Sound Retina has a geographical monopoly on an essential service to primarily older folks, providing monthly injections for Macular Degeneration. Since using Dr. Nelson and his company's service I have moved and gone to other Retina specialists, now living permanently in California Sound Retina was awful beyond belief. For my last injection prior to moving from Washington I went to a Retina specialist in Portland and it was like night and day.
Unlike Sound Retina (SR) the procedure at all other specialists take around ONE hour. SR made us wait Two and a Half Hours for each appointment. At other specialists the staff are helpful, have plenty of appointments and worked with MY schedule, the patient.
My third and final injection at SR was the Most Painful Injection I have ever had!! At SR three surgical treatments were stretched out over nearly five months from my first contact with them which was as quickly as I could get from them, LONGER than the pharmaceutical recommended intervals of four to five weeks. SR spaced my last appointment out FIFTY THREE DAYS apart! My fforth treatment was from an alternate provider thank God.
Although SR treats you nicely while you're there, I feel that the other two doctors CARED about me.
During the time I used S.R. my vision in the eye being treated drastically deteriorated. From the affected eye during SR treatment, while driving, the rear of an 18 wheel tractor trailer looked like a minivan.
S.R refused to use the drug Eylea which then cost around $1,850 per injection which was the first medication I received elsewhere and opted to use. SR used Avastin, then costing around $70 per dose, because my "insurance company would not pay for Eylea." Only after Monthss of begging for Eylea, did ONE SR employee reveal to me that if I change to straight Medicare Eylea would be approved. This took months to find out if I dropped my then current insurance plan and go straight Medicare Eylea is paid for.
I have seen two alternate specialists, who administer my treatments in appointments which take ONE HOUR. Sound Retina requires TWO AND A HALF HOUR appointments. My new providers also scheduled appointments closer together per drug manufacturer's recommendation.
At my last appointment with Dr. Banda of Sound Retina, to avoid the ridiculous wait between appointments I requested 1) in person with the Sound Retina snooty staff and 2)twice via email to Dr. Banda to modify appointments which Banda ignored. Hiding behind a snooty facade, SR cares about THEIR schedule, not the patients'.
Worse with Dr. Banda the results of my final SR treatment were exponentially more painful than other treatments. I used an ice pack throughout the day after the Banda treatment. After the anesthetic wore off Dr. Bandas' treatment hurt!, for hours.
My current retina specialist here in Marin County California is great and I suggest you look up my Yelp review for them, as was my excellent retina specialist in Portland. SR is by far the worst Retina specialist I have ever visited. Do yourself a favor and drive to Portland or anywhere else to find an alternative. read more