⭐ ONE STAR – DISRESPECTFUL, UNPROFESSIONAL, AND HARMFUL
I am absolutely disgusted by the way my 32-year-old autistic son was treated at Citrus Heights Optometry. This was his first visit there, and it was clear from the start that the staff and doctor have no training, patience, or basic understanding of how to work with autistic patients—or patients at all.
My son explained to the female staff member that his vision was blurry and that he was seeing colors incorrectly. Instead of listening, she dismissed him and flat-out told him he was not color blind, as if his concerns didn’t matter at all.
When the doctor finally came in, we explained in detail that my son had eye surgery at age 2, and that doctors warned he would likely need another surgery later in life. Eye problems run in our family, and we do not take them lightly.
The doctor’s response?
“He should’ve had the surgery when he was 12. There’s nothing that can be done for him.”
That alone was cruel and unprofessional—but it got worse.
When I mentioned that my 82-year-old mother is currently having the same type of eye surgery, the doctor rudely responded,
“Maybe he has a brain tumor!”
That comment was reckless, unnecessary, and emotionally damaging—especially when speaking to an autistic patient. My son already had a CT scan scheduled for unrelated reasons, yet this doctor casually threw out something terrifying with zero compassion or explanation. It took weeks to calm my son down after this visit because he became convinced he had a brain tumor.
That is not medical care. That is irresponsible and harmful behavior.
I am shocked this doctor has so many five-star reviews, because our experience was the exact opposite. This was hands-down one of the worst medical encounters my family has ever had.
If you have a loved one who is autistic, has anxiety, or has a complex medical history—do NOT go here. No one deserves to be treated with such dismissal, fear-mongering, and lack of empathy.
