Sign goes up for West Seattle Vision in Morgan Junction

| Health | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thanks to longtime WSB’er “k” for photographing the sign installation at West Seattle Vision, taking over much of the former Windermere Fauntleroy space (closed after WF merged offices with Windermere in The Junction) in the 6500 block of California SW. We’d been working on a story but since the sign’s up – here’s what we know so far: It will be a group practice of optometrists, part of the Northwest Eye Care Network. Their opening date isn’t firmed up yet, but we’re told they’re getting close. Their Facebook page includes sneak peeks at the remodeling they have been doing inside the building. We first mentioned an eye clinic was on the way in this March 15 story about the new tenant for the rest of the space – Pet Elements, moving from its original location a block south.

C. April 10, 2013 (2:56 pm)

Will they be selling eyeglasses or just checking eyes? I need new glasses and can’t find a place to get glasses. My eye dr doesn’t sell them and so far no luck at Costco.

Sue April 10, 2013 (3:46 pm)

I used to buy my glasses in Westwood Village a couple of doors west of Staples. I think the shop (with opthamologists and optometrists) is still there.

Faith4 April 10, 2013 (4:59 pm)

Yes, the one in Westwood Village is still there.

brandon April 10, 2013 (5:05 pm)

the one in westwood is still there, i hope this place sells glasses as well

Anne April 10, 2013 (5:21 pm)

West Seattle Optix in the Junction are great too!

Sue April 10, 2013 (6:32 pm)

Most (if not all) places that examine eyes will also sell glasses to you if you have a prescription. The one in Westwood Village is West Seattle – Highline Eye Clinic (http://www.wshec.com)
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I also wanted to clarify that the “Sue” posting above is not me, who’s been posting as Sue here on WSB for over 5 years now.

happy April 10, 2013 (6:44 pm)

My glasses are not something I can do without: I have a -10, so I really need them to be reliable! I’ve been wearing glasses for over 40 years, so I have a pretty good understanding of the product.

The optical place in Westwood Village is very expensive! They have lots of “designer” frames, often $200+, and most insurance plans allow you about $60-$100 for frames. Plus, the last time I got a pair there and not only did they get the prescription wrong the first try, they just couldn’t fit the frames to my head correctly, and finally told me – after 4 attempts – that there was nothing else they could do and that was the best fit I would get from that pair of frames. Really?

Then I thought about trying the Costco– not only were they able to fit the “unfittable” frames, they were able to use my new prescription (this was a year after the “we cant fit these on you even though we sold them to you” episode) in a nearly identical frame– for only $160 total, which was reimbursed by insurance.

Sure, Costco isn’t as close as Westwood Village, but if you add up the number of trips I had to make to the Westwood Village place trying to get their expensive pair done right, Costco seems pretty close in comparison.

Interesting April 10, 2013 (9:44 pm)

Important distinction: If you need a medical doctor to care for your eyes, you go to an ophthalmologist. The docs (MD) at West Seattle eye clinic perform eye surgery, treat diseases of the eye etc. Their frames are fit by opticians in an associated business. You want cheap specs, you might go to Costco. You have glaucoma, cataracts or another medical condition of they eye, you get that from an MD, not an optometrist at Costco or elsewhere. I have done both and find the care at West Seattle Eye Clinic top notch, and that is probably why they have been in West Seattle for many decades.