I have been using this place for vison tests in the past for a few years. It used to be good, but a recent visit showed the precipitous fall in its quality and ethics. Due to greed they are carrying out fraudulent practices. I am writing this review so that future patients do not waste their money on un-necessary procedures. The truth of this business needs to be told so that they cannot keep making money by fooling the public. Below is the full story. If they say retinal test is part of their basic eye exams do not fall for it. Recently, I got an appointment for a vision test. I have gone to this place several times in previous years. A routine eye exam used to be provided using my insurance (VSP) and a $10 copay. I have never selected the extra retinal screening test which is not covered by my insurance. This time the appointment email said "Glasses Eye Exam with Retinal Screening: With your vision plan: $49 copay with retinal photos." Then I emailed back asking for the fee for eye exam without retinal photos. They replied back saying "Your routine eye exam is a $10 copay. Retinal photos are $39 copay." So, I assumed I can do the routine eye exam using my insurance and a $10 copay. On the day of the appointment I went to the location. I told the person at the front desk that I need just a routine eye exam and do not need retinal screening. She was telling me that I cannot get just an eye exam with $10 co-pay. I told her I have done so in the past. She just comes up with a reason that it was by "courtesy". She was not employed there in my previous visits. So, I think she was just making up stories and was "trained" by the optometrist to handle un-comfortable questions in this way. I also showed my email in which I had received a reply from the place saying basic eye exam has a co-pay of $10. Still, she said I can get an eye test only if I combine it with retinal screening which cost extra $39 co-pay. She said I should go to some other place if I want just a basic eye exam (without retinal screening). I said I want to talk to the optometrist. She said the optometrist is busy, which seemed like a lie. The optometrist had come in to the facility through the door around my appointment time. So, she cannot be doing something else. Basically, she was preventing me by all means from meeting and talking to the optometrist to discuss about the test option. She was very rude and even threatened me saying she will call the cop. Then I told her to cancel the appointments and came out of the facility. A few minutes later I called the place and said I want to talk to the optometrist. She said the optometrist is busy. Then, I said I want to leave a recorded message, but she did not allow that either. Later that week, I called my insurance provider (VSP) and they told me that retinal screening is an extra service and is not mandatory. That is why they do not cover it. So, it seems like this place is misleading people who come there for eye exams and charge extra for something that is not a mandatory test. A few days later I emailed the place asking the optometrist to call me because I wanted to discuss something important. I was trying to find out directly from the optometrist whether they have an official policy of making people pay for un-necessary tests. The optometrist did not call and instead emailed me back trying to ignore the real issue and tells me "It is clear that we are not a good fit for your visual needs and will not be able to schedule for an exam." and "We kindly request no further correspondence at our office." Still, I replied back to the email mentioning the real issues - the front desk person providing wrong information, mistreating me and preventing me from talking to the optometrist to discuss my concerns. I also asked this question: Is a basic eye exam (without retinal screening) offered in this place? I did not get a reply. I am considering reporting this business to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's consumer fraud office. Others should do as well.
