Reviews of Custom Eyes (Ophthalmologist)

Anu Chitrapu

I cannot comment on the quality of care but I will say check your appointment before you go there. I used the poorly designed online booking and wasted my Saturday morning getting to Cambridge, finding parking etc. all to be told the online booking gave me a 15 min slot because no full slots were available. Got back home and too late to get an appt at any other place. Do not recommend this place if you are busy and your time is precious.

Krystal Jackson

I have been coming here for years for contacts. I love them here. The entire team here is awesome. They always make sure their clients/ customers are satisfied! You definately get what you pay for! I highly recommend Custom Eyes to anyone looking for Good lenses!

Pratip Banerji

I've been there several times and have had a great experience with Dr. Murphy.

Victoria Bartolome

Love this place. They are so friendly, helpful and they take good care of you!! Even though I've moved away from Cambridge now, I still come here !

Betsy Warrior

When I asked how much my glasses would cost, the owner told me they would cost $150. Having no insurance this is out-of-pocket for me. When I picked-up the glasses he told me they would cost $500. When I reminded him of the price he'd previously quoted me, he told me he was only referring to the lens, but not the frames. It turned out the frames were bent. Though I went back to get the frames straightened the straightening would never really take. So I've been wearing these lopsided glasses for several years now. Buyer Beware! These people can't be trusted.

Priyadarshi Khare

Wonderful people, great customer service. We've been going to Custom Eyes for many years, and always had a great experience. When there is a problem, it's taken care of promptly. I have no complaints, and highly recommend them. Kevork, Dr. Murphy, John and David are extremely friendly and helpful. Thanks!

Amanda Michelle Russell

I have been a customer at Custom Eyes for 4 years, and have always been impressed by the service I recieve upon walking in the door. Kev, the owner, is an honest salesman, but most importantly, cares enough to treat each customer as if they are a family member. His personality is warm and welcoming while still maintaining a professional demeanor. On some occasions, even his small children and wife come in for the day to make the store an even more lively place! My experiences with Dr. Murphy have also all been positive ones. She continues to make you feel welcome and always does an excellent job at explaining her steps in the examination process. (Which is important for me, since I'm not comfortable with people touching/getting around my eye area). I would highly recommend Custom Eyes, to both my friends and family.

Chase Warren

Absolutely excellent staff and service.

Steve L

NOTHING wrong with the doctor!! She's super nice. HOWEVER, Be very careful when it comes to billing/customer service. They like to overcharge you. I wish i could say it only happened once, but, this is the second time it's happened to me. First time was with my daughters glasses, charging me for lenses they didn't put in, then secondly, giving me the damaged display frames as "new". Took FOREVER to get them replaced. He tried to "buff out" what looked like a chemically etched finger print in a black glossy thick frame. Second time was my last visit. I went in for contacts knowing i only had to pay a $10 copay for the wellvision vist. Then he "said" well the contacts visit is another 60....(and when i went on line, there wasn't even a claim submitted, so, where did he pull that number from because its NO WHERE in my benefit summary that my contact visit is extra. STAY AWAY

Jeroen Aarssen

Amazing guy at Custom Eyes bends back the arms of my glasses, after I accidently squished the frame (yes, really: first day in the States, jet lagged, lay down on the bed, just managed to take of my glasses, fell asleep and while sleeping I rolled over and.... ). What a great service!

Randy

I have only had positive experiences as a customer at Custom Eyes, and I've been going there about 5-6 years now for eye exams, glasses, and contacts. I think they bend over backwards to be helpful and friendly, and I also think that's their nature. They'll fix your glasses for free if it's minor, and they're helpful and knowledgeable when you pick out new frames. When you're going through the eye exam, Kathleen Murphy always lets me know my different options for contacts, and is generous in giving me trial pairs before I decide on what I want. 5 stars all the way!!!

Quan Bui

Best and kind staff!

