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WELCOME

/ˈwelkəm/
noun

An inviting greeting used to put a guest at ease.

Welcome to Henry Miller Opticians where you are more than a customer, you are a guest! Come visit our inviting showroom where, in addition to being able to purchase the most attractive eyeglasses, sunglasses and prescription lenses (most of which are worked right here in our workshop). In the not too distant future, we hope to make visiting Henry Miller Opticians even more of an experience, with community events from puppet shows to readings from our favorite authors!

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PERSONALIZATION

/ˈPersonalizatio/
noun

A way to accommodate each person's uniqueness.

Meet Juls and Kasper. Purveyors of fine thought, they have an intuitive grasp of what makes each person special. And why wouldn’t they? Just look how unique they are! One is dapper in a bow tie, the other prefers a necktie. One parts his hair in the middle, the other… not at all! The shapes of their faces, their eyes and their noses – as well as their aesthetic preferences – make their choice of eyeglasses vitally important. Henry Miller Opticians understands that just like Juls and Kasper it is personalization that makes the difference between ordinary and perfect.

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OPTICS

/ˈäptiks/
noun

The branch of physics which studies the behavior of photons.

Here at Henry Miller Opticians, we transform the science of light into eyeglasses perfectly suited to your wants and needs.

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FRIENDS

/frends/
noun

People with whom you have developed a relationship.

At Henry Miller Opticians, we want to do more than sell you a pair of eyeglasses, we want to have a long-term relationship with you focused on your improved vision. In addition, we want you to get to know our other friends – book authors who are proud to display their books in our front windows, on our book cart and on our website!

PRESS TO SEE SOME OF OUR FRIENDS' BOOKS
Michael Harris
Kenneth S.H. King
David Lawrence
Michael F. Armstrong
Betsy Prioleau
Christopher Dickey
Gene Dattel
Annie Schlechter
Johnathan Hallgrey
Pietro Cicognani
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DREAMS

/drēm/
Plural noun

Imaginative thoughts.

Sometimes your dreams are hidden behind your closed eyes. But sometimes, it is possible to see your dreams in the beauty, colors and shapes of the world before you. At Henry Miller Opticians, we help our friends see their dreams.

PRESS TO SEE SOME OF OUR DREAMS
Valuable
Honeymoon Salad
Seasonal Night Migration
Badminton
Opportunity
Trust
Home
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SHOPPING

/ˈSHäpiNG/
noun

To search for goods and services

Come to Henry Miller Opticians when you are looking for the best quality eyeglasses and the most caring service available! Let us show you how satisfying shopping for eyeglasses can be!

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FAQ

/ˌef ˌā ˈkyo͞o/
noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the questions we hear most often from our new guests and customers:

How long until I get my glasses?

Even in our “New York minute” culture, where everything must be done yesterday, quality takes some time and effort. Making your perfect eyeglasses demands care and attention. Generally, you can expect your new eyeglasses in three to four business days.

Of course, we know only too well that sometimes emergencies happen. Not terribly long ago one of our customers broke her glasses two days before leaving on vacation. We made sure to have her new glasses ready in time for her to enjoy her sightseeing with perfect clarity!

Do all eyeglasses need to be adjusted…?

Just like we need some pampering and upkeep, so do your eyeglasses! A new nose pad here, a tightened screw there and everything is tiptop like new!

What if my eyeglasses are broken?

Few things are as annoying as a pair of eyeglasses held together with an unattractive piece of tape! When your eyeglasses are broken, you can count on us to mend them. Most repairs, we are happy to take care of as a courtesy when you stop in and visit. However, if your eyeglasses are truly broken, we may ask a modest fee for replacement parts or soldering.

Do you ship eyeglasses?

Few things make us happier than to have you visit us in our neighborhood store here on the Upper East Side. However we have many, many friends and customers all over New York, across the United States and around the globe. We are happy to ship eyeglasses to you no matter where you are and, when needed, have local messengers deliver your eyeglasses right to your door!

Do you do the DMV eye test?

Absolutely! Our optician is NY State-certified to administer the DMV vision test. There is a modest fee for this service.

You should also be aware that the NY State DMV is in the process of changing the state drivers licenses to the more sophisticated enhanced version that conforms to Federal requirements for air travel and access to Federal buildings. In order to get the enhanced drivers license, you will have to go to your local DMV. If you are visiting the DMV, you might as well have the vision test taken care of at the same time.

Do you have an eye doctor on staff?

We do not perform eye exams at Henry Miller Opticians. We are happy to refer you to any number of local eye doctors who are very good!

Insurance?

