Namdaemun optician for eye strain and dizziness: Angyeonggwa Saradeul

Why I chose Angyeonggwa Saradeul on Namdaemun's eyewear street

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Namdaemun Market? Tasty, varied street food and the bustling, homey market scenery come to mind, but honestly, one of the most famous things about Namdaemun is its "eyewear street," right?

After checking out several optical shops and going back and forth, the place I finally visited was Angyeonggwa Saradeul (안경과사람들). Before going, I was a little worried about getting lost on my first visit, since the Namdaemun Market alleys are so tangled and full of shops. But once I got there, the location was so good that even someone with a terrible sense of direction like me found it in one go.

How to get there from Hoehyeon Station

Angyeonggwa Saradeul sits right across from the Mesa parking lot entrance near Hoehyeon Station, so it stands out even from far away. If you come by public transport, just get off at Hoehyeon Station and look for the parking entrance of the Mesa building, and you'll find it really easily.

My old glasses were quite worn out, and lately my eyes had been tired and I'd sometimes felt a bit dizzy, so I'd been thinking I needed new glasses. I considered a local optician, but Namdaemun's eyewear street has far more variety and is easier on the wallet, so I picked a day yesterday and made the trip.

Just how many frames are there?

The first thing I thought when I stepped inside was, "Wow, there are so many glasses!" The shop was well organized, even among the Namdaemun eyewear street shops, and the frame lineup was hugely varied. From light, easy daily frames to trendy horn-rim frames and luxurious brand-style designs, it was a lot of fun to browse them one by one.

Kids' frames too

It's not just adult glasses, either. There were plenty of colorful, cute frames for kids. These days a lot of children start wearing glasses early because of media exposure, and the range of choices to suit a child's face shape and taste looked wide.

The sunglasses lineup

The sunglasses selection was just as varied, from stylish fashion sunglasses for adults to functional sunglasses with reliable UV protection. It struck me as a great place to come sunglasses shopping before the summer vacation season.

How does the eye exam go?

One of the things I was happiest with on this visit was the eye exam system. Design matters when you get glasses, but what matters most is how accurately they find the right prescription for you. Angyeonggwa Saradeul has good, up-to-date exam equipment. It goes well beyond swapping lenses and reading letters: the machine measures the condition of my eyes and how my vision changes very precisely, so I trusted it much more.

The owner was really kind and warm-looking, and made the whole exam feel relaxed. He asked carefully whether I look at a computer a lot and what had bothered me about wearing glasses, then recommended lenses that fit my daily habits.

Frame recommendations for your face shape, and fitting

When picking frames, he didn't just push the expensive ones. He honestly and warmly suggested styles that suit my face shape and skin tone, so I could choose frames I loved without any pressure. Thanks to his kind explanations I understood my eye condition better, and I also picked up plenty of tips on caring for and wearing glasses.

Because everything from the exam to the frame fitting was done so carefully, I ended up with a light pair that fits my face perfectly. With the new glasses I felt no dizziness at all, and the world looked really bright and clear, so I was in a great mood the whole way home.

Who I'd recommend it to

• Anyone looking for a good-value shop with lots of frames on Namdaemun's eyewear street
• Anyone who needs a friendly place that also does professional eye exams
• Anyone who wants to get glasses for the whole family at once, from kids' frames to adult sunglasses

I really want to recommend Angyeonggwa Saradeul, right in front of the Mesa parking lot entrance near Hoehyeon Station! Take care of your eye health, and I hope you find glasses you love!