Crane Optical

Super nice doctor takes a real pride in your eye care. He explains everything that you need to know about eye care. The staff in his office is super nice as well always ready to help. Good selection of contacts to try as well so that you get the correct fit.

After having visited Doctor Crane’s office with my father, I can honestly say he and his staff really care about their patients. They offer an extensive selection of frames and lenses. Patients are seen and given answers very quickly by a friendly and professional staff. The interior is clean and it’s situated in downtown Ferndale so, one has many options for things to do before and after their visit! I’ve been meaning to get my eyes examined for some time now and when I finally do, I’ll be going to Crane Optical.

I needed new glasses and Crane was the closest local place so I decided to give it a try. Their office looks like it hasn’t been updated in 20 years. I was unhappy with their frame selection, which also looks like it hasn’t been updated in awhile and is pretty slim pickings. I decided I’d like to keep my current frames and just get new lenses. I was kept waiting several times, the staff was rude especially the woman at the front desk, and I had to return FIVE times to get them and it took almost two months.
When I went to pick up my lenses, they came out with my glasses and one of the lenses was my old lens and one was the new lens. I told the woman who was supposed to be fitting them on me that she had only given me one new lens. She didn’t believe me! I ended up sitting there waiting for the doctor to get out of another appointment to prove to him that I had only been given one new lens. Turns out they LOST my other lens. They suggested I leave and come back in a week after they reordered it. They wanted me to leave with the glasses as-​is! This is my only pair of glasses that I need to see, and you want me to go around for a week with two entirely different prescriptions? I had to ask them to put my old lenses back in – thankfully they had kept the other old lens.
I went back again once they got the other lost lens. Sat waiting for them to be cut and put in the frames, got them, went home, and thought they seemed dirty and I couldn’t seem to clean it off. Turns out there was major a flaw in the lens.
Went back AGAIN for the fourth time. They had to reorder the lens AGAIN. Also, each time I went I had to go on their tech’s schedule since he needed to cut the lenses and he works weird hours. So it was a huge pain in the a**.
The funny part of this is that I was originally going to just get an eye exam there and order my glasses online. They literally laughed at me and acted like I was a complete idiot for considering this, saying an online company would «never get your prescription right.» HA!
When I finally went back for the FIFTH time and got my glasses, I asked for my records so I could go elsewhere next time. I should have done that on the second visit. All they gave me during this entire debacle was $ 20 off. A joke! Needless to say I will never ever be returning.

Went in yesterday to try and get my glasses fixed. The lab tech, Howie, was the most unfriendly person I have ever encountered. I usually only write good reviews. I would not tell any of my friends or family to go here.
How businesses like this survive is beyond me. They just missed out on a sale too, since I was planing to get prescription sunglasses next week. GO TO PEARLE OPTICAL INSTEAD, at least they are friendly.

These guys are very on the ball. I came in, got checked out, and a week or so later I got my glasses. No muss, no fuss. They worked with me and my insurance so I could stay within my glasses allowance.

I am a new patient to Dr. Crane’s office in 2013, and I plan to be a patient as long as he and his office staff are there to provide the level of excellent patient and customer care I’ve received over the last few months.
I was referred to Dr. Crane by two unrelated friends in the area, both long-​time clients of Dr. Crane’s. Since my very positive experience at Crane Optical, I have referred three close friends to his office, two of whom have already gone and are satisfied as well.
Dr. Crane”s eye exam was certainly the most thorough I’ve ever received, and as I have earned my living reading and writing (in the last 30 years much of the time doing both on computer), my eyes are very important to me. Good eye care was my priority in finding a new optometrist.
From Dr. Crane, I received the very best contact prescription I’ve ever gotten (I’ve been given contact scripts from 3 other optometrists in the past). Wonderful to have the world in such sharp focus! I have also purchased 3 pairs of glasses as well as one pair of readers from Crane Optical, and I couldn’t be happier with any one of them!
Crane Optical has a great selection of frames! In the past, I’ve selected frames from SEE, Pearle Vision, and whatever the Pearle Vision office at Woodward and 14 Mile Rd. was before it was Pearle Vision. I’m happier with my choices from Crane’s Optical than any of those. Lots of compliments when colleagues catch me in either of my new pairs of computer glasses (I got one to wear w/​my contacts – a wonderful suggestion from Dr. Crane – and another pair to wear without contacts, which is what I’ve done in the past).
Dr. Crane’s office staff – Sandy and Charmaine – are wonderfully helpful and supportive, efficient and friendly! Both of them also were helpful in evaluating possible frame choices, a real bonus.
Over the course of the time between having my eye exam at Crane’s Optical and picking up my fourth pair of glasses, I had a contagious skin infection travel to and affect one of my eyes. Dr. Crane referred me to an ophthalmologist, so that my care would be covered by my health insurance, and his office staff was very understanding and helpful in rescheduling my glasses-​fitting appointments.
At one time I lived in Ferndale and I’d always been curious about the Crane Optical building, which appears wonderfully retro from the outside (according to their website, the business was established in 1949). I enjoyed seeing the inside of the building and discovering the people inside to be such a find! [Added bonus: Crane Optical is tempting close to the favorite Pinwheel Bakery in Ferndale.]

