By Jesse on January 11, 2026 Verified by Google

TL;DR: Very bad experience. Unusable prescription, incorrect lenses, repeated follow-ups with no real resolution, staff and doctor insisted they were right, and no refunds.
BTW, Costco offers significantly cheaper lenses.

Review:
I had my eye exam with Dr. Kim and had my glasses made at this store. This was a very bad experience.

After receiving my glasses, I experienced persistent visual discomfort. I returned for multiple follow-ups, but the issues were repeatedly dismissed. At the first follow-up, the prescription was not changed, and I was told that “seeing clearly close or far, you can only choose one,” and that the only solution was to keep using my old lenses. This was confusing, as I had previously worn glasses that worked well at all distances.

After I insisted on further investigation and suggested measuring my previous glasses, it became clear that the astigmatism axis differed significantly and that the astigmatism power was even reduced, despite me clearly reporting night glare issues. Even then, only the left eye prescription was adjusted, while the right eye remained unchanged (see attached images). When I asked for a more comprehensive evaluation, I was told “you are asking too much.”

There were also lens fabrication issues. After adjustments, I repeatedly asked staff to confirm that the lenses matched the prescription and was told they were correct. However, after continued discomfort, I went to two other optical shops for independent measurements. Both confirmed that the right lens astigmatism axis did not match the prescription. When I returned, the store measured the lenses again and reached the same conclusion.

Because the issues could not be resolved, I obtained a full independent eye exam at another clinic, done from scratch without referencing Dr. Kim’s prescription. That exam resulted in a different prescription—particularly increased power for the right eye—which finally achieved balanced and comfortable vision (see images). This clearly demonstrated that the original prescription was not usable for me.

Throughout this process, both the doctor and staff consistently insisted that they were not at fault, which made me feel as though I was being treated as someone “looking for trouble,” rather than a patient seeking a working solution. In the end, the store refused to issue any refunds, despite the unusable outcome.

This experience cost me significant extra time, money, and unnecessary stress. If you care about prescription accuracy, proper lens fabrication, accountability, and value for money, be extremely cautious.

By Shan Hall on September 8, 2025 Verified by Google

Top notch customer service by helpful, attentive and knowledgeable staff. They are patient and cheerful and will go the extra mile for you. Honestly, they went above and beyond to make sure I had the best glasses and type of lenses possible, even making me feel better about my appearance. My experience with Dr. Kim was equally good. He understood my disease and it's ramifications on my eyes and was super fast, friendly and easy going.

By T. Chen on May 14, 2025 Verified by Google

Excellent service from all staff! There is a wide range of frames ranging from 50 dollars to designer brands. They often have great deals and discounts. Convenient for SFU students, faculty, and staff - no need to file insurance.

By E. Sci on January 13, 2023 Verified by Google

I had a check up with Dr. Kim, who is a great doctor, then bought new frames in-store at House of Vision Optical. Nice to have everything in one place.
They have a very wide selection of frames and prices. Everyone was knowledgeable and friendly, and spent time helping me pick out the right pair. I would come up Burnaby mountain regardless. The best customer experience!

By Catherine XU on May 12, 2022 Verified by Google

I have been a customer of UniverCity Eyecare for many years. All of the staff are professional, patient and really nice. The shop

I still remember, in 2014, when I purchased contact lenses for the first time, they taught me how to wear and how to take off; they gave me trials to see how my eyes feel regarding each types; they advised me the type and quantity to purchase based on my needs.

Every time I was in the shop, they offered to check my glasses for free, including adjusting it and replacing the nose pads.

When it comes to the styles, the store have various brands and the staff have a good taste too. I really like their recommendation.

Recently I also had an eye exam with Dr. Kim. He really spent time and tested my conditions carefully. He also explained to me in detail.

I recommend the store to everyone, great quality and great people.