I recently visited the Birmingham, Alabama office in Southside for my annual eye exam. I had LASIK surgery done in 2017 at the Colonade office and had every exam done at that location since, until today to save myself some distance from home. Initially, everything was fine. I had no wait time, the technician, Cass I believe, was very nice. My husband was also scheduled for an appointment 20 minutes after my scheduled appointment. He was driving in from out of state and according to his GPS at the time, he would be around 5 minutes late. I let the technician know to where she replied that it was fine as long as it wasn't more than 15 minutes. Being in healthcare myself, I completely understood and told her if he found himself being more than 15 minutes late that he would reschedule, no problem. I was then left alone in the exam room to await the doctor. I heard the technician tell the front desk that my husband would be 5 minutes or so late to give them a heads up. A few minutes later I caught myself hearing a lot of personal conversation among the staff. No big deal. A little unprofessional, but I kind of felt bad that I could hear the very personal conversation, and thought they must not know that I was just behind the door. 10 minutes before my husband's scheduled appointment I heard one of the staff members say "she needs to be honest whether her husband is actually going to be 5 minutes late or longer". While I was waiting, I called my husband to check his location. He said he would be later than 5 minutes but would make it before 15. He had gotten stuck behind a wreck. After a few more minutes of hearing the staff degrade a few patients, luckily no names were mentioned, I heard one of them say "watch he will show up at 14 minutes and 30 seconds past his appointment". By then I was annoyed and planned on having a conversation with the doctor when he came in. I also told my husband to go ahead and call and let them know he just wanted to reschedule. When he called there was no answer and a text with a link was sent to him to reschedule his appointment. Since he was already there and actually under the 15 minute time limit, he came on in. He let them know that he was aware he was late and was fine not to be seen but was unable to call and talk to them directly so thought it best to stop by. He let them know that I had overheard the conversation and with us both being in healthcare that we didn't appreciate the unprofessionalism. We understand that our work lives and our personal lives overlap and venting and talking with our coworkers is normal. It isn't however, normal or acceptable to degrade patients in earshot of said patient or another patient. From what my husband told me, their office manager was very apologetic. I'm not blaming everyone in the office, but someone has to get the chatter under control when it's in earshot of patients. I felt like my exam overall was fine minus I felt a bit pressured to have glasses made due to a very minimal prescription. I was told I had 20/15 vision before the doctor even came in. I have never been told by the other office that glasses was something I needed and felt like they were just trying to make a sale. I will not be back to this location.

Went in on a Friday without an appointment hoping they could get me in on a whim. I had to cancel 2 previous appointments due to RL stuff. Got lucky and they took me in that day. Win for me, and that's pretty much where it ended.

They put me in progressive lens which I really didn't want. Week goes by and new glasses are in. Cant see squat and major headache after wearing for an hour. Take them back next day where they recheck the prescription only to find out they were made wrong. The progressive part was to high and I was trying to look though both the non progressive and progressive part at the same time. Ok... no worries, remake them. Wait another week to get glass. Try them on and everything at a distance of more than 20ish feet is blurry/fuzzy. Progressive part was ok but useless when working on the computer and having to look at the keyboard, watching tv w/ subtitles, and unless I moved either my head or the phone up and down could only clearly see half the phone. Once again leading me to have to take my glasses off (Near sighted). Sigh. Back to the store again. Measure again. Everything checks out. Was told they need to schedule me for another appointment to recheck my eyes.
Reschedule yet another appointment of which I asked how long will it take as I need to pick up my daughter at 445. I was told no prob, we'll get you in at 4:15 next week and get this taken care of. So I went in the following Friday at 3:30 in hopes I could get in early. No luck there but them the breaks. 4:15 I get called into the room and sit another 15mins before the doctor pops in. After explaining what the problem was for the umpteenth time the
Doc reads back that I can see at a distance but not close...
Me... No, that's not what I said. I can see distance of 5 to maybe 20 feet. Anything after that is blurry. I cant see/read street signs, speed limit signs, etc. and up close I can is no better. My radio and speedometer are fuzzy and hard to see. Looking at my phone I can only see the lower half. I don't want the progressive if I just end up having to take off my glasses anyways to see up close.

Doc. Ok we will remeasure you.

At that point I now have 5 minutes before I have to leave to get my daughter from school. I inform her of this and get oh we'll have to reschedule you again.

Now frustrated but trying to be polite, I tell her that I mentioned this information when they schedule this appointment and would told they would have plenty of time to recheck my eyes.

Next appointment. 3 weeks now. Its been a month since my 1st appointment. I have no interest in coming back get rechecked and having to wait a minimum of 1week in hopes they get it right. Its now 430.5 min left.

I just want to return them and be done with this.

5 mins come and go. No manager available to return them. It happens. Managers get busy. I leave frustrated and come back the following day right at open only to find out only a manager can process returns and he won't be in till Monday. I leave frustrated yet again and return Monday to finally return the glass. Took 2 days to process the return.

Staff were nice and tried to help but the overall process left me frustrated. Between the prices, (which are high), the repeated not listening to what I was saying and having to repeat myself multiple times not only to the same people but to multiple people. I felt it was best to return the glasses and move on.

Consumer reports has myeyedoc rated very poorly and I understand why. I would not recommend them and I will be looking for a new eye doctor next year.