James Hughes, OD in Oklahoma City: Specialty Contact Lens Practice with a Retail Component
The Eye Gallery, operated by optometrist James Hughes, OD, is a small-scale practice in Oklahoma City that combines general eye exams with a focus on specialty contact lens fitting and an on-site eyewear retail operation. The practice occupies a niche between high-volume chain optometry and medical eye care, serving patients who need contact lens expertise beyond standard fitting and those who want the convenience of purchasing frames and lenses on-site.
What The Eye Gallery actually is
The Eye Gallery functions as a dual-purpose optometry office: a prescription-writing practice and a retail optical shop under one roof. Hughes holds an Oklahoma optometry license and conducts comprehensive eye exams, including vision screening, eye pressure checks, and refraction. The retail side stocks frames and finished lenses for immediate purchase or ordering. The emphasis on specialty contact lens fitting distinguishes it from general-practice optometrists and from large chains like Visionworks or LensCrafters that prioritize high-volume standard lens sales over extended fitting consultations.
Services and pricing
The Eye Gallery performs standard comprehensive eye exams at rates typical for independent Oklahoma City optometrists. Contact lens exams, which involve additional measurements (corneal curvature, topography, pupil size) and trial lens fits, command a higher fee, typically $40 to $80 above a standard exam, depending on lens complexity. Specialty lenses (scleral, rigid gas permeable, keratoconus-specific, or multifocal contact lenses) require longer appointment times and carry fitting fees ranging from $100 to $300 per eye, reflecting the additional expertise and lens inventory required. Frame prices at the retail counter run from approximately $150 to $400 for contemporary brands; single-vision lenses start around $80 to $120 per pair, progressive lenses around $250 to $450. Confirm current pricing when calling, as optical retail pricing shifts seasonally and with promotions.
How it compares to other Oklahoma City optometrists
The Eye Gallery's specialty contact lens focus sets it apart from high-volume chains (Visionworks, LensCrafters, Costco Optical) that prioritize speed and volume discount, often limiting their inventory to soft lenses and spherical corrections. Those chains suit patients needing a quick exam and standard frames; their optometrists have less time per patient. Conversely, larger medical eye-care groups affiliated with ophthalmology practices (such as those within Dean McGee Eye Institute or Oklahoma Ophthalmology Associates) prioritize disease diagnosis and surgical referral, not retail sales or specialty contact lens fitting. The Eye Gallery occupies the middle: a practitioner with time to spend on difficult fits and a shop attached, eliminating the friction of going elsewhere to buy the lenses Hughes specifies. For patients with corneal irregularities, high prescriptions, presbyopia requiring customized multifocals, or previous contact lens failures, The Eye Gallery's model offers depth unavailable at big-box optometry.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
The Eye Gallery suits patients seeking extended contact lens consultation, those with complex vision needs (astigmatism, keratoconus, post-LASIK corneas), presbyopic patients requiring custom lens solutions, and individuals who value finishing their visit with frames and lenses in hand. It also serves patients who develop problems with standard lenses fitted elsewhere and need a practitioner willing to investigate and refit. It does not suit those prioritizing rock-bottom prices (discount chains and Costco have structural cost advantages) or patients requiring same-day contact lens refills for common prescriptions (inventory depth may vary). It is not a full-service ophthalmology practice and does not perform surgery or treat serious eye disease; patients with cataracts, glaucoma, or retinal conditions should expect a referral to a medical eye-care physician.
What the first visit involves
On a first visit for a general exam, expect a full history intake, automated refraction, manual refraction with trial frames, and eye pressure and health assessment. If you are inquiring about specialty contact lenses or are a previous wearer with problems, allow 60 to 90 minutes. Hughes will perform topography and measure pupil size and corneal diameter. You will trial lenses in the office; this trial-and-adjust cycle is central to specialty fitting and cannot be rushed. If you find a comfortable lens, you may order through the practice or receive a prescription to take elsewhere (a few patients do). The retail shop is accessible during and after the exam; frame selection and lens ordering occur at this stage.
Hours, parking, and logistics
The Eye Gallery operates as an independent practice with limited public parking typical of older Oklahoma City retail strips. Confirm hours before visiting; optometry practices in Oklahoma City frequently adjust appointment schedules seasonally. Most practitioners in the state are open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with one evening per week and minimal Saturday availability, though The Eye Gallery's specific schedule requires a phone confirmation. Insurance billing is standard; most major plans are accepted, though out-of-network costs apply to some patients. Call ahead to verify coverage and ask whether your plan covers specialty contact lens fitting (some plans limit coverage to basic exams and standard lenses).
The Eye Gallery fills a gap in Oklahoma City optometry by adding expertise in lens fitting that chains overlook and retail convenience that medical practices avoid. For patients with difficult prescriptions or lens-fitting histories, it is one of a handful of practices in the metro area equipped to solve the problem.
