Red Eye Eyewear

Red Eye is Great! Their friendly, prompt, and explain just enough about the exam to be helpful without getting too technical. Flexible appointment times. What’s not to like about these guys? Going to the doctor can be a hassle, but these guys make it a breeze. Wholeheartedly recommend Red Eye!

Dr. Gifford is awesome. Great joint where they take good care of you and have an extensive selection of frames. Reasonably priced and mega friendly. I bring the whole family there.

Dr Gifford and staff live up to the 5 stars from me and others. Friendly, professional, and all with a good sense of humor. Very through exam and any question I had, was answered simply and clearly. Dr G made sure I understood my medical coverage and exactly what a pair of glasses would cost. No hard sell or pressure. Would recommend this office every time.

Incredibly professional, thorough and helpful. Staff and doctors take time to know you personally. State of the art equipment, very knowledgable doctors. I have found my Chicago area optometrist!

I’ve been going here for almost 10 years even though I moved out of the neighborhood 8 years ago! Dr. Gifford is great and is always very thorough and spends a lot of time with you. He seems like a genuinely nice guy and it shows in his work. I haven’t seen Dr. Kohn as much, but he is also thorough and friendly. They are prompt and I’ve never had to wait. Their staff is nice and able to explain insurance and costs. They are very upfront with the costs of glasses, lenses, etc. A couple of years ago I woke up with a lot of pain in my eye and they squeezed me in on a busy Saturday. It turned out to be an ongoing problem with my cornea and they recommended I see a specialist who was able to diagnose the problem. I love this place and continue to have my annual exam here even though it is a hike from my current neighborhood because I am always pleased with their services. I would highly recommend Red Eye!

I had to switch optometrists due to changes in my insurance coverage. Red Eye has made the whole process flawless [so far]. I’ve never really had a bad experience with optometrists, but I’ve had bad doctor experiences when it comes to dealing with insurance. Dr. Gifford was great, very transparent through the whole process and didn’t try to up sell or pressure me into anything. He’s also super laid back and easy to talk to. In the past, I’ve always had to pay an extra nominal fee for dilation, I didn’t here and I’m not sure if that’s dependent on the office or if that’s an insurance thing. Clean facilities, smaller selection of frames than bigger retail stores such as Lenscrafters, but not a big deal. Overall great experience and glad I choose to come here. Also, it’s street parking and around an area with several once way streets. Give yourself ample time to find parking.

Dr. Patel was so nice and very personable. She explained the steps of what she was doing and looking for. Great visit!

Ok, so I’ve been wearing contacts and glasses for 10 years plus… so that means I’ve been to many Optometrist both here in Chicago and in California where I’m originally from; I’ve used JCP, Sears, Lenscrafters and others. by far Red Eye has been one of the best!
I absolutely loved this place! Staff was friendly and professional, facility was clean and modern. Smells great too; air fresheners on point! :-)
Dr Kohn was awesome! I brought my 11 year old in for an eye exam and for her first pair of contacts. Dr Kohn was thorough throughout the entire exam and follow up appt. He was very friendly, professional, patient, fun, and may I add, animated (lol, I was trying to find the right word). I can tell that he loves what he does!
We also met Dr Gifford who passed us in the hallway with a smile, greeted us, and encouraged my daughter while she struggled to get her contacts in.
It made this visit a great experience for my daughter and I will definitely be referring my entire family. Thanks Red Eye Eyewear!

Can’t see? Me neither. Go to Red Eye.
In all seriousness, they make everything simple, have really clean facilities and what seems to be brand new equipment (even that stupid eye puffer is gone and was replaced by a blue light).

