You Won't Believe Your Eyes : Discount center does glasses, contacts and even exams at prices that make it worth a trip to the Westside.

You Won’t Believe Your Eyes : Discount center does glasses, contacts and even exams at prices that make it worth a trip to the Westside.

By GERI COOK

Aug. 28, 1992 12 AM PT

I’ve been looking for a good eyeglass place ever since the Lens Factory changed owners and then went out of business. My search took me to the Complete Eye Care Center on the Westside.

I visited this store on a weekday afternoon, and it was a mob scene--really jammed, so obviously word has spread. But a jovial atmosphere prevailed, usually a sign of satisfied customers.

Owners Bernie Becker and Dennis Rossi stress service to their wholesale and retail customers. They serve many optical wear stores in the area in addition to selling to the public. Most prescriptions are filled in one hour, just enough time to enjoy a drive to the ocean and back.

If you don’t have a prescription, optometrist Peter Rosenberg is on the premises. An eyeglass exam is $35, contact lens exams are $55. (Rosenberg gives exams by appointment only.)

You may think you need glasses when you see these low prices. If you need single-vision glasses and can live without designer frames, the price is a smashing $25 for frames and lenses. Bifocals are $49. At these prices, there’s a wide selection of good-looking frames--not Armani, but very nice. Some extras are available, too: A tint is $10, scratch guard runs $20 and ultraviolet coating is $10.

Contact lenses start at $49. The color-tint contacts are $99 and up, depending on eye color. The lighter your eyes, the lower the price. Disposable contacts run three pairs for $30.

Complete Eye Care Center’s inventory of designer frames reflect discounts that run about 25% to 35% lower than prices at most optical houses. The popular Armani frames are $175 to $190. Frames by Christian Dior start at $150 and top out at $250. For Liz Claiborne designs, figure from $90 to $120, and if you fancy Marcolin frames, budget $75 to $120. Some of these frames are close-outs and some are purchased by Rossi from liquidations. Ray-Ban sunglasses are a good deal, too--instead of $95, Complete Eye Care’s price is about $60.

If by chance your glasses don’t seem right, Rossi says they will redo them until you’re satisfied. That attitude must be responsible for all those customers’ happy vibes.

WHERE TO SHOP

Location: The Complete Eye Care Center, 12328 Washington Place, Los Angeles.

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Credit Cards: MasterCard and Visa.

Call: (310) 390-3477; to make an eye exam appointment, (310) 397-0857.