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Borel Eye Doctors
Categories: Health and Medical Optometrists Shopping Eyewear & Opticians Optometrists, Eyewear & Opticians [Edit]
37 Bovet RdSan Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 570-5955
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Sarah W. said: "Love the frames at Burlingame Optical, they are a little pricey which is why I gave it 4 stars rather than 5. The staff is amazing. I have brought in frames that I purchased from a different company to have them adjust them, and they…" read more »
35 reviews for Borel Eye Doctors
Review Highlights
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"Marcie Arnesty-Olian is fantastic." In 9 reviews -
"I can't wait to get my new glasses." In 5 reviews -
"...all, the process is made ridiculously easy for VSP members." In 8 reviews
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35 reviews in English
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Review from Rob L.
Menlo Park, CA
Updated - 2/23/2012
The most thorough exam I've ever had. I just KNOW they are dialed in here. Their people and the equipment are top tier. And I trust their opinions; not trying to sell me. They HELP me.
I have probably referred several dozen friends, colleagues and clients here over the years. Can you say the same for your doctor? And guess what? I have great eye glasses that can be adjusted anytime, for free by friendly, capable opticians.
Okay, you get the point. Make an appointment and you will see clearly. Ain't that what it's all about?!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/12/2007
New Update. My eyes have changed. The examination was so complete, as always and Doctor… Read more »
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Review from Sara B.
San Francisco, CA
5/3/2012
High level recap of Borel Eye Doctors: Great optometry experience, staff dropped the ball on multiple occasions and screwed up my prescription.
Getting glasses at Borel Eye Doctors made sense since I worked up the block and they had a decent yelp review. Had an appointment with a younger optometrist who was great and order a pair of glasses. The staff gave me an ETA of a week. Two weeks into waiting, I hear nothing from the store. Two and a half weeks after the initial visit, I called the store and the receptionist assured me that she would follow up on this issue the next morning since the lab was already closed--NEVER RECEIVED A CALL OR EMAIL BACK.
We are hitting week three after placing my order for these glasses and I finally call the store to complain about what is going on. The very next day, they leave a message to let me know my prescriptions has finally arrived. At this point there is an amazing sour taste in my mouth--to top everything off, THEY SCREWED UP MY PRESCRIPTION.
At this point, they offer me a ~30% off the cost of my glasses as an apology but I declined to take them up on their offer.
Management was notified of this issue, and they quickly refunded my for my glasses and writing up a prescription to get my glasses else where.
In short, I am giving this place TWO stars, one for the great exam experience and one for management handling this with such pose.
I do want to warn future patients that doctors are great here but multiple staff gave me poor customer service by NOT giving me a proper ETA on a frame that could be on back order, NOT notifying me when there was a delay in the glasses, NOT following through on a calling me back with a status update, and NOT properly assuring my prescription was correct.
I did not expect Spa quality service from an optometrist, my only expectation was to get an exam and receive a pair of prescription glasses (which I paid for). In the end, Borel Eye Doctors did not deliver. -
Review from Mary Kevin S.
San Mateo, CA
5/7/2012
Dr. Marcie is the best! Her practice is professional and she is very warm and caring. As my eyes are "changing" she has helped fit me with contact lenses that fit my active lifestyle. Thank you Borel Eye Doctors!
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Review from Heather C.
Redwood City, CA
11/14/2011
I have been a patient of Dr. Marcie Arnesty-Olian for 25 years. She helped me when I was a teenager get accustomed to wearing contact lenses. She worked with me everyday for two weeks.
I do not look forward to the day she retires. When my insurance at work changed and we no longer had VSP, I kept going to her. I wasn't going to switch to anyone else.
She gives very good exams, I pay the extra $30 to use the machine that takes a picture of each eye, instead of having my eyes dilated.
I recently had my contact lenses recalled, her office was able to give me a trial pair and she had her staff call me and let me know I can go back to wearing the brand before this one. I didn't have to take time off to go in and get fitted for a new brand.
I highly recommend Borel Eye Doctors and especially Dr. Marcie Arnesty-Olian. -
Review from Roscoe C.
