Irvine Eye Physicians and Surgeons

BEWARE!!! In 2026, I received my FIRST mailed notice regarding an alleged unpaid balance for services provided in 2022—about 4 YEARS AFTER the date of service. The letter stated that this was a final notice and that my account would be sent to collections if payment was not made. I contacted the business to ask why I was only being notified four years later. Instead of receiving a clear explanation, I was met with an unprofessional attitude and was NOT given a satisfactory answer. During the phone call, the representative acknowledged that the office's billing notification system was outdated. They stated that past-due notices had ONLY been sent through automated 3rd-party text messages rather than directly from the business. The representative also stated that the office KNEW MANY customers believed these text messages were SCAMS and ignored them because they did not come from the business itself. The business only recently updated its system to begin sending paper notices YEARS AFTER THE FACT. I believe this is an unfair billing practice. If the business knew its notification system was ineffective and that customers were disregarding the messages as potential scams, it should have taken reasonable steps to notify patients through more reliable methods instead of allowing accounts to remain unresolved for years. As a result, my first mailed notification arrived 4 years after the alleged balance was incurred, and it was already labeled as a FINAL NOTICE WITH the THREAT of COLLECTIONS. I am writing this COMPLAINT because I believe the business FAILED to provide timely and effective notice of the alleged balance before attempting collection. I also encourage anyone in a similar situation whose credit is in danger of being impacted to review their payment records and confirm with their credit card company whether the balance was previously paid. Do your own research because this experience has left me with little confidence in how patient accounts are managed.

I came in today to get prism glasses for a condition I was diagnosed with years ago (my old optometrist retired and someone else took over their practice). I saw Dr. Shen and she was dismissive and borderline rude. I explained the ongoing issues I am having and I described my diagnosis to her (I couldn’t remember the actual medical term) and she looks at me and says “that’s not a thing.” She then goes on to tell me why each of my symptoms don’t make sense. I explain to her that it’s LITERALLY the condition I have, that’s why it doesn’t make sense. Then she tells me that I don’t have a lazy eye and that I have 20/20 vision, so what am I even doing there? I then tell her AGAIN that I don’t have a lazy eye, I have a different eye condition and I’m here FOR THAT CONDITION. If it’s bad enough for me to drag myself into an optometrist’s office, then it’s bad enough that it needs to be treated. Then she says “well, it doesn’t sound like an eye issue to me.” It’s already been diagnosed. It’s literally a condition that I was tested for and diagnosed with. Anyways, I called my old optometrist’s office and told the receptionist my symptoms and the receptionist asked if I had tried prism glasses yet. The. Receptionist. I waited for months to get in to see Dr. Shen and I left feeling gaslit and disappointed, which is sad because I have family members who have had great experiences with Dr. Shen.

Dr. David Chia was excellent when I went to an appointment about 2 years ago. My recent experience with another doctor was surreal. She didn’t hear any of my requests and was obsessed about recommending me grocery store glasses, even though my prescription was different for both eyes. Then she made me read medical recommendations from Chat GPT. Very disappointed. I’m not going there anymore, but if you are, I recommend Dr. David.

I am very disgusted with this business and by Dr. David Chia! I have been going here since 1997, and then steadily over the past 10 years or more. I am disabled and have Medicare and Medi-Cal. Dr. Chia has always accepted and charged Medicare. This past May 2025, I went to my eye appointment and after the exam, the manager (a very rude and mean woman!), asked me for $72 on top of what they are already charging Medicare. I thought she was talking to someone else. I am sure my mouth hit the floor! She said it was a new policy and everyone was being charged that. I explained my financial hardship due to long-term disability. She shook her head that it did not matter! This woman is cold!!! She pointed to the announcement at the front desk which was way over on the opposite side where you check out! I told her I did not see that. Then she took my prescription from me, and said we can keep this if you do not want to pay. I told her fine, go ahead keep it! She then told me I could not have it unless I paid! She just kept sinking her claws in further! I think this is/was very deceiving! An office that starts to make charges or changes to their policies need to inform you ahead from the start! That way you can avoid the embarrassment and humiliation at the front desk. And you can decide if that is what you want going forward. Any respectable business would give you the choice and not try to trap you into their service! I then stopped the next day to try to talk to Dr. Chia. He was out of the office. I left a message but he never called me back! That is too bad! He lost a good customer that has been faithful and seen him over 10 years! I thought we had a better relationship than that! I feel sorry for this business. They’re going to lose a lot of customers because of treating people like that! Also, they must be desperate for money. They kept trying to collect money from a procedure from a few years ago that I was told would be covered 100%! I am sure I will find an even better eye doctor!

Dr. David Chia did my cataract surgery in 2021. Very co operative and compassionate doctor. Anwered all my questions. The surgery went v well and I followed up as advised. My eye pressure was showing high before the surgery, now it has been taken care of. I am glad that I found such a wonderful doctor.