I had used Standard Optical in the past and was pleased with the quality of the eye exam, the courtesy & professionalism of the staff, and the value and selection of frames.



However, my most recent visit was the complete opposite. The doctor and staff were all different from my first visit. The prices were noticeably higher despite having insurance this time and having no significant changes in my prescription. A set of frames & lenses had gone from $200-250 up to $350 WITHOUT a warranty. A warranty was an extra $50, or I had to spend $250 more to get a 6 month supply of contacts. The same contacts had a MSRP of $120, and were on sale for $60 for a year's supply online. The glasses & lenses had a MSRP of $200. That is quite a mark-up.



To make matters worse, my prescription was not correct after the first visit and my new lenses had been ordered with that prescription. Since I did not purchase the warranty, I was stuck. Call me old-fashioned, but warranties are for breakage, manufacturer defects, or prescription changes - NOT to cover a practitioner mistake. I resent being stuck with a very expensive set of frames & lenses that do not help me see as well as should be expected.



One final note was that the anti-reflective coating I paid extra for (I have purchased AR in the past) and anti-scratch coating that was free made for the dirtiest glasses I have ever worn. Somehow these glasses are constantly dirty, and scratched very quickly and noticeably. Dirt, dust and smudges seemed to move around on the lens rather than wipe off. I have tried glass cleaner and microfiber cloths. Finally, when trying a stronger cleaning solution, the AR coating crazed, making me feel like I am looking through a fog. I don't know which of these coatings was the cause for my extremely bad experience, but I didn't have this much of a problem 20 years ago as a 10-year-old with the older technology.



Hopefully I can make these last a few months more, and then possibly I can afford a new pair at a less expensive location with better service.