Texas State Optical

Haha exactly like everyone is saying she is very rude. Asked my fiancé if her ring was real… these stories are very true.

I can’t believe I even actually thought to go back to this rude atmosphere. Even the receptionist, Veronica is very rude. I was needing to inquire about a pricing of an exam and for contacts. They quoted a higher price than just two days ago. The receptionist went straight to defense mode of, «I don’t know who you spoke to.» And I understand that, but at least let me tell you who it was. And for the record, the professional response is let me look into that and then take that opportunity to retrain your staff.
I have gone to TSO for years, but never again here. So disappointed.

This doctor is insane. When she gives you an exam, she talks constantly about herself and then asks you about yourself. She wants to know what your job is, how business is going, and then if you don’t say anything else, she starts making stuff up about your life, your stresses, your feelings, etc. It’s unbelievable! Not even silence will stop this woman from intruding and trying to needle her way into your business.

I love this place! I was surprised to see all these terrible reviews. My husband and I have been coming here for a couple of years now. The dr is like a momma bear, and she takes care of you, and converses with you. I’m never rushed, and wait time is always quick. I definitely recommend coming here.

I went for an appointment about 2 months ago and NEVERRRRR will I go again. The staff was really nice but I feel sorry for them for having to put up with a disrespectful Dr. Rivera. The minute I walked in she was reprimanding the staff about insurance. Mind you, she was telling one of her staff member that she needs to collect the right amount of co pays because she loses money on these things (ALL IN FRONT OF PATIENTS). One thing I know is you have a problem, you pull your staff to the side and explain to them the correct way not in front of everyone and humiliate them. I could not wait to leave there. Then at the end when I was checking out she insulted me by telling me that I need to call and check benefits before I go to any doctor which I did, but she was charging an outrageous amount of money for an eye exam. 2 boxes of contacts that I ended up buying at Sams cost me $ 130 when it would of cost me here $ 210. Just because you are in the Heights you do not need to upcharge on your fees. I believe she got upset because I was not gonna buy the contacts at her place, but when she told me I had to pay an extra $ 75 for my contacts I decided to get them at Sams. She told me well you know your only gonna pay $ 5 less per box and I told her «OH WELL SO BE IT». Stay away from this location.

Love the doctor and staff. Quick and helpful. Very caring and understanding of my needs as a patient. If I needed to call and talk to the doctor I could or they would make sure that she would call me back. Even explained benefits of my insurance to me that I didn’t know I had which enabled me to get extra frames and lenses for free that was covered under my insurance.

Some of the staff are very nice. But Dr. Rivera is extremely rude. Last week I suggested my wife in front of the doctor that she should get lasik. Dr. said my wife’s astigmatism is not severe. So my wife proceeded and ordered contacts.
Today, my wife went to try out the contacts that she ordered. My wife was having a hard time putting them on, and she started with her rude comments. My wife told her, «I’m sorry, but these are hurting my eyes». Then she told my wife, «Well, I can’t make what you want, just stick to glasses» Then my wife said, «I can’t see them, they are too thin». Then she said, «Then you should listen to your husband, get your lasik surgery so they can cut your eyes out».
My wife was in shock. How rude and unprofessional!!! Never again. We have been coming here for several years because the doctor is good at what she does. But she has no people and customer service skills. We are done here, finding another place. BE WARN! If I could put ZERO stars I would.

Horrible got the prescrition wrong
too old she doe not know what she is doing do not go

