I was a patient for nine years, mostly because my wife worked there. I didn't receive free care. My insurance covered most of the bills. In general, optometrists do a good job of prescribing glasses and contacts. I've been happy with the prescriptions. I didn't have them make glasses for me. Their optical department prices are unaffordable for me.
My biggest problem came when I developed glaucoma. An optometrist measured my eye pressure (he only measured one eye!) and diagnosed the condition. At that point, he should have measured both eyes and then referred me to a qualified ophthalmologist. Instead he tried to treat it himself. The optometrists seem to believe they are qualified to treat glaucoma. Based on my experience, they're not.
I spent months under the "care" of the optometrist with no reduction in eye pressure. He kept trying different eye drops. Meanwhile, I was losing my vision. Finally, when most of the damage was done and I had only 15% of my vision left, he suggested that I see an ophthalmologist.
I didn't accept his referral. I'm not stupid! I contacted my MD and was referred to an ophthalmologist who specializes in glaucoma. Within a few weeks, my pressure was down, and my vision stopped decreasing.
Had the optometrists at Arbor Eyecare (they changed names a few months ago) been less concerned about collecting money from my health insurance and more concerned about my vision, they would have immediately referred me to the specialist qualified to handle this very serious disease.
Part of it was my fault for blindly accepting their claims about treating medical conditions. My experience was tragic. I can no longer drive, my balance is off because I can only see a narrow slice of what's in front of me, I've lost most of my ability to see colors. I can't say for sure, but based on what my real doctors told me, I would have saved most of my vision if I was properly referred as soon as my condition was diagnosed.
The people at Arbor diagnosed my problem correctly. I give them credit for that. Their ego and greed cost me most of my eyesight. Beware.
This is just my view of what happened. No one can say for sure what the outcome would have been if I had been properly referred. I'm certain it would have been better. read more
