My wife just had cataract surgery, as well as Lasik 30 years ago, with Dr. Mandel and got the best of care. I should know because I am a retired optometrist that also had lasik and cataract surgery with Dr. Mandel. I have referred hundreds of my patients to Dr. Mandel during my career for both cataract and lasik surgery and they have all received excellent care. They have a filled reception room of patients because the Bay Area knows he is one of the best surgeons in the area. I referred my ENTIRE family for lasik surgery and now my wife for cataract surgery because I wanted them to have the best possible eye care. Dr. Mandel is the best! read more

Optima Ophthalmic Medical Associates - My wife with Dr. Mandel at the cataract post up visit. My wife is a happy camper, her vision is super. - Laser Eye Surgery/Lasik Near Me - Hayward, California

I don't like writing a bad yelp review and this is the first time for me to do it as our experience with their office is so frustrating!!! It doesn't seem to matter what time of day you call this office -- no one ever answers the phone. Every call goes straight to voicemail with a message promising a return call, but that never happens (at least with our experience). Since January 5th, I have been trying to schedule a follow-up appointment for my mom after she missed her original appointment on 1/5/26 due to illness. My daughter and I have both called multiple times with no success in reaching a live person, and not a single call has been returned. I understand offices get busy, but completely ignoring patient's call is unacceptable. If you can't answer the phone, then at least be courteous and return calls. The lack of communication made me feel like they intentionally avoid answering, which is incredibly frustrating for a medical office where patients rely on timely care. This experience has been extremely disappointing and needs serious improvement. read more

Great people there, it's just they have poor operations. My appointment ran behind 30 min with no communication updates. Also, the next day I called to make another appointment. The automated system says they don't take calls between a certain time and to leave a message. I left a message but got the vibe I wouldn't get a call back in a timely manner, so I looked for their email. I guess they don't do email, so I went on their site and used the Contact Us form. Up to this day, I sit here in tears by my phone waiting for their call. read more

Exceptional Cataract Surgery Experience with Dr. Mandel and Team I am currently one week and one day post-op on my right eye and three days post-op on my left, and I can say without hesitation that this entire experience has been truly life-changing. I first visited Dr. Mandel and his outstanding team on April 3 for a comprehensive examination and consultation. Expect to spend a couple of hours at the office--they are extremely thorough. From the moment I arrived, the staff treated me with genuine care and professionalism. Every step of the process was explained in detail, leaving me fully informed and confident. At the conclusion of the exam, Dr. Mandel confirmed that I had cataracts and recommended surgical correction. My right eye surgery was scheduled for May 30. On the day of the procedure, I was impressed with the level of communication and care provided--not only by Dr. Mandel, but also by the care team and the anesthesiologist, Dr. G. I was awake during the surgery, but thanks to their expertise and calming approach, I felt completely relaxed. Most importantly, I experienced zero pain or discomfort--during or after the surgery. Everything was explained as it happened, so I was never left wondering what was going on. After the procedure, I went home, followed my eye drop regimen, and woke up the next morning seeing clearly with my right eye--without glasses. It was surreal and exciting to have one eye with crystal-clear vision while the other remained blurry. I returned for a check-up on Saturday, where Dr. Mandel confirmed everything looked great. I went back again on Monday, and the team gently cleaned my eyelashes from the drops and reassured me that healing was progressing beautifully. My left eye procedure followed the next Wednesday. As before, everything was communicated clearly and with care. This time, I experienced a bit more discomfort post-op, which I managed with ibuprofen and Refresh Plus eye drops every hour. At my next-day follow-up, Dr. Mandel placed a "bandage" contact lens to reduce irritation--what a game changer. The relief was almost immediate, and my eye felt much better afterward. It's worth mentioning that my boyfriend had LASIK with Dr. Mandel 13 years ago, and his experience was just as exceptional--which is part of why I felt so confident placing my trust in Dr. Mandel and his team. From start to finish, every part of this journey was handled with warmth, skill, and professionalism. I am beyond grateful for my improved vision and for the expert care I received throughout the process. If you're considering cataract surgery--or any vision correction procedure--I cannot recommend Dr. Mandel and his team highly enough. read more