I’ve been a patient at Crane Optical for 2 years and am very pleased with the care and service. I’ve been seeing eye doctors for years and they are one of the best experiences I’ve had. Dr. Howard Crane and his staff are knowledgeable, thorough, polite and committed to satisfaction. I highly recommend Dr. Howard Crane and Crane Optical.
DOCTOR: He is polite and sympathetic to my eye care concerns. He is very knowledgeable about the different eye conditions I have and has many suggestions as far as medications, types of contact lenses, etc., that may work for me — far more so than some other doctors I have visited. I feel he is committed to helping me find solutions that work. Additionally, he’s given me samples of drops, rebate forms, and has been helpful in suggesting ways to be cost-​conscious.
OFFICE STAFF: They’re polite and efficient. I always get what I need from them. They do a nice job of calling to follow up on stuff. I’m often forgetful, so I find that helpful.
FACILITY/​HOURS: It’s an older office, but it’s well-​kept; clean, professional and pleasant. Extended hours on some days and Saturday hours are nice. Parking in front is usually easy to find in the mornings.

I went here on a co-​workers raving recommendation after being unhappy at a large superstore eye place. Dr. Crane gave me a very thorough eye exam and recommended HD no line bifocals. The wait for the glasses was a little long, over 3 weeks but when they came in they were perfect. The frame choice might be limited but I am sure there are enough for everyone to find something they like. He also takes my insurance VSP which was a big plus.

Hated this doctor… He lacked personality and was more interested in lecturing about eye care then finding me the right prescription. Three years later when I called back to get a copy of my prescription the receptionist informed me she could not tell me over the phone because of «food and drug administration» laws. What she meant was HIPPA. I can’t trust a doctors office that confuses HIPPA with the FDA.

I put off doctor’s appointments all of the time — and so I was for sure overdue for a trip to the eye doctor. I was sick of making the commute to the east side, so we decided to try to support a local business and made appointments to see Dr. Crane.
I give Dr. Crane 5 stars for his professionalism. He did a very thorough exam, explaining everything he was doing, and seemed very intent on finding the perfect prescription. He discovered a number of issues with the prescription on the glasses that I was currently wearing. The most important part to me — is that with my glasses and contacts, I can actually see! No really — I realized that I have been seeing half-​ass for the past couple of years, and this is a welcome upgrade!
The only thing that keeps me from an overall 5 star rating is that the selection of glasses is pretty limited– Having said that, I was able to find a pair that was perfect for me among the frames on the wall.

I decided to try Crane Optical because I had been dissatisfied with my last pair of glasses and they were halfway between work and home. The doctor was very calm, patient, professional and had a low-​key sense of humor. The selection of glasses isn’t as big as what you’ll find at the chains but I found a pair that I liked. The quality of the prescription and glasses was quite good; the material seems better than what I’ve gotten in the past and I see very well now.
I do wonder about Dr. Crane’s belief in a yearly eye exam (since most insurance covers an exam only once every two years). However, a web search reveals that optometrists are split on exam frequency with many agreeing that one year is best for older people.
All in all, I was pretty impressed and plan to come back.

I first visited Crane Optical last year after growing very frustrated with my prior eye Dr. and his amateurish and extremely rude staff — ask me if you want to know who to avoid and to keep your eyes from falling out.
Dr. Crane provides very a thorough eye exam. He explains each procedure with such great detail while speaking in a very soothing tone — I must have looked frightened? He makes great recommendations on which contacts are best for your eyes and prescription type, etc., and he isn’t out to swindle you. His office is very clean and bright. His staff is very friendly and extremely helpful. The only minor shortcoming is the somewhat limited men’s frame selection — though in my humble opinion that only makes it easier to choose.
And today, I was back for my annual appt., I look forward to seeing Dr. Crane next year!
If you are looking for a great eye doctor, I highly recommend Dr. Crane.

It’s been too long since I gave in and got new glasses (7 or 8 years!), so I recently started the search for a good local optometrist. Briefly, I considered buying frames online, but I didn’t like not being able to feel them before buying. I also looked for referrals from friends and got a few leads that way. There’s one designer I found online whose frames I really liked, but they were out of my price range.
In the end, my search brought me to Crane Optical in Ferndale. A friend referred me, but qualified it by saying their selection wasn’t monstrous. I can deal with that. If I didn’t find something I liked, I’d just get the exam, find frames elsewhere and then have Crane fill them.
As a lifelong wearer of glasses, I’ve had some unpleasant experiences with optometrists. Some are too quick, some don’t care, some don’t really listen to you. And some take their time, pay attention, and listen to what you have to say. Dr. Crane is of the latter variety. I always have problems with the diopter and can never decide — «1 or 2, 2 or 1, which is better, better or worse, better or worse?» He assured me that he uses three different methods to find the best prescription for his patients. And it worked!
Crane Optical’s selection of frames is not enormous, it’s true. But, I still managed to find at least five different frames that I liked. I suppose it just depends on what you’re looking for, really.
The staff is courteous and helpful. When I went in to pick up my new glasses, the doctor came out to fit them. That’s unusual, as far as I’m concerned. I don’t know if he always does it, but I like that he did it. Typically, in the past, it’s been one of the other people on the staff who handles that part of the experience.
In the end, I’m very satisfied with my experience with Crane Optical and recommend them.