Image Optical

I saw Dr. Clark years ago and really liked my glasses. My husband and son went to him as a result of my having been impressed. My son was around 9 or 10 at that time. Unbeknownst to us, he had «lazy eye,» but it was not explained adequately, as there were no obvious physical symptoms (most of the time, amblyopia is obvious– one eye «wanders» and you notice this right away). The prescription in the glasses was probably absolutely spot on; however, the strength was to extreme a change, and my son was so dizzy and disoriented that he kept falling off playground equipment, many rather than improving his ability to read, he found reading to be impossible. It didn’t help that reading had already been tedious since his eyes were not tracking for 10 years. From the moment our son got the glasses, he refused to keep them on at school. I can see why after everything that went on subsequently. I told Dr. Clark and his staff that our boy wouldn’t wear the glasses, and things weren’t improving. It was disappointing that Dr. Clark and his staff did not give this the attention it deserved. The school could not constantly ride herd on our kid to get him to wear his glasses, especially when he fell over while wearing them. In frustration, we abandoned the issue. He had struggled with reading for YEARS. Fast forward 8 years– after taking ACT’s and SAT’s, and being able to get through only half the tests (got everything right that he could complete), we realized it wasn’t a processing issue as much as a physical eye issue. We took him to Dr. Burns on State Street in Westerville at Professional Vision Care. Dr. Burns did EXTENSIVE testing– as a result we were able to see on a computer monitor the performance of each individual eye as our son read a paragraph of sentences. It was mind-​blowing. He got glasses– this time, with graduated prescriptions that allowed him to adjust to the dramatic improvement. When wearing the beginning prescription lenses the very first time, I witnessed him SMILING while reading for the first time EVER. At 18 years of age, he was mature enough to grasp the complex issues of his particular vision problems. He enthusiastically accepted vision therapy as he transitioned from the first prescription to the next. His ACT and SAT scores improved enough for him to be accepted into Engineering School, whereas previously the scores fell slightly short of the requirements, and I firmly believe had we not been introduced to Dr. Burns, our son’s vision would have continued to be inadequate.
While Dr. Clark is very kind and personable, and certainly qualified to provide basic eye care, I am still disappointed that he and his staff were not interested enough in our observations to delve into the matter further. It seemed that if there was no obvious answer, it was left up to us to somehow figure out why the glasses were not just ineffective, but seemingly detrimental. Lesson: do not count on this practice to follow through if something isn’t right. If you really like them but aren’t getting the results or service you think you ought to get, BE AGGRESSIVE! Lack of follow-​through can rob you of a correct diagnosis. Had Dr. Clark done more extensive tests, or had recommended a specialist, I would have been much more impressed. Incidentally, it turns out I had the same vision issue, and it went undiagnosed until I too switched to Dr. Burns’ practice in 2004– Dr. Burns did more extensive testing when I described my own frustrations after wearing glasses for about 5 years… And she not only corrected the vision problem but found that I had narrow angles and needed laser surgery for glaucoma. Dr. Clark is a great guy and has a wide variety of designer frames, but this practice caters to the young set of clientele with money to spend on fashion, as opposed to getting to the bottom of serious and more complicated eye issues.

