Eye Studio Optometry

As I have recently fully moved to San Diego, I had to change my optometrist. I usually look at reviews before going somewhere and the reviews were generally good for this place. My experience was pleasant. The doctor took good care of me, took her time to explain everything to me. the guy working there was really helpful when I was choosing a frame for my new glasses. I will definitely continue going here. Really nice place!

Dr. Chen is amazing with kids. I brought my daughter in for an eye exam and the whole staff at Eye Studio made it a very pleasant experience. The staff was patient and had a calm demeanor. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone that needs an eye exam, especially if you have a little one.

I recently moved to SD and needed an eye exam. I found this place through a friend’s recommendation. I was a little skeptical at first about City Heights area but immediately felt at ease after seeing Dr. Chen. It was easy to set up an appointment here. They also have a package to help low income patients or someone who doesn’t have vision insurance like myself: $ 160 for a comprehensive exam and a pair of SV or BF glasses. That is a steal considering the care I needed for my eyes. She also dilated my eyes and made sure everything looks good in the back of my eyes. I’ve never gotten that done before anywhere else because nobody has suggested it to me. She was very throughout and explained everything regarding my eye conditions. I will bring my parents here to see her as well because like me, they have never had a dilation exam before.

Hands down the worst customer service I have ever dealt with. The doctor here is really sincere but the workers lash out with a lot of attitude towards me. The golden rule about customer service is the customer is always right. For the past week, I’ve been requesting for my prescription but the workers there having been lagging. They have reached out to me, but I’ve reached out to them multiple times. Today when I called asking about my prescription the woman over the phone, named Zelda was rude. She was arguing and giving me attitude about my prescription. She could have apologized and said she was going to send it as soon as possible. Again, I wouldn’t recommend coming here for your prescription, the customer service has made me stray away from this place!

Dr. Chen is the best. She doesn’t just quickly give a prescription and contacts/​glasses. She will make sure your vision is the best it can be and that you are comfortable. Highly recommend this place and Dr. Chen.

Negative stars. This place is horrible.
Fortunately, I didn’t bring my daughter here for her eye exam, but when my eye doctor’s office said they don’t take her insurance for frames, I was forced to go elsewhere for those. Admittedly, I was looking for a discount place. Should have stuck to Costco.
I chose Eye Studio because it was somewhat near my neighborhood and thought it would be easy to get in and out. Wrong. Parking is difficult and the neighborhood is sketchy. The fact that there is a foot clinic in the same office is seriously disgusting. Big picture of a foot with toe fungus… really? Is that gonna be near my eyes? Ugh. Although perfunctorily pleasant, the girls working the desk were not particulalry knowledgable, nor were they helpful in choosing the appropriate frames for my then-​13 year old. That said, we found a somewhat affordable pair and ordered them, explaining that my daughter needed them right away, as she was having difficulty seeing in class and was having headaches. They assured me a week, maybe two tops. NO LIE: It took over three weeks to get these glasses! I called, and called, and called. Each time, the staff seemed unsure of where my order was, when they were ordered, whatever. They would always say «any day now.» I seriously got the sense that they had forgotten to place the order.
For the (non-​discounted) price, you’d be better off going somewhere else. In fact, we purchased a second pair from Costco Optical, and they were helpful and timely. Not only that, Costco gives discounts to parents who, by law, have to get the poly safety lenses for kids, which are more expensive — nice! No such deal at Eye Studio.

I understand that some of the other reviews might be saying don’t judge a book. When I drove up, I was kinda thinking the place looked questionable from the outside. Then I realize it is an eye doctor OD, laser hair removal, and an ankle/​foot specialist all in one place??. That made it feel even more back alley-​ish with all these different specialties thrown into one little unattractive store front. Anyway, yes the staff was nice and the Dr. too. I did feel like she was trying to make as much $$ off of me as possible. She really didn’t explain at all to me how my vision was, just that I could get sunglasses or regular glasses, I could benefit from both, my ins covers them, I could get photo lense, I could get glare resistance??? which is all well and fine but are you telling me I need glasses and for what? I have never needed glasses in the past so perhaps you could elaborate a little. I asked for my prescription and they said it would be a $ 20 charge. I asked for some kind of explanation of what conclusions were drawn during the visit and still nothing, super vague. I was like «what just happened here today». And to boot, I’m leaving with some eye drops and I have no idea why!
I am getting a copy of my records and going to LensCrafters. Sorry but I couldn’t tell if everything she was doing was for my best interest or to have more to bill my insurance.
Yep, odd feeling overall about the intentions here. I didn’t come to you to buy eyewear. I came to you for an exam and for you to tell me a diagnosis of sorts and then for me to explore my eyewear options if need be. You made it feel likefrom the moment I walked in I was going to leave with some kind of eyewear whether I needed it or not. No bueno.

I picked up my glasses and the office has really tried to do right, has gone out of their way.
Thank you!

Although the people that helped me at Eye Studio were friendly for the most part, there were several things that annoyed me. First of all, the price I was told I would pay changed several times… Including a $ 65 fee for a «fitting» for my contacts. What exactly is a fitting I asked? Well it’s when you put the contacts on and they ask you how they feel. This was on top of the exam fee, and the materials fee, not to mention to cost of my actual lenses. They tried to get me to come in for a «follow up» visit, which in the 12+ years I’ve been wearing contacts I have never had to do (not to mention have time to do). I was told they would order the contacts immediately, however they waited a week, called me to ask if they still felt good, and then placed the order. I didn’t get my lenses until 3 weeks after my visit. I made sure to ask the day of my appointment what my cost would be out the door, lenses included and they told me $ 105. I paid, left and when I came back, I ended up paying another $ 25 for the cost that my insurance didn’t cover that they failed to tell me about…$ 130 was the price I paid, and I have eye insurance. Eek.
They got me in quickly, the facility itself was nice and clean, but for the reasons above, I won’t be returning.

After years of trial-​and-​error, I have finally found an optometry practice that inspires me to sing its praises! Eye studio is still fairly new, but don’t let that fool you. Dr. Chen and her staff are very professional, helpful, and friendly. The office is clean and neat. It also has an impressive selection of designer frames. Great customer service. Finally a doctor that takes the time t take care of her patients! thank you!

DON’T judge a book by its cover, the outside looks a little dreaded and can be a bit intimidating but once you get past all that you will NOT regret putting your eyeballs in the hands of Dr. Chen and her staff… These folks are wonderful and very confident in there work. I called on a Tuesday and was able to get in on the upcoming Saturday.
They are open Saturdays by appointment only, which is just way to convenient. While doing the exam Dr. Chen explained everything in a way that was easy to understand and follow… They have a very good selection of frames for women, men and children and all within a very reasonable price range.
I will definitely be back next year for my follow up visit.

Dr. Chen is amazing. She’s super easy-​going and when I called to make an appointment, I gave her my insurance information and she said not to worry everything should be covered. I showed up, got the eye exam done and got contact prescriptions that work well.
She billed my insurance. My insurance declined it, because that’s what insurance companies do. What Dr. Chen did was to stick to her words and deal with them by herself. She eventually got them pay for the bill, and this was without me involved at all. I respect her responsibility!