Walmart review: bad eye exam 7

Dear Ms. C.H.:

I had to think about whether I should respond to your complaint. I definitely will not entertain any ongoing arguments because that wouldn’t be professional or even mature. However, I decided to post just one comment to your complaint for two reasons. First of all, what you say is just not true and if someone actually reads your allegation you will be contradicting your pseudonym, “Neighbors helping Neighbors.” With the economy the way it is, lots of people really do get a good deal on eyewear at Wal-mart and the staff at the Hackettstown/Mansfield location is very helpful and friendly. You could potentially make people miss out on this. The other reason is to give you the benefit of the doubt, just in case you really are confused about the eye exam process and you are not just some ranting lunatic that is out to try to get me for who knows what random reason.

Let’s clarify your statement a little as briefly as I can. Yes, I was busy when you presented for an eye exam but, no, I did not make a mistake in how I derived your working prescription. I had no previous record for you and you did not provide any proof of what your habitual contact lens power was. However, yes…compared to the power you verbally self-reported, I did yield a weaker prescription that allowed you to see 20/15 (better than 20/20). Because you were showing signs of beginning to need bifocals, it made even more sense to try to wean you off of any extra/unnecessary myopic power. I explained this to you and told you to try to see if you could adapt. I asked you to schedule a follow-up appointment and you did so before leaving. At this follow-up appointment, you could’ve explained any difficulties you were encountering and I could’ve easily modified your prescription to your satisfaction. However, you did not show to your follow-up appointment and then refused to reschedule when two different Wal-mart Vision Center associates called to offer you new appointments during that month. Obviously, your follow-up appointment was covered under your fitting fee and would not involve additional charges. However, I doubt you were confused about financial details. My understanding is that a different doctor was present when you called and he offered to re-examine you at no charge but you refused that option as well.

Until this day, you have never communicated with me after the one and only day that I saw you (the day of your exam). So, whom did you “beg for something to be done?” You did complain to a Wal-mart hotline/Customer Service. That trickled down to the Vision Center associates whom easily printed proof that you had made an appointment and failed to show to it. They explained up their chain of command that they have attempted to get you back in to troubleshoot your concerns but that you constantly refused. By the way, I am an independent contractor for eye exams only. I am not employed by Wal-mart, the Vision Center associates are not my employees (technically they are not even my co-workers), and I have no financial gains from contact lenses or glasses there. I have no access to any of their computers or programs, including their patient scheduler.

You also went and complained to the State Board of Optometry with wording that suggested you had spoken to me some day after your exam and that I told you to get used to your prescription. Again, you never contacted me after the day I met you and any conversation after that point is absolutely fictitious. Also, I would never dismiss a patient’s concerns about vision by telling them to just get used to it! I complied with the Board and mailed them a copy of my records on you. If it weren’t a violation of your privacy, I would have no problem scanning my exam documents and posting it for public scrutiny. I did nothing wrong during your exam and this would be obvious to anyone who audits your chart.

It is a shame that you put so much time and effort into complaining about this to everyone: Wal-mart, NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, multiple online sources…President Obama? All you had to do was come in for your follow-up which would’ve most likely taken only 5 minutes or so. I would’ve just checked your vision and tweaked you prescription as needed to your satisfaction. I do not think I am so unapproachable that you could not come see me again. Most patients seem to think the opposite and many express how “nice” I am compared to previous eye doctors. This is always weird to me because I can’t imagine health care practitioners not being nice to their patients. So, I am just baffled by your boycotting agenda. In retrospect, the only mistake that I made was not calling you myself to see if you would return for your follow-up. However, in a way I am glad I didn’t because you’re already saying that I told you something when I never spoke to you after your exam. Who knows what you would say I told you if I really had spoken to you? It may sound corny but as a recent Air Force optometrist, I really do try to live by simple core values such as: “Integrity First, Service Above Self, and Excellence” in what I do. Also, I do care. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have taken the time out to respond to you. I really didn’t have to. The Wal-mart gig is mostly a walk-in business and most people won’t even know about your online complaints. Yes, word of mouth is important and you can use that against me but I have many patients who will spread a more positive word. Bottomline, I am very sorry if I contributed to any misunderstanding. Despite your agenda against me, I remain available to you if you ever did need my services. Because of circumstances, I would probably require a witness be present if I ever did examine you. Nonetheless, don’t consider it a burnt bridge. You do seem to know how to communicate but I would advise you to analyze how to apply this important tool more efficiently and in a more positive manner. Negativity begets negativity. So, stay positive! Good luck to you. I really mean that.

