Optician’s shop in Kolkata

sks551

Can some one recommend a good optician shop in Kolkata?

I know Kolkata is a big city, but it would be nice if it was near Esplanade or not too far from there.

We will be visiting Kolkata soon and I am thinking to get a pair of “Verifocal” glasses made from there. I’ll be taking my eye prescription and have the glasses made in Kolkata; hopefully be a lot cheaper than what I have to pay in London.

Can some one give me some idea about the cost of making a pair of Varifocal lenses in a smaller frame? I also want a pair of prescription polarised verifocal sunglasses. Can I get that made in Kolkata?

Thanks

theyyamdancer

Hi sks,

Check out this link:

opticians in kolkata

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dcamrass1

In Park street there are 3 optician shops more or less together ,Optolabs (Carl Zeiss)57/1 Park St,Mayo and third one right beside Zeiss (Maidan side) , cant remeber the name but did a very good eye test. They all do eye checks. “Verifocal” presume you mean progessive/multiphocal lenses. I had a pair progessive made November 2008 in the Carl Zeiss shop Park St.progessive,go dark in the sun ,anti scratch,anti glare and supposed not to mist up. The lenses without frame was 8500 Rps.(price changes acording to prescription, type of lense and shop) you should allow for four working day for lenses to be delivered, this has been the normal time for me in quite a few places in India,( Rishikesh, Varnasi), that I had glasses made, think they come from Goa but not shure, the fitting a matter of a hour or two.Diffrent prices and lenses at each place.
Hope it helps

kausiks

The third one is GKB Opticals, which is also good. If you buy from GKB, it is better to go for branded lens instead of their own manufactured lens (which they will try to sell). I have found that the quality of the lens that they manufacture is not good.
Another big (and expensive) shop is Himalaya Opticals. I think they have an outlet in Camac Street.

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sks551

Thanks for all the responses so far.
I am thinking to have two sets of glasses made.

One with clear verifocal (progressive) with non-reflective lens and other one will be a polarised version of the same. Do these shops do prescription polarised sunglasses?

Personally I do not like the “reaction” (go dark in the sun) lens. These lenses are very good for bright sunshine but not very good for indoors; they never go fully transparent when indoors.

Please let me have some ideas of the price for frames and the lenses, especially the progressive polarised one.

kausiks

Yes, they will do prescription polarised sunglasses. However, it is very difficult to give an estimate of the lenses and frames. They vary depending on your selection and also from shop to shop.

sks551

Thanks to everyone.
Now I have few names of Optician’s shop in or around Park Street. Is there a Himalaya Optician near Park Street? Another thread suggested “Lawrence and Mayo” what do you think of the shop?
As I remember Park Street is quite a long road; what is the nearest Underground station to get to these shops?

We will be staying about 16Km outside Kolkata and planning to spend a day to visit some of these shops and decide what to do. What is the local practice? Do I have to do bargaining? Or the prices are fixed?

dcamrass1

Nearist Metro - Park St. besisde the Maidan.I didnt bargain.Maybe fixed prices but you could try wont cost you money.As I said before dont think that you will get the glasses on the spot.

kausiks

Himalaya Opticals is on Camac Street and is near Park Street (5 - 10 mins walk from the other optician's shops on Park Street). These are big shops, so there is not much scope of bargaining.
Where would you be staying? Except for Carl Zeiss, all the others(Lawrence & Mayo, GKB, Himalaya) have many shops throughout Kolkata. You might find a good shop near to your place of stay.

stevec

There is a FABULOUS optician not far from the main intersection in Bhowanipur - sorry I can't be more specific, but another passionate Kolkatawala (is that OK?) might provide the details. Very, very helpful. May be a bit quiet in the daytime at the moment because it's a Muslim firm.

sks551

We will be staying at Madhyamgram which is about 17km from Kolkata. I used to know Kolkata fairly well. However, few years ago when I visited the city noticed that the city has changed beyond recognition. I am sure that there are lots of optician’s shop between Madhysmgram and Park Street. But I am looking for a reliable and trustworthy shop that IM members recommend.

nayan

I am from a place just beside Madhyamgram

There are quite a few optician's shops in madhyamgram. But if you want something expensive(ie anything above Rs1500) then I would suggest getting it from kolkata.

for a high end specs go to any outlet of the following
1. GKB opticals
2. Titan Eye
3. lawrance and mayo

All of them have a number of outlets.

Britishraj

Hi
If you want the street where you can find almost only opticians offering a wide choice from cheap to expensive, you willfind this in Ganguly St. near the Lal Bazar Police station. ( not too far from Dalhouise) Get a metro to Chandni Chowk station. Take the exit out into Mission Row. You should be facing The Broaday Hotel. walk along (keep Broadway on your right) to the junction of Bentick St. turn right and walk to the Lal Bazar Police Stn. Here you will find the start of a string of Opticians to suit all prices. I always get my glasses done here. This area is also known as Bow Bazar and is about 15 min. walk from the Esplanade. An altn. route: from Esplanade walk towards Govtn. House Raj Bhawan. take a right towards Dalhousie passing American Express. When you come to a juction after passing the tram stops take a right. Ask for Lal Bazar Police Stn. as your ref. point.
Again this is about 20 mins walk from Esplanade. This is the Scenic route.

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