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6 Best Optometrists in Chicago (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

Elara Kestrel
By Elara Kestrel, Health and Medical Expert · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 8 min read

Finding the right eye care in Chicago usually means one of three different errands: the clinical exam that renews your prescription, the dispensing counter where you actually pick out frames, or a single practice that can do both under one roof. The optometrists in Chicago covered here have logged 3,231 reviews between them, with ratings running from 4.7 to 4.9, so the real decision is less about clinical competence across the board and more about which errand you're running today.

Short answer: LensCrafters posts the highest review volume for eye care in Chicago at 4.8 stars across 1,091 reviews, with Village Eyecare - South Loop, SoLo Eye Care and Franklin Eye Care all holding 4.9 on smaller but still substantial review bases. None of the practices here publish a fixed self-pay exam or frame rate, so confirm pricing directly before booking.
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Chicago's Top Optometrists Compared

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 LensCrafters 4.8 1,091 Most-reviewed exam / easy booking View ›
2 Village Eyecare - South Loop 4.9 524 Comprehensive exams / complex cases View ›
3 MyEyeDr. 4.8 519 Dispensing / frame repairs View ›
4 SoLo Eye Care & Eyewear Gallery - Printer's Row 4.9 386 Thorough, unhurried exams View ›
5 Eye Society 4.7 406 Specialty exams / dry eye workup View ›
6 Franklin Eye Care- Eric Drey, OD, FAAO 4.9 305 Independent practice / personal continuity View ›
6 Best Optometrists in Chicago (2026)

Who to book with

LensCrafters logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

LensCrafters

4.81,091 Google reviews

LensCrafters runs a South Loop location offering on-site eye exams alongside its eyewear business, with in-house optometrists performing the clinical portion of every visit. Its online booking system and volume of appointments make it one of the more accessible places in Chicago to get a routine exam scheduled quickly.

What people praise

  • Simple online booking with fast scheduling
  • Doctors described as knowledgeable and take time to explain eye health findings
  • High patient satisfaction across a very large review base
  • Staff proactively flag ways to improve eye health beyond the exam itself

Worth knowing

  • As a chain, which specific doctor you see can vary by visit
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Rating4.8 / 5
Review volume1,091 · 96th
Confidencevery high
Recency7 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown91% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The most-reviewed optometry option in Chicago and an easy first call if you just need a routine exam booked fast.

1142 S Delano Ct, Chicago, IL 60605

Village Eyecare - South Loop logo
#2🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Village Eyecare - South Loop

4.9524 Google reviews

Village Eyecare is a South Loop optometry practice that has provided comprehensive eye care in Chicago for over 50 years, with a particular focus on keratoconus and irregular corneas. Its optometrists run advanced diagnostic testing designed to catch eye problems earlier than a standard exam.

What people praise

  • Advanced diagnostic equipment used to screen beyond the basics
  • Doctors take time explaining insurance, cost and rebate options
  • Deep experience with harder cases like keratoconus
  • Long-tenured patients report consistently strong annual exams

Worth knowing

  • Prescription and appointment-record handling has been inconsistent for at least one patient
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume524 · 89th
Confidencehigh
Recency2 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown95% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The strongest choice on this list if your exam needs to go beyond routine, given its specialty diagnostic depth.

1243 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605

MyEyeDr. logo
#3🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

MyEyeDr.

4.8519 Google reviews

MyEyeDr. runs a Michigan Avenue location combining in-house eye exams with a full optical shop for glasses and contacts, with an on-site optometrist handling the clinical side of each visit. Reviewers describe it as a straightforward stop for both the exam and picking up new eyewear in the same appointment.

What people praise

  • Same-day appointments available, including for urgent needs
  • Free glasses repairs reported, including replacing a missing screw at no charge
  • Staff help walk through insurance benefits and rebates before you buy
  • Long-tenured patients report consistent service across 15-plus years

Worth knowing

  • As a chain location, exam and stock levels can vary by visit
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Rating4.8 / 5
Review volume519 · 91st
Confidencehigh
Recency3 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown94% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A solid choice when you want the exam and a new pair of glasses handled in one stop, with frame repairs offered as a bonus.

321 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60601

Eye Society logo
#5🕑 Open 6 days/wk

Eye Society

4.7406 Google reviews

Eye Society is a Chicago optometry practice with two locations, built around specialty diagnostics for dry eye and contact lens fittings alongside standard vision testing. Its exams often include imaging beyond a basic vision check for patients with chronic eye issues.

