Eye Center of Texas

I got up and left! Why? I need cataract surgery. I was referred to Eye Center of Texas by another eye doctor that does not do surgery. I called to make an appointment and the soonest they could get me in was in 5 weeks. The phone number listed for Sugar Land where I wanted my appointment in not answered in Sugar Land, but up in Houston by a central dispatch. During the phone interview process they asked several questions and just about had my life story and then said we'll see you in (about 5 weeks). Before hanging up I asked, "By the way, how much is the initial consultation, and remember, I am self pay (no insurance)?" She said it would be $350. I thought, WOW, that's a lot. I hope they are worth it. My first doctor only charged me $120 and did 5 different exams and took a photo of my eye. In the meantime I went to Mann Eye Institute, had several exams done and even talked directly with one of the surgical doctors. They charged me $150. Anyway, my appointment day arrives, I start driving there, and it's raining really hard. There is a wreck on the freeway and I'm stuck. I have been waiting almost 5 weeks for this day and did not want to lose my appt. I called the number for Sugar Land again and sure enough, somebody up in Houston answers. I explained that now I am running late and could you please let them know I am stuck in traffic only about a mile away. She just said don't worry, they let you be late up to 30 minutes. I asked if she could contact the office in Sugar Land and she just said she will do what she can. Well, now I'm stressing because it has been almost 20 minutes past my appt time. Anyway, I barely made it within the 30 minutes. The receptionist gave me a clipboard with most of the information already filled out from the phone interview. I did notice that on one of the papers they were explaining about a procedure that they really suggest you do if you are a candidate for cataract surgery. It costs $95. I thought, that must be included in the $350. I get called into the exam room and a nurse comes in and the first thing she does is tell me about this exam for an extra $95. I was irate. I said first, I was recommended to you, second, I had to wait almost 5 weeks to get in here, third, I am a cash pay customer, fourth, when I gave you all the information over the phone you KNEW I was coming in for cataracts. If this exam is so "highly recommended" then why don't you just do it and include it in the price of the consultation? And fifth, your consultation price is already higher double the price of anybody else. You just lost a potential customer. Have a nice day.
1 10 years ago (25-11-2015)