Let’s be clear: Eye trouble is tragic and heartbreaking. That’s why it’s best to head straight for the amateurs over at the UC Berkeley Optometry Clinic. Operated out of the university’s Tang Center, the clinic’s optometry exam is extra, extra cheap because it’s conducted by graduate optometry students who are still learning what they’re doing. Think of it as the visual equivalent of barber college; instead of walking away with an ill-advised Mohawk, you walk away with bifocals. Sorry, cheap shot. In fact, the stalwart soldiers of the Tang Center will check you for glaucoma, retinal melanoma, macular degeneration — most every egregious eyeball event. And hey, can’t beat those cheap glasses: $100 for frames and $45 for lenses. With insurance, it’s a $25 copayment. Of course, if you want scratch-proof coating, you gotta kick down a little more. But think of it this way: without your sacrifice, where would the next generation of optometrists come from?
