Pearle Vision

Pearle Vision was okay. I agree with many of the reviews that the staff is not the most pleasant. The member who «greeted» me (more of acknowledged my presence than a greeting) didn’t really warm up to me until she was able to confirm that I did have insurance. Actually, before I handed her my information to check if I had insurance, she had to remind me that I would have to pay out of pocket if I didn’t have insurance and then confirmed I wanted to proceed. Well… duh? Someone has to pay for the appointment right?
Anyhow, after I was able to prove I had insurance, all went well. The visit with Dr. Demers? was fine. He seemed more thorough than my last visit with the optometrist at Level Optical. I was given a slightly different Rx (right eye slightly lower) for contacts. I’ve had them on for a few days and notice that I may not be as comfortable with the prescription, but I will give it a few days before I commit to an order. He also recommended I try a different type of contact since my current contacts give me a dry eyes. They are definitely more comfortable.
Overall– I would say this Pearle is okay. Not the best experience I’ve had, but also not the worst. It gets the job done.

I would go blind before going back.
The doctor at this location is excellent. Unfortunately, even he is not good enough to warrant dealing with the office manager, Gina. I not only had to call Pearle Vision corporate to deal with her behavior (for which Corporate apologized profusely and agreed she had behaved inappropriately), but also report a violation of their merchant services agreement to Visa. Literally the worst experience I have had in 2 decades of seeing eye doctors.

I would not recommend this place for multiple reasons:
1) The staff was extremely rude and unhelpful. The employee named Denise is one of the most ill tempered people I have ever met
2) The prices are sky high you can find much better and much more reasonably priced items at places like Chicago Optometrics for example
3) Inefficient staff does not know how to process insurance. I was charged 300 $ that took 4 months for them to process a refund for that too after repeated follow up and reminders.
The positives:
1) The doctor is a pretty friendly guy, and the exam went well.
However, I have been an eyeglass and contact lens user for 10 years and in my experience the doctors are just the same everywhere, since eye exams are pretty straightforward.
Your needs can be better met at many other places in downtown Chicago that will give you more for your money’s worth.

This location is great. I thought they were rude only the first time I went– and actually, just one lady in particular. She’s a little older than the rest of the staff, and she’s pretty much a classic. She wastes no time, has no room for BS, and I’ve found that if you treat her as such, you’ll find this to be a great spot.
The rest of the staff has always been straightforward, professional, and kind. The optometrist is knowledgeable and helpful, and to top it off it’s a great view of the river and downtown from the wrigley building. Great location if you’re in River East/​North or in the loop.

I can see! So this is what Chicago looks like eh? You mean to tell me that guy selling streetwise WAS NOT Christian bale?
Ok so things hadn’t gotten that bad but I imagine in a few years I would need a seeing eye dog if I continued to convince myself that I had perfect vision.
I found the staff pretty cool and down to earth. I appreciate straight forward and to the point people so perhaps this comes off as rude? Maybe i’m rude and the birds of a feather thing really is true? Whatever the case, convenience and insurance wins so there I found myself. Eye doctor was friendly, efficient and seemed to know what he was talking about, other staff was friendly and helpful with forms and picking out frames.
Lookout world! I can now identify suspects in lineups with 95% accuracy!

Worst. Pearle. Ever.
I waited a while before posting this review because I didn’t want to be unjust. And this place is down the street from where I live (and I didn’t really want to burn any bridges in case I had to come back). But I went to another Pearle location (after this one) and found out how an eye doctor appointment was REALLY supposed to go. Now I shall proceed…
Why is the staff so damn rude? I’ve been to this location about 3 times total and I am just always put off by the staff. And it’s been different people every time. Once I got there before they completely opened… maybe about 10 minutes early and the women working at the desk informed me that they weren’t open yet (ok, fine) with MAJOR attitude and told me that I’d have to wait (then why was your door unlocked, then?).
I’ve also encountered similar rudeness while calling to make appointments. And still I rise.
So, the one shining star of the whole situation is that the one (well I’ve only seen one doctor working there) optometrist is a pretty cool guy. But there was another problem… he gave me contacts that were way too weak for me. I know my eyes and I know what I should be seeing, but for a few weeks after that I stuck it out for a while with my new contacts, but I just kept getting headaches. I think my eyes were strained :(
I went back, and he tested my eyes again w/​the same result… he said the prescription he gave me was correct. WRONG! I have since gotten a new, much more correct prescription (from somewhere else) and now I am living the dream.
Another thing. If you order contacts from here, they NEVER have what you need on-​site. They have to order them and you have to come back in a week or so. So if you need your contacts now or at a cheaper price, save yourself some heartache and go somewhere else or give 1−800-CONTACTS a call.

Apart from my eye doctor, and the woman who actually helped me pick up glasses… this is the RUDEST place I have ever been to. Their customer service, the people that call you, when they answer the phone have an unbelievable attitude you wouldn’t believe.
Go somewhere else and don’t give these people your money.
They get two stars because I found a really cute pair of glasses, but that’s it.
**Update** I have upped them to three stars from two. After the «really cute pair of glasses» were on for a day, I realized they weren’t so cute and not so hot. I was able to go in, pick another (smaller lens) paid the difference (the new frame was more expensive) and they fitted the new frame and lens for free with no hassle. I was expecting a big hullabaloo but it went quite smoothly.

I have decided I would rather not be able to fully see out of glasses than return to this Pearle. I went in to get contacts. Had an appointment to get contacts. Got there, the VERY rude receptionist says to me…
«You know it costs MONEY to get contacts. Do you still want them?»
Apparently I look like someone who walks in and expects free contacts. Hmm. Did not know that.
Needless to say, after staring at her in disbelief and her explaining how she did not have time to show me how to put contacts in and EVERYONE should know how to do this already I left sans new glasses.
I haven’t gone anywhere for contacts since. I am slightly afraid.
It is a shame because I had been to the Optometrist there once and he was awesome. Unfortunately people have to make it past the gauntlet which is his staff to get to him.
Damn shame.
Still can’t see 100%. Booo Pearle Vision.

Had an excellent experience here with Dr. (forgot his name). But he was very straightforward and specific. Quick in and out, no pressure.