We are often asked about the kinds of insurance we accept. Because there are so many insurance companies with so many different policy requirements, we decided to be an out-of-network provider. As an out-of-network provider, we can offer you a broader range of products and services.

We are happy to provide all appropriate documentation for you to submit directly to your insurance company.

Is there a real Henry Miller?

There was.

Henry Miller was a Bohemian optician who immigrated to America around 1900. When he first arrived, he worked for Miss Martha Dora Polen Optometrist and Optician, located at 1629 Madison Avenue. Over time, Martha and Henry became more than business partners and they married.

In 1909 they opened Henry Miller Opticians located close to Lenox Hill Hospital.

In 1976 Ralph Gerchberg O.D. Phd. purchased Henry Miller Opticians. He kept the name because everyone in the neighborhood knew the business. Henry Miller Opticians moved to its present location 972 Lexington Avenue in 2005 where Kirk Gerchberg is the current, proud owner of Henry Miller Opticians.

IN THE BEGINNING
WHEN THEY MARRIED
1909 TO PRESENT

YOU CAN CONTACT US BY PHONE OR FORM.

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CON.TACT

/‘kan,takt, ken’takt
verb

The act of communicating with another

Contact Henry Miller Opticians with your questions about eyeglasses, lenses, and eyeglass repair.

Address

972 Lexington Ave.,
New York, NY 10021
Between 70th and 71st Streets

Hours:

Monday - Friday
10:15 A.M.- 6:00 P.M.
Saturday
10:15 A.M.- 4:00 P.M. Except during the months of July & August

Phone:

(212) 744-1033

Social:

YELP

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TESTIMONIAL

/ˌtestəˈmōnēəl/
noun

A written endorsement.

At Henry Miller Opticians, we love to hear from our friends and guests!

Marcia B. tells us that she, “…loves glasses, collect frames and this is my favorite eyeglass store. The style of frames here runs from conservative to downright funky. Kirk the owner and Melba his lovely salesperson know when to leave you alone when you are making a choice, or give you their input. The prices are fair and they often fix problems with your frames free of charge. SEEING is believing.”

E.L.  wrote, “What a nice shop. I stopped in asking to have my glasses adjusted - glasses I had bought from another, unrelated store - and Kirk and Melba agreed to fix them free of charge. Kirk spent about ten minutes adjusting them to my face. Now they fit like new. While I was waiting I perused the selection-- Melba showed me a number of beautiful pieces. I hope to return here soon for my next pair of specs.”

Linda E. had a wonderful experience at our shop, sharing that, “…I had a wonderful experience because Kirk and Melba were very pleasant! Kirk was able to fix my broken sunglasses. I had dropped my prescription polarized sunglasses when I was opening my door and they got crushed. Kirk was able to brilliantly piece together the 4 or 5 shattered pieces I presented him with Initially, I went there because the sunglass frame which was about 8- 10 years old was no longer available but the company was very helpful and found two in a warehouse. I had to go to a retailer that carried their frames to order them which is how I came to Henry Miller opticians- a delightful store filled with interesting frames. Kirk wanted to see if they could be repaired and he did a spectacular job. My frame was no longer available from LA EYEWORKS in the color I had and it was great to get them repaired so beautifully because mine is a more flattering color. I am definitely going back for my next pair of prescription glasses and there was no charge for this remarkable service.”

Patricia L. is quite certain, “…You will not find a more attentive, skillful, or precise craftsman than Kirk at Henry Miller Opticians. His work is meticulous; the result, without peer. Kirk was recommended by my new ophthalmologist (Dr. Eric Zweifach M.D. , also terrific). This doctor stated there is no one better, and he was absolutely spot on. Melba, with her graciousness and quiet dignity, will move you through the process. Kirk will present you with extraordinary results. He has access to a mind-boggling array of lens shapes as well as a state-of-the-art no-weight Swiss frame company should you so choose. In my case, I brought in my old Silhouettes, which he was able to retrofit with differently-shaped lenses. The standard of excellence is high. Kirk is one in a million. The fine art of lens crafting has not died. Meet Kirk. Just do it!”

Georgia M. was most impressed by the wide variety of our frames.  “Their range of available frames is spectacular. I had my first ever progressive lens glasses made here and they were a fabulous, comfortable and great range of vision through them. I have since had prescriptions filled elsewhere (HOYA - paid through the nose) and they still weren't as good. I came back to the store to have them done here instead. I have found both Kirk and Melba to be friendly and very helpful. You get their full attention when in the store. The reviews below about rudeness on the phone is likely because they are giving their full attention to the person in front of them in the store. Old school, but worth every penny. I hope they hang around for a while longer.”


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