Spex

Please don’t waste your time or money.
Contacts: I received 3 different prescriptions for contacts. Took 3 different exams. As soon as I would get the new prescription, I would have headaches for days and my eyes were still blurry. Seems more like trial and error. Having to move out of town, the agreed to ship my 3^rd round of contacts to me, along with the FedEx bill to ship them to me! Over $ 40 wasted.
Glasses: Very helpful picking out the frame. I had to go to a LensCrafters to get them adjusted to my face when they said everything looked nice and even. First set of lenses — everything was fisheyed and were completely unusable. Second set of lenses — upper and outer edges of the frames still give significant fisheye. I couldn’t use them for driving because my peripheral vision is useless. They offered to refund because they cant figure it out, but refund never came — Over $ 300 wasted. Had to spend more money at a different doc to get lenses that actually work, but of course I couldn’t use my vision insurance discount anymore.
They still haven’t given be a copy of my latest prescription. Who knows what I’m even wearing. Have copies of old prescriptions that turned out to be wrong. Thought they gave it to me, but it was actually another patient who was in the building. Probably some HIPAA violation there.
While in the office, on one of my 9 visits, I heard 2 other customers complaining of similar issues — glasses making them dizzy, headaches, etc. «Everything is fine. It takes time to adjust»
I’m not a difficult person, and I hate to post this, but my experience here was just awful. I had to return so many times and still dont have a good set of contacts or glasses from them, with $ 100s spent.
ForEyes in Northbrook was great. Also, went to a eye shop in the UK to solve the problem.

Not only do they have a great selection of frames — but the staff here is super helpful. They repaired a pair of glasses that weren’t even purchased there. They were very considerate and knowledgable and I do appreciate them helping me out. Look forward to going back next time I need glasses. Thank you!

I got pinkeye from this location!
My experience with the Doctor was great. She was professional and helpful. But the next day after my appointment I have conjunctivitis in one eye! I had to go to another doctor to get eye drops at an additional cost.
I called the next day to tell them of the pinkeye so hopefully they could sanitize their location. The sales associate had the audacity to tell me pink eye has a gestation period of a week, which is completely false. I doubt they cleaned anything after I alerted them.
UPDATE: 12÷1÷2015
Doctor called me back after the holiday and stated that there were no other pink eye cases. Very satisfied with experience with doctor, but sales associate left sour taste in my mouth.

My experience at Spex was terrific. The optician who helped me, Alyssa, was kind and polite — she gave me the time I needed to make the right decision and did not simply attempt to rush me into a sale. She was thoughtful and seemed very well trained and even went so far as to recommend different frames based on the visions coverage I had in my current healthcare plan. The amount I ended up saving was considerable thanks to the knowledgable, insurance experts at Spex.
And, be sure to ask about thier, «Safe Spex» program… If you are like me (can not be trusted to safely handle valuable items for extended periods of time) and where your glasses almost every day of your life, this is a must.
After purchasing from the FRIENDLY and POLITE ladies at the Spex of Highland Park, you will walk away with a new understanding of what a trip to the eye doctor is supposed to be. Thank you, Alyssa and Spex for your focus on customer service and valuable protection plans for those who routinely sit on their glasses… :)

This appletini and taupe decorated oculist is definitely befitting the upscale nature of its environs. My vision service plan is kind of picky about where I can go to get the glasses discounts and eye exams, and for some odd reason, this place was on the list.
The interior is hip and modern. The technicians are friendly and accommodating. The optometrist was congenial.
What sets this place apart is the eyeglass selection. They have it going on here! It’s nothing like the chains or the in-​store opticians. They have Tom Ford, Freudenhaus, Oliver Peoples, l.a.Eyeworks, Beausoleil and Gold & Wood, to name a few.
They also do some sort of special computerized eye exam, which is so fancy, I had to sign a disclaimer acknowledging that I will agree to pay an extra $ 50 which was not covered by my insurance. I was a bit skeptical about this, and the practice is more than a little transparent. Don’t get me wrong, I got to see a picture of the back of my retina; and I was assured that my eyes are healthy, so maybe there’s something to it.
Then comes all of the add-​ons with the lenses. Bottom line, if you get anti-​reflective, scratch-​resistant transitions lenses with progressive bifocals you will end up spending precious money for your goggles. With the $ 475 discount I got from using my insurance, my exam and glasses still cost me $ 750. Mind you, I have some kick-​ass state-​of-​the-​art Tom Ford frames. My partner got an awesome pair of all wood Beausoleil frames. His discount afforded him the pair for a mere $ 850.
I guess I don’t mind getting quality glasses if they are going to be on my face for a couple years or more. And maybe I’ve been out of the market so long for glasses, these are the going rates for frames. Anyway, it’s fancy, the prices are fancy and the service is great. I don’t think I could have gotten these frames for less anywhere else. I’m satisfied, but poorer.

I have been wearing contacts and/​or glasses for almost 50 years! Yes, I must admit, I was one of those nerdy 1^st graders with pink glasses! No I have grown into a nerdy grandma with blue glasses! And this is the place I bought them.
Hubby and I have been going to Spex for the last several years. We used to go to LensCrafters. I’m not sure why we stopped going there. I think I was disillusioned with the eye exams. Spex does ok in this regard, although Hubby and I joke about the revolving door of optometrists. We never see the same person year after year. They all seem nice, but it would be nice to get some consistency. Meh!
So I have started to go to an ophthalmologist, and only come here for my vision exams. Somehow, the only one making out on this deal is the eye care industry! (Rant… but I digress).
They have a pretty good selection of glasses… but I must say, Peggy really helped us narrow down what would look good on us. We ended up being there for two hours between the exams and the contacts and glasses fittings and the ringing up of the (gulp) over $ 2000 in expense… it seemed long, but they were so helpful, I can’t really complain.
They ARE expensive… but I’m not sure if you can really get the type of lenses/​glasses we need much cheaper anywhere else.

Nice selection of designer frames. However, the two ladies working the day I was there were not helpful. First one looked at me as if to say «what are you doing here?». She eventually asked if there was anything I needed help with. Said I was looking for new frames. She pointed around room to have a look. No questioning of type, designer, etc. Other lady was busy answering phones. Needless to say… I’m not going back!

Elegant choices, great lenses, and with certain rimless frames you can design your own. Pricey, but well worth the cost.

I can’t say enough about SPEX in HIghland Park. Both Dana and Joseph were extremely helpful in picking out flattering frames for me. I don’t make decisions quickly, and they were PATIENT! They gave me their honest opinion on each frame, offering many suggestions. Additionally, I had transition lenses put in, and decided I didn’t like it. A week later they said they would replace the lenses without transition. Their policy was complete customer satisfaction. Their frames are not cheap, but they are beautiful and look expensive. They also work with vision insurance, in many cases making it more affordable.