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No one answers the appointment phone lines. I called Optima 3 different days In January 2026 and each time left a message that I needed to schedule an appointment with my Ophthalmologist. No one called me back. I called back and this time called the extension for billing. Billing personnel answered the phone. I asked to speak to the Office Manager (Kelly) and was given her extension (x330). I left messages for her on 2 separate days, and she never returned my call either. I called billing again and told them I wasn't getting a return call to schedule an appointment. Billing got my call through to appointments. When I finally got to see the physician I told her the difficulty I had to get to see her. She told me several of her patients had told her the same thing. I told her I wouldn't be back. When I was leaving I asked if Kelly the Office Manager was there. I was told Kelly only works a couple of days a month. I won't be coming back here. This lack of responsiveness is unprofessional. This is a medical clinic and patients should be a top priority. read more

This office is very hard to reach, and right when you think your call is being answered they hang up on you. The other problem is the wait time with an appointment. You'll sit in the waiting room 30-40mins past your appointment time only to move into a room where you wait an additional 10-15 mins. Would I recommend this place, absolutely not!!! I think it's abuse of the elderly's time. read more

My visit was quick, professional and enlightening. Miss Theresa (back office technician) was pleasant, detailed in collecting my eye concerns. Dr. K examined my eyes, reached a conclusion and give instructions. He set my mind at ease. I would recommend his services for lasik or opthalmic concerns. Thank you for treating me with respect! It's most appreciated. 3/10/25 appt. read more

My mom has to come here and unfortunately they have the worst attitude. Two times they bring her in with an appointment and forget about it. The front desk is so helpful in making you feel like your existence is the punishment for the sins of man. So condescending. If you can avoid this place...do read more

OPTIMA clinics for Cataract Surgery are owned and operated by Dr. Mark Mandel, MD. They have locations in Hayward, Castro Valley, San Jose and Concord. Dr. Mandel replaced my right cataract successfully, and I walked away without any bandage or damage after surgery. But when he conducted the surgery on my left eye on 11/30/2022 my left eye was smashed up and he had to flush it and bandage it. When I saw it after 5 days it was purple inside and out as if I had been punched in the eye. The redness lasted over 6 months and over a year later I still have blurred vision because Dr. Mandel screwed up my left eye during cataract surgery. Nonetheless, my medical record from Dr. Mandel does not mention the apparent injury to my eye during surgery. The left eye record is an exact copy of the right eye. Dr. Mandel has many other Optometrists who check your eyes after surgery, so he takes no direct responsibility when he screws up a surgery like he did with my left eye. My medical records show that he was being told in writing by other doctors at OPTIMA that my left eye had developed astigmatism. But Dr. Mandel refused to acknowledge that fact. Instead on May 1, 2022, 5 months after his screw up, Dr. Mandel asked me to come back after 3 months to see if the astigmatism would correct itself. Really? When I went back on August 23, 2022, Dr. Mandel told me there was nothing he could do for me. He prescribed eye drops and suggested I see other doctors. He refused further treatment. He has damaged my eye and later accused me in writing of not returning for Lasik treatment that he never offered. So besides being an incompetent eye surgeon Dr. Mandel is also a liar. Please check the OPTIMA grievance process before signing up for treatment with this outfit. You will discover that Dr. Mandel is also the Administrator of the OPTIMA grievance process. This is like making a convict his own judge and an indication that there are a lot of screw ups and by not having an independent grievance administrator, Dr. Mandel is obstructing any legitimate complaint about him. This is a huge conflict of interest. This surgeon calls himself a doctor of doctors. But he is anything but a real surgeon. He is a lot older than his pictures used in their marketing material and OPTIMA's marketing literature is also about 20 years outdated. The offices have seen better days and the equipment is not state of the art. Everything others have written about horrible service at OPTIMA clinics is correct. Dr. Mark Mandel conducts surgeries as if they are heart operations with 5-6 support staff and an anesthesiologist. But after so many years of experience and all that support, he still cannot get both eyes right. After paying him thousands of dollars I have ended up with blurred vision and having to spend more money to get Dr. Mandel's injury to my left eye corrected. Go to get treatment from Dr. Mandel at your own risk. read more

