Optical shop and eye exams in West Asheville
Frames chosen with you, fitted by hand
Acetate is a small optical shop on Haywood Road. Two optometrists look after your eyes, and our stylist, Carmela Prieto, helps you find frames that suit your face, your work and the way you live.
Carmela Prieto
Frame stylist and optical assistant
I help people find frames they forget they are wearing.
I fit glasses at Acetate. I start with how you use your eyes, then your face, then the frame, and I check the fit on you before anything is ordered.
Dr. Ridley or Dr. Ohanian looks after the exam and the prescription. I take it from there, and I am here when your glasses arrive and whenever they need a tune-up.
What I help with
- Choosing frames for your face and prescription
- Lens options, explained against your day
- Fit and adjustment
- Repairs and replacement parts
How we fit
Five steps from the first hello to a good fit
Nothing is ordered until you have tried it on, seen it priced in writing and said yes.
- 01
Step 1: Tell us how you use your eyes
Work, driving, reading, screens, the garden or the trail. We talk for a few minutes before any frames come out.
- 02
Step 2: Bring a prescription, or get one
Bring a current prescription from any office, or book an exam with one of our doctors. Either way, it is yours to keep.
- 03
Step 3: Try on a small table of frames
Carmela sets out a handful of shapes and materials that suit your face and your lenses, not the whole wall.
- 04
Step 4: Choose your lenses
Lens thickness, coatings and options are explained against your prescription and your day, and written down with their cost.
- 05
Step 5: Fit and adjust
When your glasses arrive we adjust them on your face, and we do it again whenever they slip, tilt or pinch.
On the try-on table
A few shapes and materials to try
We talk about frames by what they are made of and how they sit, not by name. Come and see what feels right.
Sample photos.
Try-on days
Drop in and take your time
On a try-on day we put out more frames than usual and nobody hurries you. Try as many as you like, then book a fitting if one feels right.
We take the time to understand what you need before we suggest anything.
Every visit ends with a clear plan, written down, so nothing is left to memory.
Under one roof
Eye care and eyewear, together
Eye exams
A full exam with one of our optometrists, and a prescription you can fill anywhere.
About eye examsGlasses and lenses
Frames chosen and fitted with Carmela, and lenses explained before you order.
About eyewearContact lenses
An exam, a fitting and a trial pair, with follow-up visits as your doctor advises.
About contact lensesRepairs and adjustments
Bring in a pair that slips, tilts or has lost a screw, and we will look at it.
About repairs
Before you come
Questions we hear first
Do I need an exam to get new glasses?
You need a current prescription. If yours is up to date, bring it and Carmela will fit you. If it is not, an exam with one of our doctors comes first. Either way, your prescription is yours.
Can I bring a prescription from another office?
Yes. Bring it with you, or ask your doctor to send it, and we will fit and fill it.
Do you work with my vision plan?
We work with many vision plans. Call to confirm yours, and see how fees work for which visits a vision plan pays and which medical insurance pays.
What is a try-on day?
A day when we put out more frames than usual and you can drop in to try them. Nothing is ordered until you book a fitting.
What if I have an eye emergency?
Sudden vision loss, flashes of light, a curtain over your vision, a chemical splash or an eye injury needs care now. Call our office right away or go to an emergency room. If you can't reach us, call 911.
Book online
Book an eye exam or a fitting
Choose a time in our booking system. Prefer to talk first? Call and we will find a time with you.
- Tuesday – FridayToday
- 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- SaturdayToday
- 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Sunday and MondayToday
- Closed