Spex- Lincoln Square

The doctor was great, no complaints there. Be careful though, they will try to sell you essentially an enhanced exam for $ 50 that your insurance probably won’t cover. When it came time to select and purchase glasses, the good experience stopped. First, the girl that was helping me was less than pleasant. She was cold and acted like me purchasing my glasses there was a huge inconvenience on her time. I told them what my budget was and they tried to get me to purchase $ 500 worth of glasses. So i took my prescription to Warby Parker and got fashionable glasses at a much more reasonable price. If you are particularly susceptible to being up sold, then stay away.

Overall good experience, good staff and positive and helpful. One draw back is I ordered contacts and the fitting process was not very flexible it’s only done when the doctor is not in. Leaves little time during a normal week.

They are very pleasant and helpful here at Spex.
The selection of glasses is top rate. The issue I have is they charge you $ 10 copay with insurance (others didn’t) then $ 50 for some procedure that insurance doesn’t cover. Unless I missed the Nobel committees award to Spex’ procedure, it’s probably not necessary. I told the woman at the desk I didn’t want it. It was done anyway and I was charged the $ 50.

Really wanted to like this place and loved their trendy frames. But having been twice, once an exam and then back for some glasses, I’ve come away both times feeling like the staff had a bit of an attitude. Liked the glasses but probably won’t be back — there are other places with staff who are much nicer.

Because of Dr. Lindsay Luker my life has transformed. I had been struggling with my ability to read everything from my phone to menus whenever my contacts were in. There’s a reason in the UK why they call reading glasses «44’s». Since I need my contacts for distance, I stashed readers every where I could. Thanks to Dr. Luker, I no longer need to do that. I visited other OD’s and they were unable to find contacts that I could use for my vision issues. I feel like a new man. Everyone there was extremely friendly and helpful. Yes, it is expensive, but I would pay any amount to have the success I found there.

I haven’t come here for a full appointment yet, so I’m not ready to give the full five stars until I do, but I had a very positive experience here. I had just gotten replacement nosepads at a competitor practically next door and discovered that one screw had been left long and pointy, but due to a poor customer service experience at the other place, I didn’t want to go back there. I came into SPEX and told them my problem with the screw, and Danielle spent a lot of time cutting down the pointy screw for me so it was nice and flush, and didn’t charge me anything even though it took a while. She also took time to answer my questions about getting renewing contacts and upgrading lenses. I’m pleased and hoping that service will be equally good when I come in for contacts.

We were in the neighborhood when my mother’s glasses broke and needed a new nose piece. We walked in and Vinnie was quick to help. He said he would not only put on a new nose piece but make the glasses a little bit sturdier. He was able to fix the glasses within 10 mins and the best part it was free of charge! My mother walked out of there a happy camper and super positive experience! Glad that I choose this place to purchase my glasses!

Customer service extraordinaire!
I had an experience that I was not happy with and within one day I had the district manager call me to rectify the situation!
Talk about serious customer satisfaction! He called to get clarification of my experience and had me come in to make sure my frames were adjusted. He stated that in conclusion he wants me to be satisfied with my purchase regardless of what extent he has to go through. It’s so comforting to give business to a place that cares about your needs and satisfaction, money well spent!
It’s unfortunate that the situation wasn’t handled by the manager herself at the Lincoln square office before it got to the district manager! I understand that the district manager stands by his staff, but he did make me feel that he didn’t believe my story. He stated that it doesn’t seem like her to speak that way and that it may have been a misunderstanding on my part. Hopefully after my third visit the situation will be rectified!

Super nice people and very helpful. I brought in my sunglasses that I bought somewhere else. A screw had broken and was stuck. They told me where I could get acre removed (across the street at a jeweler) and then when I came back, they fixed the glasses for free! I will definitely come back here when I need a new purchase.

I had an eye exam last year at Spex for the first time in several years. Once the Dr. was done, I looked at frames a bit, but decided to wait and asked for a copy of my prescription. The people working, gave it to me and thanked me and I left. I got a call 5 minutes later from them that I needed to come back, the Dr. had to check my dilation. I didn’t know/​realize she had to check them again, so was a but irked that they let me leave. I finished up, took my prescription and left. I chose to get eyeglasses at another shop that had more affordable frames and with that savings also got prescription sunglasses. I had trouble adjusting to the new lenses and felt like things were a bit more blurry than I remembered with my older glasses. I chalked it up to adjusting to a new prescription and made do. A few months later, I accidentally broke my eye glasses and had to use my old frames, and, my vision was better with my old frames. When the new year rolled around (new year for insurance), I went to a different optometrist and had my eyes checked again. The new Dr. confirmed that my previous prescription from Spex had been over-​corrected. I should have gone back to Spex after the prescription they gave me was blurry, but I felt a bit awkward going back after purchasing frames elsewhere. I’m a bit conflicted about this review, but felt I still needed to share my experience so others don’t do what I did. Fortunately, with my insurance, I was able to get new lenses/​frames this year, but I do still have a pair of prescription sunglasses that will cost a couple of hundred to get updated. The staff and Dr. were nice, but my overall experience was not.

My husband is the glasses wearer in the family — and our kids are the glasses destroyers in the family. When my husband’s only pair of tri-​focal frames broke in an unfixable sort of way, he returned to Spex for a solution. They were responsive and helpful and he was able to replace the frames within the hour. And, the new frames were much cooler than the old ones;). Thank you!

