St Paul Eye Clinic

I tried to purchase bi-focal contacts after my exam in early June as my mono-vision lenses weren't doing the trick anymore. The third week in July I called to see why they hadn't called me about my new lenses. It turned out that the technician didn't send in the order. I was able to pick them up the next week but they had no time to try them in the office. I couldn't event see across the street! I took them back the next week -- they ordered a new pair - I had to go pick them up again -- they were also terrible -- too big and blurry all over. I then went back the next week and the contact technician was ""on vacation"" I was told that no one could see me. I demanded to be seen by someone who could service the contact they sold. A woman filling in from the Maplewood office said she could order better contacts and she would personally fit them for me there. I said I needed them for a wedding on September 23. She said she'd be out on the following Friday but if they came in on Thursday she would help me. I agreed to drive further from my home to Maplewood to get these fitted. She has much more customer service orientation than Paul, the technician in the Roseville office who could care less if you were able to see this month the next month or it seems ever. I called the Maplewood office on Thursday the 22. They checked the mail and said the contact were in. I said I'd like to come get them. She said the technician who helped me was assigned to glasses that day and was unable to help me and I could make an appointment for the following week! I said I would come and get them in any event as I had a wedding to wear them to. Mixing one of the new contacts with one of my previous one I was able to see - sort of-- for a few hours at the wedding (thankfully my husband drove). The following Monday morning I called the Optical Manager number on my bill of $447 to complain -- her voice mail said she'd be in the office on limited hours Wed, Thursday and Friday. I have never had such unbelievable POOR customer service -- especially for something as critical as vision. I vow to get my money back, to tell as many people as possible how terrible this business treats its customers and to find a quality optical vendor who cares about the ability of their patients to be served in a timely and respectful manner. more

Front desk staff is very friendly, the girls working there are great, Dr. Mckee is good but I would NOT recommend any other doctors there. However, they pressure you to buy contacts. They told me that getting a contact lens fitting was a law that you need to get done every two years. Insurance does not cover the $29.00 fee. I told the contact lens technician that I believed that I had one the year before. He did not even think of looking up my chart to save me the $29.00 and went ahead examining my eyes anyway. What a rip off. All he had to do was look in my chart and save me the $29.00 or in the LEAST could have had the decency to ask me if I wanted the exam at all. After my eye exam, I was put in a room to ""talk about contacts."" I waited almost 20 minutes. Then returned to the front desk where I was told would be about ""Ten more minutes."" As the technician was helping someone with glasses. Who wants to wait that long just to discuss lenses? Lenses are also grossly overpriced. Worker got upset when I told them I would like to look elsewhere. I left with prescription and went to order the SAME contacts online for $125.00 LESS then what they are charging. When this place was contacted, they would not approve giving my prescription for contacts elsewhere. Apparently, getting an eye exam there isn't enough. You MUST also buy your contacts and eyeglasses there or they will not release permission to any other place to get them. I also had a problem the year before with high pressure tactics of ordering solely from them. Unless you are sure you want glasses/contacts from this place, please avoid as it is too difficult to get your prescription ordered somewhere else. more