Shadyside Eye Associates

After doing some research on finding a new optometrist, I decided to go to Shadyside Eye Associates.
Upon stepping into the store I felt like I immediately made a wonderful choice. It’s a small and stylish boutique and that’s when I first met Janine. I felt terrible as I interrupted her lunch! I told her to take her time as i was in no rush. She took my insurance information and I signed some forms to get the process rolling. She explained to me what I could do with my insurance as I was getting my eyes checked for both contacts and new glasses.
Then I was taken back for my exam and Dr. Telega let me know what she was doing every step of the way. It was really refreshing to be in on everything that was happening and the why of everything. Sometimes it’s just really nice to not be treated as an idiot.
I explained how allergies have bothered my eyes in the past, especially when wearing contacts. She looked at my eyes and explained what was happening and how to prevent it going into the spring allergy season. I’m so thankful for this because I feel like I’m going to avoid a huge hassle.
When I was done with my exam I went back out to Janine who is a GODDESS at picking out frames. She asked what I liked and if I wanted to stick to something similar or try something new. I ended up picking out frames that I would never have tried on if she hadn’t picked them out for me.
I’m so thrilled about my experience here and I’m so excited to go back for my contact check-​up next week!

Dr. Telega is cool, but Janine alone would earn these five stars.
I usually hate when the people in a store suggest items to me; I’m very picky and usually mull over everything. Like I’m the type of person who would try on every frame in the store. But by the time I got out of my eye exam with Dr. Telega, Janine had already picked out a few frames and I immediately saw that she knew what she was doing. And I instantly trusted her taste and expertise.
On top of that, Janine provided a crystal-​clear breakdown of my vision benefits, guidance on lenses, and answers to all my questions.
Everything about this place is professional and efficient. I loved my experience there.

This review comes three months after my last appointment with them, but I want everyone to understand how awesome Dr. Telega and Janine are.
When I first came to Dr. Telega, I had all but given up on having even adequate vision ever again. I was diagnosed with severe keratoconus in my right eye, and because of all the reading I had to do in law school my condition was deteriorating fast. It had gotten so bad that I couldn’t even drive at night, and that was with my glasses on. My last eye doctor recommended that I go get contact lenses because there was nothing more that glasses could do for me. I’ve worn glasses all my life, and to be told at the age of 24 that my eyes were so bad that I couldn’t even rely on them any more was frightening.
So I found an office in my area that had the equipment necessary to fit keratoconic eyes with contact lenses, My experience was less than stellar. It took over five months and just as many fittings to get my lenses, and even then the contacts I was fitted with ended up doing more harm then good. They were tiny gas permeable lenses that would slip and slide across my cornea whenever I blinked. Any time I had them in strangers would stop me to ask if I was having an allergic reaction to something, my eyes were SO red. Even though I didn’t like the result, I don’t want to bad mouth them here and place the blame solely at their doorstep. My case is pretty bad and it was clear that they just didn’t have the ability to deal with it.
At that point I had almost given up altogether. I never wore the lenses and was forced to stick with my glasses even though it was becoming harder and harder to see out of them.
On a whim I decided to give contact lenses another try, and chose to have it done at Shadyside Eye Associates because they were close to my house and took my insurance. I will tell the truth and say that I didn’t expect much walking in. My past experience had jaded me and I was only trying again just to confirm to myself that I would have to get used to the idea that one day soon I will only see out of one eye.
Despite my misgivings, the moment I stepped into their office my past experiences were quickly set aside. Janine was so nice and gracious. She asked me questions about my day and walked me through the initial client survey. I then met with Dr. Telega and was surprised at how optimistic she was even after she saw how bad my vision was. She was incredibly frank, which I appreciated, and willingly admitted that she had never encountered Keratoconus of my severity, but told me that if I was willing to trust her, she would do everything she could to fit me with lenses that actually worked.
After leaving their office on that first visit, I felt okay with the my belief that even if they couldn’t fit me with lenses, they at least would have made every effort possible before coming to that conclusion.
When I came back to the office for my second visit, Dr. Telega looked really excited to meet with me. When we sat down in the exam room she explained that she had been thinking about my case since I last met with her, and had decided to attend a symposium on new advances in contact lenses for Keratoconus patients. There she learned about Scleral lenses, which are large bowl shaped lenses that vault over the patient’s eye and bathe the cornea in tears instead of sitting on the eye like RPG’s. She said that when she saw it she instantly thought of me and knew that it was perfect for my condition. She said that she had never fitted lenses like that before, but if I was willing to try, she would like to use me as a test case. I was honestly shocked, and by the lenses, but by the fact that she had even thought of me in the first place. Most eye doctors I’ve been too have tons of patients, so I always understand when they seem a bit distant when ever I visit. But for her to have thought about my problem even when I wasn’t scheduled to see her really bowled me over.
So we greed that I would be her willing guinea pig of sorts in working out this new technology. The fitting lasted all of one hour, and only happened once. JUST ONCE. And it was completely painless. She just popped the test lenses in, checked the fit, took them out, and we moved on to the next one. We had my fit down pat in one session. I was so happy.
The lenses we eventually settled on WORK PERFECTLY. The fit is snug and even though they look huge outside the case they are so comfortable. After the first few minutes your don’t even feel them.
This office gave me the best experience I have ever had with an eye doctor, and I am eternally grateful to Dr. Telega and Janine for what they’ve done for me.
If you need an eye doctor. PLEASE CONSIDER SHADYSIDE EYE ASSOCIATES, they will do everything they can to help you and then some.

I had such a GREAT time here. Dr. Telega is extremely knowledgable about her craft. I asked her a lot of questions and she was extremely friendly and helpful. Janine offers great service helping you to find the perfect frames for your face! I liked her opinion so much I went ahead and bought 2 pairs (lol). They have great brand name frames and contacts. They accepted my insurance which is also nice to not have to deal with extra paperwork to be reimbursed. I called and made an appointment on a Friday and was surprised they saw me on time.

I pretty much never write Unilocal reviews, but my visit with Janine and Dr. Telega definitely warranted a 5-​star review. The location is beautiful. Janine is just about the nicest person you’ll ever meet; she helped me pick out a pair of glasses that suit my facial structure – you can tell she knows what she’s doing. Dr. Telega is super friendly and thorough. I only went in for a quick prescription update, so I can’t vouch for anything more than that, but she seems completely trustworthy. Obviously, it’s on Ellsworth, so it’s going to be a little pricey, but I definitely feel it is worth it!

This is sincerely the best doctor and service I have EVER received from ANY doctor, in any field. Dr. Telega is extremely thorough, kind and genuinely concerned with your eye health. I went for my first appointment last week and was warmly greeted from the moment I walked in the door. Janine, the nurse/​receptionist is a sweetheart and you can tell they really care about your visit and the service you receive. I am not really the type to take the time to write a review on anything, but felt this place deserved my five star review. I was pleasantly surprised by my experience here.
Also, as a plus, their office ia BRAND new and really beautiful and clean. The eyeglasses they have for sale are quite $$$$, but they do not pressure you into buying anything, which made me feel comfortable.