We are so excited to have our practice represented amongst the many incredible stores and shops all around the Yonge & Eglinton area. You can find our storefront right next door to A Kind Heart Store and Picture Perfect Gallery, and a couple of doors down from Tim Horton’s and Footprints Music. After your visit, don’t forget to take a look around at everything Yonge & Eglinton can offer for fashion, food, and for fun!
Some people grow up wanting to be a famous athlete, an astronaut, or even the Prime Minister of Canada. Dr. Patel’s childhood ambition was to be an Optometrist. His dream leads him to live and practice all over the world, but his heart has always been in Toronto.
Dr. Patel was born in Toronto and grew up in the Markham area. After completing his Bachelor of Science in 2003 from the University of Waterloo, he went on to study at the prestigious New England College of Optometry in Boston, MA.
Having earned his Doctorate in 2007, Dr. Patel moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he practiced for three years in a variety of settings: surgical, and private practice. He was also part of the medical team that performed examinations on the Cincinnati Bengals NFL team.
Dr. Patel moved back to Toronto in 2010 and became the Lead Optometrist of The Herzig Eye Institute. As director of the Dry Eye Clinic, he was the first practitioner in North America to use the Lipiflow Thermal Pulsation device. His dream of owning his own practice led him to open See & Be Seen Eyecare in 2013.
Dr. Patel works hard to stay at the cutting-edge of eye health. He regularly attends continuing education seminars and, as a leader in the optometric industry, has consulted for companies such as Allergan, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Bausch & Lomb, and Tear Science. He is also a regular lecturer for the Ontario Pharmacy Association as well as the Ontario Medical Association. Dr. Patel has been voted Top 3 Optometrists in Toronto in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Dr. Patel’s passion for giving back has led him to participate in volunteer missions with Optometry Giving Sight in India and VOSH in Nicaragua. He was on the board of directors for the Ontario Association for Optometrists (OAO) and served as the association’s communication chair. Dr. Patel lives in Liberty Village, Toronto with his wife and two young children. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to old-school hip-hop, exploring the city on his bike, traveling and cheering on his beloved Toronto Raptors.
Dr. Mike Woods, OD:
Dr. Michael Woods graduated with honours from the University of Waterloo’s Optometry program in 2013. He completed both his Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) and his Masters of Clinical Anatomy degrees at the University of Western Ontario. His externship in Washington, D.C., allowed him to work in conjunction with an Ophthalmologist concentrating on treating cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, and the anterior surface of the eye. He has also worked for the Center for Contact Lens Research (CCLR) in Waterloo, giving him extensive experience with contact lenses. For the last 3 years, he worked in North York, performing comprehensive eye exams for all ages. His special interests include dry eye and contact lenses.
While not in the office, Dr. Woods enjoys going to the gym, running, swimming, and travelling. He has travelled to Ecuador previously for a medically based eyecare mission.
Testimonials
All the rave reviews about this place are spot on. Absolutely top notch customer service, friendly staff, and welcoming atmosphere. I never thought I’d ever enjoy going to the Optometrist this much.
All the staff were excellent at ensuring everything was explained well and with utmost professionalism and courtesy. Every detail of my entire visit was smooth and efficient.
Adam H.
Tried out See & Be Seen after seeing some great reviews online, and they most definitely lived up to the hype! Easy to get to location in Liberty Village, very cool shop interior, great range of eyewear, and an awesome bunch of staff to boot! Their customer service was top notch from the minute I booked my appointment, right up until walking out the door with some fresh new glasses.
This was my first in-depth eye exam, and Dr. Patel and his team make the process very easy and interesting to help you understand all about the health of your eyes. If you’re considering getting a check-up or in need of new glasses, 100% pick See & Be Seen.
Asleigh F.
I can’t even begin to express my love and admiration for the team at See & Be Seen Eyecare. Incredible, above and beyond service. Exceptionally friendly and they IMMEDIATELY made me feel like family. Dr. Patel blew me with his friendly and helpful personality and the staff are just so bubbly and accommodating. I feel seriously blessed to have found this team. Thank you!!
Carolina B.
The best Optometrist I have ever seen, the entire staff is extremely warm and welcoming. They use high quality lenses, and cary the best fashions for frames. The atmosphere is also warm and welcoming unlike other old fashioned stark white clinics. 100% would recommend and visit again! Plus cool eyeball pictures!
Jay W.
Unreal!!!! You need to go here!!! Best service and professionalism I have ever had! The entire experience was amazing from start to finish!!! I came across the city for this office due to the amazing reviews on Yelp and I could not be more thankful for social media because I would have never found this gem without it!!! Thanks Dr. Patel and staff!!!! My eyes will never be the same!!
Laura M.
I went to See & Be Seen by chance the first time around. I was thrilled with the level of customer service I received and the welcoming staff. From the wonderful receptionist who immediately made me feel like a friend to Dr. Patel who is very caring to the assistance i received in finding the best glasses possible. I couldn’t imagine having a better experience.
