Cheap, Quick Eye Exam in Detroit?

**SWMAP** · March-19-12, 01:12 PM

I need one so I can buy some glasses from Warby Parker or eyefly). They need a prescription no more than two years old and mine is just over.

Any recommendations?

**JStone** · March-19-12, 04:45 PM

I just had one done at Heritage Optical in the Compuware building as a walk-in. I have no complaints.
Not sure how they compare on price though.

**pontiac4ever** · March-20-12, 12:52 AM

Americas Best. Two pair of glasses and an eye exam for $69.99. For an extra $30 you get two years of free exams. Got mine done a month ago, no complaints

**stasu1213** · March-20-12, 10:03 PM

There were once three to five optical centers downtown. D.O.C was in the Capital Park area. Co-op Optical was in the Penobscot Building on Griswold. Heritage Optical was on Lafayette and Chene in the shopoping center. The owner of Bagley Optical had told me a couple of months ago that the city has a contract with Heritage Optical to be the only opical store downtown. I don't know how true that is. It would be foolish of the city to make such a contract blocking competition. Heritage is a good place to go for glasses. I would love to see American Best, Lens Crafters, or some other optical store to open on Merchants Row

**Johnnny5** · March-21-12, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by SWMAP

I need one so I can buy some glasses from Warby Parker or eyefly). They need a prescription no more than two years old and mine is just over.

Any recommendations?

While a eye exam is definitely a good idea you can order glasses at www.zennioptical.com without one. The website does say that it's required, but I ordered 4 pairs a few months ago and they never asked for a copy of my prescription. The total shipped for all 4 was just over $70!

**corktownyuppie** · March-21-12, 11:24 AM

America's Best, Highland Park
http://www.yelp.com/biz/americas-best-contacts-and-eyeglasses-highland-park

I just moved into one of the new apartments in downtown Detroit from Ann Arbor. When I needed new contact lenses appointment, I searched for the nearest location and found the one in Highland Park. Frankly, I was a bit skeptical as I know that Highland Park is better known for its blight than high-end retail.

But I was pleasantly surprised and very impressed.

**Zacha341** · March-21-12, 11:31 AM

I've heard good things about America Best. In all cases make certain when shopping for glasses at a discount that the frames are not too cheap if you're going steel framed. A friend of mine purchased some really cheap steal frame lenses at Perle and the arms started to corrode and leave marks on the sides of his face and ears in less than a year. Some people with allergies must use tungsten steel only frames. I have a pair of steel frames working on the second set of lenses for 10 years so it's not a problem if you don't go too cheap on a frame.

Heritage? I had a bad experience with them: My exam was rushed and they messed up my perscription bad. As soon as they showed me my prescription numbers [[as I requested) I knew it was wrong. I know my basic diopter range for correction and so I got a second opinion from Henry Ford OptimEyes, who confirmed that my perscription Heritage wrote was about 30% out of range. I ended up having Henry Ford fill the perscription and they're not cheap unless you have insurance for there shop.

Plus Heritage seems to be really big on 'high-profile' designer frames and nothing reasonable. I don't like goggled-faced over-styled 'designer' $250+ frames screaming the designers name all over the frame. And that's mostly what they had or the 'off the rack' ultra cheap 'poverty' frames. Optimize, Perle, and Co-op have a better range of decent frames for nearly 'all' budgets often on sale.

**claireianthelibrarian** · March-21-12, 11:33 AM

Dr. Murray Feldman on Michigan is the way to go.

He is next to Yellow Tigers Karate, kind of near Prince Valley Supermercado Gigante.

I got my eye exam there on a walk-in basis for $20 with no insurance. He does things old school, but my prescription is perfectly accurate. I would guess that he's cash only.

**corktownyuppie** · March-21-12, 11:38 AM

anyone ever go to that sketchy-looking place that everyone swears by, Bagley Vision?

For those of you who don't know it, the outdoor sign is essentially a cheap, hand-painted piece of wood that adorns what looks like a vacant building surrounded by ruin-porn and vacant factories.

But I hear great things, just have never walked in. Any one know what I'm talking about?

**SWMAP** · March-21-12, 12:46 PM

$20! Pretty good!

**SWMAP** · March-21-12, 12:52 PM

Bagley Vision long gone from Bagley.

I hate to encourage people to abandon shopping locally - but both eyefly.com and warbyparker.com have an eyeglass business model that is so great. At both, most frames - and they are great, stylish frames- and prescription lenses are only $99. Free Shipping. Warby parker developers realized that people would buy multiple pairs for multiple ocassions [[work, beach, parties) if the price point was $99.

**downtownguy** · March-21-12, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by SWMAP

Bagley Vision long gone from Bagley.

I hate to encourage people to abandon shopping locally - but both eyefly.com and warbyparker.com have an eyeglass business model that is so great. At both, most frames - and they are great, stylish frames- and prescription lenses are only $99. Free Shipping. Warby parker developers realized that people would buy multiple pairs for multiple ocassions [[work, beach, parties) if the price point was $99.

How long gone? I was there in the past year to refill a prescription, but never got an exam there.

I've got no problem shopping online if the marketplace has ignored the area where I live, but I presume you must already have gotten an exam and prescription to use the companies you recommend.

**SWMAP** · March-21-12, 02:58 PM

I apologize! I had heard in the neighborhood that Bagley Vision was closed, but I just called and it is a going business.

My insurance requires that I shop around for the best prices. I did use a local company for an examination just days more than two years ago and spent about $1000 on very disappointing eyeglasses. One prescription just fine; the optician talked me into a triple vision computer glass instead of a single vision and I couldn't ever wear them without being sick. Last, the prescription sunglasses did not last one season before the temple piece broke off and was not repairable.

It just seems to me that the Warby Parker model is the way to go. I won't worry too much about $99 eyeglasses.