Harvard Square Eye Care

I was really happy with the choice of eyeglass frames. Clark and Alene, the eyeglass specialists were really honest about what looked good on me. I was choosing between two frames and they actually got me to purchase the less expensive frame than the one I would have chosen. The doctor was great especially helping me find the most comfortable contacts. I wouldl highly recommend this place because they really care.

Pros: Friendly opticians, great eyeglasses, thorough doctor

Posted 05/07/09

The doctor was fabulous, my exam went quite well. But do not even attempt to buy glasses from this place! The salesman was snooty, insulted my current glasses on several occasions, refused to tell me the prices of the frames I was looking at ("don't worry about the price, they are all within $25 of each other", when in fact there was a couple hundred dollars of difference). When I finally got him to sit down and calculate the price, he gave me a ridiculous number. When I asked him to break it down for me (ie, cost of frames, cost of lens, cost of protective coating) he got super defensive, pulling out a cost sheet and actually raising his voice at me. I actually had to tell him to stop for a second, that I think he misunderstood me somewhere along the way, and that all I had asked for was a breakdown of the pricing for that particular pair of glasses. He still refused, so I left.

Pros: Good doctor

Cons: Optician was rude, arrogant, demeaning, etc.

Posted 03/06/09

This place is fantastic! I searched over ten other shops and none of them had the selection of designer frames that this place does. Gret selection and service.

Posted 09/19/08

I live on the south shore but was in the Harvard Square area on business. My business meeting was delayed three hours (don't ask) so I walked around and realized that I hadn't had my eyes checked in over four years. I looked in various shops in the area but never got a good feeling regarding staff and selection. I was about to skip it and get something to eat when I found Harvard Square Eye Care.

I was greeted by a lovely women who told me the Dr had a slot 30 minutes from now.... so I made the appointment got some lunch and came back. The Dr that examined me did the most complete exam I ever had. Very professionally and caring. She explained everything (I mean like no other Dr had.) Amazing service and really cared.

After my exam I wasn't planning on purchasing new glasses but with my new prescription I figured it was time to update by 4+ year old glasses. Wow what an amazing selection. The hardest thing was deciding which pair to get as I had three that I loved. The optician helped me out and explained that they had an in-house lab and could have it quickly. I wasn't in much of rush but did have another meeting tomorrow. I was promised that it would be ready first thing next morning.

The next day I showed up, picked up my glasses which fit very nicely and was on my way to my meeting (now on time) and get so much better with my new glasses.

I never knew that an eye glass office could be so efficient and provide such service. I will probably stop by on a Saturday with my family and have them get an exam as well. Highly recommend.

Pros: Excellent service & selection

Posted 09/11/08

I would NOT recommend this place to anyone. I went here because my daughter wanted something funkier than what was offered in mall shops, and their website claimed to have lots of frames for kids and to be kid-friendly. They actually had a very small selection of kids' frames, so she chose an adult frame. I could see this frame did not fit her properly, but the sales person assured us that they could adjust them for her. This did not prove true, as they were extremely uncomfortable. We went back several times to have them adjusted, and each time the same snooty guy got more and more sarcastic, I could actually see him rolling his eyes when we approached the store. We tried someone else at the shop and got the same treatment--- they didn't care at all, they'd already gotten their $425. My daughter was miserable and couldn't wear the glasses so I ended up making them change the prescription so I can use them as reading glasses, which they agreed to do at no cost (duh...) SKIP this place; you can get much better service and value elsewhere.

Posted 08/31/08

I recently had an eyecare emergency, and when I called my usual optometrist, I got an answering machine informing me that he was on an extended vacation. I was desperate to get a contact lens replaced and his office was completely shut down. I called Harvard Square Eyecare and was able to get an appointment with Dr. Cronin the next morning! I couldn't believe my luck.

When I came in, Dr. Cronin was very friendly and understanding of my situation. The exam was thorough, and the doctor double-checked the initial measurements taken by her assistant. Dr. Cronin was extremely patient when flipping back and forth between the lenses to figure out my prescription. It was the longest and most thorough eye exam I have ever had (and I've been in the optometrist's chair many times!) She was not rushing or in a hurry as many doctors seem to be these days. She took her time and was very careful and attentive to detail.