I’ve been meaning to write this review for the past year. I have recommended red eye to countless people in that time. If anyone asks if I know a good optometrist I get VERY EXCITED to tell them YES!!! I wish I could give them 10 stars. I can’t recommend them enough.
Nobody really likes going to the doctor. My visit to red eye was the absolute best doctor experience I’ve ever had. I walked out ecstatic over the care I received. I actually learned more about my eyes in one visit than all of my past optometry appointments combined. The exam was very very thorough and the Doctor very knowledgable and easy to talk to. My favorite thing about them is you can tell that they really care about what they’re doing. They care more about your eye health than making a mark up on frames. My prescription hadn’t changed so the doctor told me I didn’t need new glasses if I didn’t want them. This was crazy to me because anyone I’ve seen at other offices has tried to push glasses on me even when I told them I didn’t want to buy new frames. This time I actually did want a change, and I saw a pair I liked. They were very helpful figuring out what my insurance would cover, etc. He also printed out a copy of my prescription just in case I needed it. I thought that was awesome especially if you had your eye on a pair of warby parkers or something.
Months after my initial appointment, the doctor called me to check in and see if I wanted to schedule my next visit. He was so nice and genuinely caring. My eyes have always been in pretty good shape so I don’t require much. He said if everything’s been fine, it’s not necessary to book another visit just yet. Again, I felt like they’re not in it for the money! They’re doing what they do because it’s their passion. That’s the way it should be — I wish every place was like this.

Been seeing Dr. Kohn the last couple years, prior to that Dr. Gifford. Luckily only ever had to go for standard exam, no major eyeball issues, so can only speak to that (i.e. have never had a «procedure») — but the exams are fine, docs are nice, thorough, and personable. Since they’ve been at the new location, the appointments I’ve had usually start fairly promptly at the scheduled time.
Saturday office hours — you have to book a few weeks in advance, but given I only go once a year this is not a big deal at all, and just having the option is awesome, so I don’t have to take off work. It’s easy to make an appointment (a person picks up when you call, no irritating robot menu to navigate), and staff are friendly.
Since I have vision insurance, prices are reasonable. Not sure how it would be without. I’m just glad I found a decent place that takes my insurance (Eye Med — when I first got it, not a lot of real practices accepted it) so I don’t have to go to one of the mall-​type places. In the event I ever have an actual eye problem other than being nearsighted, it’s good to know I have an actual doctor I can call, who is likely to be there for longer than 6 months!
If you have insurance, getting a pair of glasses isn’t too much of a pocket hit. Mine ended up about $ 100 out of pocket. Something I really like is that all the frames have a color-​coded sticker corresponding to price, so you can limit your browsing to just the price range you’re comfortable with (instead of falling in love with a $ 400 frame that your insurance doesn’t cover!). If I didn’t have insurance I’d probably look into some of the online places, but since with insurance it ends up being about the same cost, plus I get the convenience of immediate in store try-​on + no quality concerns + no shipping stuff back and forth, getting them here is less hassle. They could do with a slightly larger selection of lower-​end (i.e. fully covered by my insurance!) frames, but even so it’s not bad — always found one that’s decent. As far as style, they lean toward trendy/​hipster but do have some more traditional styles too.

My review is long overdue but I just have one thing to say– Dr. Kohn is the OG! Took me in the last minute when no one else wanted to check what’s going on with my eyes as it was almost closing time.

I just moved to Chicago and needed a new Optometrist. I wanted a professional experience with a modern atmosphere and that is exactly what I got with Red Eye! Dr. Kohn was very genuine and took the time to explain every step in the exam, and all of his findings afterwords. He was very down to earth, which was refreshing for a doctor’s visit, and made me feel very comfortable.
They have a wide variety of frames both classic and modern– all neatly organized and labeled with price stickers. There were two women at the front desk that helped me pick mine out. They were honest (much appreciated) and gave me a few recommendations, that I may not have otherwise tried on. I spent quite a bit of time looking for the perfect pair, and they did not make me feel rushed one bit, they actually encouraged me to take my time, this too was refreshing. After I decided on a pair, one of the ladies reviewed my insurance coverage and explained in depth what I could use it towards, as I was getting both glasses and contacts.
Overall, I am very satisfied with my experience. Everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful– I highly recommend.

I had the pleasure of being assigned Dr. Andrew Kohn as my optometrist. This is my first time going to an optometrist in Chicago so I wanted to make sure I chose wisely. After reading all of the lovely reviews about Red Eye Eyewear, couple with it being close to my condo, I decided to make an appointment here. I was blown away with how friendly everyone at the office was and how informative Dr. Kohn was while explaining everything he was doing. This optometrist office is wonderful and I would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for one.

