Smith’s Opticians

I came in while vacationing in Houston and was impressed with several things…
1. Prices — The prices are VERY reasonable. Even for their more brand name products, so super reasonable.
2. Unique Selection — They have a great selection of unique styles and your hard to find designs.
3. Vintage Selection — They have a huge selection of vintage pieces. The entire back part of the store is dedicated to vintage.
4. Service — Everyone is so friendly, welcoming and super helpful.
I wish we had a Smith’s in DC. I picked out 3 pairs, but could have easily walked out with 10.
I highly suggest Smith’s — the best place ever to get glasses! And the best employees.

I am SUCH a fan of Smith’s Opticians. This is (quite possibly) the best frame store in the Houston area. I got my first pair of Smith’s frames a few years back, and I was completely amazed at their selection. They have everything from modern vintage, exotic, unique, relaxed, and real vintage glasses. All the colors, shapes, and styles you could imagine. The back portion of their store is literally just vintage frames ranging from many eras.
Smith’s sells frames and also does the lenses in house. They even sell sunglasses! My first pair here were some 1960’s blue cat eye frames that were to die for. Unfortunately they broke from my own wrong doing, but I honestly believe they have something for everyone here. Every style can be found, no joke.
The one thing I have noticed about Smith’s, which diverts me from being a constant customer is the price. Back when I got my pair a few years ago, the prices were MUCH cheaper it seems. Most pairs are int he $ 100+ range, even up to the $ 300. Although I know many of these brands are high quality, it’s a little more difficult to find something if you’re on a budget. Other than that, LOVE THIS PLACE!!!

I’ve worn glasses for nearly 60 years. Regardless, they never felt right after a few days on and even less so when a new prescription was needed. Just cope four-​eyes.
For the last few pairs the prescription never changed. The exam was solely to check for abnormalities and disease. Therefore, I carry the Rx and decided to use an optician, choosing Smith’s.
Great selection, helpful service, reliable delivery date and great pair of specs ready to wear. Lightest frames I have ever had. Still looking for an uneasy tilt or crooked slip or fuzzy edge, but none. Completely happy.

Unilocal did it again, found me my new go to venue, this time for eyewear. Now I can’t tell if all the reviews are real, but I will have to say it deserves the 5 stars just based on the customer service. I have been driving past this place for 8 years and never even once noticed it there on Wheeler, its a shame. This tells you if your not looking for it you will miss it. I’m going to start out giving props out to Carlos who attended to me. Came in with basically all my glasses broken in some way or another. At first there wasn’t anyone available to help me and no one really even greeted me, so I just looked around for the first few minutes. I noticed that they carried a array of glasses and a lot of vintage styles available so no matter what type you seem to like from business wear to casual to letting it all loose and everything in between they seemed to have. It all comes down to how comfortable you are with yourself to pull off the certain styles they have. Onwards, after Carlos was available he sat with me and he was able to fix all my glasses and one he had to keep to solder it. After 3 repairs and 2 cases my cost was only just above $ 20 which is great since I took a pair to another place and they wanted $ 50 for a solder job. But besides the service and the price, Carlos is a foodie like me… he doesn’t Unilocal but the whole time I was there we were just rapping about different place to try… though that made me so hungry there after. He described to me a whole world beside little india that was located in hillcroft. Needing to hit that place up more often. I definitely recommend this place, you just have to bring your prescription with you… no optician on premise. We spoke of prices for glasses and depending on style they range roughly from about $ 150-​$ 400. Much better pricing than the last place I went to where the low end started at $ 400.

The best customer service I have ever experienced anywhere. I came in for a replacement pair and couldn’t decide on which pair I wanted. Carlos and a nice bearded man whose name I sadly don’t know, were nice and patient enough to give me their opinions on which pair looked best. After ordering an awesome pair of frames Carlos tried his hardest to repair my broken ones. He even let me borrow a set of frames until my new glasses were finished. My prescription is so bad that it usually takes 10 – 14 days to get a pair of glasses but because their lab is local it only took 2 days. When I went to pick them up Sarah helped me and was sweet enough to email me a catalog that featured super unique frames that they order once a year. I’m so excited to order a pair.
I can’t say enough great things about this place and the absolutely amazing staff that they employee.

Smith’s makes me wish I was more outgoing or an artist or something. They have such a fun, cool selection of glasses. I’m especially drawn to the pink, purple, neon, and polka dotted frames. However, my glasses are pretty much a permanent fixture on my face… so I usually opt for something more «classic» (boring, conventional, not noticeable, etc.) — which Smith’s has those too, BUT if I was cool, daring, and generally pretty crazy, I’d definitely go for some neon fuchsia frames.
I haven’t actually purchased anything here, just browsed. But I’m seriously considering making my next glasses purchase here. It’s a pretty big deal for me to buy new glasses because I have an extremely strong prescription that can only be filled at Texas State Optical. Which means that if I don’t want to get frames from TSO (I don’t), I have to buy frames elsewhere and take them to TSO for the lenses.
My current pair came from Warby Parker and I love them — they were so cheap (about $ 85 without prescription lenses) and then my insurance covered a large portion of the prescription lenses. OK, but this isn’t a review for Warby Paker… haha, errrr…
Anyway, the prices at Smith’s seem reasonable. But there are so many options, it’s going to be hard to choose. It’s also hard to not get distracted by trying on all the FUN (but impractical for my oh so conventional life) frames!
Can’t wait to go back!