It paid off when I picked up my lenses! The office called immediately when they came in and I was able to come in the same day to get them. And the prescription is perfect! She took time to double-check the lenses on me when I came in as well, which I appreciated, and I didn't have to make another appointment or pay extra for this. I also got some complementary contact lens cleaner and solution which is always nice!

I am very, very satisfied with the care I received at Harvard Square Eyecare and would highly recommend it to any of my friends. I was really impressed with the amount of time that the doctor spent and the fact that she seemed to taking very careful measurements and double-checking everything. I've paid the same amount of money for an exam elsewhere and gotten half the attention and service. Great job!

Pros: Convenient location, close to public transportation. Can usually get an appointment quickly.

Posted 05/28/08

I've had a fair number of eye exams in my day, and I can say that this one ranks at the top of my list. Foremost, the Dr. was committed to determining my exact prescription. She patiently switched back and forth between lens strengths when the difference was very small. At the end of the exam, the doctor used a redundant set of lenses (combined with my glasses) to settle the toss up. I had never seen this, and she kindly took the time to explain what governs the accuracies of each test. I was impressed. Some doctors I've had in the past "guessed" when the difference is close, or are curt when asked to switch back between lenses. If accuracy and attention to detail are important to you, this is your eye doctor.

Pros: Very accurate exam, patient

Posted 05/07/08

I have to rave about this place! The staff is fabulous. Everyone is incredibly helpful, and the doctor actually takes time to listen to your questions. She is very attentive to your needs and responsive - unlike so many doctors these days. Also, she takes the time to help you find glasses that are the best fit for your eyes AND your style. Definitely, the best eye care around...

Pros: Doctor was caring and responsive.

Posted 05/01/08

I am a patient of Harvard Square Eye Care for about 6 years. I think the Dr.?s are the most caring I have met. The office has great funky frames and they just purchased a lab to make their own glasses. My glasses used to take about a week to come in but my last pair took only 2 days?.and I saw some patients in the office were able to get them while they waited. The new lab has really made me want to recommend Harvard Square Eye Care?I hope you go there!

Pros: Fast service, great staff and turn arond times

Posted 03/09/08

My family has been going to Harvard Square Eye Care for the past several years and the service is always excellent. They have fitted my 3 children and my husband with glasses and we return every year because of their patience and professionalism. Dr. Dickerman is exceptionally good with my children and always makes them feel comfortable during the exam, which in my opinion is no easy task. They were also fitted with really cool glasses so it's no longer a chore to go to the eye doctor but a fun experience for the kids. If you are looking for great customer service I highly recommend Harvard Square Eye Care.

Pros: Great glasses and friendly staff

Posted 09/18/07

I had an unusually good experience at Harvard Square Eye Care. The selection of frames was better than any I have seen in the Boston area. I purchased a pair of Beausoleil frames that the Optician helped me choose. I would not have chosen such a fashionable pair myself but now I love them and continue to get complimented on them. The doctors were professional and thorough. The staff was friendly and helpful. I highly recommend Harvard Square Eye Care. Recommended to family and friends.

Pros: Great selection, professional staff

Cons: Did not accept AMEX

Posted 09/17/07

The staff is friendly but VERY unprofessional. The general sense I get is that they don't really care about their patients and are more interested in taking your money. Insult to injury, the service is terrible.

During exams, a very young technician - one who looked like she was barely out of high school - did the preliminary tests. The Dr. was in and out and hardly made time to answer any of my questions. She seemed impatient and ready to be somewhere else. I got talked into Acuvue Oasys lenses which were fine but they insisted that I have a follow-up appointment to "make sure they fit" costing me additional (over $100 just for the appointment). When I went in for the follow-up, the Dr. merely asked me if they felt okay and sent me on my merry way - a visit hardly worth my time or money.

Additionally, I really wanted new glasses but at both of my exams, no one bothered to help me with glasses even after asking repeatedly. They said I would have to wait to be helped but after waiting for over 20 minutes (both before and after my exam), no one ever did.

