Hamilton Eye Institute

"Initial medical evaluation and procedures went very well, but getting one's medical records for care outside the institute is a total nightmare. I've had to get records twice with the first time taking about ten phone calls and the second no results after calling repetitively for almost a month. Shameful treatment of people who come to you for help."

"Heads up if you come from out of town! We arrived an hr before appointment was then rudely told appointment is nor for an hour which we knew then she gets called back 10 min before appt and was made to wait 2 hrs in 2nd waiting area VERY UNPROFESSIONAL TOTAL DISREGARD TO PEOPLES TIME AND COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR!!!"

"I had surgery on November 22nd. When I say all of the doctors and nurses were amazing! I can't began to describe how comfortable they made me feel, especially with this being the first time going under to have a major surgery. I was terrified and hadn't gone back yet. I tend to forget names, but the consultant was the first person I spoke with in the back, she made me laugh and let me know it was going to be okay. The only hold up was them trying their hardest to find one of my extremely tiny veins while apologizing over and over. One of the doctors asked me if I wanted to hold his hand as he finally found a vein. I was given extra blankets straight from the warmer and almost fell asleep then and there. They made sure I was comfortable and introduced me to the anesthesiologist and another nurse. I don't remember much after that, except seeing doctors standing over me briefly then waking up in recovery. My eye hurts every now and then but they did an AMAZING job! I have very little pain, my vision is clear, eye straight after dealing with strabismus and blurred vision for years and I want to cry because this is a surgery I've wanted for a long, long time!! Thank you Dr. Fong and team for your courtesy, skills and knowledge. I have to go back November 30th for post op but my life has changed for the better overnight seemingly. And drink plenty of water!! Love you all, Adrian West"

"I have been there twice. Both times were for diagnostics so, I can't remark on their competence when it comes to surgery or treatments. This review is about the general attitude of the staff. To pick a random number but, one which accurately represents my experience, I would say 7 out of 10 of the people I interacted with were, pompous, entitled, dismissive, self-important, immature, and display a general lack of unconcern for anything other than their own inflated egos. There are a couple of good people there but, their kindness and attentiveness (dare I say their 'humility and poise') are, unfortunately, overshadowed by the majority. During my first visit I was insulted by Dr Ungricht who basically accused me of causing my condition with their comment of, 'It could be a vitamin deficiency. You drink a lot.' (and I am leaving off the question mark intentionally because it was more of a statement, made with a 'knowing' smirk, slight nodding, and a tone that wasn't meant to convey a question but, rather to communicate the Drs knowledge of my being degenerate Drunk) I informed Dr Ungricht that I had quit drinking and smoking cigarettes 16 years ago, and I do no recreational drugs either. There wasn't any hint of shame or attempt at an apology, which should tell you everything you need to know about how this Dr thinks of themselves and how they think of everyone else. On my second visit (which was a follow up after having been in the hospital for 5 days while I received treatment for my condition) after I checked in ( my appointment was 11am, I checked in at 10:45) and made payment, I was given a receipt and I was told I could 'go back'. I had to ask where that was since on my first visit my vision so severely impaired I was only following someone else around but, that's not the part that really stinks. So, I went through the door ( and anyone who has been here, to the second floor probably knows where I am referring to, and will know how the place is setup), stopped momentarily, looked around, nobody acknowledged me so, since I knew there was a waiting area to the right, I went there and sat down. There were 7 - 8 people already waiting and another who came in right behind me. After 45 mins all the other people in the waiting room had been called so, I figured I was next, and I went to the bathroom. About 5 mins after returning from the bathroom, one of the 'nurses'(?) looked over at me from the desk area and said, 'He's back' or 'He came back' to one of the other 'nurses'(?). Neither person engaged me so I thought maybe they thought I had left and they were going call my name. Nope. So, after another 20 mins ( had now been there for 90 mins) and me wondering if the delay was caused by my going to the bathroom and therefore I had been removed from the waiting list (because they thought I just left) I went up to the desk area and, after having a few people look my way, make eye contact and then look away, I caught someone's attention and asked if they knew how much longer it would be. They asked my name, and when I told them my name, they said I wasn't in the system and asked if I was there for an appointment. I said yes. They asked for some kind of paperwork, which I didn't know I had been given up front. When I gave it to them, their response was, 'This is the only way we know you're here.', and it was said in an accusatory tone, implying that I had done something wrong and that of course nobody there could possibly be at fault for seeing me sitting there for over an hour and never once asking me if I was there for an appointment, even though it was obvious they were aware of my presence and wondered what I was doing there but, not a single one of them could be bothered with simply making a smallest of efforts to see why I had been sitting there for so long. Their system is broken so the front desk has to give you a piece of paper to give to the back desk but, nobody tells you this at the front desk and the people in the back are too important to be bothered. 'Not my job' 'Sucks to be you' Great place."

"I had to have the radiation plaque therapy. I stayed at the Hope lodge. Through this I met other people going through the same thing as me. Rhonda schedules everyone to come to all appointments at the same time. She tells everyone to arrive for surgery at 5:30 a.m. my first surgery was at 10:30. Today I just found out my surgery is at 12:30 p.m. Tell me why the f@&$ we got to show up for surgery 7 hours early? I am very disappointed in the way you run things. I don’t have many other options to go to another doctor. Change your policy this is horrible and makes no sense!!! Dr. Wilson people have lives and you’re ridiculous to make people show up 7 hours before surgery."