Sterling Optical

Went there with a pair of glasses to have the frame straightened slightly. The attendant came back a minute later... with my glasses, broken in two. No, she had not just broken the frame: she had broken one of the lenses in two. She claimed that the lens had been cracked - I pointed out that it would have been extremely odd for neither I (who had been wearing the glasses) nor her to notice. Matters did not stop there. Of course I pointed out (clearly and politely) that I had arrived there with a pair of glasses, and had to leave with one. After some insistence, they agreed to read off the prescription, and said they could give me new lenses and a frame - at a cost of $80. (As you might expect, I was allowed to choose a frame from a small set of rather inexpensive ones - certainly cheaper than what I had given them. The person at the counter also misstated blatantly how much of a discount I was being given; these were not $300 frames, as she said - it was clearly stated in the price tag that these were between one third and one twelfth of that.) I had to leave town the next day on business, so I had no option but to pay up. It goes without saying that I will never go to this shop again, and that I would advise anybody else to stay away.

The Dr. And staff were fantastic with my 5 year old. They made her feel so comfortable and everyone was very friendly. Her glasses came in just after a week, they were a little big but she fixed them on the spot for her and ordered her new frames because they had come in with a small scratch on them. Great customer service. Highly recommend Sterling optical in Ithaca if you have small children who need an eye exam!

My glasses took a bit too long to come in, in my opinion. I picked them up and they didn't make any effort to make sure they fit properly on my face. The glasses sit too low on my nose (I think the nose bridge is too wide) so reading is annoying/slightly blurrry. I've gone back twice to try and fix it, but their efforts don't address the problem. For the price I paid I expect more knowledgeable customer service.

Was great with them until a month ago. My daughters frames broke and she needed them replaced. Sterling has yet to call me and set up an appointment for new frames. I called my insurance and they informed me that when Sterling is sending in the bill that they are not putting the note on it that it's just frames. Not new frames and glasses. People are incompetent!

AVOID!!! Needed a replacement nose piece for my glasses. First thing they did was have me sign this BS "waiver" that essential said if they break my glasses they aren't liable. I have NEVER been to a legitimate eye care facility that did this. I asked for a quote on a simple prescription glasses with yellow tint and the price they gave was $400 plus. Every other actual eye care place has quoted me around $160 Thankfully the nose piece was only $5 but this place is a scam. If it wasn't for the ignorant college kids this place would be out of business. I hope they go bankrupt for their unethical, greedy, and predatory behavior.

I have to agree with the other reviewers. I had read the reviews but since Sterling Optical was the closest place to where I live I decided to go head and go there. It was a very bad experience. They were very rude and pushed me very hard to buy something way beyond what I could afford. They kept saying if I didn't buy the top of the line I was cheating myself. Why do they bother having anything else to sell. I finally ask for my perscription and went else where and got the top of the line glasses for half of what they were selling them for.

If it were an option, I would give sterling optical NEGATIVE stars. The receptionist at the front desk needs to learn how to work a clock, considering I called in well in advance to let her know I would be coming in close to closing time (that I was coming from an event) and I apologized for coming in closing time. So I come in running in a dress and heels through the Ithaca snow, and she apparently decided it was perfectly acceptable to close and leave before 9:00PM. WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU LEAVE EARLY WHEN A CUSTOMER CALLED IN ADVANCE?! Especially when the neighboring employees were kind enough to let me know she had left minutes prior. So needless to say, I will NEVER be back to Sterling Optical, even if they were the last eye glass company on earth, considering I am at home WITHOUT my glasses and will brave the Ithaca roads blind as a bat tomorrow morning to get my money back.

This is literally the most incompetent and expensive optometrist I've ever been to! I had to go back to this place 6 times to get my contact lenses and glasses when it only should have taken 2 trips -- 1 for the exam and 1 to pick up the items I ordered. I STILL do not have my contact lenses when my exam was back in January! The 1st visit, the Dr. got my prescription wrong by under correcting my eyes, so I had to go back for a recheck with another Dr. The 2nd time, they forgot to order my lenses at all. The 3rd time, they ordered the wrong brand and wrong prescription strength. The 4th time, they forgot to mail them out like I asked. The 5th time, they only had a 6-month supply of lenses ordered for me when I was clearly charged for 12 months and requested a 12-month supply. The 6th time, they insisted they mailed the contact lenses, but they have yet to arrive at my house. On top of that, they insisted they would bill my insurance for the exam and glasses frames before the visit started. At the end of it, they made me pay for everything out of pocket, and it cost me $760 for an exam, contact lenses, and glasses. They never even submitted a claim to my insurance company. Sterling Optical is a joke! Don't go there if you ever hope to get a correct prescription or affordable eyewear or anything done in a timely manner.