Pacific Northwest Eye Associates

This place was great. I hadn’t been to the eye doctor in 15 years and I was a little anxious.
The facilities are clean, have bike parking, are on a bus line, and have ample car parking. The lobby is welcoming with coffee and tea. The reception staff were friendly.
I really liked my technician. She was funny and informative.
The Doctor answered all the questions I had and didn’t seemed rush.
Full disclosure I didn’t have any major issues or follow up needed so I was an easy case, but overall I was impressed and would go back again.

I stopped by Monday around 1pm to ask a couple questions about becoming a new patient. There were two receptionists, the main one looking at the computer and trying to help a patient who was checking in. The other was on the phone but both kept telling everyone in line, there were 5 of us, to check in at the kiosk. After waiting about 8 – 10 minutes and discussing the poor checkin system with the others waiting in line, I left. Even after the patient in front of me left with papers to fill out, no one greeted me, told me thanks for my patience and they would be with me shortly, nothing.

I was wondering who is running Pacific Northwest Eye clinic and do they read patients reviews? Looks like your customer service skills suck! All I am trying to do right now is to schedule a surgery with Dr. Patel and I was trying to reach Karen from referral desk for couple of days now. She doesn’t return my phone calls and receptionist lady doesn’t want to give me her extension # (I guess it’s a big secret). I think I should need to look for another doctor with more friendly staff.

I’ve seen various doctors at two different locations of Pacific Northwest Eye Associates and completely understand why the Gig Harbor branch has such low ratings. However, I have only had positive experiences at the Tacoma branch! Front office staff was very kind and welcoming and the wait time was reasonable.
My best experience at this office has been for LASIK. I was very nervous and the staff, from Karen, the coordinator to Dr. Patel really helped ease my mind. I really appreciated how thorough they all were. I felt everyone was honest and encouraging. I was incredibly scared during the surgery but, Dr. Patel kept talking me through it and had a very calm and knowledgeable way about him. I can now see ²⁰⁄₂₀ one day after my procedure! Very happy with my experience and my results!
I researched quite a few other lasik centers and although other locations can beat this one on price by a couple hundred dollars, I chose to go with PNWEA because it was an office I know and trust and Dr. Patel is worth the extra expense.

Actually this review is more about the issues involved in trying to make an appointment. I called, gave information to «registration» and then was told I had to talk to «appointments». A recorded message said «appointments» had so many patients that they would have to call me back. Someone did call me back a couple of hours later but I was on the phone. So I called back, same routine all over again, having to give the same information to «registration». This happened three times and after the THIRD time trying to make an appointment I gave up. I suspect that given the number of patients they are trying to schedule, that they overbook as well.

I was recommended to see Dr. Patel because I had a corneal ulcer as a teen, and being new to the state I heard he was the specialist to see. I waited 2 months to see him, was very excited for the appointment… And I saw him for maybe 3 minutes. I didn’t get to ask him any questions I had, the tech did my whole prescription, I felt like he couldn’t even be bothered with finding prescriptions, and obviously he has to participate somehow in the appointment to get paid, so he comes in for 3 minutes, says a few words as his assistant types on the computer, then he leaves. If I hadn’t gotten my eyes dilated I don’t know if I would have seen him at all!
A few things that didn’t happen that I’ve always done at eye exams in my life, I didn’t have to read anything up close, usually my old eye doctor would give me a new pair of lenses in the new prescription and then have me try them on, and see how they are fitting… He never once saw any contacts in my eyes. They also never tried to get me to buy contacts or even offered for me to order any. They just handed me a paper and said we will call you in a year. Upon looking over the script it is way off from what my old one was, I’ve had astigmatism in one eye for 10+ years, and now I guess I don’t.
Overall it was very impersonal, and I was more upset when I left there than I was happy like I’d hoped to be after working this doctor up in my mind for 2 months!

