Charleswood Eye Centre

Great staff, great service. Highly recommended.
Apr 12th, 2023

***Not 2SLGBTQ+ friendly*** This is my first ever google review, I need to share my experience as this is not the first time I've felt mistreated in a clinic, living in a white-dominant, suburban area. My dad's side of the family is white and never receives this treatment. My dad went to this clinic before, said he had a good experience, and was appalled to hear about my experience. He said now he doesn't want to go to this clinic anymore either because of how I was ostracized. I know most clinics are not trans friendly but this clinic's staff were particularly rude. When I called to book my appointment, I had specifically asked Dr. Nelson to let his staff know to use my preferred name (and obviously gave my current legal name too). He agreed to, and even asked me to spell out my name for him over the phone so I did. He said it was done, noted, and I was good to come in the next day. When I arrived at my appointment today, I let the receptionists know what my preferred name was, what time my appointment was at and what my legal name on my health card was. I explained I am trans and use they/them pronouns. They had almost interrupted me when I was trying to introduce my pronouns and the fact I was trans. They gave me a bit of a hard time and showed confusion for even asking to address me by my preferred name. This is when they started giving me dirty looks, started whispering incorrect pronouns to each other when filling out my form. I continued to be patient and friendly, gently correcting them to please, use my correct pronouns. One of the ladies snapped at me and said, "Okay, well I don't know about that stuff.". They then both looked at me, then at each other, with dirty looks. They did not apologize for misgendering me, nor did they show any interest in trying to correct their mistakes. Showed no interest in learning about it either. This to me felt slightly transphobic. The least receptionists could do in this city, is learn about pronouns, to create a safe space for queer citizens. We are asking for the bare minimum of accepting, respectful treatment and I barely received this. I don't know if me being POC and under social assistance contributes to their discriminatory behaviour too. As I am reading reviews here, I see others were mistreated for being under social assistance as well. This stigma needs to be erased as it is completely unacceptable. I'm warning anyone who is disabled, POC, and in the 2SLGBTQ+ community of this clinic, as I definitely felt treated differently than the older white cis woman who came in before me. Not to mention, I came in a few minutes early for my appointment and Dr. Nelson was very bubbly and friendly to this woman, making jokes with her etc... in the exam room. They spent extra time together chatting, and my appointment was late. Dr. Nelson did not even apologize to me for being late. When it was my turn for the appointment, he just called my name, and told me to take a seat. He didn't ask how I was, how my day went, didn't even introduce himself. He just proceeded with the exam. When it was over he handed my RX and just flatly said thanks for coming in and left the room abruptly without saying anything else to me. I felt dehumanized in this whole experience. Nobody even directed me to feel free to browse the glasses frames, as other glasses clinics have offered me to do so in the past. I felt so uncomfortable I just immediately left, and even forgot my glasses there because I felt so high anxiety. Just to emphasize on things, I have to now ask my relative to go and pick them up for me because I do not want to go in again, that is how uncomfortable and unsafe this appointment made me feel. The whole time I remained calm, used friendly tone and cooperative language. Overall, during the entire appointment I was anxiously sweating; profusely. I felt unheard, unseen, unsafe and mistreated. I highly recommend any other eye clinic, nobody ever deserves this mistreatment. The least clinics could do, is kindly ask for a preferred name and pronouns, and cooperate; learn.
Apr 2nd, 2023

Recently I scrambled at the end of year end eye insurance coverage to find somewhere that could give me a last minute eye examination and fit me for some new glasses (totally my fault for waiting till the last days of the year) and the Charleswood Eye Center was able to fit me in on December 27, 2022 when 3 other places in the are were booking into late January 2023!! They were very friendly, thorough and patient with me as I tried on several glasses to find the right ones! They even came close to matching a competitor's price! Can't wait to get my new glasses from them soon! Great service, thanks!
Dec 30th, 2022

Wonderful experience throughout, got a eye exam and 2 pairs of glasses 1 being prescription safety glasses wich I had no idea they made. The staff were very friendly and patient, The prices were decent and the quality of the glasses and lenses are very good. I chose Charleswood eye center primarily because they are local but I would recommend anyone looking for a fresh pair of glasses to check them out.
Nov 15th, 2022

Went in and asked to pay for an adjustment to my sunglasses that I bought online. Was told that it was a slap in the face to ask and was told that pretty much no store will adjust glasses that werent bought at their store. I wanted to pay for a service and was turned away. Do not recommend.
Jul 9th, 2022