Dr. Elaine Chu, OD

Dr. Elaine Chu, OD

Optometrist
169 1st Ave, New York, NY
4.91
“Dr. Elaine is the best! She's thorough, caring, and clear. I always feel confident in my eye exam, contact fittings, and how to take care for my eye health. The office staff are all wonderful and efficient.”
Kayla F.March 27, 2026
Patients often return
More patients return than other providers in the area
Highly recommended
95% of patients gave this doctor 5 stars
Excellent wait time
99% of patients waited less than 30 minutes
New patient appointments
Appointments available for new patients on Zocdoc

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What patients are saying

Overall rating

4.91

Average wait time

4.83

Bedside manner

4.92
“Dr. Elaine is the best! She's thorough, caring, and clear. I always feel confident in my eye exam, contact fittings, and how to take care for my eye health. The office staff are all wonderful and efficient.”
Kayla F.March 27, 2026
“This was my first visit to Manhattan Eyeworks and I was impressed with the level of service I received. Dr. Chu was thorough, patient and answered all my questions. Office staff was helpful with my insurance and frames I brought in. They even repaired my current eyeglasses. Many thanks!”
Sandra W.February 18, 2026

About Dr. Elaine Chu

Dr. Elaine V. Chu is the full-time doctor at Manhattan Eyeworks in the East Village. She completed her undergraduate studies at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the State University of New York College of Optometry. Additionally, she completed an externship at the University of Miami.

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In-network insurances

99% of patients have successfully booked with these insurances
Aetna
BlueCross BlueShield
Cigna
Emblem Health
EyeMed
UnitedHealthcare
VSP
200+ more in-network plans

Popular visit reasons

Cataract Consultation
Computer Vision Syndrome
Contact Lenses
Double Vision
Eyeglasses
General Eye Consultation
General Eye Follow Up
Routine Eye Exam
Cataract Consultation
Computer Vision Syndrome
Contact Lenses
Double Vision

Office location

Manhattan Eyeworks
169 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

Education and background

Practice names

Education and training

  • State University of New York, Doctor of Optometry
  • University of Miami (Externship)
  • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Bachelor's)

Languages spoken

  • English
  • Spanish
  • Chinese (Mandarin)