Meg Marcum

BEWARE: INSURANCE FRAUD. Unfortunately, I can't recommend this store based on the Eye Doctor, Dr. Murphy, who also does her own billing. I went in for a routine eye exam covered by my Davis Vision. I had a basic eye exam and paid the co-pay. I thought it odd that the Dr. asked for my medical insurance card, along with my Davis Vision, and she said "It was just standard." A week later, I find out that my Medical Insurance was billed $180 for my eye exam, with an additional claim that I received some extraordinary medical treatment, that I did not, nor was aware that anything outside of a standard eye exam was being provided. Dr. Murphy never charged my Davis Vision, which is the only reason I went in and I was very clear that I was there for my yearly Davis Vision covered exam. She charged my medical insurance -- which I have never had done before! I knew something was fishy. I called Davis Vision, and the Dr. made $133.00 extra dollars by charging my medical card, which she had no permission or right to do. I never agreed to any medical visit or medical treatments. And Davis would have paid her only $46 for my eye exam. Are you beginning to see the picture? I noticed that Dr. Murphy desperately tried to get me to do "extra" things in my exam, and I declined them and felt uncomfortable. I had a retinal picture at another practitioner, so I didn't find it out of the ordinary and was not informed that it was not part of my Davis Approved Exam during my visit with Dr. Murphy. And that is where she secretly changes the billing! I believe that the Dr. is trying to add "medical" tests to patient's standard exams, in an effort to file a "medical claim" (instead of a regular vision plan claim) and then charges medical insurance instead of the Vision plans, in an effort to make -- more money. The Dr. does this "insurance switch-a-roo" without the knowledge or consent of the patient, particularly in my case, and then the Dr. justifies her medical insurance fraud because she claims to have performed a medical procedure. The patient knows nothing about the additional charge or that their Medical Insurance becomes involved at any point of the visit. The Dr. then asks for your vision plan and your medical insurance (just for her records) at the end, and she claims the bigger pay out of the two. I felt lied to. I felt taken advantage of. I felt that Dr. Murphy fraudulently submitted a claim to my medical insurance, instead of my Vision Care. I suggest that you find another provider to avoid what I have gone through to get her medical claim retracted from my medical insurance and properly submitted to my Vision Care. The store owner said he would give me money back, and I said I wanted him to give the insurance company their money back. He apparently was unaware that this was going on. I also have a voicemail of the Dr. apologizing and stating that it is her common practice to charge the medical insurance, although she is an approved Davis Vision provider, which makes no sense. She was overly casual about it all in an effort to calm my response to being a victim of fraud -- I can see on this review board, that there are others out there too. We are just the few who took the time to report this online, but I know there must be more. Dr. Kathleen Murphy, Insurance fraud is an offense punishable by law and it is unconscionable to expect a customer who comes in for a specific service with specified coverage for that service, to end up paying for a more expensive medical service that they are unaware they are being offered or receiving. Taking advantage of a patient's trust and filing overcharged and alternate claims to their medical insurance without the patient's knowledge is fraud. Do not go here Davis Vision Users. And do not give anyone your medical insurance unless you are there for a medical exam! I learned this the hard way. A routine eye exam is NOT a medical exam. Be informed. I reported this to my insurance companies and the authorities.

Jared Whitaker

Great selection, very attentive & professional staff.

Rajiv Basnet

Very helpful plus fast service

Cecelia Auditore

As a customer of Custom Eyes and patient of Dr. Murphy’s for over 5 years, I can attest to her thoughtful, attentive, and kind demeanor. Her attention to detail and caring approach makes the process seamless and enjoyable. I have referred countless friends to her office and all have remained loyal patients and happy customers. In my personal experience, and from the feedback I've received from friends, we never encountered any insurance issues nor have we ever felt our insurance needs or requests went unheard or falsely claimed. I never felt any procedure completed during a routine eye exam was done without my consent and trust that Dr. Murphy has always been honest and fair (particularly given my limited budget when I was an AmeriCorps member). Not really sure what happened with the experience below, but since I've never encountered any issues I figured I would share my opinion. If you’re looking for a kind and professional Doctor with a staff to help you choose your brand/style of glasses, this is the place for you!

Jeff Lee

If you are looking for a caring eye doctor, a skilled optician to craft your lenses, and a thoughtful person with a keen eye for frames -- all under one roof, I highly recommend you try Custom Eyes in Central Square, Cambridge. I have been a patient of Dr. Kathleen Murphy's for over ten years. When she moved her practice from downtown Boston to Cambridge, I eventually followed her, even though I live on the South Shore. No other optometrist I've met is as caring and forthright as she is. I have NEVER had any insurance issues with Dr. Murphy. And I trust her judgment completely. A week ago I came in for new glasses. I was considering a big change from wire frames to plastic frames. John was there to help me from the start. Taking into account the latest in styles, he picked out three black plastic frames to start with. To me they all looked pretty much the same. But John pointed out the subtle differences in their shape and size and how they each made my face look a bit different. After trying out another fifteen or so frames that he had picked out, including different colors and shapes, I was completely confident we had the right frames. My new glasses were ready in a week. The courteous owner of Custom Eyes, Kevork Tinkjian, shaped the progressive lenses for a perfect fit into my new frames. Fitting my glasses on my face, Kevork was patient and exact. He also took the time to explain how the progressives work, describing the field of vision for each section. This was key since these glasses are a bit different from my old glasses. Visit Custom Eyes, just a block away from the Red Line's Central Square station. You will be treated like royalty!

