John D Hofbauer, MD

I am sure they are fine clinicians BUT THEIR OFFICE STAFF IS AWFUL!!! I waited over an hour in the big waiting room, then moved to a back chair, waited there 20 minutes. Ihad to use the ladies room, and evidently they couldnt find the key so i nstead of invitingme to use the staff room, they told me to find another office down the hall and ask them for the key!!! After one hour and 20 minutes seeing not doctor for exam or optometrist for refraction, I told them I was leaving they had no concern and no apology. I walked out and would not go back. I waited 6 weeks for this routine appointment. BTW I am a physician, and I would NEVER treat a patient the way they treated me. If you are running that late, have the courtesy to advise the patients and allow them to adjust their schedule as well if it can be done. I will find someone less busy and with a more appropriate front office staff.

Dr Hofbuear is great. I’ve seen a half dozen opthamologist in my life. So, believe me when I tell you they’re not all the same; and when it comes to eye surgeons this is even more true!
Dr Hofbuear put me at ease on the myths and truths about corrective eye surgery. After getting a consultation, I decided that when I do decide to get my procedure. It will be with Dr. Hofbuear.
(I am always very happy about the way i am greeted by the nurses and office staff.)

Very professional and caring practice. Sheila in the office is particularly helpful with patients and detailed oriented. Prior to trying a product with the patients, she does thorough research and makes rigorous tests to assure their safety and comfort. Makes me feel good knowing people out there care so much about patients.

Many years ago (2005?) I became allergic to my contacts so it was glasses or LASIK. I was online doing all my own «research” — The WORST thing you can do is Google stories/​pictures — you’ll hear/​see the worst of the worst (I did and it made me extremely nervous). Especially stories of surgeries using the «blade» — the microkeratome blade.
A strange thing was there were MANY discount places all over SoCal, but WHY do I want a discount for my eyes? Screw it. I’ll pay full price, just don’t screw up!
I met someone that referred Dr. Hofbauer and was on the waiting list so I made my own appointment and got on a short list– I think I was in within 2 weeks, it was so long ago. I elected to do both eyes at once. $ 5k total. BEST $ 5000 I EVER SPENT. In the old days everyone got the same laser treatment and depending on how bad your vision was you’d have to go in for «enhancements” — basically additional treatments. My surgery used IntraLase:
–from their website–
«Computers/​software are used to make an individual blueprint of your eyes; this blueprint is used to drive your laser correction and is what gives you a truly customized result
You’ll be given numbing drops so you won’t feel pain
A laser is used to make a thin flap in your cornea which enables Dr. Hofbauer to make the LASIK correction
A second laser is used to make the correction to your cornea, based on your unique vision/​eye characteristics
This correction is completely computer driven
It’s safe, fast and virtually painless
After a short recovery period, you will be able to experience great vision without glasses or contacts»…
Anyway, everything went PERFECT. I have had BETTER than ²⁰⁄₂₀ for years now. Easily ²⁰⁄₁₀. Just ONE surgery. I always brag to friends I have hawk vision. What’s funny is how quickly you forget what life was like wearing glasses from bed to the bathroom, then contacts all day, then reverse. (glasses since 4^th grade, contacts since 7^th). The next day? I went in for a follow up appointment with him and it was his birthday! I thought that was cool for him to come in.
Thanks Dr. Hofbauer! Your surgery went perfect and literally changed my life. I recommend you to everyone that asks.

I have a very esoteric corneal disease that has casued me to have three corneal transplants over 40+ years, and to wear special lenses on ly made in Boston. Becasuse of this, I go to all the best conreal specialists. The last surgery was very difficult, and many surgeons questioned whether we should even try. I was referred to Dr. Hofbauer, who, I was told, had the best surgical hands around. He did what he admitted was the toughest surgery he’d ever done of that type. The results were wonderful. He is also very attentive and personalble, and his office staff is quite nce and efficient. Wait times are reasonable. He co — owns his own surgical center down the street, and the care there is superb and personalized. I would recommend him to anyone, especially if you have a corneal problem.

