Vision Plus on James

I drive up here from the Seattle area for my optometry appointments for a reason. The front staff are kind, numerous, and quick, even when they were slammed. Dr Kelly clearly knows her stuff, as she always had an answer for my concerns and questions without a hint of exasperation or coldness. Seriously the best optometry and glasses-purchasing experience I've had. I cannot recommend this office enough!

Don't go here if you have a thick/heavy prescription for eyewear. The staff at the James Street location are kind and professional but, I have to say, not entirely upfront about certain things pertaining to the process. In my initial appt, I brought a set of glasses in as a comparison for what I was looking for. I requested that my new pair be able to match the lens thickness of my old pair (made by Warby Parker). Seemed like a reasonable request, seeing as I have had my old pair for 3 years. Lens tech can't have gotten worse, right? The initial frames I chose ended up with cartoonishly thick and heavy lenses. At no point had an associate warned me of the lens dimensions that would result from my prescription and those frames. I was then told, yes, certain shape frames produce a thicker lens shape. Made sense to me. I narrowed my search to different frames that produced a thinner lens. Each time (this is over the course of 5 visits) I picked a frame and associates told me that the lens would be considerably thicker than the lenses in my old frames. I eventually settled on frames that I liked but didn't love. They were also cheaper than the original frames I chose. I was then told that they do not offer reimbursement for the cost difference between the frames. I protested and they made an exception for me. At the end of this odyssey, I was given a pair of glasses with much thicker lenses than my old pair AFTER BEING ASSURED that they would be slightly thinner. It is clear to me that Vision Plus uses outdated lens manufacturing tech. If you have a heavy prescription, use an online retailer. Vision Plus was ultimately not totally honest with me and cost twice as much as other options. Full transparency: my insurance covered everything, but I maxed out (more than 500 bones all in) for a pair of unsatisfactory glasses. I try to support local businesses, but this was a bummer.

Super impressed with the large selection of frames that I saw. The staff provided excellent service that was surprisingly fast even though they were fairly busy. They have a great system to keep information about your prescription and what frames you are interested in so it can be seen by any office.

Annabell at the front desk was kind and informative while helping me check in. My appointment for a general eye exam as a new patient only took 25 minutes and Dr. Mark Potomak was amazingly informative about my eye health. Definitely a good place for eye exams especially if you're looking for a new place in Bellingham!

Thickest heaviest set of lenses I've ever purchased. They don't even come close to operating inside the insurance guidelines and force you into expensive upgrades the insurance doesn't cover. They stopped selling the last lenses I purchased there that were a decent weight and the insurance covered and replaced them with choices that can only be a bad experience that lead you to into out of pocket cost that go through the roof.

My experience at Vision Plus on James Street was excellent! The entire staff was amazing, especially Alanna Miner. She was professional, attentive, and truly went above and beyond. Her high standards and positive attitude made my day so much easier. Thank you!

Absolutely the worst customer service on the planet. When we called and said I was in pain they refused to do anything to help after giving me the contacts that were causing the pain. My husband ordered glasses. We paid an expedite fee and they took nine days to still get there. He missed a week of work and the glasses are unusable. When we brought it to their attention that the glasses gave him a headache within three minutes we were told that's too bad they were ordered on an expedite. I do not recommend this business and highly recommend you find somewhere else for your vision needs vision plus is absolutely the worst and I would give zero stars if possible. When I called up and questioned why we were charged multiple co-pays for the same visit and that I would be giving a negative review Annabelle the snotty receptionist said it sounds like a plan so here is your review

Had my very first eye exam here. From the first time I called (to see if they took my insurance) to throughout my entire appointment, the staff was friendly and made me feel very welcome. I was able to get in super quick due to a cancellation. When the appointment came, the front desk was super friendly. Got taken back for the first round of tests and Annabel walked me through the process so there wasn't any surprises. Once the Dr. took me back, we took more tests. Again, no surprises and everything was explained to me in a way I could understand. Afterwards, Teagan was helping me look at frames and lenses. She was very friendly and relatable and there was no pressure to buy. Overall, I felt extremely welcome, comfortable, and respected. The staff and process was full of nothing but good energy. It was a great first experience. Thank you!