seemed to pop up all over the city. I look around but always return to Visual Effects. Why?
Dr. Chet spends a good amount of time explaining whatever I want to know– from the new digital lens technology– pros and cons– to why a certain shape frame suits my face better than others.
The selection is better than most of the trendy eye boutiques and so I keep coming back, not just for eye fashionables, but for my thorough exam and service.
Yep. I remain loyal to VE.
Place rating: 5
Washington, DC
Visual Effects Optical and Chet Steinmetz were recommended by my ophthalmologist. I have been going there for the last 6 or 7 years, and have recommended the place to my friends and family. The selection of frames is fantastic, as is the service from Chet. He has a great eye for frames that challenge my personal style biases, which makes the process of choosing a frame more interesting. I have a difficult prescription for my lenses (one lens is much stronger than the other), and he helps me work around that. He is careful to check the workmanship on the lenses, and he will also let you know when a product does not perform as advertised.
Many of the frames are indeed expensive, so I rationalize my purchases as «functional jewelry» that I get to wear every day.
Place rating: 2
Kenilworth, IL
well I am not sure what I did to deserve the only response from dr chet but I certainly do appreciate it! Like I said this was many many years ago and I do stand by my feelings, but it did cost him as I didnt use dr chet for my next pairs of glasses which ended up being damn expensive– more than even the initial pair from him –g-.
Nonetheless, it sounds like the dr. is willing to soften up for those who may want suggestions (like myself) but do not want to feel ‘pushed’ or intimidated’ into buying a pair, and specifically the pair the good doctor wants. Lets be honest given the price points folks who shop here are by and large successful types (me if I may dare say) and some don’t take well to *perceived* pressure tactics. The dr may be falling prey to the ‘self selection’ bias when he mentions the returning clients all, as he says, ‘demand’ his opinions. yes but by definition folks who dont like that will not be returning clients so of course it appears all returners all like his style.
Having said all that, perhaps folks should give his business a fair chance these days and let us know here on Unilocal if all seems well. The selection is good and he has outlasted places like A. Artimin which I just loved for great frames but alas too tiny and too few selections I guess put them under as I don’t see them around anymore.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
My husband and I love Dr. Chet. He is so excited about helping you find the glasses that are right for you (or just giving you a thorough eye exam). He’s honest about how the glasses look on you, the price, etc. etc. We tried on about 8 pairs until I had it narrowed down to two. I went with the coating, but I’m not sure I’m sold on it. I was sold on it when I tried on the comparison glasses, but I don’t know that I can tell a difference now. Maybe I’m just so used to it I couldn’t live without it. Dr. Chet has a great eye for glasses and I would recommend him to anyone.
*** I was mildly stressed about the billing process (they gave me the receipt to turn into my insurance). That was my first time doing that, but everything went smoothly.
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
Visual Effects has a really nice selection of frames that are competitively priced. I do agree with Sarah A. that the doc is a little gaga for oversized frames. The space is pretty modern and a bit too cool. The lighting is harsh and too direct when you are trying on frames in the mirrors. But, the frames are great so give this place a look.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
I’ve been going to see Dr. Chet at Visual Effects for years now. He does have a good eye for fitting a frame/​lenses to your face. A couple words of disclosure:
1. I definitely have my own opinion about what looks good.
2. My Rx. is strong (–7.25), so my lenses are thick.
3. I am using my flex spending on the glasses.
Chet worked with me to fit me into larger frames that are fashionable, but not too ‘coke-​bottled.’ (It involves increasing the top-​bottom dimension more than the side-​side one).
I had gone to Eye Spy and saw some lovely and unique frames, but the price was $ 300 more than what I spent here. I have never waited for service and parking is easy in the lot in front of the strip.