Been seeing, pun intended, JDH for about 25 years now. In my experience, and I have lots of it, he is the most professional, attentive and available MD I see. His front office staff can be indifferent or they can be perfect at times. So what else is new,?C’est la vie. I did have an annoying experience with the optometry store in the office. However, don’t find that important enough to blame Dr. H. In my view you will not find a better more caring MD in LA.

I definitely did my research on this one!
I went to four different opthomologists before seeing Dr. Hofbauer who came highly recommended for Refractive Lens Exchange Surgery. This is basically cataract surgery but for people who don’t yet have cataracts but just want to say goodbye to their glasses. Dr. Hofbauer was amazing! He has a quiet calm confidence about him that just puts you at ease. He is an excellent surgeon, and my results were better than I expected. I was able to throw my glasses and contacts away, and my vision is now ²⁰⁄₂₀. I’m so happy I chose Dr. Hofbauer to do my surgery.
I have found the office staff to always be attentive, professional and courteous. Lisa, the surgery coordinator, is well organized and has always either taken my calls or phoned me right back with my answers. On one occasion I dealt with Miriam, the office manager, who was beyond accomodating when dealing with challenges or changes that come up. She is approachable, competent, and empathetic.
This office gets 5 stars and Dr. Hofbauer will be my eye doctor for life!

I had LASIK done here about a month ago after flip flopping back and forth about it for two years. During the whole drawn out process, the service was stellar and I have since personally recommended a friend to have her procedure done with Dr. Hofbauer. He and his wife make a wonderful team and run a lovely office. It’s sad that one person’s truly out of the ordinary experience may discourage people from coming here. Really nice people and also most importantly, supremely skilled.

I have been a patient of Dr. Hofbauer for years until now. He is a good doctor but they have apparently created a new policy that is totally ridiculous and not at all patient minded.
I got the call from them to remind me its time to make my yearly appointment to get my eyes checked and my contact refilled. I got this call on December 23. I called back on December 27, and was told that the next available appointment day was in March.
I told the woman on the phone no problem, but that I would need some more contact before then since I had about two weeks supply left.
That is when she told me of the new policy, that since it would be over a year by the time I got in in March that she could not give me any more contacts at all until I came in. I said so what I am suppose to do since I would be happy to come in sooner but you don’t have anything. She got a bit pissy and just said that’s the policy and so you will just have to wait. I said but I will be blind and can not function without the contact and she said, sorry that’t the policy. She then began to tell me that it was my fault since I should have called sooner! I told her I just got their message a few days before and she said sorry that’s just our policy. She also stated that I had missed an appointment in November, that I never even had!!! If I did, why did it get the reminder call to set one up after all.
I asked to speak to someone else and she said there was nobody else and that was that. I told her I would be finding a new doctor and she said fine. I hope Dr. Hofbauer see’s this as she would not allow me to talk to him or anyone else.
Terrible customer service for a long time patient. I found another doctor here on Unilocal with great reviews and see him next week.

I was having a hard time with driving and was diagnosed with a cataract by Dr Hofbauer. He explained the options and we planned surgery. He was informative and helpful prior to surgery and the operation went vey well. My vision has improved remarkably and I thank Dr Hofbauer for his professional skills and human touch. He called and followed up with me and was very caring and concerned during my reocvery. I am most satisfied with the end result. I cannot recommend Dr Hofbauer highly enough.

I cannot recommend Dr Hofbauer highly enough. I was having a great deal of difficulty with my vision and was losing my ability to function on a day-​to-​day basis. Dr Hofbauer treated me in a friendly and courteous manner, diagnosed my problem as cataracts and after a remarkably short and relatively painless surgery, I can see and drive again. He called and followed up in a most professional manner. He and his office staff were terrific Thank God for Dr Hofbauer — he is a true healer.
DL