Dr Megan Tholen is the best. She is thorough and caring. She explains everything, and spends quality time evaluating each patient. The staff is attentive and helpful. Everyone in the office is professional and welcoming. read more

I have been going to eye care associates for over 20 years and would not go anywhere else Barbara and her staff have been nothing but friendly and professional I would and do recommend them to all I know who might be looking for a good and honest optometrist read more

*Update* I have eye problems from a stroke that go way beyond a "normal" eye exam. For just simple blurry vision, he is great. If you have any problems with peripheral vision, vertigo, headaches, balance problems or eye alignment then I suggest you go to Optometry Center for Vision Development in Westlake. End of Update: I met with Mark 7 months post stroke because my rehab facility said he has been a great resource for many of their patients. He provided the most thorough eye exam I have ever had and he told me things no previous provider ever did. Very knowledgeable, caring and great office staff. read more

My family will not return here. The office staff is incredibly rude, as other reviewers have noted. My husband's glasses were ordered wrong and he had to wait for another pair. The lenses of my glasses were such low grade material that they were unwearable within 6 months and I had to revert to my former pair. I was switched from daily contact lenses to monthlies and I have developed severe sight and comfort issues from them with only occasional use. I contacted the office and left messages which took days to return. When I finally did reach someone, she was so unbelievably rude and said I would have to wait until my next annual eye exam because it had been too long since my last appointment. After arguing with her, I was told she would check with the doctor and get back to me. So another person called me back, reiterated the "it's been too long" statement, but agreed to book me a follow up. I arrive for the appointment on time, and yet again...the rudeness, whispering complaints just out of earshot, and comments about the length of time since my last visit... which frankly, I don't understand if YOUR PATIENT IS TELLING YOU THEY CANT SEE. Rude, unprofessional, unhelpful. read more

The Tholen family of optometrists is THE BEST OPTOMETRIST BUSINESS IN ALL OF TEXAS! I am grateful to have the privilege of being well cared for by Dr's Mark, Barbara and Megan Tholen. They genuinely have provided me the most comprehensive eye exams, I have ever experienced. They are certified for post-op care, after cataract surgery, which was a blessing for myself, as they are so close to home. They are all, highly trained with a combined experience of over 70 years. The optician, Daniel is very helpful, knowledgeable and experienced. The front desk staff, also, are very helpful, especially with insurance. We are SO FORTUNATE to have this family practice, here, in the fine establishment of Dripping Springs, Texas! God Bless Texas! read more

Start to finish this business is absolutely a wreck. I called to make an appointment back in mid April, I called letting them know I could not mask, but happy to take a temperature etc. I was told that was completely fine as long as I was the first or last client there. Okay, no problem. Then I was told I had to wait until June 2nd for an appointment, again I was willing to wait, as I had a medical exemption and realized that they were accommodating me. I call back 2 days ago (over a month later) just to confirm my appointment & status, since I have had to wait so long, just wanted to make sure I was set to go. So I call over and get the "office manager" Susie, who right off the bat was simply rude, and has no business in customer service. I explained the situation, and simply asked her to verify the appointment, she tells me no matter what I have to wear a mask. I asked her why I was told completely different information, and also reminded her how long I had been waiting. Not sure how much she actually heard since she was talking over me the entire time. Said she'd call me back after she spoke with the doctors. Okay, so I get a call back from Susie, she delightfully tells me that she's right and I can't come in, again, I asked why I was told a completely different story initially. Apparently the doctors were out of town, and an employee made that procedure up?!? What?!? As the office manager you'd think she's have some sort of sense to what customer service means. Susie was downright rude, continually talked over me, and had no alternative options for me. Perhaps they should put a sign up stating they are not adhering to CDC or state guidelines? Wanted to support a local business but if this mess is any indication of the service they provide I would steer clear. California sounds like it may be a better fit for this business, and Dear Susie. read more

The Tholens seem to genuinely care about their patient's eye health. My son and I will continue to come back for eye exams.

Terrible - you had better make sure they have gotten referral process complete. I was put out by the lack of their offices getting this ready before I arrived. They never called me about the problem. Trying on the day of my appointment to receive referral code was a fiasco. This is not something that can be done while you wait. On top if this, I was scheduled over a month ago AND they cancelled my appointment the day of my appointment with a one hour notice a week before. They were trying to insist I pay upfront having not gotten the referal needed. That did not happen because I refused. Dr. Mark Tholen is a very good Optometrist and wonderful person. I really do like Dr. Tholen and from the first when I met him a year ago, being referred to this location in Dripping Springs. read more

I want to give a shoutout to Dr. Tholen for seeing me this morning. When I woke up I had trouble opening my left eye and it felt like something was in it. After rinsing it for about 30 minutes, I knew I needed to be seen. Dr. Barbara Tholen saw me this morning and I had a microdermabrasion bead stuck to the inside of my eyelid. She numbed my eye and removed it. I left within 25 minutes with an antibiotic and a followup appointment on Friday! Feeling so much better now! IMy family and I have been going to them for about three years and they are always friendly and professional. Thank you Tholen Eyecare for spending part of your Sunday morning with me. read more

