Pearle Vision

Very friendly staff and Dr Steve was very thorough and answered all my questions. I found a pair of glasses I like and the turn around time is fast! I was very satisfied.

I’ve been coming to this Pearle for years (although I’m not good about coming EVERY year) but I came on here to rave about my experience and am not at all surprised to see all these great reviews about Dr. Steve. So, allow me to add my 2 cents!
I have really messed up eyes, astigmatisms all over the place, very oddly shaped eyeballs etc (Dr. Steve explained it all much better than I just did) so I require super-​specialized contacts, even moreso now that I’m in my 40’s.
I went to Pearle a couple weeks ago, as I required the whole eye-​care package: an exam, new Rx, new contacts, new glasses.
Dr. Steve was so concerned about potential discomfort (because apparently my new contacts, bifocal gas-​permeables, are difficult lenses all around,) that he wanted to see me a week later after I’d been wearing the contacts long enough to see how they were working (which is a FREE follow-​up visit, for MY well-​being, at MY convenience) and when I came back today for that appointment, my only complaint was a little fogginess (due to the fact that I’m still using old (not Expired — just not the Latest/​Improved) cleaner).
So Dr. Steve gave me thorough cleaning instructions as well as a kit for hydrogen peroxide cleaning, and wants to see me again in 2 weeks to make sure the fogging issues are resolved (again — because I saw someone complain that they had to come to Pearle 6 times for their glasses — I am NOT complaining, because these are Free Follow-​Up appointments that I could blow off if I wanted to… I know that Dr. Steve is NOT trying to waste my time (OR his) with unnecessary, free appointments!)
So, yes, Pearle IS expensive, at least if you don’t have vision insurance AND you require gas-​permeable contact lenses, which are not cheap ANYWHERE (and frankly, if I DID find cheap ones, I’d be afraid to wear them!)
***But you definitely get what you pay for. **** (and in this case, that’s a Good thing!)
Tina, (I believe that is her name — the woman who runs the front desk and from my observations is probably the manager or office manager,) was SO helpful every time I dealt with her. Especially today, when I came in to see the doctor but had my new (one week old) glasses with me, and one of the nose-​pads seemed looser than the other. Although it was a lot like when your car makes a noise at home, but is quiet when you take it in to be fixed… I tried to show her my concern, but it didn’t seem as obvious when I was at the store, as it did at home… yet she adjusted them and did whatever was required to please me, without making me feel like she was just appeasing some crazy woman :)
AND since I’ve been getting my contacts and glasses at Pearle for the better part of the last decade, I know from personal experience that if your glasses get bent or the alignment is off, even if your glasses are several years old, you can walk in off the street at any time and they will adjust them for free. In fact, the gentleman who helps with the glasses fittings actually adjusted my OLD glasses for me when I picked up my NEW glasses, so I have a working back-​up pair, just in case (even though it’s the old Rx and I shouldn’t wear them, they will be fine in a Temporary Emergency).
EVERYONE I have dealt with here, is extremely kind, friendly and PATIENT. I’m on disability and some days my mind just does not wrap itself around some pretty Basic concepts, such as alternating methods of cleaning my contacts to address the fogging issue. But Dr. Steve was SO patient at explaining (and Re-​explaining, and re-​re-​explaining) and didn’t appear the least bit frustrated or annoyed at my truly STUPID questions.
In sum, for many years I avoided going to the eye doctor unless I broke a contact lens and needed a new one. I once went 8 years with the same pair of lenses because I didn’t want to go through the hassle of going to the eye doctor and getting a new Rx and new glasses and contacts. But as long as Dr. Steve and the staff at my local Pearle are around, I’ll be taking much better care of my eyes going forward, because it is REALLY a HUGE relief to have an eye doctor you KNOW you can trust. Thank you, Dr. Steve!

Bought a new set of Oakley’s. Quick exam and a nice price on the frames. Knowledgeable staff and very helpful with frame selection. Picked the up in two days and love them.