Fremont, CA
11/9/2011
Borel Eye Doctors gave me the worst and weirdest optometric experience of my life, and I've been wearing glasses for over 50 years. Just about everything went wrong. The glowing YELP reviews led me to try Borel, now I wonder about them.
My eyes were examined on August 31, 2011 by Dr. Marcie Arnesty-Olian. The exam seemed to go well. I then chose frames, assisted by Troy, who seemed knowledgeable. At that time, I also ordered reading lenses to be put into a frame I already had; Dr. Arnesty-Olian examined me for that prescription as well.
On September 9, I returned to the Borel office to be fitted with my new glasses. I was looking forward to having them, as I was leaving town for a week on the following day. However, when I tried on my primary prescription (assisted by Troy) it was evident that something was very wrong with the right lens. The same was true with the reading glasses. The vision was simply horrible. Troy examined the lenses, compared them to Dr. Arnesty-Olian's written prescription, and told me they matched. Obviously, there had been a slip-up. I made an appointment for another exam on September 23, the first available slot after I would return from my out-of-town trip.
I saw Dr. Arnesty-Olian again on the 23rd, and she told me why my right lenses were so bad: she had incorrectly transposed numbers from one form to another, making an "01" into a "9". So, the right lenses on both pairs were incorrectly ground.
She then re-examined my eyes, and it was a rather strange experience. She seemed rather flustered, which could have been partly the result of an incident earlier that afternoon, when a robber had come into the Borel office, snatched expensive frames off the display shelves, and fled.
It was during this second exam that I got to try on the defective glasses for a longer period of time, and it became evident to me that the vision in the left (supposedly correctly-ground) lens in my new primary pair was not as clear as my old pair. I was able to compare them at length, and the new pair was actually slightly inferior to the old. By this time, I started to wonder what I'd gotten myself into.
Dr. Arnesty-Olian then employed a measuring device which fitted and looked like a pair of thick-rimmed glasses with adjustment knobs on them. She asked me to read projected letters on the wall while she turned knobs and did other things with the device. The exam seemed to kind of stall out, and she asked me to turn the little knobs on the device to make the images of the projected letters as clear as possible. No doctor had ever asked me to do such a thing before, and it seemed a bit odd, but in a way I didn't mind because I felt that I had a shot at getting exactly the right prescription.
After the exam, Dr. Arnesty-Olian accompanied me to the counter where glasses are fitted, and with the assistance of a young lady, proceeded to double-check my new frames. It soon became obvious that the frames were not the correct size. It occurred to me then that I did not recall Troy measuring anything at all on my initial visit. Dr. Arnesty-Olian and the young lady made necessary measurements, and I left hopeful that next time I went in, my new glasses would be perfect. Still, I had decided by that point that I would likely find another eye doctor in a year or two, when it was time to get checked again. I had never experienced anything like it -- but it wasn't over yet.
On October 19, seven weeks after my initial visit to Borel, I received a phone call from them telling me that my glasses had arrived (again) -- but upon checking them, they discovered that they had been incorrectly ground by the lab. They said it would be about another two weeks for lenses to be made -- again!
At that point, I had had enough. I told the young lady who phoned that I had expended all the time and worry on the matter I was going to. I said I'd call back after I talked with my wife (her insurance was covering a portion of my prescription), and decided what to do.
Later that afternoon, Dr. Arnesty-Olian phoned me, and more or less apologized for the whole thing, suggesting that I let them try again to get it right since, as she put it, we'd worked so hard to get the prescription right. By then, I had no confidence that I would ever receive from Borel the quality of corrective eyewear that I have routinely gotten elsewhere. I told her I was done, and that all I wanted was to not be charged for anything, and for our insurance to be credited; in other words, put me back like I was before I walked into Borel.
In a few days, I received in the mail my old glasses (which were going to be made into reading glasses), and a slip showing that my wife's credit card had been reimbursed for the over $700 we spent on nice frames and the extra lenses. Our insurance has also been credited.
I'm not telling anyone to not go to Borel Eye Doctors, but this is what happened to me. -
Review from kim b.
San Mateo, CA
9/10/2011
This office will probably be the best optometry office I will ever go to in my life. I have been wearing glasses since I was 9 yrs old and have been to many an eye doctor.