I had to write a review after reading the others as I have been in this TSO twice and had similar experience as other reviewers… amounting to just an overall lack of professionalism and customer service.
I am new to the area and was staying in Houston temporarily late last year before I moved here permanently more recently. I went in to look for frames to get new glasses, but did not need an eye exam. I got «drilled» with questions (as another reviewer described) which I felt went beyond «friendly» and bordered on an invasion of my privacy… maybe just nosy, but it was very off-​putting. Considering that I am a fairly talkative person myself, the fact that it made me feel uncomfortable is telling. Now that I have read the reviews here I can totally relate and get the picture of what’s going on… I actually sensed that it was essentially gossip and that they woman was «sizing people up» but was trying to make myself believe she was just overly chit-​chatty.
Anyway, I went in today for a second time after thinking maybe the first time was just a fluke as it was only one lady I noticed/​experienced this with on the first visit and they were busy (and I hadn’t read the Unilocal reviews yet), but I got an even worse experience today. The lady working the reception desk was completely cold and basically ignored me. She didn’t greet or respond when I asked questions about insurance. HOWEVER, the other lady at the desk with her did greet me, very loudly… and she was the same lady I remembered before. She started asking all kinds of questions just as I had remembered from the first time. Again, it was inappropriate. I was there to find out whether they accepted my insurance, find out about appointment availability for an exam, and I wanted to get my current glasses adjusted and checked for damage while I was there. As another reviewer mentioned they just told me to go sit at a table and the person would help me, and I believe they said it was David.
The man (David, I assume) did come out right way, but basically gave me the same «what do you need» kind of response another reviewer mentioned. I showed him what I needed and he was very critical of «whoever» I got the glasses from telling me all the things he thought they did «wrong». He had no idea how much «they» had helped me in getting the glasses and what my needs were that they had indeed met. He took the glasses and began adjusting before I could say much and he didn’t have me put them on and ask how they felt… he just kind of handed them back to me like «there, done». I don’t know that I can say he was completely rude, but he definitely was abrupt and not at all pleasant.
Between these two visits, it certainly isn’t an experience I would want to have if I were to go there for an exam and/​or get new glasses so needless to say I will NOT be going back there. I don’t know how the optometrist is, but the other 3 staff I interacted with were enough to drive me away. I KNOW there is better service out there… at many, if not most, places. I really wanted to like this place because it is so convenient to where I am located, but I’ll drive out of my way to avoid that kind of service.
I gave 2 stars only because the man did make some helpful adjustment to my glasses and I didn’t have to wait, but the attitudes of the people override any positives toward me becoming a regular customer.

Recommend this TSO if you live in the Heights! Always a very nice yet interesting experience. I came in for an annual check up and a script for my glasses. Just minutes after signing in they were ready for me. The entire staff was very pleasant, friendly however lots of bickering… david always seems to fix my glasses when I bring them in… Tells it like it is and gets the job done…

This place is amazing! Wonderful customer service and VERY helpful people! I needed my glasses the next day because I was going on a trip and the lady called and got my lenses rushed so that I could have them in time! The doctor is very friendly and knowledgeable and pleasant to be around. I highly recommend this place!

I really like this place. I’ve been going here for about 3 years. I find the doctor to be great. They can alwasy squeeze me in, and have been super accomodating with my insurance to try and get me the best price for exam, contacts, and glasses.

Best prescription sunglasses. Good Ray ban frames. Fast service.

The women running this place are obnoxious. They look at the cars of everyone that walks in and comment on the price. The look at everyone’s shoes, clothes, jewelry. They ask probing questions aimed at how much money you make and they gossip about other patients to you during your appointment, «do you know so and so? How long has she been married? Why doesn’t she have children yet? How big is their house? How successful is her company.» It’s obnoxious. Just do your job and keep the idle gossip to yourself.
Additionally, they don’t call you to let you know that your lenses have arrived. This is a terrible location.

Avoid this place at all costs. MD violates HIPPA (she told me all about her previous patient, including where his mother works… you are NOT supposed to do that in any medical profession). She never addressed my concerns with dry eyes even though I told her at least three times that I wanted her recommendation on a dry eye drop. I even brought all the ones I used at home for her to look at so she wouldn’t tell me the same thing. She kept telling me to get the systane drops for contacts, but I specifically told her several times that no, I want a good rec for dry eye drops. What is so hard to understand about that. I finally just gave up on asking her about that.
Also she spends too much time chatting. I felt like I had to shout to get a word in edgewise in between her talking about her daughter and her patients so that I could address with her my concerns about my eyes. Isn’t that why I am paying you? I did not pay you to chat, I paid you for your professional service, so please be professional about it. I am not an old girlfriend out to brunch catching up with you.
Please go somewhere else. Go to someone who will actually take care of you. (Like Dr. Ullman on Yale St.)

