Dr. Saji Mathew—owner of Hamilton 20/20 Eye Care—said people will save money and get a better experience if they shop locally.
“If people shop apples for apples, they’ll find that we’re actually cheaper than a lot of big box retailers,” he said.
Mathew said he has designer products just like many of the big box retailers. Hamilton 20/20 Eye Care carries Prada, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Juicy Couture, Armani Exchange, Coach, Ray-Ban and more.
But Mathew said his local business also offers a technology you cannot get at a big retailer. The new technology is called a digital lens. A digital lens is made by lasers. Traditionally, lenses that go into the glass are made from melted plastic that goes into a mold. The mold is either concave or convex. Mathew said the problem with that mold is that the very first lens comes out perfectly clear, but the 100th or 1,000th lens doesn’t get as good optics.
“With digital lens it doesn’t matter whether you get the first lens or the 1,000th lens,” Mathew said. “The optics come out exactly identical.”
Hamilton 20/20 Eye Care also carries a new lens called the 174. Mathews said it’s the thinnest lens you can get in North America. He said this lens cannot be found at big retailers because they don’t have labs that can cut the lens as thin as it is.
“We can get that lens,” Mathew said. “It costs a little more, but there are people out there who have heavy prescriptions and don’t want to wear those big Coke bottle glasses. Most people don’t even know it’s available.”
Mathew said the biggest perk of shopping with a small business is the time and quality of service.
“We have top notch customer service,” he said. “I take my time and make sure you get seen the best possible. We don’t see 20 people a time. Maybe on a busy day, I see 10 people because I want to make sure each person gets their time and everything gets done properly.”
Mathew said small businesses drive local economy. It’s for this reason that he deals with a local bank and hired a local contractor to model his office.
“We’re honest people here,” he said. “You’re not just another name and number.”
Mathew said he takes the time to get to know his patients and even educate them in matters of their eyes.
On the wall, behind the patient’s chair in the exam room, hangs a flat screen television. Mathew uses the television to pull up charts, demonstrate pupil dilation and educate his patients on different disorders that can affect a person’s vision such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration.
“I’m licensed to treat all eye infections, and I believe in doing patient education with my customers so that they understand what is happening and what to look out for,” Mathew said.
Mathew believes supporting local businesses is a win-win situation. “You’re getting better prices, you’re getting better quality, and you’re supporting a business that helps their community,” he said.
Mathew said your eyes are one of the most important belongings to a person.
“What’s more important?” he said. “I can offer you all the money in the world for your eyes; you’re not going to make the deal. You want to keep your eyes. From the minute you wake up in the morning until you go to bed, you’re going to want to see properly. That’s why we take our time and make sure everything gets done right.”
Hamilton 20/20 Eye Care is located at 3100 Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton. For more information, call (609) 689-3100 or visit hamilton2020eyecare.com.
Optician Domenick Corrado