Provider's gender

Female

NPI number

1285935205

Patient reviews

All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
4.91
Wait time
4.83
Bedside manner
4.92
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1990 reviews
Most relevant
Super friendly, helpful, great experience. Office staff even found my insurance when I couldn't find it fast.
Dr. Chu is an incredible listener and wants to get to the root of your concerns! She is an advocate for your health!
Verified patient
Super friendly staff. Punctual and quick. Dr. Chu was great. I just came in for an eye exam, but it was very comprehensive.
the doctor was very nice and explained everything very well. I would definitely recommend!
Verified patient
Dr Chu is an amazing specialist. It’s obvious that she cares for her patients. Thoroughly recommend.
Verified patient
I received a call 20 minutes before my appt saying the doctor called to say she wasn’t coming in. Very disappointing
Wonderful appointment! Everyone was super kind and efficient. Dr. Elaine Chou clearly cared about my eye health and needs.
Verified patient
Dr. Chu was super thorough and helpful! Very polite, kind, and clearly well educated.
Knowledgeable and clear communicator. Discussed options and approaches clearly. Attentive and answered all my questions.
Dr. Chu is a FANTASTIC doctor! She’s a great listener and really cares her about patients. I give her 5 stars!! ??????????
Great doctor and office. Dr. Chu is very knowledgeable, nice, and cool!
Verified patient
Dr. Chu is very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. She always goes above and beyond to present all of my options!
Verified patient
Everyone was really nice, and Dr. Chu really knows what she’s talking about, which is really assuring. Great vibes
Verified patient
Absolutely great experience, will be going back to her. She’s kind, attentive, and knowledgeable!
Dr. Chun was so helpful, friendly and amazing!! Loved her!!!
I’ve been going there for years. Dr Chu is excellent and the team at the store are all really friendly and helpful.
Verified patient
Great place. Friendly service and expert advice. I've been going for years.
Verified patient
Dr. Chu was incredibly thorough, friendly and professional. I really felt like I was in good hands.
Verified patient
I was so happy! She is thorough and knowledgeable. She was even sensitive to my budget. I will definitely see her for now on!
Verified patient
Dr chu is very thorough and takes her time to make sure you understand everything.
Dr. Chu was great! She was very thorough and listened to all of my concerns and taught me how to properly care for my vision.
Verified patient
Very helpful! Waited less than five minutes. Friendly staff. Will recommend to friends looking for an eye doctor in the city.
she was very professional, she explained thing to me and I understood what she was saying . I would recommend any one to her.
Verified patient
Dr. Chu was very professional, clearly explained each step of the exam, and knowledgeably addressed all the questions I have
Verified patient
Very professional, great patient ease, and excellent technology in the office. I already recommended her to several friends!
Verified patient
Great experience, very informative and really took the time to be sure that I understood everything that she was saying
Verified patient
Dr. Chu is the best. She always takes the time to answer my questions and provides thoughtful information to her patients.
Verified patient
Dr. Chu is so kind and sweet. I always look forward to my appointments because of her bedside manner. Highly recommended!
Verified patient
Dr. Chu is the best! She and the entire staff are so knowledgeable and friendly. Always a delight going to her office.
I've seen Dr Chu for several years, and will continue doing so.
Verified patient
Great experience. The doctor explained everything very clearly and made sure I was following along. Highly recommended.
Verified patient
Dr. Chu is a passionate and engaging optometrist, would recommend!
Verified patient
Dr. Chu is the best optometrist in NYC! Professional, knowledgeable, patient, and an absolute delight. Simply the best.
Verified patient
She was super attentive to my specific needs and helped me figure out exactly which contacts to get.
Verified patient
Elaine is fair and upfront with you on costs. She truly cares about the patient's quality, and I definitely recommend.
Verified patient
The best optometrist in NYC. Pleasant, professional, and highly knowledgable. It's always a pleasure visiting Dr. Chu!
Verified patient
Took her time with my annual exam, answered all my questions and was just overall pleasant and helpful. No wait time.
Verified patient
always a great communicator. gives options and thoroughly explains her thoughts.
Excellent visit - highly recommend. Dr. Chu was friendly and took the time to thoroughly explain what she was doing.
Verified patient
I’m very happy that I started seeing Dr. Chu! Her and her staff always make me feel comfortable and taken care of!
She was very personable, knowledgable and comfortable to talk to. Excellent staff, whom are all very communicative.
Verified patient
Very friendly, knowledgeable, highly competent, and happy to answer all questions! Would not hesitate to recommend!
Verified patient
Great doctor and very knowledgeable. The staff was great in the front and helped with whatever questions I needed.
She was thorough and explained everything! It really felt like she cared. I will definitely continue seeing her.
Verified patient
Wonderful experience. Dr. Chu took her time to examine and explain, even though I'd arrived very late.
Verified patient
Spent a lot of time educating me and going over everything with me, I was very happy with the service and care!
Verified patient
Dr. Chu and staff at Manhattan Eyeworks are amazing!!! They were thorough, professional and so kind!
Verified patient
Dr. Chu was very nice and made me feel comfortable. She was very thorough in answering my questions/concerns.
She was very nice, knowledgable and the appointment was quick! Will most definitely be going back next year.
Verified patient
She was awesome, she explains every detail of your eye exam. I highly recommend her for your next eye exam.
Verified patient
Frequently asked questions

How soon can I make an appointment with Dr. Elaine Chu?

Generally, Dr. Elaine Chu has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Dr. Chu's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.

Is Dr. Elaine Chu accepting new patients?

Dr. Elaine Chu generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Dr. Chu's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.

Does Dr. Elaine Chu accept my insurance?

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Can I make an appointment with Dr. Elaine Chu online?

Yes, you can make an appointment online with Dr. Chu using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.

What practice does Dr. Elaine Chu work with?

Where is Dr. Elaine Chu's office located?

Dr. Elaine Chu's office is located at 169 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003.

What are common reasons for patients to see Dr. Elaine Chu?

Dr. Elaine Chu frequently sees patients for Contact Lenses, Eyeglasses, General Eye Consultation, General Eye Follow Up, and Routine Eye Exam. You can see other visit reasons for Dr. Elaine Chu on their profile.

What languages does Dr. Elaine Chu speak?

Dr. Elaine Chu speaks English, Spanish, and Chinese (Mandarin).

How do patients rate Dr. Elaine Chu in reviews?

1990 patients have reviewed Dr. Elaine Chu. The overall rating for this doctor is 4.91/5. They have a 4.92/5 rating for bedside manner and a 4.83/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.