Our on site reporter Maya – has checked out the new Optical Store on Sucre ….
Here’s what I learned: the store is owned by a very nice couple, Paulina Proaño and Ernesto Salazar. She’s a certified optometrist. Right now she’s doing the eye exam for $1 (yes one dollar). If there is a group of 5 people, it’s gratis. It’s limited time promotion. Next moth it will be $3 for the exam.
They can do all sorts of lenses including bifocals and trifocals and number of coverings (protective, anti-glare etc). Price depends of the lenses and frames. They have a fairly good choice of frames – nothing terribly fancy, but OK. I asked if they can replace scratched lenses in my tinted glasses, the cheaper option is $50, better quality would be $170. In Canada the replacement with plastic lenses was around $200 at Costco last time I asked (2013). I ordered $50 ones (I’ll get another pair paid by insurance when I’m in Canada) and I’ll have them Friday.
They are very friendly and service-oriented. I offered that I’ll translate for them the list of services and basic prices so they can have it for the Gringos. Said they want to build the business and have repeated clients, not to charge unreasonable prices.
They are on Sucre, very close to the intersection with 10 de Agosto (Leather St. ), near a hardware store and across a bakery. There is a well-visible sign “Golden Vision”. The owners don’t speak English (they want to learn – anyone knows about English classes in Cotacachi?), so if your Spanish is at “no hablo español” level, take someone with you at the level “hablo un poco” or better