Optima Ophthalmic Medical Associates - How my left eye looked several days after surgery. The redness lasted over 6 months. - Laser Eye Surgery/Lasik Near Me - Hayward, California

I've been going to Dr. Shirin Barez at the Optima Hayward location for the past 2 years and wanted to write a review to thank her for her service! I appreciate her attention to detail and care when she administers my eye injections. She makes sure the procedure is painless and answers all of my questions and concerns. Dr. Barez and her team are professionals and I'm grateful for them! read more

They SUCK!!!! Front office staff is LAZY!! I've been in the dental field for over 30 years as an office manager...I go above and beyond to help my patients with prescriptions, billing, etc...this place could care less if you're out of a medication and they're the only ones that can fix it. I will add more details when I'm not so busy helping my patients as I am at work right now. read more

2 months ago I spoke on the phone with Elody at the front desk where she charged me $25 for my records. I had to follow up to get them to email me the records release despite them saying that they would send it "right now," and I still have not received my records. I confirmed receipt of the release with Linda Castro in December. Elody and I discussed whether a $25 fee for records was compliant with California law since I was requesting the records for myself. "The patient or patient's representative is entitled to copies of all or any portion of their records that he or she has a right to inspect, upon written request to the physician. The physician may charge a fee to defray the cost of copying, not to exceed 25 cents per page or 50 cents per page for records that are copied from microfilm, along with reasonable clerical costs. By law, a patient's records are defined as records relating to the health history, diagnosis, or condition of a patient, or relating to treatment provided or proposed to be provided to the patient. Physicians must provide patients with copies within 15 days of receipt of the request." California Health & Safety Code section 123100. The practice is very crowded and I have had to wait hours to be seen. read more

I wish to go with zero star, Appointments are terrible. You need to put a looooooong time for a call to just make an appointment. Not recommended read more

Besides all of the bad reviews which is a big red flag, my experience with just getting an appointment was terrible. When I had just gotten a referral for this place (meaning I'm not totally sure What my doctor requested) I called in to book an appointment. When I didn't know which department I wanted to book with (I've never heard of booking with specific departments for 1 optometry center) , instead of just looking at my doctors referral, she refused to help me further Until I could answer myself. When I did answer to the best of my ability, she replied with a snide comment "that's all I was asking for" and then proceeded to look me up and book my appointment a month away. This was my very first interaction with the office. I'll be calling my doctor to make sure it's my last. read more

My mother is 83 and went here ! She has had terrible experiences every time! In addition, she usually is made to wait a long time when she arrives for her appointment. It also appears they give her services she does not need. Be careful because this place is horrible trust me find another location. They just want to use her insurance!!!! The service and quality is horrible! read more

I am not sure why reviews do not get posted. I am very happy with the doctors and their assistants. I had two cataract surgery done here and have no complaints. The only improvement I suggest is a more friendlier receptionist staff and less waiting time. read more

If you like to wait for 2-3 hours you can come here no one answer you how many patients above you patients who come before they are gone I'm still waiting read more

This place called to reschedule 3 times already. 10 to 30 mins before the appointment. One of the time we were just parking and they called to reschedule. We had to move our schedule around and ask for days off. I don't think they care for their patients. They weren't even apologetic about it. I guess if you want to be seen by this place be ready to reschedule for about a few months then hopefully you'll been seen. The person who called seems to not care about anything and was quick to hang up. I don't recommend this place. read more

After reading some negative reviews I was nervous about having my cataract surgery at this location but was pleasantly surprised at what a great experience I had here. The waiting room was roomy with chairs located far apart because of Covid. The receptionist was quick at getting me checked in and very helpful. The wait time was not long every time I went and all the people I dealt with were super nice and friendly. The surgery was easy and painless. Dr Alberelli was very responsive in explaining everything and answering all my questions. My second post op visit was today and the vision in that eye is now 20/20 and I no longer need glasses. The other eye will be done in a few weeks and I am looking forward to it. I now highly recommend Optima and Dr Alberelli for cataract surgery! read more

