Dr. Nhi Phan is arguably one of the best optometrists in Calgary. Currently working at Market Mall Eye Clinic, she has a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and a doctorate in optometry. 

Apart from externships in Edmonton, Phoenix, and Seattle, Dr. Phan underwent a special residency training for contact lenses. Unsurprisingly, her core strength is providing contact lens fitting services for children (her youngest patient for this is a 7-month-old!) and adults.

Both regular and new patients praise her for being patient, kind, and professional. Performance-wise, Dr. Phan impressively keeps her services swift and flawless, especially in fitting contact lenses.

In terms of the clinic, we like that the space was designed to have an inviting feel, while at the same time ensuring patient privacy. To achieve this, they set up separate desks for each optometrist so that they can treat patients in their own little nooks.

Even better, the optometrists are multilingual and can provide exams and tests in different languages such as Vietnamese, Cantonese, Spanish, Urdu, to name a few. We like how even the demographics of the team reflect the vibrant ethnic makeup of the Calgary community

Patients appreciate that the clinic accepts payments through insurance. This provides some financial relief for those who otherwise can’t afford paying private fees.

The only thing we are concerned about is Dr. Phan and her team’s availability. Apparently, they collectively serve a rather large customer base.

We would strongly advise booking an appointment or mentally preparing to wait a bit longer to be attended to.

We’ve also heard that deliveries of prescription lenses can sometimes be delayed. If your need for lens fitting is urgent, you may want to go to any of the other clinics in this list instead.

The next on our list is Dr. Eric Wiseman of My Optometrist Calgary. He has a bachelor’s degree and doctorate in Optometry.  During his studies, he focused on studying the topic of ocular disease. Dr. Wiseman also went to Bucharest, Romania for an eye service trip. 

At work, his interest and specialty is on contact lens, dry eye management, and patient education. He also caters to patients of different ages (the oldest is 92 years old!).

Customers who had him as their optometrist also shared positive reviews. They mentioned that he is friendly, professional, and thorough on explaining the details of the eye exam results. 

Clearly, an optometrist that can provide quality service for every member of the family like Dr. Wiseman deserves recognition.

For the clinic that he is working in, a lot of good things can be mentioned too. The brands of eyeglasses that they offer are available for browsing online. This way, customers can decide thoroughly based on their budget and preference.

The lobby and display area of the clinic is well-arranged and spacious. The check-up area is quite similar to hospitals but possesses a cozy vibe. Patients will surely feel welcomed and certain that they will be accommodated even in peak hours.

Aside from eye care products, they also sell skincare products. For us, this is a great addition since customers would not spend time elsewhere if they like to avail it.

The only negative thing we found on them are the reports from years ago of rude staff and receptionists. If you are extremely anxious of encountering such behavior, you can go check the other ones we have.

If you are looking for an optical clinic that can serve you and any member of your family, consider Dr. Eric Wiseman and My Optometrist Calgary.

Dr. Farrah Sunderji from Eyedeology is the past president of Calgary Society of Optometrists (CSO). She has a bachelor’s degree in optometry with honors, and has published articles on child optometry and has guested in various TV shows to talk about her expertise.

She is also multilingual and fluent in Gujrati, Katchi, Urdu, Hindi, French, and Spanish. 

Meanwhile, most patients have said that Dr. Sunderji is very kind and patient towards them. In fact, we’re told she sometimes plays with children to reduce their anxiety before and during the exam. 

Regarding the clinic itself, the interior boasts a nice modern and minimalist design. We reckon patients would feel at ease in the space, as it’s a far cry from the typical clinic that simply focuses on function.

Their website deserves recognition, too. Customers can easily explore different types and brands of eyeglasses, contact lenses, and lenses, as well as eye and skin care products.

However, it seems that their salespeople might need some retraining, as we’ve heard reports of overselling.

We also wish that they would extend their operating hours. Eyedeology is only open four days a week, all of them weekdays – which is quite limiting for patients who can only come in on weekends.

Dr. Raman Thand-Gill has a bachelor’s degree in optometry and took a special programme in Optometric Bridging. As of this writing, she has been in the optometry field for nine years.

Dr. Thand-Gill’s specialty is in dry-eye therapy and treating ocular diseases, which she happily provides for the customers of Eye CU Optometry. 

Clients mention how kind, calm, professional, and thoughtful Dr. Thand-Gill is. Parents also applaud her for her skills in helping kids feel at ease.

Clinic-wise, two things make Eye CU Optometry stand out: specialty eyewear and cosmetic treatments.

In terms of specialty eyewear, we especially like how they customise sports eyewear to fit the client’s unique lifestyle needs and preferences. The only downside to this is that these tend to be on the pricier side, so be ready to shell out a bit more.

Two of their noteworthy cosmetic treatments are Latisse (eyelash treatment) and Tempsure (eye wrinkle treatment and skin collagen rejuvenation). Women especially love availing of these as they offer added pampering to what would usually be an in-and-out visit to the clinic.

For those who really just need to get a specific eye issue checked but don’t want to make the extra trip, the clinic offers telehealth consultations. This is great for people who just want to get eye health advice or have minor eye discomforts that they need some extra guidance on.

The founder and head optometrist of Mission Eye Care, Dr. Riaz Ahmed, has 20 years of experience in optometry. He has a bachelor’s degree in optometry and occasionally conducts lectures for family medicine residents in the University of Calgary. 

Aside from that, he is also the former president of Alberta Association of Optometrists and a volunteer of Canadian Vision Care. 

His specialty and interest is in the management and treatment of dry eyes and corneal disease.

In fact, he is highly-recommended to clients who have keratoconus, ecstasia, or need a corneal transplant. 

Patients appreciate that he keeps them informed at every step of the procedure or treatment. He has the ability to laymanise medical jargon so that patients understand the process and know what to expect.

A word of caution, however: given his reputation, Dr. Ahmed can be quite difficult to book. You would have to make an appointment in advance to secure a slot.

But the good news is that Mission Eye Care, the clinic where he practises, is generally a specialty clinic. Their team of optometrists represent a good range of specialties – so there’s probably another eye doctor that would be able to cater to your needs.

Patients flock to this clinic for specialised services such as fitting of scleral contact lenses, myopia control,  and treatment of corneal diseases for all ages. 

Lastly, we like that the clinic also offers eye and facial aesthetics services. Included in their featured technologies are IPL and radio-frequency skin tightening, which are ideal for patients who want to maintain a youthful appearance.