Business Details
14 Years
experience
Your Trusted San Diego Optometrist for Premium Eyewear & Eye Care
Specs Optometry is a family-owned optometry practice established in 2012 in San Diego, California. Our mission centers on delivering high-quality eye care through comprehensive examinations and personalized solutions for vision health. We curate a selection of premium eyewear from global brands, emphasizing both style and functionality to meet diverse patient needs. Our team of experienced professionals specializes in diagnosing and managing eye conditions, including advanced treatment for dry eye disease. With three convenient locations in Little Italy, South Park, and Carmel Valley, we serve San Diego residents with a commitment to patient education and preventive care. We collaborate with major vision insurance providers to maximize coverage for our clients.Our founders, Dr. Michelle Fitzpatrick and Eric Richter, bring decades of combined expertise in optometry and business operations to ensure exceptional service. We continuously invest in modern diagnostic technologies to maintain clinical excellence. Our reputation in the community reflects our dedication to building long-term relationships founded on trust and transparency. Through regular eye exams, we help detect early signs of systemic health issues like diabetes and hypertension. Every aspect of our practice, from frame selection to medical consultations, prioritizes improving patients' quality of life through optimized vision.
Services
Optical Services
Vision Exams
Medical Eye Care
Dry Eye Relief
IPL Treatment
Details
- Year established: 2012
Highlights and features
- We offer comprehensive eye exams for early detection of health issues
- Our team provides specialized dry eye disease treatment options
- We maintain three convenient San Diego locations with flexible scheduling
- Our staff helps patients maximize vision insurance benefits
- We curate premium eyewear from independent global designers
What people say
Exceptional customer service
Thorough eye exams
Stylish eyewear options
Expert dry eye treatment
Professional staff
Services
Optical Services
Our optical boutique features premium eyewear from independent designers worldwide. Staff members guide patients through frame and lens selection tailored to facial structure and vision needs. We offer progressive lenses, photochromic lenses, and sports eyewear while maintaining partnerships with luxury eyewear brands. Each location maintains an extensive inventory for immediate availability, with trained opticians available for adjustments and repairs.
Vision Exams
Comprehensive eye examinations evaluate vision acuity and detect systemic health markers. Doctors assess intraocular pressure, retinal health, and prescription accuracy. Exams include glaucoma screening, macular degeneration monitoring, and diabetes-related eye damage evaluation. We recommend annual checkups for adults and biannual exams for children to maintain optimal vision health through early intervention strategies.
Medical Eye Care
Our practice manages chronic eye conditions including dry eye disease, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. We utilize advanced diagnostic tools for early disease detection and implement treatment plans combining pharmaceutical interventions with lifestyle modifications. Patients receive personalized recommendations for managing symptoms while preventing disease progression through regular monitoring and follow-up care.
Dry Eye Relief
Specialized dry eye treatment options include artificial tears, prescription medications, and at-home care regimens. We perform tear film analysis to determine underlying causes and recommend lid hygiene practices. Chronic sufferers benefit from customized treatment plans incorporating nutritional counseling and environmental modifications to reduce symptoms and improve ocular comfort.
IPL Treatment
Our IPL therapy targets meibomian gland dysfunction causing chronic dry eye. The non-invasive procedure delivers controlled light pulses to unblock oil glands and reduce inflammation. Patients typically experience improved tear quality within weeks, with maintenance sessions ensuring long-term relief. We combine IPL with comprehensive dry eye management strategies for optimal results.
People
Dr. Michelle Fitzpatrick
Optometrist
Doctor of Optometry with over 15 years clinical experience, specializing in dry eye treatment and pediatric vision care. Graduated from Pacific University College of Optometry, maintaining active membership in the American Optometric Association.
Eric Richter
Practice Owner
Co-founder with business management expertise, overseeing operations across all three locations. Previously worked in healthcare administration roles, implementing patient care improvement initiatives. Collaborates with vision insurance providers to optimize patient benefits.
Questions
What types of insurance do you accept?