Oh My God!!. How are these guys still in business with these shameful wait times? I took my mother for and eye check up and as she was a new patient we made sure all the documents were filled in and biggest mistake of ours that we reached 15 minutes before the appointment as requested by their staff. We had to wait for 2.5 hours and this is after the scheduled appointment time which we made 3 weeks in advance. I am still surprised that people are still seeing them and wanted to find out what was their sourcee of business even after the never heard of appointment wait times. What I found was that they do accept MeDICARE AND medi-cal and these insurances you are generally reffered out by rhw PCP. Now personally I already had a chat with my mother's PCP and insurance for a change of ophthalmologist. I wish there was a way that we as a consumer could do something about clinics like these which treat patients time as useless and are so inconsiderate about them. Have you ever seen a doctors office taking you in after 2.5 hours of there scheduled time and if not who is allowing such practices to flourish... read more

Optima Ophthalmic Medical Associates - You must read this especially where they mention the time they will need to take care of appointment. - Laser Eye Surgery/Lasik Near Me - Hayward, California

The most horrific experience today. Took my mother for cataract evaluation the appointment was at 1:45 and we waited till 4:30 to be told that nothing can be done by Dr. Mandel. At the time of checking was told by admission clerk that she did not have a referral when one was not needed because she had Medicare and medical then I was asked to Contact her doctor to get a referral.after 30 minutes was told that it was a mistake and a referral is not needed. Then we were seen by a clinician close to 3pm she was the only one who was kind.The techs where horrible they were having personal conversations and very rude handling my mother who has Alzheimer's. There was no compassion or training in dealing with disable patients. I will never return or recommend this place to anyone.An utter waste of time and energy. read more

Idk how patients can rate this office a 5 star unless they have a friend that works there. If I was given the option to give 0 I'm sure all the other 1 star reviews would have done so Worst place to go to they ask you come in on time and apparently get called in an hour later this has happened twice already I would not recommended this place to anyone because of their appointment scheduling is. Please stay away from this office. Also a customer has also complained in my time in the waiting to their staff and all she told them was that she will be called in shortly (30 mins later) Stay away from This place read more

If you're looking for quantity over quality, long waits, traveling to more than one location for tests, duplicate charges, incomprehensive bills, paying out of pocket for unnecessary technology and poor communication from your surgeon then this is the place for you. I'd like to mention a few things other reviewers haven't (yet): The pre appointment literature comes with a DVD you are required to watch. You even have to sign a statement that you watched it. I was even asked during the appointment if I watched it. I suspect they want this to take the place of actually answering questions in person. They advertise 4 locations. That does not mean the same services are available at all four locations. My initial appointment was made at the San Jose office. I was told I'd be there approximately 3 hours. I was happy to learn I was done after 1 1/2 hours until they told me while checking out that I had to go to the Hayward location for a different test and that they scheduled an appointment a week later. I found out later they charged me another co-pay for the second visit. Speaking of charges, I spent a few hours trying to figure out the bill including asking help from friends and spending a long time talking to my insurance company. Bottom line I owed Optima 1/4 of what they charged me. LenSX technology. Do your research. Once you get past all the glossy ophthalmologist websites you can find understandable studies/information that discuss pros and cons of the technology. You can also find recommendations on what the surgeons should charge and why. Medicare and insurance companies will pay for this IF it is not billed as a separate out of pocket charge. I discussed the technology with the surgeon I finally chose. He stated that more and more studies are coming out that show the surgery outcome using LenSX is worse than if it were done manually. Most cataract surgery requires ONE small incision. There is only one tiny segment of candidates who benefit from this technology. read more

Wonderful experience with OPTIMA Ophthalmic Medical Associates Inc. Doctor Shirin Barez MD was wonderful, professional, and compassionate with the treatment of a stubborn eye condition and its complications. Dr. Barez was excellent in referrals to specialists and surgeons as needed. The office staff was always helpful, kind, and friendly. They ensure everyone a smooth visit and follow-ups, while managing a busy office. All of the staff was great - they were helpful, patient and helped with my insurance and medication cost. I am so glad I chose OPTIMA and would highly recommend to anyone. read more

