Optical Outlets

We had the BEST experience at Optical Outlets on South Tamiami Trail in Sarasota! My 11-year-old had his very first eye exam, and as a mom, I wasn't sure how it would go -- but the doctor was absolutely amazing. He interacted with my son in such a calm, engaging way and really took the time to communicate directly with him, which made him feel comfortable and confident the entire appointment. As a parent, I appreciated how clearly everything was explained to me as well. The doctor was extremely knowledgeable, patient, and thorough. The assistant was just as wonderful -- so polite, friendly, and helpful. She made the process of choosing glasses easy and actually fun! We were able to get my son TWO pairs of glasses, and in less than a week we were notified that they were ready. The turnaround time was impressive. Overall, it was such a smooth, positive experience from start to finish. I highly recommend Optical Outlets on South Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, Florida. Five stars all the way!

Leslie sold my mom a pair of glasses and my mom loved her! She preformed exceptional customer service! She helped my mom look for glasses and my mom even said that she never loved her glasss the way she loved this new pair!! Thank you Leslie for making her a happy old lady!!

I normally don't leave negative reviews, but this experience was disappointing. the overall service felt rushed and unprofessional. The doctor seemed more focused on getting patients in and out quickly than on providing a thorough exam. I've been using 1.0 regular lenses with no issues, yet I was told I suddenly needed 2.25, which didn't feel accurate and made me question the exam results. Additionally, I witnessed the doctor speak rudely to another patient, which set a bad tone from the start. Overall, poor service and lack of care. Sometimes it's worth paying a bit more for a proper exam and respectful treatment.

** Update** They found my frames at a lab that nobody remembered sending them to! I was given this information on January 12th and told that they were put on rush. The original order was place December 2nd. Today is January 22 and I still don't have my new glasses!!! The only reason I was able to get the information that I did was because I called my eye insurance company and they called Optical Outlet. I am still an unhappy customer! Original post: Right now, I am a very unhappy customer! I have been using Optical Outlets for about four years now because it's the closest eye doctor to me that is covered by my insurance. My old eye doctor quit taking my insurance and I had to look for somebody new. I am in my 70s, single and on a fixed income. I waited until almost the end of the year to order my glasses because I knew I was going to have to pay a great deal out of pocket for my lenses. I cannot wear any of the frames that they supply in their store because of an illness that causes me a great deal of Chronic facial pain. I have worn a brand called Silhouettes that are very light weight for many many years. I have occasionally purchased my own lenses because the eye doctor does not supply the brand that I need! I had a very thorough eye exam that required a change in my prescription and ordered my glasses on December 3 and supplied my own frames. My insurance covers $400 towards my frames and I paid hundreds of dollars for the balance. The frames cost me $319.99 which I had paid for and supplied. About a week ago, I called the Sarasota store and I asked if my glasses had come in yet. No one had answered the phone so I left a message on the answering machine and I got no return phone. I was out running errands yesterday and I decided to stop at Optical Outlets to see if my glasses were now in. I was asked to take a seat and when it was my turn. to be wait on, I was told that I was one of the people on her list to call that day. My immediate thought was that they had come in and they were going to call and tell me to stop in and pick them up. Unfortunately, I had concocted the wrong scenario and what she proceeded to tell me was absolutely shocking! The lab that my frames had been sent to had lost my $320 frames!! The receptionist pointed to the showroom and told me to go pick out another pair of glasses. I explained to her that they do not carry silhouettes and that I had provided my own frames so what were they going to do about that? She proceeded to tell me that they didn't lose them on purpose and if they had broken my frames while they were installing the new lenses, I would have been responsible. Now I have to wait for a district manager to come back to work on Friday to decide on how they are going to handle this situation. I am absolutely devastated at the loss of these frames and have a very bad feeling about whatever the solution is going to be. The very sad part is that I know they can't possibly run a business without liability insurance. If they have hired and made it so easy for people to break frames with no repercussions, they have set themselves up for producing a very bad quality product. To lose my frame is inexcusable! How do I know that somebody didn't steal them!! Now what do I do!! I will definitely call my insurance company and file a complaint with them! The only good thing about this place is the excellent eye exam that you get!! I have never had an eye doctor be as thorough as they are at Optical Outlets. A very disgruntled customer!!

I brought my daughter to her appointment and the doctor was very patient throughout the exam. The eye exams were very well examined. I recommend them. He took all the time for my daughter to do her letters and drawings exam :) 100/10 We left very satisfied with their attention and the receptionist was very kind :)

Grateful for the warranty option for when my sons glasses broke it was covered. But they deal with a call center when u try calling them and they dont know what they are doing..they told me the wrong location and my son couldn't get his glasses until another day. Very inconvenient

My boyfriend has been going here for years. He got glasses there last month two pairs of bifocals. One pair broke and we took them back to the store to have them fixed, it was inside the 30 day warranty. The lady Liz couldn't help us and asked us to come back when the other lady would be in. (Which was the next week.) When we got there the next week she said she couldn't help us because the 30 days was now up. So this stuck us with a $60 fee when they should have made it good when we were the previous week. Do now you have lost a repeat customer. We won't be returning to a place that values their customers so little.

I would have liked the staff to look more professional. They were dressed in sweatshirt and athletic pants. She was helpful.