Lam Joy OD
37 Bovet Rd,
San Mateo, CA

I have been going to Dr Lam for my eye care needs for over 5 years now, and I can not rave about her and the office enough!!!! I have transitioned my entire family to her care for yearly exams and more difficult issues such as CRTs and dry eye treatments. All of which Dr Lam has help tweak to better fit our needs than previous eye care providers. Her front office is also so welcoming and very knowledgeable about what glasses suit my face. The only problem is it’s really hard for me to choose with all their fabulous frames!

Great service all around. Nice eyewear selection and front desk team are knowledgeable and everyone is friendly. I’ve been seeing Dr. Joy Lam for dry eye treatments. I’ve had tons of eye doctors and no one helped to treat the source of my dry eye outside of trying to prescribe medicated drops that don’t work for me. It’s an issue I’ve had for over 10 years due to previous LASIK and 8-10 hrs on the computer for work everyday. Come to find out Dr. Lam is very knowledgeable in this specific area and has treatments to help prevent oil gland loss in the eyes. Her prescribed daily eye care routine and supplemental treatments have helped and likely saved my eyes in the long run from severe discomfort. If you have constant dry eye, eye fatigue, soreness, etc. it’s worth visiting her for a consultation.

IPL works on dry eyes. It did for mine. Post treatment, it doesn’t hurt to open my eyes in the morning anymore. Substantial reduction of scratchy and dry eyes. Grateful for results. Shout out to Dr. Joy for incidental pore size reduction!🙂. …

I definitely recommend Dr. Lam if you’re looking for a new optometrist! We’ve been seeing her for our annual eye exams since 2017 and never thought of switching providers, even after she moved office locations. Dr. Lam is always very warm and caring. Her eye exams are thorough and never rushed. And maybe most importantly we’re always very happy with the new prescriptions each year, especially compared to previous prescriptions from other providers that did not correct well for astigmatism.

I moved to NorCal and started coming here for my annual eye exams, and I’ve kept coming back ever since. Dr. Joy Lam is incredibly thorough, thoughtful, and genuinely cares about her patients and their long-term eye health. She takes the time to explain what’s actually going on with your eyes instead of rushing you through the appointment, which I really appreciate. I originally came in for my routine glasses exams (even got some new frames here) and eventually decided to try contacts. Dr. Lam was honestly the best “contact lens coach” I could have asked for. If you’ve ever tried putting contacts in for the first time, you know it can feel like a full sport… but she was patient, encouraging, and made sure I felt confident before I left. She’s also helped me navigate dry eye issues, which can be frustrating, and I always feel like she’s thinking about the bigger picture rather than just offering quick fixes. The staff here are also wonderful — kind, welcoming, and just really pleasant to interact with. The whole office has a calm, positive energy that makes the experience easy from start to finish. You can tell this practice is run with a lot of care. I’m really grateful to have found Dr. Lam and the team here and would absolutely recommend them.

Dr Lam is not only an exceptional doctor she’s an exceptional human being extremely personable, knowledgeable and truly professional. I highly recommend her incredible service, human touch and care. I walked into her office with no appointment nor clue of having an exam and purchasing three pair of glasses two sunglasses and a pair of readers. Since she’s become my eye care physician treating dry eye symptoms after two visits my eyes are at least 50% improved I’m truly grateful for the thorough treatment and eye care, the services are simply outstanding.

I recently visited “ Site for Sore Eyes- Palo Alto “ for my annual eye exam, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the experience! Doctor Joy Lam was incredibly thorough, professional, and attentive to my needs. She took the time to understand my daily routine and suggested a fantastic solution: Two pairs of glasses tailored to my lifestyle—one pair optimized for computer work, with a prescription adjusted for close-up tasks about two feet away, and another pair for driving and other activities requiring sharper distance vision. This personalized approach has made such a difference in my comfort and clarity! I used to experience headaches and sometimes migraines almost on daily basis and these would usually start around 4-5pm (after a long day of working on front of the computer) but with this new “close-up” prescription (I don’t quite remember the technical term for this correction , what I do know, is that it works!) I now can’t remember the last time I had a headache and if I did, it was probably due to staying up late. Also, during my last visit- The entire staff was friendly, and the appointment was efficient yet unrushed. I truly appreciated the doctor’s expertise and innovative recommendations. I highly recommend this practice to anyone looking for top-notch eye care!

Dr. Lam and the staff at Refine Optometry are fantastic! I was using old two-week contact lenses and Dr. Lam switched me to daily disposables, taking the time to explain how they were much better for the health of my eyes, reducing the risk of dry eyes, infections, and many other problems. Also, for a while I was having headaches while using my old glasses. Dr. Lam took the time to give me a comprehensive eye exam and listen to my story, and thought I might do better with a dual focus lens. Now my headaches are gone and I love my new glasses! Even better, the staff at her office went above and beyond helping me pick out my new lenses. They were kind, patient, and super helpful with giving me tips and useful feedback. I would highly recommend Dr. Lam and Refine for all your eyecare needs! One of the best eye doctors around!

Dr Joy Lam is amazing -- she's effective and can work well with patients of all ages (she's great with my 6 y/o and also sees my parents in their 70s as her patients).