Amy Lewis

I've been a patient of Dr. Murphy's for years now, and I couldn't be happier with the quality of her care. If that weren't enough to keep me coming back, Kevork and John are amazingly patient and skilled in helping me pick out the perfect frames. They treat every customer like a friend -- not something you see very often in the Boston area. I recommend Custom Eyes to anyone looking for superior eye care, a great selection of frames, reasonable prices, and genuinelyhelpful customer service.

MaryBeth DeKara

I'm surprised to read some of the negative reviews. I site Custom Eyes as the absolute BEST customer care/ patient care I've ever received, and send all my friends to them. It's your responsibility to understand your insurance and what you can afford, that being said the staff has always helped me understand what exactly is covered and what I'll pay for.

Liza Bialik

These guys are really great :) Family owned business, everyone is really friendly, they clearly have many loyal customers, and the frame selection is deceiving large. Go here!

Diana Dominguez

The best place to get your eyes checked by Dr. Kathleen. She is amazing! Not only that, but the rest of the staff here are always ready to handle your situation and they are very nice and knowledgeable. Kevork has done a great job with Custom Eyes!

Rishabh Sardana

Amazing staff and service!

Steven Wang

The people here are so friendly and nice! My glasses' screw came off and I bought it to the shop, they fixed it in three minutes and even cleaned my glasses for me. I would definitely recommend this place as the people are very sincere and are willing to help you!

N K

These guys are just amazing! They fixed my glasses frame in 5 minutes and did not charge me for their service! They were exceptionally nice, hospitable and polite. No doubt, when I need something for my contact lenses or glasses, I will go there to pay them back for their kindness and high quality service.

S. R.

Kevork Tinkjian, the owner and Optician greats you when you walk into the small shop. Dr. Kathleen Murphy will come ask for you when it's time to get your eyes examined. Dr. Murphy - Profesional, courteous, humble and very good at what she does. She manages to provide you with a thorough examination, insightful advise and makes time to answer your questions. She is passionate about her work and her patience and it shows. Mr. Tinkjian guides you through the process of selecting the right optics (frames, glasses, contacts) in a way that feels more like visiting a high end tailor than it does a clinical or "retail" experience. His expertise as an optician, fashion advisor and business owner all blend together with Dr. Murphy's splendid "bed side manner" to make sure you leave looking great and seeing better. I highly recommend a visit to Custom Eyes if you are looking for a personal touch to your experience that is so often forgotten in our internet/big box store society. They are fast, affordable and personal. What else can I say.

Sarrin List

This is the highest quality eye exam and glasses fitting experience I've ever had. Both my partner and I go here, and after getting my last pair of glasses I vowed to never go anywhere else. I have a small head so it's difficult to find frames that fit me. Now I finally have glasses that fit! The Dr. was excellent. I've never had an eye Dr. take as much time as she did explaining what was happening and giving me eye care beyond just a corrective lens prescription. I highly recommend Custom Eyes!

David HB

Dr. Murphy is very nice and professional. My issue is with my glasses. I went back twice and finally gave up, so I essentially just tossed $300 away. The first pair caused me to see double, the second pair wasn't right either, and the last pair didn't have the amber tint. I don't know why it was such a problem. I now just use standard drug store readers with no problem.

sam kim

Be aware that this place charges $20 for putting lenses to frame. Unless it is urgent, I would avoid this place for any additional service due to quite high service charges and some sketchy payment (asked for cash specifically).

Mo Walker

I would not recommend giving Custom Eyes your business or trusting them to give you the best service! I was very disappointed when greeted by Dr. Kathleen Murphy. Her first statement was, "Do you have insurance?" When visiting a business for the first time I'd like to feel welcomed and appreciated. Most of the time a simple "hello" or "welcome to..." takes care of that. After responding to her question by showing her my insurance card, her response was "I don't take that insurance!" I was taken aback by this doctor's short and curt response to me. Of course, I checked to see if Custom Eye Care accepted my insurance before booking my appointment and I double checked while there too. As I was off in the corner double checking what I knew to be accurate, she nor the receptionist attempted to assist me or bring clarity to this situation. When Dr. Kathleen Murphy saw that I was able to access Davis Vision through their online portal, her demeanor slightly changed, but the overall situation made me feel undervalued and under appreciated as a customer. If customer service is important to you, do NOT give Custom Eye Care your business until the staff undergoes customer service training or until there is new staffing there. Stay away! Go to an establishment that appreciates your business.

Alan Bushey

I have been going here for the past 7 years to get my eye perception updated and to buy glasses. Excellent service every time and I have been very happy with my frames. Highly recommended if your insurance covers eye-wear.

Margaret Menotti

Dr Kathleen Murphy is a true eye care professional: attentive, precise, and always provides a very complete exam. The staff is super helpful in selecting frames or contacts. I never feel rushed- well worth the trip for very personalized care. Very nice experience as compared to the big chains. The name says it all-custom eyes. Would not trust my sight to anyone else.