I moved to the Hill Country from Austin where I had a very professional, pleasant doctor with a very customer service oriented staff. For location and to support local business I decided to try Tholen. One friend recommended them and one friend reported problems. (But Kim is really good)I found the office to be cramped, crowded and rushed and the demeanor of the staff to be unhappy. I saw Dr. Meagan who I found adequate but who lacked genuine warmth and didn't try to connect; surface and insincere. I was already not feeling appreciated as a customer when I was told I would have to have a complete other check of my contacts at additional charge before I could order new ones. I have never encountered this. Over the holidays and my being out of the country, I scheduled my follow up for next week It has been long enough that these contacts have become uncomfortable. I asked to be dispensed a new pair to hold me through until next week and Dr Meagan declined my request saying I just need to wear the outdated ones until my appointment. I am dissatisfied enough with the lack of customer service that rather than pay the $25 follow up fee to be able to order contacts, I am going back to my previous doctor and will pay for another full exam knowing I will be taken care of there. (Eye Joy) for those of you looking for a truly amazing place. Tholen is very unsatisfactory. Although Kim is very customer service oriented, the rest of the staff and the cramped, crowded office outweighs her attempts. read more

I have been a patient of Dr. Barbara Tholen's since I moved to Austin in 2000. I suffer from an eye disease that affects the structure of the cornea and my vision can only be corrected by a contact lens. It is quite challenging, to say the least, to fit me with lenses that not only feel comfortable but correct my vision as well. Every once in a while, my condition flares presenting problems that often lead to having to starting the search all over to find the right lens. Dr. Tholen takes whatever time is necessary to work with me, remaining optimistic and friendly which helps alleviate my own frustrations and anxiety. In all the years I have struggled with this, I have never found a more professional, knowledgeable, patient, and compassionate provider as Dr. Barbara Tholen. From day one, Dr. Tholen has taken the time to ensure that I am fitted properly and that my vision is as crisp as possible. She has taken the time to assist me in dealing with insurance carriers who refuse to cover my lenses even though this is a medical condition and without them I am legally blind! Dr. Tholen has always treated me with dignity and respect and no matter how busy she is, she always greets me in a cheerful, friendly manner by my first name. Dr. Tholen treats her patients like human beings rather than numbers and truly has her patient's best interests at heart. In addition, Dr. Tholen holds her employees to high standards and every one of them are professional and extremely friendly. Susie has been with Dr. Tholen ever since I became a patient and her expertise and compassion is another reason I will never go elsewhere for my eyecare needs! In fact, they are one of the reasons I would never leave Austin! If you are looking for a professional and friendly optometrist who knows her stuff, I highly recommend Eye Care Associates in Dripping Springs, Texas! read more

Took my teenage daughter to Mark Tholen last summer. Had a bad experience. He seemed more concerned about her skin than her eyes. She has fair skin and he told her she could be the poster child for melanoma. Came out and told me to make sure she wears sunscreen. What was worse is that when she got her contacts, she couldn't see well out of them and they gave her headaches. So we returned and said the contact prescription was too strong. He went to re-examine her and this time I went back with her. He started another exam with the too strong contacts in. When I asked how he intends to get a correct script with those contacts in he said he didn't have an answer. Then he started to say she had an astigmatism. I found that hard to believe and told him. He got very upset and said "that's a bunch of crap". I told him to just give her her old prescription, and he did. I took her in Jan to an opthomologist who gave her a perfect prescription and said she didn't have an astigmatism. The office staff is friendly there and a friend really loves Barbara Tholen, but I found Mark unprofessional and not competent. read more

I have been a patient of the Tholen's for more than a decade and they are always excellent! In fact, my entire family are patients of the Tholens. My husband and I even drive in from Austin because they are that great and we haven't found a doctor even comparable in town! I recently went in for a yearly prescription check and saw their newest doctor, Dr. Megan Tholen. She was very professional and thorough throughout the entire exam. She explained every step of the process and even fitted the new contacts for me herself, which I thought was a nice and very personal touch. I also got a pair of AMAZING frames for those times I don't want to wear my contacts. Im thankful for the Tholen's awesome service! Its nice to know that there are doctors out there that will go that extra mile for their patients. read more

Dr Barbara Tholen and her staff were professional, kind, and courteous, and she was very knowledgable and helpful. If you need eye care in Blanco or Dripping Springs, I recommend this practice. read more

The eye exam was done by a perfectionist Tech with impressive equiptment. Dr Barbra Tholen did the exam and was outgoing and informative. The problem was that after losing my expensive pair of readers I returned and asked for a prescription. When I went to order another pair on the internet I found that the prescription was incomplete. When I returned for the additional data I was told that they don't give out the other info. I asked why not as I'd paid for an exam and glasses. I stated my need to get more affordable glasses at Costco or the internet. The person on the counter then left as I became insistent and did not return. I started to leave but went back in and they then gave me the data I requested. At that time another doctor came out and said the prescription was insufficient to order glasses without being seen and measured by a optician. I don't understand, they had already made glasses for me. Where did those measurements go?o. I feel that I was being manipulated and have found another.outfit who meets my needs. read more