Complete Guide
How to Choose an Optical Store in New Taipei
Check four things: licensing, the eye exam, measurements and aftercare
Getting glasses in Xinzhuang or looking for an optometry clinic in Banqiao? Whether the shop has a registered optometry clinic, how much time the exam takes, how fitting measurements are taken, and whether you can come back for adjustments after pickup: this page goes through them in order. Written by Optometrist YoYo, based on fitting practice at our Xinzhuang and Banqiao stores.
- ✦An optical shop that wants to perform vision exams must set up an optometry clinic in the store, staffed by licensed optometry personnel (Enforcement Rules of the Optometrists Act, Article 4).
- ✦Our full eye exam takes about 45–60 minutes, and both the Xinzhuang and Banqiao stores include a binocular vision assessment every time.
- ✦Fitting measurements are taken with the frame you chose: monocular PD for each eye separately, plus fitting height and vertex distance on that same frame.
- ✦For glasses fitted with us, frame adjustments after pickup carry no extra charge, and the store contacts you within 2 weeks of pickup.
Optical shop or optometry clinic: first check for a registered optometry clinic
Article 9 of Taiwan's Optometrists Act lists where optometry personnel may practise: registered medical institutions, optometry clinics, and optical companies (shops), so optical shops are on the list. Under Article 4 of the Enforcement Rules, however, an optical company that wants to perform vision exams must set up an optometry clinic in the store. Both of our stores are set up this way: Xinzhuang is Beyond Visual Optometry × BiYang Optometry Clinic, and Banqiao is Beyond Visual Optometry × Neng Jian Du Optometry Clinic.
So whether the sign says "optical shop" or "optometry clinic" isn't the point; what matters is whether the store has a registered optometry clinic and whether the person examining you is licensed.
The plain-language conclusion: first check whether the shop has a registered optometry clinic and who will do your exam. If you have dizziness, eye fatigue, presbyopia or a progressive-lens need, confirm one more thing: that the exam includes a binocular vision assessment, not just a check of your lens power.
Choosing where to get glasses in New Taipei: check these 5 things first
Whether you're getting glasses in Xinzhuang or having an exam in Banqiao, keep these questions in mind before you walk in.
Is the person examining you licensed?
Only licensed optometry personnel (optometrists or associate optometrists) can legally perform the exam. Look at the wall when you walk in: by law, an optometry clinic must display its practice licence and fee schedule in a prominent place. You can also check the personnel's licence numbers on the Ministry of Health and Welfare's medical personnel search.
How much time is set aside for the exam?
Our full eye exam takes about 45–60 minutes, with a 60–90 minute appointment slot, and both stores include a binocular vision assessment every time. The length itself isn't the point; when choosing a store, ask what happens during that time.
A 10-minute eye exam vs. a 1-hour eye exam: what's the difference?Are vertex distance and binocular vision measured?
High myopia needs vertex distance compensation to keep the effective power correct; for people whose eyes find it harder to work together, glasses made on lens power alone are more likely to feel tiring or dizzying. Monocular PD should be measured for each eye separately, and fitting height measured with the frame you chose.
Can they explain the lens source and manufacturer warranty?
Ask the store to explain where the lenses come from and how the manufacturer's warranty works. This is especially worth asking for progressives and personalized custom lenses. We are a ZEISS contracted certified dealer and a HOYA dealer.
Can you come back for adjustments after fitting, and is there a charge?
Ask about both before you choose a store. For glasses fitted with us, frame adjustments after pickup carry no extra charge, and the store contacts you within 2 weeks of pickup. At collection you should try the glasses on the spot and confirm the far, intermediate and near fields and the frame fit.
New glasses feel wrong: where to start with dizziness or discomfort
If your new glasses make you dizzy or tire you out, don't assume you just can't adapt. The cause may be the lens power, the measurements, a frame that has shifted, or how your two eyes work together, and it has to be checked item by item in store. Pick the article that matches what you're experiencing.
Dizzy in new glasses
Why do my new glasses make me dizzy?The power is right, but they still feel uncomfortable
Still uncomfortable after getting new glasses?The step an eye exam can miss
5 common vision exam mistakes when getting glassesFrame not bought in store: bringing your own frame
A frame bought online, an old frame from home, or a vintage frame you've kept for years: if you want new lenses fitted to it, we first check whether the frame's condition allows it. Whether it can be done, how measurement works and how it is priced are covered in the bring-your-own-frame guide.
Eye symptoms? See an ophthalmologist first
Whether your eyes are healthy and whether they need treatment is for an ophthalmologist to judge; lens power, binocular vision and fitting measurements are what an optometry clinic does. If, during the exam, no change in lens power brings your vision up to normal, optometry personnel stop the fitting and refer you to an ophthalmologist under Article 12, Paragraph 3 of the Optometrists Act.
Children follow a legal order: optometry personnel may not examine children under 6, so see an ophthalmologist first; for children aged 6–15, the first exam and glasses require a physician to first confirm it is not pseudomyopia, and exams up to age 15 are then done under an ophthalmologist's guidance. For which situations need a doctor first, see eye doctor or optometry clinic? A symptom-based guide.
Xinzhuang × Banqiao
One store in Xinzhuang and one in Banqiao; ZEISS contracted certified dealer and HOYA dealer. A full eye exam takes about 45–60 minutes and always includes a binocular vision assessment; for glasses fitted with us, frame adjustments after pickup carry no extra charge. Stock lenses are ready in about 3–5 working days, custom lenses in about 7–10. See which is closer to you.