We accept VSP, EyeMed, MES, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Vision, and Metlife. Our team helps verify coverage and maximize benefits.
Do you offer emergency eye care?
For urgent eye concerns between appointments, contact our nearest location directly for after-hours guidance and referrals.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Select your preferred location, choose appointment type, and complete our online booking system with personal information for confirmation via phone or email.
What makes your eyewear selection unique?
We curate independent designer brands globally, prioritizing craftsmanship, innovative materials, and distinctive styles unavailable in typical optical shops.
Are eye exams necessary for children with no vision issues?
Yes, comprehensive exams detect developmental issues and establish baseline vision data, even when no apparent problems exist.
What dry eye treatment options exist?
We offer artificial tears, prescription medications, at-home therapies, and IPL treatment for chronic cases, tailored to individual diagnostic findings.
Reviews (7)
Edward E.
Jan 30, 2022
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Awesome place!!! Sofie, the receptionist, is always welcoming and accomodating! Karen, the optometrist, does a thorough and extensive eye exam always making it a relaxing experience. Also, using the most up to date technology and explaining all facets of the exam. Plus, the eyeglasses and sunglasses are top of the line with the latest fashion trends! I bought two pairs of eyeglasses last year and ordered another pair this year. This is definitely my "go to" eyeglass & exam place! Give it a shot and you won't regret it!!
Greta J.
Jan 12, 2022
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OBSESSED with this place. So freaking easy to make an appointment, you just do it online! no phone call back and forth. I roll up and the new patient paperwork is on an iPad, super quick. The doctor is awesome and explains everything, they have the craziest X-ray machine thing Ive ever seen in my life. Real 4k pics of my whole eyeball taken in 1 second it was crazy. I go to pick glasses and they have the most chic contemporary collection of frames I was beyond shook. Usually at the optometrist office theres like 1 pair thats halfway decent. Not to mention the VIBES. Im talking Scandinavian
Katterinne Fleming
Jan 11, 2022
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Awful experience during this pandemic. The technician was wearing a cloth mask that kept falling under her nose. The front desk girl was extremely unfriendly. Doctor was alright but I would have preferred she wore a Kn95 mask. Also they didnt disclose charging us for a contacts test. Also very limited inventory of glasses. Try Vision Boutique instead!
Randall Whitfield
Sep 29, 2021
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Having had a bad experience with progressive lenses before, I was hesitant to get another pair, thinking I was doomed to bifocals. Diane assured me their progressive lenses would work out great for me, so I had progressive lenses put in my current frames. They worked out perfectly! Specs also has a variety of good looking frames. Diane was helpful, knowledgeable and nice to work with. Will definitely get my eyeware at Specs from now on.
Robert U.
Apr 26, 2021
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Excellent customer service! I wanted to use a prescription from a recent eye exam (from another eyeglass store) and there was no pressure to re-examine my eyes. The selection process was very smooth and the sale representative was extremely knowledgeable!. I have found my new eyeglass retailer!
Heather Ulz
Apr 26, 2021
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The team at Specs is incredible. The experience begins with the initial optician intake, who calmly walks you through the process. Our optician was Cory. Dr. Fitzpatrick then proceeds with the examination. I was very happy to find that I was not upsold or told I needed anything additional. She let me know about what I may want to look for in the future, but wasnt pressured into anything unnecessary today. Cory then came in again to assist with choosing eyewear that personally worked for me and that I sincerely liked. Thank you, Specs!
Simon Ilko
Apr 03, 2021
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I called Specs because I couldnt find the location. Dr. Fitzpatrick was kind enough to explain to me how to get there from where I was. Once I got there I explained to Dr. Fitzpatrick that I had a broken pair of sunglasses that I wanted to get fixed. Keep in mind these were not a pair that I purchased from Specs. She took a quick glance at them and told me shed try her best. She came back out 5 minutes later and told me that she had Cory, another associate of hers, give it a shot since he was better at fixing the given issue. 2 minutes later, Cory comes out with my sun glasses looking like