Dr. Lam is one of the kindest and most hardworking doctors I’ve ever met! She really took the time to understand my dry eye condition, and was meticulous in carrying out her dry eye care treatments (IPL, expression, TearCare). Each appointment with her brought me so much relief! I have seen other dry eye specialists for similar treatments, and those results pale in comparison to Dr. Lam's. I was feeling so hopeless before, and her help has gone a long way toward making my eyes feel more “normal”. Finally, Dr. Lam is so responsive over email and phone to concerns or questions I have post-treatment, or with any general questions about eye discomfort. Her staff is also so caring and responsive to my questions about glasses and anything else regarding eye-care. I feel very lucky and blessed to have met her.

Dr Lam is simply amazing! I took my two kids (ages 4 and 8) in for their first vision check up at her Palo Alto location and everything went smoothly. Parking was easy, check in was quick and the appointment started on time. She was warm and welcoming to my kids who were nervous and shy, and even with their hesitation, she was efficient and got thru all her tests without any issues. I’ve also done my own vision check ups with her, and every experience has been consistently great. I appreciate how she explains things simply for me (a non-scientific person who has zero medial background), especially when it comes to explaining how to best support my kids and their eye health. I’m super impressed — Would recommend her to anyone!

I picked up two pairs of glasses at Refine Optometry after a thorough and efficient eye exam with Dr. Lam. There was a wide variety of glasses to choose from and the staff helped steer my frame selection from basic NPC to giving zaddy vibes. Will definitely be returning for my regular eye check ups and the latest eye-wear drip!

Went to Dr.Lam for several IPL dry eye treatments. She was always super responsive, courteous, and answered all of my pre and post-procedure questions thoroughly. She is great and would highly recommend!

’ve been seeing Dr. Joy Lam for my annual eye exams for many years, and she continues to exceed expectations. Dr. Lam is incredibly warm, detail-oriented, and consistently goes above and beyond to make her patients feel comfortable and genuinely cared for. Her thorough approach and personal touch create an experience that is both professional and welcoming. I always leave my appointments confident in the care I’ve received. If you’re looking for an optometrist who truly prioritizes her patients, I highly recommend Dr. Lam!

I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Dr. Joy Lam for my eye care needs, and I can confidently say she is one of the best optometrists I’ve encountered. From the moment you walk into her office, you feel well taken care of — the environment is professional, clean, and welcoming. Dr. Lam is incredibly knowledgeable and takes the time to explain everything clearly, from your prescription details to long-term eye health considerations. What really sets her apart is her proactive approach. She doesn’t just address current concerns — she looks ahead, helping you understand how to maintain and even improve your vision over time. She asks thoughtful questions, listens carefully, and customizes her care to suit your specific needs. You never feel rushed, and she ensures all your questions are answered. Whether it’s a routine exam or addressing a specific concern, Dr. Lam handles it with thoroughness and professionalism. I highly recommend Dr. Lam to anyone looking for an optometrist who is not only excellent at what she does but genuinely cares about her patients' well-being. You’ll be in very capable hands.

I recently visited Refine Optometry with Dr. Joy Lam for a contact lens fitting and eye exam, and it was outstanding. She performed a thorough eye health assessment and explained how beneficial computer glasses would be for me. The staff was very knowledgeable, ensuring I get the best coverage for frames and contact lens with my insurance. Throughout this whole process, everyone was friendly and professional. I left feeling confident, informed, and with perfect vision. Highly recommend Dr. Joy Lam if you want personalized, expert care and a seamless experience.

I’ve been going to Dr Joy for many years and she does a wonderful job helping me care for my eye sight. She’s very knowledgeable on the latest contact lens technology and moves me up to better comfort and sight when possible. She has a great personality and I always feel well taken care of.

I met Dr. Lam about 13 years ago as a new patient at another practice. I liked her so much I followed her up and down the SF peninsula, moving to each of her new practices since then. From the first couple of times she treated me, I knew she was a keeper - not only as a provider of my health but also as a personal friend. Dr. Lam is incredibly down-to-earth, kind, and genuinely cares about her patients. Having an autoimmune issue and a family history of eye disorders, throughout the years Dr. Lam ensured that my eyes were examined carefully and thoroughly for any signs of forthcoming issues and always informed me about the latest technology and advances to slow down the inevitable. Dr. Lam is really the best, any patient is lucky to be under her care.

Dr. Joy Lam is incredibly knowledgeable, and consistently shows attention to detail. The approach that she takes is incredible. Her questions to get to know more about my lifestyle and vision needs was refreshing. I feel supported and truly cared for during my appointments.

Dr Lam is such a gem and knows the best and newest technologies to get my eyes working to the best of their ability! She and Danielle also make sure I have the best glassses & lenses and it's made such a difference in my life. The dry eye tech she uses and even the lenses they use in my glasses have made sure my eyesight is the best it can be, and her IPL work even helped with my skin! She also is empathetic to my needs in terms of the kind of vision I aim for and has helped with my kids check ups as well! She always goes above and beyond to make sure we have the best experience and I'm grateful for her presence in the bay area.

I had a great experience with Dr. Lam. They took my VSP insurance and I got a nice pair of glasses.