This place was so fabulous that it makes me want to go back and take any other 5 star reviews that I left down to 4 stars! Glasses galore… if you didn’t already know. In fact, it can be overwhelming… especially if you go with kids. I like that you can pick your style of glasses or you can ask the staff for their suggestions. I literally asked for a calm, boring frame (Hey, I don’t want to call attention to my glasses) and the owner went around showing me some brown frames. I even found one that he designed. Think he tried to hard pressure me to buy his design? Nope! I prefer to wear contacts, but since they have been giving me problems, I’d prefer to have Lasik. However, until I brave up enough to go have that done, Smith’s Opticians makes glass wearing very enjoyable!

One of the best shops EVER. Unending choice of frames, especially vintage ones. Tell them what you like and they will find more options from the back for you! Beyond reasonable prices and excellent customer service. If cookie cutter optical shops make you physically ill, Smith’s is for you. Quirky, inspired and creative is what you get here.

What a great place! Looking for new glasses isn’t my favorite thing to do, but shopping at Smith’s treasure trove of eye glasses, from vintage to contemporary, is so much fun. I’ve never seen such a wide selection anywhere. I wanted to keep the budget down on glasses this time, as I have a habit of losing or breaking them. They had a so many cool frames under $ 100. Amazing! And they helped me pick out frames, finding me frames to try on and giving me an honest opinion on how they looked. This place is The Place to find great glasses at great prices.

I’ve never seen anything like this place. Not to be confused with not being able to ‘see’ but because Smith’s Opticians really does stand out from a lot of optician offices. Most vision insurance plans cover glasses at least up to $ 150. Since the typical Pearle Vision, Eye Masters and Vision Source tend to market high-​end, designer glasses, I end up still dishing out at least a couple bills for a «nice» pair WITH insurance. I mean, I wear these on my face, of course I want something that’s cute *batting eyelashes*. Glasses that are decent, fashionable, frames the face well, inexpensive, sits on your nose correctly, etc. Frame shopping is serious business!
Thankfully, Smith’s has made my decision much more difficult in a good way. My sister and I spent a long time trying on frame after frame. It was pretty fun. I managed to find a few that I really liked, turned my head at every angle making sure it looked good (I sound reeeeeally girly right now o_​O). So I found my magical pair and I’m in love with them! I called to see how much my lenses would be with my insurance at an optical chain and they quoted me $ 96. Smith’s Opticians charges $ 40 for a pair of lenses. What the fslkfld;samsk;dlak?! Albeit, they don’t do the fancy no-​glare, warranty or polarized-​yada yada. I don’t care for that stuff and I don’t have an issue with my lenses thus far. I can seeeeeeeee! –In my best opera voice.
Anywho, what I really like is that they have vintage frames in the back. FYI — It’s not the type of place that sells up-​to-​date designer frames. However, if you walk to the back room they have 70’s-80’s frames. I saw old Dior specs for $ 75-​$ 150. Seriously? I know people who would pay hundreds more for those so-​called vintage specs! A good deal? Um, I think yes.

THIS PLACE ROCKS!!!
I lost my glasses a month ago and have been wearing contacts. I came in here sick of dry eyes and looking for a pair of cheap replacement glasses. I’m pretty specific about what I wear, and definitely didn’t want generic looking frames. I saw reviews for this place on Unilocal,and came in to look around, not expecting much.
WOW!
There were a ton of frames that were fun and funky and made from all over the place– like these crazy stained glass looking frames with wood earpieces made by some French guy named Michel and some mother of pearl/​leopard frames made by some Argentinian company. They definitely try to find interesting and off the beaten path stuff. Frames ranged from $ 28 to $ 200 and there were SO MANY to choose from.
Additionally, when I ordered the lenses, I was willing to buy more expensive lenses and the owner actually told me that for my purposes, all those little add ons like light weight and scratch guard wouldn’t make that much of a difference.
So I got these ridiculously fabulous cats eye frames ($ 119) and only spent an additional $ 40 for the lenses. And they look awesome.
AND I came in this Thursday, was told they’d be ready by Tuesday, and they were ready early! This Saturday, two days after the order, I have my emergency glasses!
If this sounds like they paid me to write this, don’t believe me. Just come check the place out for yourself. Will try to post a picture now.

The employees at Smith’s geek out on glasses. I’ve never been to an optical store like this before. A pair of glasses is a work of art to these guys, and choosing the right pair is an art, as well. Most «optical philosophy» centers around finding a pair that blends in, whereas these guys believe you should own it and love your choice. If you want a unique look and you’re even just a bit open-​minded and freespirited, then this is the place for you.
Beware, though, that as total glasses geeks, these guys aren’t super-​interested in the «customer experience.» The people who work there are lovely – knowledgeable and helpful when you ask a question, but they aren’t likely to come out from behind the desk and offer help unless you ask for it. Also, the lighting is terrible (especially in the wonderful «vintage room») and most of the store’s mirrors are slanted, dim, and somewhat out-​of-​reach. So, why 5 stars? Because finding people who are passionate about their product is so rare, I would give them 6, if 6 were possible.