What people praise

  • Detailed imaging and explanation of underlying eye conditions
  • Doctors described as knowledgeable and communicative during testing
  • Express scheduling option for patients in a hurry
  • Two locations for easier scheduling

Worth knowing

  • Lower share of five-star reviews than the top names on this list, though still a solid 4.7
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Rating4.7 / 5
Review volume406 · 82nd
Confidencehigh
Recency3 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown92% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Worth calling if your exam needs to dig into a specific problem like chronic dry eye rather than a routine annual check.

230 E Ohio St #120, Chicago, IL 60611

Franklin Eye Care- Eric Drey, OD, FAAO logo
#6🕑 Open 5 days/wk

Franklin Eye Care- Eric Drey, OD, FAAO

4.9305 Google reviews

Franklin Eye Care, led by Dr. Eric Drey, OD, FAAO, is an independent Loop practice offering comprehensive vision exams, contact lens fittings and management of glaucoma and diabetic eye disease. It runs a small team out of a single location, which reviewers say translates into more continuity between visits.

What people praise

  • Same-day appointments available for urgent needs
  • Doctors described as thorough and unhurried during exams
  • Staff follow up proactively to confirm all questions were answered
  • Highest rating on the list, tied at 4.9

Worth knowing

  • Smaller review base than the chains and larger group practices here
  • Single location limits scheduling flexibility somewhat
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume305 · 61st
Confidencehigh
Recency5 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown95% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The best pick for patients who want to build a long-term relationship with one optometrist rather than see whoever is available.

111 S Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60606

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Health information disclaimer: This directory is informational only and not medical advice. Rankings reflect publicly available Google ratings and review volume, not clinical outcomes. Verify any practitioner’s credentials and registration with the relevant medical board before booking.

How we score

Every number here is computed from live public Google data, not opinion or payment. Rating is the practice’s current Google star average. Review volume shows how many patients have rated them, measured against other Chicago optometrists. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.9 built on hundreds of reviews carries more weight than a perfect score from a handful. Recency reflects how recently patients are still leaving feedback. No practice can pay to change these numbers.

How much does an eye exam cost in Chicago? (2026)

Most Chicago optometry visits run through vision insurance, and self-pay rates depend on whether the exam includes dilation, contact lens fitting or advanced imaging. None of the practices on this page publish a fixed self-pay rate, so confirm current pricing directly before booking.

Serving all of Chicago

These optometry practices cluster around the South Loop, the Loop and Streeterville, easily reached from River North, the Gold Coast and downtown Chicago. Searching for an optometrist near me? Every listing below includes a live phone number and address to help you find the closest option fast.

What to ask before you book

  • Will the exam include dilation, and should I arrange a ride afterward?
  • Do you screen for glaucoma and diabetic eye changes as part of a standard exam?
  • Is my prescription valid for both glasses and contacts, or do I need a separate fitting?
  • What frame brands and lens coatings do you carry, and what’s the turnaround on a new pair?
  • Do you handle repairs like a broken hinge or missing screw while I wait?
  • Do you accept my vision insurance, and what’s the self-pay cost if not?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these Chicago eye care providers?

We started from every optometrist, optician and eye clinic in Chicago with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency, and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How often is this updated?

The data on this page carries a verified date (August 2026). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

What’s the difference between an optometrist, an optician and an ophthalmologist?

An optometrist performs the clinical eye exam, checks for common eye disease and writes your prescription. An optician handles dispensing: choosing frames, lenses and fitting, and does not perform exams or write prescriptions. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who can also perform eye surgery and treat more complex disease, and is usually the referral if your optometrist finds something beyond routine care.

Do I need an optometrist or an optician for what I need?

Book an optometrist first if you need a new or updated prescription, or if it has been a year or more since your last exam. Go straight to an optician if your prescription is current and you just need new frames, a repair, or a fitting adjustment. Several practices on this page do both under one roof.

How often should I get an eye exam in Chicago?

Most optometrists recommend a comprehensive exam every one to two years for healthy adults, more often if you have diabetes, glaucoma risk, or wear contacts. Ask your optometrist what interval fits your history.

The bottom line

LensCrafters is the easiest safe default if you want the exam and new glasses handled in one visit with fast scheduling, while Village Eyecare and Franklin Eye Care are the better calls for a more thorough or complex exam. Whoever you book with, confirm dilation, insurance coverage and frame turnaround before you go in.

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