This place has wonderful customer service. I have seen all the doctors and they are all wonderful, smart, and super nice. They have state of the art equipment and are very thorough. They also include you in your care and educate you on what is going on with your vision.
I have ordered my contacts through them ever since moving to California. They offer comparative prices to the .com companies and carry the same rebates that everyone else does. My prescription is pretty high, so they do not always have my contacts in stock. On average I have to wait about 2-3 weeks to get them in stock.
The best part is that they are SUPER knowledgeable about what your benefits are and how to maximize your insurance benefits. They were able to help me determine what would be more cost effective glasses vs. contact benefits. They also are flexible on how you want to coordiante your payment. Important when you are trying to use flexible spending monies.
I just ordered glasses there and Tony was my eyeglass specialist. He was very knowledgeable about fit and style. Was very respectful of my price range and was able to work within my budget as far as maximizing my lens selection with all the extras and my frame/color selection. It seems like their frame selection has doubled since my visit last year. They carry a large variety of brands and all kinds of styles. I can't wait to get my new glasses.
The rest of the office staff is also very helpful, always smiling, and willing to help. They were all very helpful in narrowing my eyeglass selection which was a nice touch of good customer service.
The only bad thing I have to say is that you have to be prepared to plan out your visit. Don't expect to call and get in right away. They fill up quickly. They do offer later hours and weekend hours, so that helps with flexibility. -
Review from Sam Y.
Oakland, CA
6/25/2010
I've never had such a smooth, hassle-free, and enjoyable experience at the optometrists until I paid a long-procrastinated visit to Borel Eye Doctors. I felt terrible for having to cancel an appointment at the last minute (as I had to take on a meeting last minute at work). The receptionist was very polite and scheduled me in for the next day without any problems.
When I walked in today, I was immediately greeted by most of the staff (even when they were all already preoccupied) which is exceptional. I was surprised to see that they had already gone through my file and through my insurance (with my coverage chart) before the appointment which made everything quick and convenient.
Dr. Lew was very engaging and took her time to address any issues and concerns. She was very helpful and knowledgeable as she addressed some of my concerns and made some useful recommendations.
Tony was extremely helpful in choosing which frames and lens options were available for my budget. I especially appreciated the fact that he took his time to help me find the right pair without trying to unnecessarily up-sell designer frames or options.
As long as I'm employed/living in the Bay Area, I don't think I'll be going anywhere else any time soon. =) -
Review from Jennifer F.
Davis, CA
Updated - 9/16/2011
Two years later and I still have nothing but great things to say about Dr. Arnesty and the entire staff. I have since moved to Davis and have been driving back for eye exams and new glasses. It's worth the drive to see a doctor I trust and a staff that is friendly and helpful. I love this place!
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/12/2009
My first pair of sunglasses arrived and it seemed that the prescription was off. Their machines said… Read more »
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Review from Amy D.
Updated - 1/4/2010
It was the end of the year, and I was scrambling to get my eye exam and new glasses before the 31st. I called here to ask about their Ray Ban optical selection because they're listed as a Ray Ban dealer on http://rayban.com. Surely enough, I spoke with an optician who took his time and went through model availability and colors with me over the phone. He even referred me to big box eye doctor (Lenscrafters at Hillsdale Mall) because he said they might have more selection.
Frame prices are MSRP and not inflated like my ex-optometrist's office in San Jose.Listed in: Doctor, doctor!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/28/2005 First to Review
Great optometry office. The opticians are very nice and so are Drs. Arnesty-Olian and Lai. If you… Read more »
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Review from H D.
Belmont, CA
12/13/2008
The location, staff, and doctors at this place are great. I use VSP and they handled everything with insurance and I just had to show up.
The main reason I picked this place is because they carry all the contacts there, so when you order - they hand it to you. Which is way better than when I was going to Kaiser. The equipment is great and they are quick.
I have only ordered contacts, so don't know how the eye glass department is as far as selection/price. -
Review from Jennifer G.
Foster City, CA
9/14/2009
I've been going to Borel Eye Doctors for about 15+ years now, and Dr. Mark and Janet and the rest of the staff have always taken really great care of myself, the husband and the kids.