Dr. Mark Mandel made my dream of perfect vision a reality! I have been wearing contacts/glasses since I was 13 and have waited for the day that I can see! I did my research for years about different surgeons and had multiple consultations. I ultimately chose Dr.Mandel because my Optometrist recommended him. I almost fell to Ellis Eye Care because of the commercials, but was not happy with their consultation and style (outdated). I also considered UC Berkeley's Optometry Center, but also was not satisfied with the consultation. Dr.Mandel and his team exceeded my expectations- you get what you pay for and for my eyes, I refused to go cheap. read more

This place is horrible. Long wait time, nobody checks back on you,no updates...nothing! The staff is not helpful at all. Did i mention long wait times?! We were scheduled at 10:45am. We got called at 12pm just to get some eyedrops. Then waited 2 more hours just to get th3 procedure finally started. read more

I met with a female optometrist who couldn't see me (due to a mix up in care coordination). She assumed because I'm 36 that my vision wasn't THAT BAD in comparison to the 41 year old patient she seen before me that had vision problems due to a medical condition. She didn't even conduct an actual exam to determine the severity of my condition - she must have pulled this determination out of her ass (I hope that helped relieve some pressure for ya). This really hit a nerve with me because my vision is actually quite bad. I waited an hour to be seen only to be turned away and given the extra dialogue about other patient visits which is none of my business nor did I ask. I'm a healthcare operations professional of 15 years. My job was to identify where coordination of care broke down and develop processes to fix them. Having to experience this sucks because it shows our healthcare system is still broken and that AGEISM exists and was displayed by one of their providers. I'm totally offended and don't plan on returning to this practice. read more

I was very nervous about getting the crosslinking procedure done, but finally could because my insurance covered it. My provider (Cigna) was giving me the runaround saying they would only pay partial and then not cover meds, but Shay from Optima's billing department worked tirelessly on my part and the whole procedure and post OP meds were finally covered. Some one needs to give that woman a raise! read more

Without doubt the most poorly run medical office with which I've ever dealt. I don't know which is worse, the staff's incompetence or indifference. In the Bay Area where there are so many choices for health care, there is no reason to settle for the poor treatment you will receive here. Go somewhere else. read more

I had two Cadillac surgery they didn't take Allison to another doctor to cut my led he mess my led up no I wouldn't recommend them know

Simply the best!! Went in for my second eye surgey and it went just as well as my first!! The entire staff was friendly and very professional! My Dr is Tonya Alberelli, she is SO caring and very professional. I highly reccomend her to anyone! Surgery day; I was in and out within 3 hours. Follow up's appointments, again in and out! Also had a touch up laser surgery on my right eye a few weeks ago and they were able to do it same day, quick and easy!! Thank you to ALL the staff. You may read some reviews "complaining" about wait time in the lobby, but hey, it's your EYES... In my eyes, take all the time you need!! It's worth it!! read more

I've been coming to Optima for my yearly exams for years. Over this period, the wait time has became longer and longer to be seen by the doctor. I am not entirely sure of what kind of appointment system they have, but it's ridiculous! I've made an appointment and waited for 2.5hrs and still was not seen. Even though Dr. Barez is great, the overall office and customer service is terrible. You would think they would call patients and reschedule appointments if they are understaffed or if they scheduled too many appointments. Basically, you expect courtesy and consideration for people who have made an appointment and expect to be seen at the scheduled time. At the end of the day, unless you have the whole day to sit and wait for your eyes to be checked, than I say DO NOT COME TO OPTIMA!! read more

My husband went into Optima for some eye exams at the referral of his regular eye doctor. Before performing any tests, he asked the front desk personnel to confirm what costs, if any, the tests would incur under his insurance plan. He specifically asked them to confirm if the tests would be covered under preventative care, as these items are covered 100% by his plan. The woman at the front desk consulted with the billing department and came back to him with confirmation that he would see no charge for the tests and that they would be billed under preventative care. Well, a few months later we received a bill listing almost $300 in charges. After a call to the insurance company, it turns out these tests are not covered under preventative care. When we called Optima to ask them what happened, their billing department acted like we were lying about what their front desk staff had told him, saying they never bill anything under preventative care. They refused to reduce the bill at all, to admit fault for the mistake, or to help us understand why we should pay any balance at all when we were quoted it would all be free. Buyer beware, if you want to do business with these guys, you should ask them for exact billing codes and call your medical plan directly to confirm coverage, since clearly their front desk staff is not trained to answer basic questions about coverage and service costs accurately. read more