Dr. Clark is personable. Put personability doesn’t make up for a horrific experience, as explained in my letter to the Ohio State Board of Optometry (which later opened an investigation against Dr. Clark) and the Better Business Bureau (which rejected my complaint because they «cannot report and pursue complaints concerning the underlying competency of… healthcare services and procedures.»):
To whom it may concern:
On May 25, 2012, I came to your Short North office to obtain a new prescription for contacts, as I had suspected my eyes had changed since my last examination. This was my first time patronizing your business. After an eye exam and contact consultation, you told me my trial contact lenses would be available within 10 business days.
On Jun. 11, I called your office, since I had not heard from you. The trial lenses had not arrived. A month into my wait, I was told my trials were available. I picked up the «trials,» went home, threw away my old contacts, and put the trials into my eyes. I left my house to run errands. It only took me an hour to realize that these contacts did not fit. My vision was terrible. But it was too late to use my old contacts, as they were dried up in the trash. When I called your office the following day, I was told that those were not my trails, but just a pair of lenses to hold me over. (I wish I would’ve known this.) Every two weeks, I called your office to check the status of my lenses.
Finally, when I contacted your office on Nov. 16, I was told that my contacts had shipped and that they would be in your office on Nov. 21. When I called your office (during your normal business hours) on Nov. 21, I received no answer. When I stopped by, your doors were locked (despite the fact that I visited during your regular business hours and no sign was posted to state otherwise). I called the following week to cancel my order.
I couldn’t see well for over 6 months, thanks to you. I attended many weddings, concerts, theater performances, movies, graduations, work events, and lived my life without being able to see well. Can you imagine missing so much detail? It was frustrating, maddening, and painful (yes, there were many headaches due to my impaired vision).
I went to a different doctor on Dec. 12, and five short business days later, on Dec. 19, I was in brand new contact lenses that fit me. Why was this doctor able to produce results and you were not? If you knew you could not help me, I wish you would have at least told me so I could go elsewhere.
Sincerely,
Autumn T.

Received my glasses a couple of weeks ago. When I went in, I asked where my contacts were. She said she’d have Dr. Todd call about them. We’re getting into April now, and no contacts from my 2012 appointment…

Have been in the market for new frames and went to check out the selection at Image Optical. I was greeted by Katie and she is friendly and knowledgeable.

stopped in during the gallery hop to see some work done by a photographer. After looking at her work I started paying attention to the frames. First of all I like a good funk pair of frames that are man repellant and Image Optical delivers. They carry LA Eyeworks which makes funky and decently priced frames. I tried several on that I thought were great and I will definitely be back to purchase them.

Dr. Todd and his staff is what keeps me coming back year after year. Having been to many eye care professionals throughout my life, it’s wonderful to have a doctor that cares as much about my eyes as I do. He and his staff have always been friendly and genuine with great suggestions for the «best frames» for me as well as making the visits comfortable and relaxing. I always walk away feeling great about my experience, and I have referred a number of my friends to Image Optical because of the care I receive.

They have taken good care of me for years. Dr. Todd rules.

Friendly, knowledgeable staff, with a good selection of interesting frames. The doctor is clear and friendly, and helps put you right at ease. I would definitely recommend this place if you’re looking for glasses or an eye doctor in the Short North area.

My last visit to the eye doctor was more than 5 years ago. The pair of glasses I procured from that visit are ugly, unflattering and, now, shattered but still usable.
So when my new place of employment included full eye coverage in its benefit package, I was on the hunt for an eye doctor and a new pair of specs.
Image Optical, in the Short North, was both close to work and looked inviting and boutique-​y when I saw its profile online. So I gave it a shot, and here I am — no regrets and the proud owner of a pair of glasses that are not just TOLERABLE, but actually make me look good. REALLY good. (HEY EVERYBODY! COME AND SEE HOW GOOD I LOOK!!!) ;)
Dr. Clark is young and personable and makes you feel quite comfortable during your exam. He even offered to show me a picture of the back of my eye and give me a quick lesson (with visuals) on eye health (’cause I’m a geek like that and love that kind of stuff). And his assistant that day (I’m kicking myself for not catching her name) was extremely helpful in the process of sorting through all the different potential frames. I’m sure she saw me looking a little overwhelmed by the selection, and got me going by bringing over a pile of frames based on my coloring and face shape. And she was dead on.
One thing I will say regarding price is that Image Optics does seem to carry mostly high-​quality and designer frames. If you don’t have insurance, this is probably not the place for you.
(I mean, unless your uninsured but have a stash of gold and jewels in your oven or junk drawer or something so money is no object — then, by all means, go to Image Optical).
~a