core eye care - core shopping centre
Our practice
Two optometrists and a small team who take time to explain your eyes. Serving downtown Calgary since 2016.
All About Core Eye Care
Core Eye Care is an optometry practice that genuinely cares about your eye health and vision, with care that feels personal, not rushed.
You can find us at: 751 3 St SW #332, Calgary, AB T2P 4K8, on the 3rd floor of the Core Shopping Centre, inside the LensCrafters.
At Core Eye Care, our optometrists offer the following eye care services:
- Comprehensive Eye Exams
- Eye Exams for Children (from 6 months of age)
- Eye Exams for Seniors (65 years and older)
- Contact Lens Exams and Fittings
- Diabetic Eye Exams
- Dry Eye Care
- Myopia Control
- Medical Eye Exams
- Eye Health / Disease
- Urgent Eye Care (when we can fit you in)
- LASIK and Surgical Co-Management
- Referrals to Ophthalmologists
We also direct bill the insurance companies listed on our Insurance page.
We welcome patients from across Calgary and the surrounding area, including Hillhurst, Killarney, Marda Loop, Spruce Cliff, Aspen Woods, and Springbank Hill.
Visit our downtown Calgary eye clinic, right off the C-Train line, by booking your appointment today.
How Core Eye Care Started
Dr. Cynthia Du started working at an optometry clinic in high school. That job set the direction for her career.
She opened Core Eye Care in 2016 to build a better environment for patients and staff than she had seen anywhere else, somewhere downtown Calgary could reach on a lunch break without cutting corners on the exam.
Dr. Du has taken that same care further afield. She volunteered on an eye care mission trip to Belize, helping 2,000+ people who didn’t have access to proper eye health care and examinations, with exams, glasses when needed, and referrals to a specialist.
What We Believe
We do not push sales, products, or unnecessary testing on our patients. We recommend what’s genuinely best for you.
That starts with where we practice. Core Eye Care operates inside a LensCrafters location, but we do not sell frames ourselves, so our team has no reason to push a purchase you don’t need.
That means:
- We walk you through your results in words that make sense, not jargon.
- We slow down for your questions, even the ones you think are silly.
- We’re extra gentle with nervous kids, and take extra time with seniors who deserve it.
We also stock a wide range of contact lens brands and use equipment that gives us a clear picture of your eye health. You can see all the details on the Technology and Products pages.
Meet Our Doctors
Dr. Cynthia Du
Optometrist
Dr. Du earned her Bachelor of Science in Visual Science and her Doctor of Optometry from Pacific University, where she graduated with honours and served as vice-president of her class.
She started working at an optometry clinic in high school, and that job set the direction for her career. She worked with LensCrafters from 2008 and opened Core Eye Care in 2016 to build a better environment for patients and staff than she had seen elsewhere.
Her clinical focus is dry eye and myopia control. She has also volunteered on an eye care mission trip to Belize, helping 2,000+ people who didn't have access to proper eye health care and examinations.
Outside the clinic, she enjoys golf, volleyball, travel and music festivals.
Dr. Alyshah Hassam
Optometrist
Dr. Hassam earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Calgary and her Doctor of Optometry (2022) from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry's Accelerated Scholars Program.
During her optometry training, she completed clinical placements in:
- Surgical co-management (Tampa, FL)
- Contact lenses (Orlando, FL)
- Pediatrics and binocular vision (Philadelphia, PA)
- Ocular disease (Bethel, AK)
Her clinical focus is myopia control, ocular disease and dry eye. She wants every patient to feel comfortable asking questions, explains things without being overly clinical, and fits solutions to each patient's lifestyle. She loves the problem-solving side of optometry and that the field keeps advancing.
Dr. Hassam is a member of the Canadian Association of Optometrists and the Alberta Association of Optometrists. Outside the clinic, you'll find her travelling, at the gym or Pilates, or trying a new restaurant.
Our Eye Clinic Staff
Donna
Donna is one of the friendly faces who helps you through pretesting at Core Eye Care, where she works part-time as an optometric assistant. She loves meeting new people, so don't be surprised if she asks about your day. Outside the clinic, you'll find her with family and friends (and her hedgehog), trying new food, hiking, or playing just about any sport.
Bridget
Bridget is new to optometry and works part-time as an optometric assistant at Core Eye Care. She has always loved helping people, and she brings that to every patient she sees through pretesting. When she's not at the clinic, she's outside with her dogs or looking for her next great meal.
Working With Your Insurance
We direct bill the insurance companies listed here, so you often don’t have to pay out of pocket and wait for reimbursement.
- Alberta Blue Cross
- Canada Life
- Chambers of Commerce Group
- Cigna
- CINUP
- Claim Secure
- The Cooperators
- Coughlin
- Cowan
- Desjardins
- Empire Life
- Equitable Life
- First Canadian
- Green Shield
- Group Health
- Group Medical Services (GMS)
- Group Source
- Industrial Alliance
- Johnson Insurance
- Johnston Group Inc.
- Manion
- Manulife
- Maximum Benefit
- MDM Insurance Services Inc
- Medavie
- NexGen
- PBAS
- People Corporation
- RWAN
- Simply Benefits
- SSQ Insurance
- Sun Life
- Telus AdjudiCare
come Visit Us at core eye care
Core Eye Care is easy to reach on a break from work, an errand downtown, or a drive in from across Calgary and the surrounding area. For the full address, parking, and transit details, see the Our Location page.
Driving in? The underground lot gives you 1 hour of free parking, or 3 hours free after 3:00 p.m.
Taking transit? The CTrain connects right to the mall.
Ready for an eye exam, or want to talk to us about dry eye? Book an appointment with Dr. Du or Dr. Hassam today.