************* AWESOME!!!!! *********** Absolutely the best. The entire staff is super good. My mother had cataract surgery in both her eyes. At every step, the doctors and staff explained the necessary steps and care to be taken. The staff is courteous, polite and knowledgeable. The wait times are not bad (the longest we had to wait was about 45 minutes to an hour). But, most of the visits were done in 30 minutes or less. Dr. Mandel is one of a kind. Kudos to his expertise and knowledge. He is very soft spoken. Always greets with a smile (I can see his smile even when he was wearing the surgical mask). My mother speaks very little English. So, they let me in the surgery room for translation. Entire surgery took about 20-30 minutes. The post operative care and instructions are meticulous. Each surgery was followed by 2 follow-up visits and a final visit. I don't understand why people leave negative comments just for waiting a little long. You have to look at overall picture. read more

The doctors are world class but the administration is ridiculously terrible. They need a change in the office. I waited over an hour to see the dr. I have never had a billing done correctly Change your admin staff!!! read more

I'm not a fan of giving out 1 star reviews but I cannot excuse how this place runs its business. I had a 2pm appt on a Monday. I asked when I was checked in if they were running on time, the very nice receptionist assured me that I would be called very shortly. I have a full time job and little kids so timing is important to coordinate and give my boss a heads up. I waited over 2 hours to see the eye dr for a follow up appointment! Over 2 hours! I asked a few times how much longer and was assured I was next to be seen, but then they said there are three doctors working, so rooms were limited, that the dr was still with a patient. I at one point wondered if the doctor was actually working because they asked if I'd like to reschedule, after waiting an hour already. I'm still sitting in the waiting room 2 hours and 5 minutes later... still no doctor. The guy next to me had a 2pm appt also. I'm not sure how this place has stayed in business with practices like this. Still wondering if the doctor I'm booked with is actually here to see patients. Worst dr office experience ever. Ever. read more

Great doctors but the wait time is beyond ridiculous. 2+ hours after scheduled appointment time is simply unacceptable

You will waitttttttttt for a really really really really long Time, definitely find another alternative, but this is one of the only places that accept Medicare! Although, Dr shereen Beraz as an amazing doctor! Highly recommend her but not this shared office by numerous doctors! read more

I just tried calling this office (12pm) do they seriously take lunch until 2pm?! I've been to this location before and I've been with Dr. Barez for nearly two years and she just keeps prescribing me the same eye drops without a permanent fix. I see improvements but it never seems to last. Talk about milking my insurance...When I ask her about my condition she doesn't seem the least bit interested in explaining to me why I should even bother continuing to come to her for some eye drops and why I can't just do lasik eye surgery to fix the problem for good. read more

First, if you're debating whether to have LASIK, debate no longer! I had it performed yesterday, and woke up this morning to a crisp and vivid world -- amazing! As far as the surgeon, if I could give 6 stars to Dr. Mandel and his staff, I would! There was a point during the procedure when I saw only a faint green blinking light -- and Dr. Mandel calmly and confidently talked me through each step. At this moment, with my corneal flap literally in Dr. Mandel's hands, I thought how glad I was that I followed a friend's recommendation for the best, most qualified surgeon -- rather than the most advertised LASIK provider! I have never before posted on Yelp -- but I use the platform as a consumer. Reading Optima's "ratings" has compelled me to write this review. While some patients complain of longer waiting times, etc., I found the staff extremely caring, professional and informative. It is ironic, because dealing with my health, I wouldn't want to go to a doctor who had no waiting time -- the fact that so many people desire Optima's services is the highest form of flattery (in my view, the many patients is a positive sign, not otherwise). In short, for my LASIK procedure and follow-up, Dr. Mandel and staff showed extraordinary care and attention, and the outcome (my improved eyesight) is amazing -- it has far exceeded by expectations. If you are thinking about LASIK, or any other eye care procedure, I would put my trust in Optima...and Dr. Mandel. read more