I had a wonderful (2^nd) experience here getting new glasses. When I arrived and was greeted, I described in one sentence what type of frame I was looking for. The staff member immediately knew what I was thinking of and the first frame he suggested is the one I purchased. Incredibly the glasses were ready two days later (was expecting seven), fit perfectly and the prescription was exact. I am very pleased and will continue to use them in the future.

I love this place. I have been coming here for years and I probably have purchased about 10 frames, both for myself and my daughters. The doctor is outstanding and the assistants are professional and courteous. no, really. You will be impressed. The frames are always current & fashionable. I will always come back.
This place is not cheap. No bait and switch. My glasses are not crap. I love them.

After a bad experience with Visionary in the Loop and Warby Parker, I went into Spex. I went there twice: once to find my frames, and the second to pick up the completed package. They were great. No adjustments needed. I highly recommend this team to anyone seeking glasses!

This is my neighborhood Spex where I return once a year to have my eyes checked and order my contacts and occassionally buy new glasses. I first came here because it’s really one of the only places that accepts my Vision plan, but I like it well enough to keep going back.
Anyone who deals with the bad fortune or genetics of poor eyesight knows that like many other health issues, it’s expensive. Exams, even when covered, end up being expensive with all the various tests, etc. that you don’t even know are extra or necessary. This place is no different. But they have always been really thorough and professional. Dr. Luker, the optometrist here, really seems to know her stuff and is so nice as well. I really like her and feel comfortable asking questions and talking to her. She’s great! The other employees I’ve worked with are also friendly and knowledgeable.
My main issue is that they seem to only carry the REALLY expensive frames. Like previously mentioned, I acknowledge that buying glasses is usually really pricey, but they have a pretty limited selection of very expensive designer brands and not even all the well-​known designers that you name-​recognize. This isn’t a huge issue for me since I rarely wear my glasses and only replace them every 4 – 5 years, but if you want a good selection of the only moderately expensive frames, I would look elsewhere. For contacts, they have been A-​OK for me. Not a bad neighborhood shop and they can definitely take care of any of your eye-​care needs

Spex is wonderful! The doctor was fantastic and was really helpful with finding me the right contact lenses.
My second trip was for glasses and was just as great as experience. Courtney was amazing and knows her stuff. She helped me pick out the perfect frames and am very happy!
Thanks Spex for providing great services and having such excellent employees!

After going to another eye doctor in the neighborhood (Eye See in Ravenswood and they were wonderful) I realized that I got charged for a test that I didn’t not want and did not ask for. They framed it as my co-​pay and because this was a new insurance I didn’t know any better. I feel so ripped off and to ad further insult to injury, Eye See said that multiple trial lenses in different brands (including the one I’ve been using which I asked Spex to order and they refused) will all be here on Thursday, which makes it a two day turn over, not a month like Spex.
Also, I do not appreciate them calling me multiple times the morning after I posted my original review to discuss it, all before 10 am.
I do not care how nice the staff is. This is a sheisty company that uses bait and switch, and should be avoided at all cost.

I got my new Oakley Crosslink glasses weeks ago. I didn’t purchase them from Spex. Instead, I bought the frame online, and lens from Walmart. After several days’ trial, I found the nose pads on Crosslink are not designed for my Asian nose. It took me several days to search online, trying to find replacement Asian-​fit nose pads, but no luck. Then I send Oakley customer service an email, they responded that I can try authorized Oakley prescription dealers. Spex is the nearest one.
I took a chance to send Spex an email for help, Brooke replied me really quick. She said she got the information from Oakley that Oakley has Asian-​fit nose pads, but in back order. And she had already ordered them, free of charge for me!
Today Brooke informs me that the nose pads are arrived! I drive there in the afternoon. Spex is a lovely place, people are friendly. It only take them 5 mins to replace the nose pads for me, and I have a spare pair left! My nose feels much better now! Pretty good service! I will have my next pair of glasses there!

I went to Spex to get some new frames with an existing prescription, so I can’t comment on the Optician services (hence the 4 stars).
Tabitha graciously helped me try on about 20 different pairs of glasses and guided me to a pair of amazing Etina frames that I probably wouldn’t have tried on my own. I have gotten so many compliments on them and the quality is excellent.
I found the total cost with my insurance to be reasonable and comprable to other shops, and I enjoyed the ambiance and friendly customer service.
I almost forgot, while I was there another person came in looking for help with a messed up eyeglass frame and they fixed him up in no time and at no charge. I bet he goes back there when it’s time for new glasses!
Thanks again to Tabitha and to Spex. I’ll be back to get my 2^nd choice glasses for sure!

I’ve been a client of Spex for several years, and have remained loyal mostly due to their convenient locations (I’ve also done business at their Evanston, Lincoln Park, West Loop stores).
That’s not to say I haven’t always had a pleasant experience; but they are on the pricier side and as someone who is VERY myopic, finding a pair of glasses that I love and I feel confident wearing can take a toll on my wallet.
All that said, my most recent experience at the Lincoln Square store inspired me to write a review. As I’d mentioned, shopping for frames, as someone as nearsighted as I am, can be a daunting task. I’m vain, I want to look good! And I don’t want to throw down a couple hundred dollars on a pair of glasses I’ll never wear again.
Enter optician Scott C.
I’ve been wearing glasses since I was 6, but for the first time, I had an absolute blast trying out various frames. Scott listened to my concerns; sized up my general style and helped me pick out some pretty kick ass specs. I really loved his patient demeanor and his frank, honest feedback.
I was so pleased with my options, I had a tough time choosing! I made a game time decision and couldn’t be happier. I’ve received a ton of compliments and look forward to picking out another pair next year.