From Retro to Modern: Discover Wisconsin's Eyewear Stores
Optician adjusts stylish glasses on a customer.
Need a new pair of specs? No problem. Wisconsin’s awesome eyewear stores will have you decked out in your favorite styles in no time. Whether you prefer a retro frame or something more modern, there’s something to suit your taste. Here are the best eyewear stores in the state.
Faces Eyewear, Appleton, WI
With the clever logo, “You’ll See We Care” this eyewear store shouts creativity. The website shutters through colorful photos of artwork showcasing eyewear, and the designer glasses bring those colors to life. The store carries a series designed by Piero Massaro, “Trame di colore” or colour wefts as well as the Rhodoïd acetate by Mazzucchelli.
Tower Optical, Wauwatosa, WI
Founded in 1956, Tower Optical has been in business for more than 60 years. Visit the website to view photos of the first Tower Optical, which was then called Tower Jewelers and Opticians, and to view photos of Tower Optical as it stands today. The staff is third-generation opticians—a love of everything eyes must run in the family.
Fluegge Optical, Waterford, WI
At Fluegge Optical they operate a little differently. Rather than offer eye exams, at Fluegge they focus solely on manufacturing lenses and fitting eyewear. They sell a multitude of eyewear brands, including Adidas, Dior, Fendi, Jimmy Choo, Oakley, and more.
Ulla Eyewear, Madison, WI
Family-owned and independently operated, Ulla is one of Madison’s unique eyewear stores. According to their website they were featured as a Fine-alist by INVISION magazine as one of America’s Finest Optical Retailers. Peruse the frames on offer or test out the sunglasses they carry. Bring the whole family; they sell children’s eyewear too.
Bilancio Eyewear, Fitchburg, WI
Lisa Cuda McCarron is the founder of and the optician at Bilancio Eyewear. The store gives an elegant contemporary vibe, and the services on offer are exceptional as well. Eyewear is available in-store as well as online. McCarron says when she selects the perfect pair of glasses for someone she keeps several principles in mind—beauty, precision, style, function, and budget.
Warby Parker, Milwaukee, WI
Do you ever have errands to run but you don’t want to leave the house? Warby Parker has solved that conundrum for eyeglass wearers. They have frame options that can be tried on at home; the wearer simply selects five frames to be sent to them. The website is extremely user-friendly as well, providing large interactive displays of the available glasses.
WisconsinVision, Glendale, WI
A unique service is offered at WisconsinVision. The business has a Lens Lab where glasses are crafted by hand and delivered straight to the customer. After more than 40 years of service, WisconsinVision understands how to service their customers. Besides offering the Lens Lab, customers can visit the store and choose from brands like Prada, Nike, Tom Ford, and more.
SEE, Madison, WI
If you’re a fan of exclusive products and you are an eyeglass wearer, SEE is a store you must visit. Richard Golden invented the original SEE concept of creating a proprietary exclusive brand of almost-custom frames and eyewear. What do we mean by almost-custom? Sometimes there are only one or two pairs of a specific frame in a specific color available in-store. Wearing SEE eyewear will differentiate you from the crowd.
Bronze Optical, Milwaukee, WI
The staff at Bronze Optical hope to provide their customers with eyeglasses that can show off a little bit of personality. Bronze Quinton is the man behind the curtain at this optical store. He offers eye-exam services, lenses, frames, and lens maintenance.
Specs Appeal, Glendale, WI
Stan Kaminski began his life of optometry at the ripe old age of 12. Now he has more than 40 years of experience under his belt, and he operates Specs Appeal, an eyewear boutique. At the boutique the services offered include frame soldering, adjustments, replacement parts, customized rimless styles, and much more.
Key Insights at a Glance
- Faces Eyewear: A colorful and artistic eyewear boutique known for carrying bold designer brands like Piero Massaro and Rhodoïd acetate styles.
- Tower Optical: A third-generation family-run shop with over 60 years of experience offering trusted service and stylish, quality eyewear.
- Fluegge Optical: A specialty shop focused solely on manufacturing lenses and fitting premium eyewear from brands like Dior, Oakley, and Jimmy Choo.
- Ulla Eyewear: Family-owned and highly rated, Ulla offers fashion-forward frames for adults and kids and has earned accolades as one of America's finest optical retailers.
- Bilancio Eyewear: A modern boutique led by optician Lisa McCarron, focusing on beauty, style, and function with eyewear available in-store and online.
- Warby Parker: Offers a convenient home try-on program and an intuitive online experience, along with in-store shopping for trendy and affordable glasses.
- WisconsinVision: Known for its in-house Lens Lab and wide designer selection, including Prada and Tom Ford, with over four decades of expert optical service.
- SEE: Specializes in ultra-limited, near-custom designer frames that ensure you walk away with truly one-of-a-kind eyewear.
- Bronze Optical: Combines stylish frame selection with in-house eye exams and personalized care under owner Bronze Quinton.
- Specs Appeal: Run by seasoned optician Stan Kaminski, this boutique offers frame repairs, rimless customization, and tailored adjustments with decades of expertise.