Xinzhuang
Beyond Visual Optometry × BiYang Optometry Clinic
Address: No. 419-1, Zhongzheng Rd., Xinzhuang Dist., New Taipei City
MRT: about an 8-minute walk from Xinzhuang station
Tel: 02-2206-6700
Lead optometrist: Cheng Chia-Yu (YoYo)
Clinical vision exams, power tracking for school-age children (ages 6–15 need a physician to first confirm it is not pseudomyopia), ZEISS Individual² personalized custom lenses
Banqiao
Beyond Visual Optometry × Neng Jian Du Optometry Clinic
Address: No. 28, Ln. 47, Sec. 2, Shuangshi Rd., Banqiao Dist., New Taipei City
MRT: about a 5-minute walk from Jiangzicui station
Tel: 02-2253-1246
Local since: established 1992, over 30 years
Exams: performed by licensed optometry personnel
Presbyopia and progressive fitting, high-myopia fitting (vertex distance measured), power tracking for school-age children (ages 6–15 need a physician to first confirm it is not pseudomyopia)
Articles on getting glasses in New Taipei
Where to Get a Vision Exam and Glasses in Xinzhuang, New Taipei: A Guide for English Speakers
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Local GuideGetting Glasses in Banqiao: A Local Guide From an Eyewear Store With 30 Years in the Neighborhood
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OptometryWhy Do My New Glasses Make Me Dizzy? 5 Common Causes Explained by Optometrist YoYo
Dizziness with new glasses isn't something you can just "get used to." Wrong prescription, astigmatism axis errors, prismatic effect—here's how to find your real cause.
OptometryStill Uncomfortable After Getting New Glasses? 3 Real Causes and Solutions | Xinzhuang & Banqiao Optometry
Prescription checks out fine, but you're still dizzy or your eyes still ache? Optometrist YoYo breaks down the 3 real root causes behind 'still uncomfortable after getting new glasses' — eye alignment, lens design, and hidden presbyopia.
Complete GuideBring Your Own Frame: Complete Guide
Frames bought online, new lenses for an old frame, vintage frames: everything about bringing your own frame is collected in this guide.
Getting glasses in New Taipei: FAQ
Q: What is the difference between an optometry clinic and an optical shop?
The difference lies in how the place is set up, not in the sign. Under Article 9 of Taiwan's Optometrists Act, optometry personnel may practise at registered locations that include optometry clinics and optical companies (shops); under Article 4 of the Enforcement Rules of the Optometrists Act, an optical shop that wants to perform vision exams must set up an optometry clinic in the store, staffed by licensed optometry personnel. So whichever kind of shop you walk into, first confirm that it has a registered optometry clinic and that the person examining you holds an optometry licence.
Q: How do I choose an optical store I can trust in New Taipei?
Not by the size of the sign, but by four things: whether the exam is performed by licensed optometry personnel (licences can be checked on the Ministry of Health and Welfare's medical personnel search), whether the exam is complete (our full exam includes a binocular vision assessment and takes about 45–60 minutes), whether fitting measurements are taken with the frame you chose, and whether you can come back for adjustments after pickup and whether that costs extra. Whether glasses feel comfortable is often decided after pickup. The addresses and transport for our Xinzhuang and Banqiao stores are listed on this page under "Xinzhuang × Banqiao".
Q: How do I choose an optometry clinic in Banqiao?
From Jiangzicui station to Banqiao station the shops are dense and the price and positioning vary widely. When choosing, look at: whether the person examining you is registered, licensed optometry personnel, whether presbyopia and progressives include a full add-power and fitting-height measurement, and whether high myopia gets vertex-distance compensation. Beyond Visual Optometry × Neng Jian Du Optometry Clinic (a Banqiao local established in 1992) is at No. 28, Ln. 47, Sec. 2, Shuangshi Rd., a 5-minute walk from Jiangzicui MRT station. Tel: 02-2253-1246.
Q: If I got my glasses at Beyond Visual Optometry and the frame loosens or slips after pickup, is there a charge to adjust it?
No. For glasses fitted with us, frame adjustments after pickup carry no extra charge; if they feel loose, slide down or press behind your ears, bring them back to either the Xinzhuang or the Banqiao store. Within 2 weeks of pickup, the store will also contact you to check how they feel. If it turns out the lenses need replacing, that is discussed case by case.
About the author and sources
Cheng Chia-Yu (YoYo), Optometrist
License No. 003309 | Yuanpei University of Medical Technology | Lecturer, New Taipei City Optometrists Association
Lead optometrist at Beyond Visual Optometry × BiYang Optometry Clinic, specializing in clinical vision exams, binocular vision assessment, progressive lens fitting and children's myopia tracking.
About Optometrist YoYo →
Sources
- Optometrists Act (Laws & Regulations Database of the R.O.C., in Chinese)
- Enforcement Rules of the Optometrists Act (Laws & Regulations Database of the R.O.C., in Chinese)
- Ministry of Health and Welfare: medical personnel search (in Chinese)
Where optometry personnel may practise (Article 9), displaying the clinic's licence and fee schedule (Article 19), referral to an ophthalmologist (Article 12, Paragraph 3), optical shops setting up an optometry clinic (Enforcement Rules, Article 4) and the age rules for children (Article 12; Enforcement Rules, Article 6) follow the original text of the laws above. Exam time, how fitting measurements are taken, and follow-up and frame adjustment after pickup describe daily practice at our Xinzhuang and Banqiao stores. Eye disease and medical treatment should be assessed by an ophthalmologist. Last updated: 20 October 2026.
Not sure where to get your glasses?
Book a vision consultation. Our licensed optometry personnel will first understand your visual condition and lifestyle, and then discuss lenses. Appointments are available at both the Xinzhuang and Banqiao stores.
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