With a new insurance provider, I was given a list of "local" optometrists to choose from. One of my friends recommended Vansuch, because they've been around for such a long time.
I set an appointment (which took a couple of weeks), and showed up for my appointment early, knowing that I was going to have to fill out paperwork - which I did.
After getting the initial eye exam bits (the parts that don't require an OD) done, I saw Dr. Vansuch, and he was professional, understanding, and we did the optometrist "which is better A or B" dance. It was all professional up to that point.
Then I had to go get fitted for my glasses, and that's where things ... changed.
The lady who helped me out got me all set up for my prescription by helping me choose frames - they wouldn't take my existing frames (which I brought with me). I had to choose from a very limited set of frames, and made the "least like BCGs" choice available. I told her I didn't want black frames.
I got black frames.
We then looked at my prescription, which called for bifocals. My current lenses are progressives, and I really like them because they're no-line lenses that change nicely from far to near- vision. I then showed the lady my current glasses which have a Transitions layer, so they change from clear (inside) to tinted (outside). I said I'd like my lenses to be like the ones I'm used to - even though they're going to be in different frames; progressives lenses with the transitions layer. I was told my insurance wouldn't cover that - and I wasn't allowed to pay for it out of pocket.
I got clear bifocals.
They put in my order and said delivery would be 2-4 weeks, which changed to 4-6 weeks by the time I got out the door, and that they'd call me.
After THREE (3) months went by, I showed up at the office and asked where my glasses were. They said "sometimes they take longer," but that they'd check on it and give me a call.
Receiving no call, I went back a couple of weeks later, and finally got my glasses.
And they were wrong. The bifocal part started too high; I had to tilt my head down in order see anything distant in focus, so I looked like Wolverine when I was driving: very, very angry all the time.
So I took them back, and told the unfriendly girl at the front desk that my glasses needed to be fixed. She said I'd have to set an appointment, and the soonest was two weeks out. TWO WEEKS!
I showed up on time for my appointment and got another prescription from the doctor. Then went out to have the glasses 'adjusted.' Adjustment in optometrist-talk is "put two dots on the lenses, figure out where the bifocal part starts, and then sent them out to have new lenses made."
So ... my glasses went BACK out to be remade. I was told it would be 6-8 weeks before my new glasses came back. I asked if there was any way to make it quicker, since I'd already been waiting almost five months for my glasses. They said no.
Two and a half months later, I started dropping by the office to see if my glasses had come in. Ten days or so later, I finally - FINALLY - got my glasses. And - just to be clear - the office didn't call me to let me know the glasses were in. It's like they have no interest in contacting their patients.
Now, mind you, the "fitting" part - to make sure the glasses were right - was handing the glasses to me through the front door while I was outside and thanking me for picking them up.
These new glasses - with the new lenses - are barely usable. In fact, the hinge on the left side of the glasses has seized and cannot be folded any longer. I've had these new glasses for about a month.
So, to sum up: after almost a YEAR I finally got a barely usable pair of glasses. The optometrist was great, but the office staff, service, length of time to get the glasses, and general attitude towards me - the customer - was abysmal. The two-star rating was because of the prescription - not because of the office staff.
There are six other places to get glasses within a couple of miles of this office, I'd recommend using them. I know I certainly will! read more