Once a year we all traipse in for our eye exam, order up a bunch of glasses and contacts and usually do not see them again till the following year. I've never seen Dr. Arnesty-Olian or Dr. Lew - that was until this weekend when I needed some special attention. I had the most unbearable eye infection and was able to get in on Saturday at the last moment to see Dr. Lew. It's busy on the weekends, but she saw me anyway, gave me her cell# a prescription and had me scheduled for a follow up with Dr. Arnesty-Olian who I saw today. Voila, infection gone. They were both just as fantastic as Dr. Mark and I can see why they have such a loyal following.
I love that this place is open in the evenings and on Saturday. I always enjoy seeing Janet to pick out new glasses, she's always patient with me (i have to try them all on) and I never feel rushed. Everyone is always professional and pleasant and they turn over the styles frequently, so there's always a lot to choose from. -
Review from Nancy M.
San Carlos, CA
11/16/2011
Dr. Marcie Arnesty-Olian is the best optometrist I've ever had both in terms of the eye exam and choosing frames for my glasses. Her eye exams are thorough, using state of the art equipment. She is very knowledgeable and remembers issues previously discussed from prior visits. She is also wonderful at helping select the frames that best suit my face, style and budget! I've gotten both long distance, sun and reading glasses and couldn't be happier. If you live or work on the Peninsula, you need to go to Borel Eye Doctors for your eye care.
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Review from Erin K.
10/3/2007
Very friendly and helpful staff. I was fitted for new contacts and got the lenses changed in my glasses. They worked with me on the insurance issues I was having and were accomodating the whole time.
It did take a little bit to get my contacts in and they were a little more than I wanted to pay for them (will order online from now on) but I am very impressed with the service.
It was a super quick appt (in and out) no fussing or waiting around forever :) -
Review from Diane P.
San Mateo, CA
7/7/2010
I went to Borel Eye Doctors because of their awesome hours!!! Tell me... how many doctors are open til 6pm and on saturdays for us m-f 8 -5 working folks??
3 years later... I continue to go because of Dr. Lew and her staff. She doesnt scold me for not wanting the eye puff test and lets me know all of my options. Her staff is awesome in being patient with me in trying to fit glasses for my fat face.
Yesterday, I had an emergency and thought I had pink eye. I called at 5:10 and Tony answered the phone. He was able to call me back 10 minutes later telling me that Dr. Lew was squeezing me after her last patient. I arrived at 5:45, walked out at 6::00 with drops in hand. Good news... no pink eye. Better news... what kind of a doctor takes you THAT last minute?? Dr. Lew. Best news... they never rush you even with doors locking, always pleasant and I never leave there anything but happy. -
Review from Mike E.
San Mateo, CA
10/22/2008
2/17/09 UPDATE:
I am editing my review because last month I was contacted by the business and they explained the unusual circumstances that happened, out of their control, that contributed to the delay in my particular order being filled. I also received a letter from VSP labs, where the delay occurred, confirming.
I am very impressed with their proactiveness and reaching out to explain what happened. I am extremely pleased with the high quality eyeglasses and sunglasses I received, and, since the delay was my only concern about Borel Eye Doctors, I have no hesitation to fully recommend to anybody out there looking for contacts or glasses - especially if you have VSP insurance at your employer.
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I visited Borel Eye Doctors because I have VSP and they are next door to the best BBQ place in San Mateo, so it seemed like a win/win. They have a small but quality selection of eyeglass and sunglass frames.
The Dr. that did my eye exam on Oct 1 was very pleasant.
However the problem with this place is not the eye exam, it is the actual process of filling the prescription. It is now Oct 22 and I STILL have not received the prescription sunglasses I ordered over 3 weeks ago!
The store left me a message last Friday explaining that there was a quality problem with the lenses and it would be another week, but there is absolutely no sense of urgency there. Apparently they find it acceptable that it takes nearly a month to fulfill a prescription.
The people there are nice but there is more to customer/patient service than being nice. In this age of 1 hour fulfillment, I expected more, especially at the premium prices they charge. I definitely do NOT recommend Borel Eye Doctors... -
Review from Daniel L.