I have my cool looking glasses from Smith’s, and could not be happier with my entire experience. They were great in helping me pick them out initially (this was my first pair, and it took a long time – but they were great, patient, and creative with me). Since I first bought the pair, their customer service on two occasions has been top notch in replacing my lenses under warranty (scratched up), and when my fames broke (fell asleep in them). Plus, the store is in a funky place, and is itself a funky little store, which makes it kinda fun to go there. Why not 5 stars? They don’t take insurance. I’m hoping anyday I will hear that they do — I’m ready to start builing my collection of cool frames (with a little help from my insurance dollars)!

Great place to find cool frames. I wanted to change up the look of my glasses, so I got a little chunkier frames than I’m used to. The salespeople were really helpful, and the frames look great. Decent price too, mine were $ 70 plus the cost of lenses. The back room with lots of vintage, wild-​looking frames is a lot of fun.
Note: they are not open early. My only minor complaint. They don’t open until 10:30 weekdays, 12 pm weekends.

I’ve been getting my Rx filled here since the 90s. Phillip, the owner, has always been more than helpful with selecting an assortment of frames within the style I’m checking out. On my last visit, I was looking for wayfarers. He dug up close to dozen that fell under that category. From there, I narrowed it down to clear wayfarers; he closed in on about half a dozen. I then singled out a pair that looked cool and fit my face well. The price of the frames plus Rx came to under $ 100. At times, I’ve found frames there that total far less than $ 100 with Rx included.
I’ve had nothing but luck finding vintage, classic, unique, and novel styles there. I always recommend him to friends looking for specs. Smith’s is one of those places that makes Houston special.

These guys rock!
I had more than one person tell me I needed to check out Smith Opticians. I have never had glasses before. I walk in, tell them what I want and they take me right to it. They are very helpful and friendly. The prices are very reasonable. I will use these guys again.

My «intellectual look» needed an update. It’s sad to say that I’ve worn the same pair of glasses for the past 2 years. Unfortunately, I had to visit Eye Care Central on Elgin before my visit to Smith Opticians. In other words, make sure you have your eyeglass prescription ready when you visit.
The guys at Smith Opticians are nothing less than polite and professional – even over the phone. One gentleman was kind enough to work with me on selecting the right frames for my face and style. Believe it or not, but he made some really great recommendations. The place is a little dusty, but it offers a vast selection of really great vintage and classic frames that are certain to fit just about anybody’s style. So, if you’re looking for frames that are stylish and unique, then Smith Opticians is definitely that spot.

Considering my best friend (Carlos) works here, I have to give this place five stars, but I would anyway! Phillip knows everything there is to know about glasses (everything, seriously). I can always always find frames I love, and the prices! It’s SO CHEAP. Like, amazingly cheap. I’ve suggested this place to a ton of people, and it’s well worth it, I promise.
The location can feel a little sketchy but don’t worry. There’s a lot with a few spots for easy parking. Recently, they sectioned off the store between modern and vintage styles, which is really helpful for shoppers. I also love the mix of people who come in the store. There’s no specific clientele – everyone shops at Smith’s! You’ll feel comfortable there no matter what you’re looking for, and if they don’t have exactly what you want, Phillip or Carlos will find them for you and order them as soon as possible, and your order will usually be available in about a week. Also, the store now has a record player in the back with an eclectic mix of music, so have some fun!
I love this place, and now that I’m back in Houston I’ll be there all of the time (probably organizing the back room, hah). Can’t wait to get more and more pairs of glasses!
Definitely shop here.

I’m gonna go ahead and give them five stars. I really can’t think of anything they could do better.
I found Smith Opticians through Unilocal. (Thanks, Unilocalers!) My frames were getting old style wise and thanks to a mischievous little puppy, now had teeth marks on them. Time for new frames.
I walked in and asked the clerk — «Do you have anything that wont make me look like a hipster douche?» He was very helpful and led me almost immediately to my future frames.
The prices were good, the staff friendly and helpful, and while you cant have your glasses made «while u wait» — they do come back rather quickly and they call you as soon as they are ready.

Love! Love! Love! this place. The guys that work here couldn’t be more helpful.
My fiancé and I were in need of some new specs so we decided to track down the mythical Smiths Opticians tucked away in a neighborhood North of Main Street. I have quite a few friends that have come away with some pretty amazing eyeglasses that fit their personalities to a T!
Our trip didn’t disappoint. There was everything from old stock to new, and a little of everything in between. I settled on some cat eye frames, and B got a pair of Buddy Holly’s and some mirrored sunglasses.
If you want to make a statement but don’t want to pay Gucci prices get your butt down there! You will not be disappointed.