I’m through with all chain eyeglass shops.​What other type of business expects you to spends hundreds of dollars with such consistently inept customer service?
Now I like eyeglasses to take two visits: one to choose and order them, and one to pick them up.​This took six. The first frame was defective, they were all twisted up when I picked them up so they adjusted them, I was back the next day for another adjustment. Back again two days later — they just would not stay straight. But at least the lenses​were correct. Per their guarantee, they replaced them — no problem, very professional.
​The replacement eyeglasses did not have transition lenses but I picked them up after dark so I didn’t realize it.​When I called, the technician cut me off. She was so sure that I did not understand that you have to be OUTSIDE in the SUN for them to turn dark, she wanted me to bring them in so she could check them. Then she informed me (accusingly) that I had not ordered transition lenses. More discussion, explanations, confrontation… by then I’d had it so I asked to speak to the manager. She refused. Honestly, I think she was having fun. Yes, it’s true I raised my voice. That was my mistake, speaking more loudly to​someone so rude doesn’t make them suddenly get it.
I don’t spend over $​7​00 in any store and accept sarcastic, condescending service. I feel a little bad rating them this way because the doctor there is really nice. I’d rate them even lower if someone else didn’t make it right in the end. But next time I’ll buy eyeglasses at my doctor’s office.

The doctor was very knowledgeable, skilled and viewed me from a complete understanding of age, heredity and current state of health. I will admit being surprised to find a doctor that good. I highly recommend him.

I drove 30 min to come here, all based on the Unilocal reviews for Dr. Steve! Well, turns out the reviews were right! He is awesome. Very kind, laid back, gentle mannered and professional. He was very chill and put me at ease. My appointment was for an annual eye exam. I do not have glasses or contacts so I can’t speak for the Pearle Vision products or glasses fittings or anything like that. This review is purely for the doctor! He was easy to talk to and it was a pleasure to meet him and have him check my eyes. He happily answered my questions (and I had a lot of them!) In two years when it is time for another eye exam, I will gladly go and see Dr. Steve again.

The optometrist is wonderful, professional, and very informative. My contacts and lenses were easy to order and reasonably priced, and customer service was excellent. Will definitely return for my next eye exam or new glasses!

My visit there was fast and easy. I got my eye exam with steve and he is really good at what he does. Very good selection of frames, I came on tuesday and was out in a very short time, all in all great experience. Highly recommended.

Good service

Horrible customer service, lied to me on the phone to get me to come in. Sales clerk further lied to me in store about which brands of eye ware my insurance would accept to get more money out of me (for eyes further down the road MUCH better customer service and didn’t play that game), only time she actually seemed to want to help us is when my wife was showing an interest in the coach frames. After telling me on the phone and while i was picking out the small selection of frames i was told were covered it would take 3 to 5 days with my insurance to receive my glasses, the ever so lovely sales clerk waited until after running my wife’s credit card, that it would more like 2 weeks because my insurance had to make the lenses??? How incompetent and greedy is this business? Save yourself the headache and go to for eyes, they let me know there were NO restrictions on the brands of eye ware my insurance would cover, much better selection and customer service, not to mention the no scratch coverage is a heck of a lot better for a few dollars more. Only good thing about this business was the optometrist, was friendly and professional.

Do you remember the ad «I’d walk a mile for a Camel»?
Well I’ll drive 45 minutes out of my way to see Dr. Steve.
You see he looked after me in Naperville for 7 years before he moved to Arlington Heights. I was a difficult patient because first I wanted contacts so I could see far with one eye and near with the other. He told me: No problem.
But then I wanted glasses to wear over my contacts when I drove or went to the cinema so I could see far with both eyes. He said: No problem.
Now my business keeps me in front of a computer for hours at a time so I asked for glasses to read the screen without eyestrain. No problem.
Then I had a cataract removed from one eye and a lens implanted so I have ²⁰⁄₂₀ vision in my left eye but need glasses for my right eye to read. No problem.
I could go on. I actually wrote a 2-​page letter to his company 2 years ago singing his praises and if you need more, you can ask him to see it.
But for now, if you need contacts, glasses, a listening ear and most of all, if you need a professional with integrity: check out Dr. Steve.
Ps: If you are planning to have cataract surgery, see Dr. Steve BEFORE you go near the guy with the knife — NOT afterwards.
Gerard A.

On a whim, I decided I needed to look more ‘intelligent’ for some upcoming interviews… so I stopped by here to check out their collection of black, oversized black plastic frames.
‘Sadie’ the store manager was VERY helpful and considerate, pulling a lot of things for me… the only pair I liked were these (over-​priced) Prada ones, that would have been okay, if a little wider I think… insurance helped them be a little more reasonable, but I still have to think about it… glasses should not cost more than a car payment. Right?
She fixed my fave AX aviators too, and stabbed herself in the finger while trying… but was nice and smiling by the end of my visit. If that isn’t amazing customer service, I dont’t know what is… thanks girl!