Studio City Family Optometry, Los Angeles

In a word, a scam. I bought this Groupon because it sounded like a fantastic deal. $39 for a comprehensive eye exam and a $160 credit for frames + lens. I haven't gotten my eyes checked in a while and don't have vision health insurance, so this seemed like a slam dunk. However, when something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Such is the case here. First off, they took me 40 minutes late. The woman manning the front desk was lovely, though, very apologetic, and was the only good thing about my entire experience. So finally, I get called to the back for my "comprehensive eye exam." First off, Dr. Taranto was smacking his gum so loudly I could barely hear myself think. It was rude and also, frankly, pretty gross. So he conducts three tests, one for glaucoma, one air puff test and a third which I can't remember. That was pretty much the extent of "comprehensive" because what came next was a series of baffling things. One, he asked if I was there for contacts. I told him yes, my glasses prescription was just fine but my contacts were way overdue. He then goes, "So I'm going to give you the spiel I've had to give ALL my groupon patients..." HERE WE GO. "Groupon really limited my verbiage so, what I meant by a $160 credit towards frames and lens was actually just the frames and the glass inside them, not contact lenses, I just ran out of space. And groupon wouldn't let me expand that further." Well, Dr. Taranto, obviously people aren't coming here for an eye exam just to buy frames with no glass inside them. The frames + lenses was incredibly misleading and clearly everyone who bought the groupon thought it was an either or situation. I feel like the MOST important thing that should've been specified was GLASSES ONLY, NOT CONTACT LENSES. That is "verbiage" that would've fit just fine. So then he goes, "That was the end of your comprehensive eye exam. If you want to be checked for your contacts prescription now, it's an additional $49 but don't worry that's a really great deal!!!" I said, "Can't you just take my glasses prescription and put them down for contacts?" He assured me that that would be illegal and couldn't. So I went ahead with the contacts exam, and the $49, just to be told that, "Look at that, your contacts prescription is the same as your glasses!" It was a flat out terrible experience. It was a rip off from start to finish. And Dr. Taranto is a slippery guy who more or less acknowledges how shady his Groupon was. He recently acquired this existing business and this Groupon was definitely a shady move to get people through his doors under false terms. I will not be going back nor will I be ordering my contacts, sans $160 credit as originally advertised, through him. DON'T BUY.