The first Site for Sore Eyes Store was opened in Berkeley, California in 1979. By 1985, Site for Sore Eyes had grown to an eight store chain and began a franchising program.

In 1993, Emerging Vision, Inc., a publicly-traded company operating one of the largest retail optical chains in the country under a family of different brands, acquired the now 36 location Site for Sore Eyes chain.

Today, through a combination of company-owned and franchised stores, Sterling Optical and Site for Sore Eyes number nearly 200 locations nationwide. As a franchise, the chain has been repeatedly named by Crain's Franchise Buyer and by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top franchise operators in the United States. In addition, Vision Monday has repeatedly named it as one of the top ten optical retailers in the country. Now, with the power of a national chain behind it, Site for Sore Eyes remains the preeminent retail optical brand in Northern California with more than 35 stores in the Bay Area understanding and serving the needs of our local customers.

Site for Sore Eyes founder Paul Licht still operates the original Berkeley store and, with several partners, is currently serving as Emerging Vision's Area Developer for the Site for Sore Eyes brand. Site For Sore Eyes continues, as always, to go beyond 20/20, providing quality eyewear and fast and courteous service, and extraordinary prices for Northern California.

BEYOND 20/20™
You always get more for your money... click here to read more about what makes Site for Sore Eyes different.