Very respectfully,

Dr. Jesús L. Barrios, O.D.

Not knowing all the in and outs of this issue.So I have no idea who is right or wrong but I want to point out a couple of things. My wife also went to Walmart vision center for contacts. She went there because Walmart is the only place in our area that her vision insurance covers even though she really did not want to. She paid for the exam and the contact lenses and attempted to "get used to the contacts" after almost a week of vision problems she tried to set up a follow up but the eye doctor was booked up for almost 3 weeks. So almost a month later she was finally able to get in and have her eyes checked again and was prescribed different strength contacts. And she had to pay for the corrected set of contacts and the vision exam. Not a big deal because she had the insurance but since this was mentioned by the original poster and denied by the doctor I wanted to say it is quite possible.

Giving this doctor the benefit of the doubt because he may be the type of professional he claims to be but he said in his response that a different doctor offered to exam at no charge and that the vision center employees do not work for you. So maybe i am misunderstanding but then how exactly do you know what was said.It was even mentioned by the doctor that his mistake was not calling the complainer personally. I understand your time is your money but in the response I do not see how you KNOW what was said to the complainer.

My final statement would be this. I was able to retire from Walmart after many many years and had to deal with numerous Vision center complaints to which I could do very little because even though the Vision Center is in Walmart it was its own separate entity. So I am aware that you do not work for Walmart and do not employ the people in the Vision Center but honestly how many people know this. So if they are complaining or talking to someone it may be thought that person is representing the Dr., the vision center, etc. and that is why the complaint title was about the Walmart vision center not about the specific doctor.

im so sorry this person went to the board about you dr. I work for an eye doctor in NJ. So many complaint because there insurance does not cover things and not understanding there own insurance. I have had to call the cops because a man was so upset that his insurance would not cover a service here that he waited outside my office in the parking lot till I got off and started going crazy on me.

I strongly disagree in the complaint about this Dr. I have been to many doctors at different walmart facilities and to tell the truth no one took the time for me and my family. I had an eye emergency on the Dr. day off and he quickly made me an appt first thing in the morning. Not only did he follow up with me many times after my emergency appt. and even took the time out to write a letter to my primary doctor to keep her in the loop. I dont know about you but how many doctors do you know who do that without asking them to do it. He is one of the few that truly cared. I have recommended to him to many of my colleagues, friends and family and they are all very satisfied.

I have been to this doctor many times and do not agree about the complain above. My family and friends go to him and he is a great health care professional. He truly cares for his patients and very easy to talk to. He is very patient and does not rush you out like most doctors. He addressed all my concerns and had a followed up with me after. Great Doc!

Thank you Dr. Barrios for the great exam and military discount. I love the new place great selection frames.

"I definitely will not entertain any ongoing arguments..." Dr. Jesus's entire post was an agreement and unnecessarily verbose. And the following statement is a contradiction: "I did yield a weaker prescription that allowed you to see 20/15 (better than 20/20)." Think about that. Why did the patient even need contacts in the first place if she already had excellent sight ? as we all know 20/20 is perfect vision. All I know is that the medical practitioners responsibility is to correctly create a prescription that does not require any adjustments. And if the patient cannot see properly, then the doctor is totally liable barring no excuses, and does not get a second chance! OOPS in the medical profession is not acceptable.