I saw Dr. Goodin for a routine eye exam. I’ve seen him off and on since my teens whenever I am in Tacoma. My experiences have always been positive. I’m not a big fan of eye exams but his manner always keeps me at ease. As far as the office, it’s a really comfortable space if you need to wait. My entire appointment seemed to move along efficiently and everyone I encountered was pleasant. My only minor gripe is their scheduling system which can involve a long wait on hold. It’s frustrating to not be able to get a person on the phone easily. I wonder if the office staff and doctors even know about this issue?

One of the worst experiences I have ever had for an eye exam. The entire process was very impersonal, the rude receptionist, small cell they load you into, nurse does most of the exam, and the doctor was very rushed, spouting off numbers as another nurse (?) furiously typed away at a computer. The first nurse that actually did most of my exam dilated my eyes before the doctor came to finish the exam for prescription. I was told it was fine to have dilated eyes during the exam for my prescription, I’ve never had it done this way.
Several times I questioned the final outcome of my eye exam, that the letter I was seeing were still blurry. The doctor brushed this off and just kept charging forward rattling off numbers at the nurse typing away.
After this experience I went somewhere else for my glasses, and after receiving them I noticed that my far sight was blurry. Driving with the new glasses is difficult and they give me a headache. The prescription I was given was WRONG. Even when I questioned the outcome of the exam the doctor did not care. I have to go get another exam somewhere else and have these glasses remade. I am very frustrated and will never return to this business.
There are 7 doctors at this location and I counted no less than 30 tiny exam cells. No wonder they feel rushed to churn out patients like cattle.
Another thing to note is that they bullied me into the dilation in the first place. I told them that I had my eyes checked for disease 2 years prior and didn’t feel it necessary, as I am young, but they insisted. When I received the statement from my insurance I see that they billed my insurance $ 255! Eye exam should be about $ 50, and the patient should be able to decline additional exams they feel are not necessary. I just needed some glasses with an updated prescription and I didn’t even get that!
Save your money and frustration and go elsewhere!

I have severe myopia, and was looking for a new opthalmologist in the Tacoma area. Dr. Patel was covered by VSP and highly rated — but the prescription is usually done by a technician anyway. While I don’t have anything negative to say about Dr. Patel, the technician had quite some difficulty tuning my prescription.
Once I decided to order glasses, after a two week delay, the optical shop called me back to say their lab couldn’t complete the order in-​house and would have to outsource the lenses for another $ 200+. Needless to say, I cancelled the order! After calling around, the optician at Tacoma Eye Surgeons was able to call their lab and confirm A) their lab could do it and B) a much more reasonable quote.
While I don’t want to speak too soon, it already sounds like I won’t be going through over TWO WEEKS in wasted time again. Hopefully.
– Update 3÷13÷15−−
Forgot to update this earlier, but I did get my glasses made at Tacoma Eye Surgeons for their original quoted price. No bait and switch, same turnaround (about 4 weeks for my lenses. I’m used to it). Quite a bit of money saved.
Dr. Patel gave me a call to discuss this review — again, no complaints about the medical care I received, just the customer service and optical services.

I had the unfortunate experience of going to see Dr. Goodin, the word worthless would be a drastic understatement. Zero personality and when I questioned him on his diagnosis he couldn’t give me an answer in regards to how two of my symptoms matched up with his diagnosis. Avoid at all costs unless you like to drop money on someone who is condescending and ignorant.

One of the best cornea specialists in the area works here. Dr. Patel. Wonderful, smart doctor. My only complaint is, I never see him or his assistants wash their hands before they touch the area around my eye. Ironically, when I went to put back in my contact lens after the exam, Dr. Patel said to me, «Wash your hands. Always wash your hands first.» I was going to say, «Sure. I was going to do that so you could learn.»
Also, the appointment desk did not tell me they were going to dilate my eyes and I had a HECK OF A TIME driving home. The sun was blinding and I took the risk to drive versus sit in their office for another 1 and a half hours after my appt was done. Other than those little things, I do love this doctor.