Excellent service! Dr. Gifford is a friend and an excellent Doctor flanked by excellent staff! Come in for A+ service and a wide array of lenses to choose from!

Came here on a recommendation from a coworker (plus its just a few blocks away from my place) I’m glad I did. Dr. Kohn and his staff are very friendly and informative .He even discovered an injury to my eye I wasn’t previously aware of and showed it to me on his state of the art equipment. He also spotted an injury I WAS aware of (Don’t EVER, EVER EVER EVER sleep in your contacts kids !)The staff are great at giving opinions and recommendations on frames also .
Now I have really bad astigmatism and I knew my lenses would be super thick, I only wish the doc would have explained just HOW thick and that they would somehow look like a lense within a lense? Either way I plan on maybe discussing it with him next time I come in and order contacts and possibly getting a not as strong prescription in the lenses because I absolutely love the frames but wouldn’t be caught dead wearing them outdoors. For now they are my «inside glasses «to give my eyes a rest from contacts because my boyfriend says I look like dork (and I agree) :)
Highly recommended and super cute and trendy frame selection.

I love wearing glasses, but never really enjoyed going to the eye doctor before I found Red Eye. Dr. Kohn’s genuine enthusiasm for eye health makes it truly fun, though. Unlike some optometrists, who seem to have just chosen what seemed like a solid career, he seems really passionate about vision and taking care of people. They also have a nice selection of frames at a range of prices and I felt zero pressure from anyone on the staff. My whole family goes here.

My eyes are pretty low-​maintenance, but I do go for a annual check-​up each year. And each year, I actually enjoy going in to Red Eye! Everyone is super nice, the doctors are knowledgeable, and you can tell everyone genuinely loves what they do. Dr. Kohn will tell you what’s going on with your eyes, complete with comparisons to abnormal images, so you’ll even coming out learning a bit. Everyone’s happy to help you decode your coverage (letting you know how much your frames & lenses would ACTUALLY cost you), and will also give you an honest option on eyewear options. Add on the option for online scheduling, and you’ve got yourself a great & fuss-​free eye doctor. I won’t be going anywhere else!

I’ve been going to Red Eye for nearly 5 years, and have had an excellent experience each time. Every member of staff is friendly, helpful, and accommodating. On my most recent visit, the women at the front desk spent extra time trying to figure out how to save me the most using my insurance benefits. The doctors are both patient and kind, and take the time to answer any questions when I have them. I’ve recommended Red Eye to several people already, and will continue to do so. It truly seems like they are in this business to help people.

I have not had an eye exam in quite a few years, and had a great experience with Dr. Kohn!
It felt great to know that my lasic surgery is still holding up albeit with a mild Rx and appreciated seeing the results of my dilation :-)

Everyone I met during my appointment at Red Eye Eyewear was incredibly friendly and especially helpful. I saw Dr. Gifford who was absolutely great, and patiently entertained some of my undoubtedly ignorant questions.
The front staff was already above par, but when it came time for me to choose new frames they astounded me with their helpfulness and patience. In fact, Dr. Kohn led the charge of picking out frames to try on. I’m sure he had better things to do; they are just that generous at Red Eye Eyewear. They probably picked out thirty great frames for me to try on, and helped me whittle it down to just one awesome pair that I can’t wait to receive (in approximately two weeks after my appointment).
There were so many great moments at my recent appointment that it’s hard to pinpoint what made the visit so wonderful, but I really appreciated how at the end of the appointment one of the front staff (whose name I regrettably don’t remember or never heard) went through all the details of my insurance policy – what my benefits were and how much I would need to pay. I’ve never been more informed on the nuances of my policy and how it works out after a doctor’s visit.
I know I’m gushing, but I’ve never had a more enjoyable eye doctor visit in my life, and I’ve been going to eye doctors regularly since I was nine. I left the place with a smile (and dilated eyes).