Lastly, they offered to clean up my old glasses which I thought was nice of them (finally). But when I got home I realized that the technician scratched off the UV coating on sections of the lenses. It doesn't seem like a big deal but when I put them on, the parts where they were scratched were right in my line of vision leaving blurry patches and rendering them completely useless. So fed up, I went to another eye place in Harvard Square to have them replaced.

The only thing good about this place is that they have a great selection of eyewear.

Otherwise, if you are considering this place, I strongly recommend against it.

Pros: Great selection of eyewear

Cons: Everything else - overpriced, unprofessional service and staff, impatient, unwillingness to help, rip-off, etc.

Posted 08/26/07

I've worn glasses my whole life. Really. Since I was about 5, many eons ago. At this point I know something about what to expect from an eye exam and glasses fittings. I had to find a new optometrist due to a change in insurance policies and chose these folks based on the reviews.

The eye exam made me literally sick to my stomach from some drops they used. I wasn't expecting the drops. They used these drops because they didn't have the usual equipment needed for the test they were performing. The optometrist seemed to be unwilling or unable to determine the appropriate prescription for mid-range glasses based on her in-office exam -- I had to go home and take a bunch of measurements. The resulting prescription left me dizzy when I used the glasses. When I complained of discomfort, the optometrist argued with me about her exam measurements in technical jargon.

No one helped me select frames. I was left to my own devices to pick frames despite the fact that some frame sizes and shapes were probably not going to work well for the purposes I was buying them or the prescriptions going into the frames. The frames didn't fit well and no one made a point of ensuring the fit before they let me walk out of the shop with my finished glasses. I had to return to get them adjusted. Instead of gently warming the earpieces and adjusting the frames, the optician took a big pair of pliers and bent the hinge that connected the earpieces to the eyepiece.

I will never go back to these folks again. I filed a complaint with my eye care insurer to let them know how bad this was. I've never had an experience like this in my life, and as I said at the outset, I've bought quite a few pairs of glasses and had quite a few eye exams over the years. Other people had good experiences so maybe I was just very unfortunate. However, caveat emptor.

Posted 08/22/07

I recently had a family emergency and was unable to pick up my glasses and was in desperate need of them because my previous pair had broken. The Optician, Mr. Duncan was kind enough to hand deliver them to my house. This gave me great relief during my current situation. I just found it extremely comforting that these services are still available and it made me realize that not all businesses are alike. I highly recommend them for their professionalism , but more importantly their compassion in my time of need. Thank you!

Pros: Great service and frame selection

Posted 06/27/07

As I left my job I was surprised to see Harvard Square eye care?s other location In Harvard. I was having trouble with my frames and went in with a simple question. As I chatted with the doctor my frames were quickly repaired. And once again I left a very satisfied customer. As I browsed around I saw a wider selection of frames and sunshades that grabbed my eye. After moving miles away from what I?ve grown very accustomed to in LA I'm glad to see people on the east coast possess the same customer service qualities as we do on the west.

Posted 06/26/07

I have been using the same eye doctor for many years but I just happened to walk past Harvard Square Eye Care in Cambridge and figured I would take a look. When I first walked in I was amazed at the unique selection of frames. The staff was able to get me a quick appointment with the primary Doctor (Dr. Dickerman) who is also the owner. How can you beat that!?!?! She gave me a very thorough exam and I was able to find some very nice Gucci frames. The office also accepted my insurance which helped out financially.

While there I though about contact lenses and made another appointment for a contact lens fitting.

Overall great experience highly recommended if you like unique and styling frames and care about the health of your eyes.

Pros: Great selection, friendly staff, fast appointment

Cons: Parking, but there are many garages nearby

Posted 08/03/06

I will never return here. At most optometrists, one receives their
eyeglasses back within 3-4 business days, perhaps a week utmost.
I had to wait over a month
for my glasses to be delivered to me. Additionally, the customer
service was absolutely terrible. I had to call repeatedly to find out
where my eyeglasses were as the office would never call to follow up on the situation. In summary, overpriced, rude, incompetent.

Pros: Well situated, Stock high end frames

Cons: Incompetent, Rude

Posted 04/30/06