An Eye Exam at Costco? Seriously, What’s Not to Love?

Why I genuinely love practicing inside Costco

I may be a little biased here…but seriously, what is there not to love about getting your eyes checked at Costco?

You need an eye exam. You also need groceries. You're hungry. You probably need toilet paper. Maybe you somehow leave with a rotisserie chicken, strawberries, three things you absolutely did not plan on buying, and enough paper towels to survive the next six months.

And somewhere in between all of that, you got your eyes checked too.

As someone who practices inside a Costco warehouse, I've really come to appreciate how convenient this setup can be for patients.

But convenience actually isn't the only reason I enjoy being here.

There's a lot happening behind that little eye doctor's office that I don't think most patients realize.

First Things First: We're Actually an Independent Eye Doctor

This is something that confuses people all the time.

Simpli Eye Care is an independent optometry practice located inside Costco. We're not Costco employees, and Costco doesn't determine how I examine, diagnose, or manage my patients. Costco itself refers to the doctors at most of its warehouses as Independent Doctors of Optometry.

I run my own practice, employ my own staff, choose how we care for our patients, and make my own clinical decisions.

But we get to do it inside Costco.

And over the years, I've realized that I really like that relationship.

Costco Makes Eye Care Surprisingly Convenient

One of my favorite things about practicing here is that an eye appointment doesn't necessarily have to take over someone's entire day.

Come in for your exam.

Then go grocery shopping.

Grab lunch.

Pick up your prescription.

Order your glasses.

Get gas.

Get your tires checked.

Grab a hot dog.

Apparently buy a kayak you didn't know you needed.

You can get a lot accomplished in one trip.

And while you're waiting for your eyes to dilate or waiting for a family member who's having an exam, you're not stuck sitting in a waiting room staring at the wall.

You're at Costco.

Go wander around. We'll see you when you get back.

Honestly, that's a pretty nice waiting room.

You Don't Even Need a Costco Membership to See Us

This one surprises people!

You do not need to be a Costco member to see the independent optometrist located in or near most Costco warehouses. Costco confirms this directly. You can come see us for your eye examination even if you aren't a Costco member.

There is an important distinction, though: purchasing glasses or contact lenses through Costco Optical does require a Costco membership.

The doctor's office and Costco Optical are separate.

We just happen to be very friendly neighbors.

Something Else I Really Appreciate About Costco

This is something patients probably don't see from their side of the exam room.

Although I'm an independent doctor, I've always felt that Costco takes eye care seriously.

Over the years, I've watched Costco continue to explore equipment and technology that can help its independent doctors provide better and more efficient eye care.

As a doctor, I appreciate that.

Technology doesn't replace an eye doctor—and the newest machine isn't automatically the best answer for every patient—but having access to good tools can give us more information about your eyes and help us take better care of you.

I get to maintain my independence as a doctor while practicing in an environment where eye care and optical services have a tremendous amount of infrastructure behind them.

For me, that's been a really nice balance.

And Then There Are the Costco Opticians

This might actually be one of my favorite parts of working here.

After I finish your examination and hand you your prescription, many of you walk literally a few steps over to Costco Optical.

And I feel very comfortable sending my patients over there.

Costco describes its optical staff as highly trained professionals, and its current career materials include both licensed and non-licensed optician positions, with licensed opticians helping oversee apprentices where applicable.

What I've personally enjoyed seeing is how many people in Costco Optical continue learning and advancing in the field.

Some pursue professional certifications such as ABO (American Board of Opticianry) certification for eyeglasses and NCLE (National Contact Lens Examiners) certification for contact lenses.

I've actually had the opportunity over the years to help a few opticians—both at my current location and at places I've worked previously—as they studied toward their certifications.

And I LOVE that part.

Because Optical Is a Profession Too

I think patients sometimes assume that the person helping them pick out glasses is simply a salesperson.

There's actually a lot more knowledge involved in doing that job well.

Your optician may be thinking about how your prescription works with the frame you picked, where your eyes sit inside that frame, how different lens designs may affect your vision, how the glasses need to be measured, and how the finished pair should sit on your face.

A beautiful frame isn't very useful if you can't see properly through it.

That's why I really enjoy watching optical staff learn more, earn certifications, gain experience, and become more confident in what they do.

I'm the doctor taking care of your eye examination and eye health.

They're the people who take the prescription I wrote and help turn it into something you actually wear every day.

Those are different jobs, but they work together.

I Like Knowing Who I'm Sending My Patients To

This may be the doctor side of me talking, but this matters a lot to me.

Once I finish an examination, I don't want to feel like I'm handing my patient a prescription and saying: Good luck out there!

I like being able to walk over to Optical.

I like knowing the people working there.

I like being able to ask a question about someone's glasses.

I like when an optician comes over and asks me to double-check something.

And I really enjoy watching people I've worked with become more knowledgeable over the years.

Nobody knows everything on day one.

We all learn.

We ask questions.

We teach each other.

And I think having people who actually want to keep learning their field makes for a much better experience for patients.

The Doctor's Office and Optical Are Separate—But We Work Next to Each Other

I think this is probably the easiest way to explain our setup.

Simpli Eye Care: your independent eye doctor's office.

Costco Optical: where Costco members can purchase glasses and contact lenses.

Costco officially directs members to work with its opticians for eyewear and describes them as highly skilled.

You absolutely don't have to purchase your glasses from Costco just because you had your examination with us. Your prescription is yours.

But if you do decide to use Costco Optical, I love that the people taking care of the next part of your vision care are right next door.

And Did I Mention the Groceries?

Because after all of that serious eye-care talk, we're still inside Costco.

Get your eyes checked.

Get your glasses ordered.

Pick up dinner.

Buy your groceries.

Grab the samples.

Get the $1.50 hot dog.

And somehow leave with a giant package of croissants you had absolutely no intention of buying.

Eye care doesn't always have to feel like another doctor's appointment you have to squeeze into your life.

Sometimes it can just be one of the things you get done while you're already living your life.

And that's probably my favorite thing about practicing here.

I'm still able to run Simpli Eye Care as my own independent practice and take care of my patients the way I believe they should be cared for.

But I also get to work alongside a company and an optical team that I genuinely enjoy working with.

And if we can get your eyes taken care of and get dinner figured out at the same time? I'd call that a pretty productive Costco trip.

— Suzzane Li, OD, FAAO, ABCMO
Simpli Eye Care PLLC, Managing Optometrist