San Francisco, CA
12/19/2008 1 Check-in Here
yelp doesn't offer me enough stars for me to accurately rate how freakishly amazing and incredible this place is. i rave about this place to my friends, but there really are no words to describe its awesomeness. however, i will give it a feeble attempt.
first of all, the process is made ridiculously easy for VSP members. as another reviewer pointed out, they take care of everything. literally, you just show up and that's it, bada-bing-bada-boom.
two, the people who work here just make you happy. they are professional, playful, super duper friendly and pleasant. they know how to run an eye care business and spice it up with some fun. when i was choosing my new frames this year, i was worried that i didn't have a friend there to help me. not a problem, because Troy came and saved the day. the guy came over, introduced himself, and we just had a field day from there. i must have tried on at least 30 different frames, and he had a whole system on narrowing it down. his advice was great, and he's not afraid to give it. all in all, i bought an awesome new set of frames that i was very happy with. it was honestly the most fun i've ever had at an eye appointment.
i almost don't want to reveal this b/c i want her all for myself, but my optometrist is Min Jung Lew, and she is hands down absolutely phenomenal. she's the real reason i decided to stick with borel eye doctors even though i live in sf. she's amazing, super freakin cool and extremely personable. throughout the exam, she casually chats with you about random things and is super engaging. she communicates with such good nature that it makes you feel especially calm, relaxed, and comfortable. i could literally chat with her all day. instead i just ask her tons and tons of questions, and she thoroughly answers each and every one of them in the most polite, gentle, and friendly way. she's freakin great.
what can i say... i love my optometrist and borel for making my annual eye exams super fun and something to look forward to. -
Review from Janet G.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 10/23/2010
Just wanted to update this review since it's been a few years. I don't even work in San Mateo anymore, but I've kept Dr. Lew as my eye doctor because she is so great. It's totally worth the Caltrain ride or ZipCar!
I recently got pink eye from my friend's adorable, contagious baby. Who knew ear infections and pink eye are caused by the same virus? I didn't! Dr. Lew, knowing I live in San Francisco, let me describe my symptoms over the phone and called in a prescription to my neighborhood drugstore. How great is that? When a month later I reinfected myself by using the same travel bag I'd used when I visited my best friend (d'oh!), her colleague who was in the office on a Saturday called in a prescription refill. I haven't seen any other doctors at this office in person, but she was so nice and helpful on the phone! This week, I was having some more eye problems, so I decided to spontaneously take the train down to have my eyes checked - eye health is not something I want to mess with! It's so great that they have Saturday hours. I just showed up this morning when they opened, and she squeezed me in and checked my eyes, plus gave me samples of new contacts to try, as well as some contact solution and eye drops. So nice. Dr. Lew is truly the best and nicest doctor I've ever seen!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/24/2008
Dr. Lew is like the nicest doctor I've ever had! She was super friendly, sweet and personable. The… Read more »
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Review from Missleigh H.
San Francisco, CA
12/22/2010
Dr. Marcie Arnesty-Olian is fantastic! I recently began working in San Mateo and wanted to get in for an eye appointment and contact lens fitting before the end of the year. They were able to get me in and wow was I pleased. Dr. Arnesty-Olian is delightful, thorough and is the first to successfully fit me with contacts that give me vision as good as my glasses. I cannot say enough about what a positive experience I had here. Highly Recommended!
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Review from Mai S.
San Mateo, CA
1/25/2009
I've been coming here since I moved to San Mateo, and have no reason to find another optometrist! Dr. Lew is absolutely fantastic! All of the staff here are very friendly and know what they're doing. I do wish they had a better selection of designer frames, but otherwise I really have no complaints!
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Review from Rick C.
Redwood City, CA
1/3/2011
I have been going to Borel Eye Doctors and seeing Dr. Mark for about 10 years now. I think this is an excellent office; Dr. Mark is unbelievably nice and and attentive, and the staff is excellent as well. The only drawback I have seen is that the selection of frames is fine but smaller than the bigger chains. That being said, I have always found frames I like, and the prices are very competitive. However, the real reason to come here is the people.
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Review from Adena D.
