Avoid Torga Optical Kolonnade – A Costly and Frustrating Experience

Avoid Torga Optical Kolonnade – A Costly and Frustrating Experience

This review has been a long time coming, and I can no longer stay silent. I strongly advise anyone considering Torga Optical Kolonnade to think twice. While I can't speak for other branches, my experience with this one has been a repeated waste of time and money over the past few years.

Prior to 2020, I had no complaints. The service was decent, and I was satisfied with what I received. However, since then, things have gone downhill dramatically, turning into what I can only describe as a costly disappointment.

First Incident – September 2022 I had an eye test and ordered new lenses, using my own frame. Upon receiving the glasses, I experienced severe eye pain within just four hours of use. Due to work commitments, it was difficult to return immediately, but when I did, I was told the lenses were fine. They remade them without thinning, but the problem persisted. Unfortunately, I couldn't return again in time for another adjustment, and I ended up losing over R3,000 on unusable glasses.

Second Incident – May 2024 Despite my previous experience, I gave them another chance. A different optometrist discovered during the exam that the BCC (Binocular Cross Cylinder) on my 2022 lenses had been completely wrong. Again, I provided my own frame, received the glasses, and wore them for two days. On the third morning, I woke up to find that the frame had cracked inside its protective case—no external damage, no misuse. Unsurprisingly, they refused to fix it. Another R3,000 lost.

Third Incident – March 2025 Still needing functional glasses, I ordered the same frame model. When I received it, I noticed the sample/demo lenses were about 2mm narrower than the actual prescription lenses they later inserted. I returned to Torga Kolonnade and asked about resizing the lenses properly. They assured me it was a free service and said they would fix it.

Less than an hour later, I picked them up. On the drive home—just 20 minutes—the frame snapped again before I even got into the house. I compared the lenses with the demo ones and found they hadn't resized anything. They had simply forced oversized lenses into the frame again, just like before.

Final Thoughts I am now R7,000 out of pocket, with two broken frames and unusable lenses. If you're considering Torga Optical Kolonnade, be warned: my experience has been unacceptable at best and negligent at worst.

If you value your money and your eyesight, I recommend finding an optometrist who genuinely cares about their work and their clients.