The staff was friendly, prompt, attentive & accommodating to my needs and questions/​requests. The doctor gave a very thorough exam explaining things as she went along.
Be clear on what you need with your appointment (exam for only glasses, or contacts, both, etc.) so they allot the appropriate amount of time. I didn’t clearly specify what i needed when i made my appointment, but was fortunate that I went on a slow day and was still able to get everything done.

Had to call to ask the status of my order. Was told «a message was left on 1÷11÷13.» When I indicated that I never received a message on my phone from them, the receptionist said «well they’re ready.» Poor customer service.

Terrible customer service. Totally unprofessional. Rude.
I am new to Houston and was looking for a new Optometrist so I stopped by the Texas State Optical on Heights Blvd. I was in need of having my lenses switched to a new frame that I had because my current frames had become bent and could not be repaired.
The lady behind the counter seemed put off by the mere fact that I had even dared walk into their store. Not even a «hello» or «welcome»… just a glare as I greeted HER with a friendly «hello there»… She only offered a «what do you need»… wow…
I explained what I needed and she said in an annoyed voice… «I doubt he can do that but I’ll have him come talk to you»… She then said «sit there» and pointed to a chair with a table and mirror… again… wow…umm ok?
The place was totally empty… I now know why!
It only took about 15 seconds before the Lab Tech Manager/​Optician came out and rudely said… «what do you need»… I explained to him that I needed to switch my current lenses to a different frame that I had with me… I explained that the lenses are the same shape and are slightly larger than the frame they are going into to allow for them to be ground down to fit the new frames. He actually, rudely, argued with me and said. «it can’t be done!»… «the lenses need to be smaller than the frame you are putting them in»… I said…“well, sir, if the lenses are smaller than the frame they will not fit. you cannot make the lenses larger… they will need to be slightly larger to be ground down so they will then fit”…I showed him the lenses and the frames and showed him how easily they will fit… He then just looked at me like I was just annoying him by even being there and said «I can’t do it»… I then asked if knew of a place that could… he, very rudely, said «why don’t you take them where you bought them!?»… I said… «Because I bought them on the east coast and I was hoping to find a new optometrist here»… He just stared at me as though he was annoyed that I was even there. He then said. «nobody will do that»… I said «really? There isn’t a single optometrist in the city of Houston that will swap out lenses?»… He flatly said… No.
Never did he offer any sort of customer service, options, advice… He didn’t care about my business… He didn’t care to have a new patient /​customer… was in NO WAY friendly, welcoming, helpful or professional. Instead. I got rude, argumentative, unhelpful, un-​knowlegeable «service» from a «staff» of people that couldn’t care less about my business as a new client.
I called Pearle Vision on Upper Kirby when I left their office and they were extremely friendly and helpful and didn’t bat an eyelash when I asked them what I needed. They were professional and actually knew that the lens needed to be larger so it could be cut down to fit the new frame… unlike the un-​knowlegable, rude man at TSO. Pearle Vision only charged me $ 20 for this service and welcomed me back. I will be back next week for new glasses, sunglasses and contacts. Pearle Vision has a friendly, professional staff and a much better frame selection than TSO.
I do not tolerate poor customer service… at a restaurant, from a plumber, salesperson or at an optometrist office. You are in the customer service industry and your lack of knowledge of your own business and sub par service lost this customer for life…
Do not waste your time by going to this poor excuse for an office.

This is probably the worse customer service I’ve ever received.
I tried calling and making appointment in April to get new contacts. They never called me back and even though I called them and asked what happened, they never set me up with an appointment. I came here because I was told that the DR is great. Ha YEAH RIGHT.
I went by today with my prescription and my insurance. The lady (I assume she was either a technician or receptionist) looked up my info. Then she asked Where I lived. I’m not sure what this had to do with the fact that I was trying to get contacts. Then, she told me I couldn’t get contacts because my insurance wouldn’t cover it. Ok, I understand that my insurance only covers 6 months of the year for contacts, I can pay out of pocket for the cost to order more contacts. Well, she didn’t even let me do this. She told me I should go to Wal-​Mart since they would not order me any.
I was completed turned off by this lady. Perhaps she needs more of an education to figure out that people CAN pay cash/​credit for contacts.
What an ignorant lady.
Needless to say, if you need somewhere nice, friendly to go, try I-​Vision off Studemont.