Redwood City, CA
2/19/2007
After a month of window shopping for my new frames, I finally decided to purchase my pair at Borel Eye Doctors. Why? They had a good selection of frames and the people who worked there were helpful without being annoying. FYI, I got my prescription elsewhere, so I can only comment on their frames & sales team.
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Review from Katya A.
San Carlos, CA
6/23/2006
Yea, I liked this office too. Been only once, but left very satisfied. I got an exam and a pair of Burberry glasses. The doctor was very nice and listened to me carefully. The reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because their selection of glasses is not that extensive.
Update: Dr.Mark is a great doctor. I recently went in for my contacts fitting and she gave me so many different pairs to try. She listens very carefully to you and tries to accommodate your needs. -
Review from John V.
Campbell, CA
11/30/2009
I just went in for my first eye exam, knowing I would leave with glasses for reading. The staff was awesome, the doctor was better, and they fit me with some good-looking glasses that same visit. Am still getting used to the lenses, but the staff gets full marks from me.
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Review from Miko H.
Berkeley, CA
4/3/2007
I got my eye exam and glasses here. I definitely like the place. Pretty good selection; helpful and knowledgeable staff. I paid the $30 for inner eye image instead of dilating my eyes. They email a copy of the images. Unfortunately, the images they sent aren't as good as the one you see on the monitor. A little photoshop editing helps. I was examed by Dr. Minjung Lew. She is great. She is very friendly and cool to talk to. I recommend her. The price from frame is competitive to most non-chain places. It wil cost about $200 for the frame. I will definitely come back for my next annual check-up.
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Review from Iggy S.
San Mateo, CA
12/7/2010
Very poor service. Even if there were only a few of us in the store, the receptionist took no interest in knowing who is next. People just kept walking by without checking if I have been helped. When I pointed this out, I was given a very insincere apology. By contrast, we went to another optical store with only 2 people in it. Yet the service was far superior. I would not go to this store again and would not recommend it. There are many other stores with much better service.
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Review from T K.
Belmont, CA
12/10/2008
I had heard about this place from a friend years ago but at the time I was on another insurance plan. I have been going to Dr. Lew since 2006 and absolutely love her. Also Troy is great, he can help you find frames that are within your budget and more importantly look good on you!
My only issue is cost. I decided to try contact lenses for the first time and had no idea what I was in for. With my VSP discount the contact lens fitting was $153!!!!!!!!! What the heck for??? Well Dr. Lew popped in my first pair and then Troy sat with me for maybe 30 minutes and taught me how to put them in and take them out. But seriously....$153 - that is insane! I will admit I am loving the contacts....but really wish I had known the fitting would cost that much before I had even asked about it......I could see paying maybe $50....but really $153 that just seems like highway robbery.
Live and learn...honestly I highly recommend them for the overall experience....just not their pricing. -
Review from Kristie G.
San Mateo, CA
7/6/2010
This place is as good as it gets when it comes to professional doctors who are not only friendly but extremely knowledgeable about their area of expertise. Dr. Lew was very friendly and explained the graphs and charts like I was a 6 year old (I appreciate it when they explain things to me in simple terms so I don't feel like I need to carry around a medical dictionary).
Michael Lew, was also very helpful in helping me pick out my glasses. He was very thorough in explaining to me my options and ended up having to special order my RayBans. They were a no pressure sales team and gave me the option to take my time to look around to see what I really liked. They have the best name brand collection I've seen in San Mateo (Gucci, Ted Baker, Ray Bans, to name a few) and if they don't carry it, they can certainly order it for you from the catalog.
Very impressed with the level of service and would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for glasses! -
Review from Stacy S.
San Mateo, CA
4/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
I love my eye Dr. Terri Mark. She is super good with my sensitive eyes. She has recommended great eye drops for allergies and dry eyes. The staff is super nice and helpful when choosing glasses.
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Review from melba a.
San Mateo, CA
6/19/2008
I have had nothing but a great experience here at Borel. The staff is very friendly and they just have a laid back feeling while you are waiting for the doc to see you. I have had eye exam and glasses done here, I have come in for pink eye and just recently for a stubborn sty. Dr. Arnesty is great, friendly and did not charge me for my recheck of the sty. She called me a few days later to check on me.....that is, unfortunately, unheard of these days.