Matt has been my eye doctor for 16 years now (ohmigod we’re old) and I tell every single person I can to go to Red Eye. Matt – ahem – Dr. Gifford is great, the staff is friendly, the equipment is state-​of-​the-​art, the office décor is cheery and comfortable, and their frames selection is top notch. They also act as a boutique, so if you don’t want to get your eye exam there, they’ll still happily sell you a lovely pair of frames.
Although their new location means I have to take a bus from the Blue Line instead of walk, it’s still in a pretty good area and convenient via the highway, surface streets and public transportation.

I have been going to Red Eye Eyewear for years. The staff is extremely friendly, courteous and helpful. The eye exam utilizes the latest state-​of-​the-​art equipment. It is reassuring that Dr. Gifford invests in this technology as it only helps get the best exam possible.

I have been going to Dr. Kohn for a couple of years. Office had great atmosphere, he is very friendly and informed and I believe I am heard as a patient.
Would recommend this location to anyone in need of eye care.
They also have a good offering of frames in store.

I saw Dr. Kohn recently for my annual eye exam. He was very friendly and thorough. He explained what each step was without me having to ask. He was prompt, fast, and I was in and out of the office in about 30 minutes. Would definitely recommend.

All I can say is that I traveled all the way from Canada to continue getting my eye care here! They are extremely thorough, and explain everything as they go through the exam. Both Dr. Kohn and Dr. Gifford are extremely nice. The front of house staff will even give you honest suggestions on which frames look the best on you!

I have now seen both Dr Gifford and Dr Kohn and each experience has been great. Love the way they take time to explain everything. Seems like they really love what they do. New location is fabulous and includes state of the art equipment and they seem to be up to date on all the latest procedures and tests. You can see the results of your eye exams over the number of years you have gone there and know how your eyes are progressing over time. Highly recommended!
A+ in customer service on the staff as well.

Easily the best optometrists’ office I’ve ever visited in the 25+ years my vision has been screwy.
I always seem to be able to get appointments at good times and on short notice. I called a few weeks ago and was able to get in next day. Since I’ve started visiting them I’ve moved up to Albany Park and I still make the annual trek down, passing many other offices on the way. I saw Dr. Kohn who was quite helpful and really took time to explain everything that was going on. The front office staff were incredibly patient and helpful in assisting an indecisive doofus like me pick out my first new frames I’ve purchased in years — which I am wearing now and love!
In fact, I like these folks so much I signed up for Unilocal just so I could write a review (and I am not one to sign up for these kind of things…).

This place is a gem located and is located in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood where the Bucktown Beanery used to be.
I was able to get an appointment about 4 days in advance. They called the day prior to confirm.
The showroom had hundreds of glasses for sale with clearly marked prices. Everything is brand new and really nice — I guess they just moved right down the street because their last space they rented was sold and is being demolished.
My visit started with a warm greeting at the front desk from three smiling young women. The check-​in process was modern on an iPad, and then I was taken back for the start of my exam right on time.
Dr. Kohn clearly explained everything he was doing and answered every single one of my questions. He updated my glasses prescription and also educated me and gave me all of the options for possibly changing my contact lenses. I really felt like I was a part of the decision-​making process.
Being a medical professional myself, I can tell that Dr. Kohn really knows his stuff and he is very passionate about his job.
They take a photo of the inside of the eye on a really cool camera and then show it to you making sure everything is health and there are no signs of any early blindness-​causing diseases.
I wish more doctor offices were this inviting and professional. I will definitely be back.

Our family has come to Red Eye for several years. They recently moved to a new location that’s made them better than ever.
Still the same great experience from beginning to end. Each of the people at the front desk are attentive & helpful. Our normal doctor, though unavailable at the time that I wanted our appointments, still made an effort to come & visit with myself & my son on our follow up visit. The chance to encounter a second of their doctors this year only increased my confidence in the business.
This attention to detail is what makes Red Eye stand out as uniquely exceptional, even for someone who worked in an optometrist’s office for four years.

Updating my review because the doc called me in to fix the problem which in my opinion is outstanding customer service. Looking back I should have given them 5 stars because its no fault of there’s that im blind as a bat and have to wear glasses that look like i can look into the future. It was my own fault for not coming to pick up glasses myself but I had just popped a human out of my body when they were ready so I had my boyfriend pick them up for me .
Come here for your glasses and contact needs. Friendliest staff… ever