Spex 454

Came here to get nose pad replaced. Service was excellent. I overheard another person helping a rather confused customer, and she was extremely patient, clear and helpful.

I love going to his place. My optometrist Dr. Kim, is a lovely and knowledgable Doctor. I’ve been going to this office for about four years now and the service is individually catered and they have a great selection of frames. The staff is friendly and efficient! I highly recommend Spex for any and all your eyewear needs.

I go here for regular exams and replacing contacts. The shop is clean and friendly, and I’ve never had a problem with the staff. They don;t have a large selection of glasses, but I mostly wear contacts and just use glasses as back-​up so I don’t mind. Contact orders are usually ready in 1 – 2 days which is fine for me. The location in downtown Monterey on Alvarado St is convenient for me while running other errands.

I recently went into Spex 454 in Monterey for the first time. I was greeted immediately by a very warm, friendly and knowledgeable staff person, Liz. She was extremely patient and helpful as I took awhile to try on different frames and I asked a lot of questions about Crizal lens coatings. She provided helpful answers that were clear and complete. I needed to order three pairs of glasses: Regular progressive lenses, progressive sunglasses, and a pair to use at the computer. I knew this was going to be expensive and Liz went out of her way to compare and calculate association and insurance plans for me to reach the most savings. I also met, and worked with, the office director, Amy, who was equally as warm, knowledgeable and helpful. I’ll definately go back there in the future when I need new glasses. They were great!

I found this place when we were on vacation and window shopping a couple years ago. The shop and clean and they have a very wide selection of frames to choose from! The optometrist was very, very thorough with my exam and she took the time to explained to me all the little stuff that the various tests that she was performing. I really didn’t like the part where she dialated my eyes, but when she explained why it needs to be done, it was all good. One of the best exam I ever had! I had lasik done since then, but I still make the drive down to have my exam performed at Spex every year. That’s how much I like the service!
Their frame selection are also excellent. So instead for prescription glasses, I go there to get my sunglasses. Maui Jims are my favorite now!!! The first pair I bought, I broke, all I had to do was send it down to the shop and they took care of the replacement in 2 weeks. I have three pairs of Maui Jims now.

I’ve only been in Spex 454 twice, and each time it was to get a pair of glasses repaired. The first time was about 6 years ago, and they very happily took care of my sunglasses to where they were as good as new. I went in again today, to get my wife’s glasses fixed. There was a small piece missing, and they took care of it in about 30 minutes AT NO CHARGE!
I have no idea if this sort of thing is normal for optometrists, but I’m very happy with their service.

I was super worried when I first walked in because of all the bad reviews. However I decided to ask for all the cost information up front. While the contact appointment was extra, they were able to take it out of my insurance for glasses/​contacts.
Next I had problems with my contacts because I’m getting old and now need eye glasses over my contacts. They let me test out tons of contacts and see me again for free. Then, because I needed more help, they gave me three options to address the issue, one of which was eye therapy so that I wouldn’t need readying glasses in the future. I’ve never been given that option before and I was stoked to learn about it.
I didn’t get new glasses there but they did say they would match other places. All-​in-​all very stoked to have stayed with Spex 454!

They’re fast and get your item back to you really quickly however I did not care for Lisa Loeb. She was frustrated with my questions, didn’t get what I was asking or what I wanted which is perfectly within my rights and my health insurance. They try to upsell way too much. I won’t be back. I will go back to my old Optometrist Dr. Nakijima.

**update** I had to remove 2 stars from my review, unfortunately. We went in for our yearly exam a couple of weeks ago. We got our contacts in time for us to be out of town for 6 days. My partner opened his new boxes while we were gone and threw away his old ones (as you usually do) and the prescription was wrong. Apparently, the manufacturer sent the wrong one, but it didn’t get checked in correctly when it arrived. There was a really big damper on our vacation because he could only see out of one eye. Literally– his eyes are really bad. I tried my new contacts shortly after, and they seemed fine until I got to work. One started itching and didn’t feel right. I also couldn’t see at my computer straight. I give them a call, and LOW AND BEHOLD they ordered the wrong prescription in one eye!
They offered to replace the one box that was wrong, and I told them what happened and just got a ‘…sorry…’ I don’t know what else I would have expected, but I am pretty sick of having to come to this place. I have to say– I will be going elsewhere from now on.
**old review**I really do love this place. Staff is always super friendly and helpful, Dr. is the same. When you order your contacts, they have them within a day, which is great! I took one star off though– I have had to take my new glasses in 3 times since purchase, and I’ve only worn them about 5 times. 1^st time, lens was scratched at first pick up (problem with the coating) 2^nd time, a couple of jewels fell off. 3^rd time, lens is scratched again (waiting to see if it’s the coating…).
However, they have been more than willing to take them in and fix them for me, and it’s just a minor inconvenience to have to keep dropping them off.

this place is okay, but i prefer costco optical for the price.

I got my first pair of glasses here about 12 years ago. They were classy DKNY thin black frames, very Lisa Loeb which was in at the time. Haha. Good service and clean atmosphere. Glasses only broke this year because I stepped on them by mistake.
I upgraded to faux wood frames by RayBan, shoot they were pricey even for Denver. It doesn’t matter because I only wear glasses a handful of times a year. My vision is so bad I get dizzy wearing glasses. Sucks for me.

Great service! Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Spex almost looks like an art gallery. Designer frames can be pricey, but where aren’t they? Not too many styles for men, but the ladies are set. Fast turn around on lenses, contacts and frames.