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Review from Merle C.
Santa Rosa, CA
11/3/2008
I have been seeing Dr. Arnesty-Olian for the past 3 years now and I think she is fantastic. Sometimes I have to a wait 5-10 extra minutes for my appointment, but I think it is because she really takes time with each patient to get things perfect. She does a great job doing contact lens fitting and trying to pair up the right contact brand/type for each individual to make sure that they are the most comfortable.
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Review from Lucinda W.
Santa Clara, CA
8/17/2007
I've been going to Dr. Arnesty for 4 years now. I absolutely love her. The problem is with the staff. They appear friendly when you are done with your exam because they want you to stay and buy their overpriced contacts and glasses. They turn downright bitchy when you call if they have billed insurance incorrectly. This is the second time this has happened. The lady today was especially rude. They billed me for $90 worth of contacts I never ordered. The reason i didn't order through them? If you do an online conparison to like http://lens.com or http://visiondirect.com which sells the exact same thing as Borel Eye but at half the price. Why would I waste what little of VSP money I have? I have bought glasses there as well and those things have been falling apart since i got them. I have to tighten the screws every week and have since I got them. I paid over $400 out of pocket for those things. I do like Dr. Arnesty but the staff isn't worth it. I won't be going back.
Update -9/6/07- I received a call from Dr. Arnesty last week as she had seen this Yelp review. She was very concerned that her staff behaved that way. She wanted to know what happened and assured me that she would speak with them. She also gave me some names of other eye doctors in my area, which was nice. I upped the number of stars to 3, as i had only given them 1 star previously, since Dr. Arnesty called and was concerned. I decided not to remove this review completely (as she had asked me to do) since this did happen. Hopefully this won't happen to anyone else. I still won't be going back. -
Review from Douglas H.
San Mateo, CA
1/16/2010
I've been going to Borel Eye Doctors for a number of years. Dr. Lew is easy to work with and she develops very accurate prescriptions. My corrected vision is very sharp. Janet is amazing at listening to what I want and making helpful suggestions for frames and treatments that fit my needs. I can't say enough about how happy I am to get my glasses there.
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Review from Christine R.
Belmont, CA
3/19/2010
I came here to get some prescription lenses made, and I was very pleased with the kind, courteous treatment of the staff here. They made sure the glasses fit me correctly, and they said I could always come back for any adjustments I needed in the future. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for an local optometrist, or just some nice frames (they have a pretty good selection)...
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Review from Rosie R.
San Mateo, CA
12/15/2010
I have been going to Borel Eye Doctor for about 4 years now. I always get fabulous service. My regular optometrist is Dr. Lew, she is absolutely the most attentive eye doctor I've had the pleasure of seeing (no pun intended). I have been wearing contacts for about 15 years but in the last few years the "ghost vision" has gotten worse. I described the problem to Dr.Lew and she was able to find the right contacts to correct the astigmatism and my vision has never been sharper. As other Yelpers have mentioned, when there is an emergency she makes it a priority to see her clients. I recently had a bad eye infection and Dr. Lew had me coming in every other day, in fact it was so important for her to make sure I got better that she opened the office after-hours so that she could take care of me. I have recommended friends and colleagues and they are all thrilled with her service. I have also been seen by Dr. Mark, she is very nice and knowledgeable too but I love Dr. Lew!!!! =)
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Review from Sandy F.
San Mateo, CA
12/26/2010
I have been going to Borel for the past four years and just had my final, last appointment there in November and December. I have VSP insurance but yet had to pay $30 for a contact lens exam. I had two followup visits for contacts in which neither fitting was working out due to my dry eyes so I decided to remain wearing my glasses. Dr. Lew charged me $60 for switching to a eye glass prescription!!! Couldn't provide a reason for the charge except that they needed to contact VSP to reverse the exam.... and this cost $60 to place a phone call!! It felt like Dr. Lew and her staff try to figure out ways to over charge for the services especially at the end of the year when they assume people are trying to use up their flex spending accounts (which I don't have). So, I will not be returning there ever again. There is a lot competition out there in world of optometry so there is no reason to put up this of kind business dealings.
