Business Details
48 Years
experience
Seattle's Trusted Optometry Practice Since 1978
Founded in the late 1970s, Ballard Optical has proudly served Seattle's North End for over four decades. Our practice combines world-class eye care with a personalized approach, offering comprehensive services including advanced diagnostics, contact lens fittings, and eyewear solutions. Our team of experienced optometrists, opticians, and administrative professionals provides individualized attention during convenient morning and evening appointments Monday through Thursday. We utilize cutting-edge technology like Optomap retinal imaging and Optical Coherence Tomography to ensure precise diagnoses while maintaining accessibility through acceptance of most major vision and medical insurance plans. Our commitment to excellence extends to frame selection, featuring over 2,000 designer and specialty options from brands like Tom Ford, Gucci, and Silhouette.With a focus on community care, our doctors have participated in international medical missions and continue serving local patients with compassionate expertise. Every visit includes direct one-on-one time with our optometrists, eliminating reliance on technicians to maintain continuity of care. Our staff takes pride in explaining vision correction options clearly while helping patients navigate insurance benefits. Located at 1719 NW Market St, we remain dedicated to making eye health maintenance convenient and effective for Seattle residents.
Services
Comprehensive Eye Exams
Contact Lens Fittings
Designer Eyewear
Retinal Imaging
Pediatric Eye Care
Sunglasses
Lens Options
Frame Selection
Scleral Lenses
Multifocal Contacts
Details
- Year established: 1978
Highlights and features
- Over 40 years serving Seattle's eye care needs
- Direct one-on-one time with optometrists
- Advanced diagnostics with Optomap and OCT technology
- Thousands of designer eyewear options available
- Accepted by major vision insurance providers
What people say
Personalized attention
Knowledgeable staff
Thorough exams
Great selection
Caring professionals
Services
Comprehensive Eye Exams
Our thorough eye exams use advanced technology to assess vision and eye health. We offer same-day testing without pupil dilation, digital imaging, and personalized consultation with our optometrists. Patients receive detailed explanations of their eye health status and treatment recommendations.
Contact Lens Fittings
We specialize in various contact lens options including daily disposables, hybrid lenses, and scleral lenses. Our experts handle complex fittings for astigmatism and corneal irregularities, with follow-up adjustments included in care plans.
Optical Coherence Tomography
This non-invasive imaging test uses light waves to create detailed cross-sectional images of the retina. Our high-definition OCT enables early detection of eye diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration with micron-level precision.
Designer Eyewear
Our boutique offers over 2,000 frames from top brands including Tom Ford, Gucci, and Silhouette. Experienced opticians help select frames that complement facial structure while ensuring proper fit and vision correction requirements.
Pediatric Eye Care
We provide specialized eye exams for children with age-appropriate testing methods. Our services include vision development assessments, treatment for crossed eyes or lazy eye, and sports vision evaluations.
People
Dr. Harshani Amaraweera
Optometrist
Dr. Amaraweera earned her Doctor of Optometry at Western University of Health Sciences. She specializes in primary eye care, ocular disease management, and contact lens fittings with experience at multiple specialty clinics across the US.
Dr. Huma Ahmad
Optometrist
Graduating from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Dr. Ahmad brings expertise in ocular disease and primary care. She has participated in international eye care missions and stays current with emerging optometric research.
Dr. Sarah Henderson
Optometrist
Dr. Henderson received her optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry. She has extensive experience in community eye care and has participated in five international medical mission trips providing vision services.
Dr. Arabella Arabejo
Optometrist
A graduate of New England College of Optometry, Dr. Arabejo brings experience from community health centers and veterans' hospitals. She focuses on personalized patient education and comprehensive vision care.
Questions
What services does Ballard Optical offer?
We provide comprehensive eye exams, contact lens fittings, designer eyewear, advanced diagnostics like OCT imaging, pediatric eye care, and specialty lenses including scleral contacts.
Do you accept my insurance plan?
We accept most major vision and medical insurance plans. Contact our office directly if your plan isn't listed on our website for verification.
How often should I get an eye exam?
Most adults should have eye exams every 1-2 years, with more frequent check-ups recommended for those over 60, contact lens wearers, or those with family eye disease history.
What makes Ballard Optical different?
We combine over 40 years of local service with cutting-edge technology while maintaining a personalized approach where optometrists handle exams without technician intermediaries.
Do you have evening appointment hours?
Yes, we offer convenient evening hours until 7 PM Monday through Thursday at our Seattle location.
Videos
Reviews (6)
NimiCharles M.
Jan 04, 2022
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I definitely wanted to give this review because of the professionalism and the quality of service we received here, at Ballard Optical. Our whole family needed an eye appointment and we called Ballard Optical to see if they can schedule the four of us on the same day. The staff was very helpful to accommodate us. Dr. Amaraweera was extremely thorough and took time to explain the tests she conducted and the test results. She was very professional and ensured that all our questions were answered, which is really a testament that she is very genuine in her care. The staff was very professional, and
Lucky W.
Jan 04, 2022
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I needed an immediate appointment to utilize my vision insurance before the end of the year and Ballard Optical was able to fit me in right away. Dr. Amaraweera was so patient and informative and the office staff was very pleasant as well. I don't usually leave reviews but Ballard Optical made such a great impression on me that I had to share my experience. I can't say enough good things about Ballard Optical.
Lauren B.
Dec 23, 2021
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I requested a particular appointment. They didn't make an appointment to cover that request, but had me come for an appointment anyway. And they tried to separate my service dog from me. Yeah, unprofessional and not knowledgeable. I'm going elsewhere.
Ty H.
Aug 19, 2021
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With a recent change in my insurance plan, I needed to look for a new optometrist. Straight to Yelp I go to read optometrist reviews to balance customer feedback vs. ease of location. Ballard Optical seemed to be the best candidate although I was slightly apprehensive given the star rating. I decided to go for it and I'm so glad I did! The staff was extremely personable in welcoming me as a new patient and Dr. Amara was friendly, attentive and empathetic regarding my history of vision problems and current vision needs. Over the past year I had been having vision problems from heavy computer
Anj R.
Jul 13, 2021
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I hadn't been to an optometrist in years and so I was looking for a professional and easy to book place to get my eyes checked out. I am so glad I picked Ballard optical. Not only was the staff super friendly and helpful, but Dr. Amaraweera was so efficient and good at what she does! She quickly was able to diagnose my astigmatism and was super patient in answering all my questions. Best part is that I was able to quickly get an appointment and they handled everything efficiently with my insurance. Highly recommend!
Leah K.
Jun 24, 2021
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I love these guys. My ferry was late and I showed up an hour after my appointment. They squeezed me in to a booked schedule, I was so appreciative. They bill my insurance correctly, have a great selection of frames and Dr Harshani is incredibly kind and professional. The front staff are delightful, Justin is fabulous. They have my business forever, the ferry ride is worth it.
