Lake Austin Eye

I was there last week and I would NOT recommend this place at all. I don’t think the front office is educated enough to deal with insurance. They are not knowledgeable about options and won’t talk about how much money may be involved. Make sure you read every single word that you sign over there. They give you 10 sheets to sign and expect you to know everything. The Doctor will give you contact lens fitting which in my case wasn’t good either. And she won’t mention anything about cost because apparently, the tens of pages they made you sign had everything written. So watch OUT!!!
There is absolutely no compassion in that place. Even if they make mistakes, they are not ready to pay you back. They don’t realize if they upset customers, its word of mouth. 1 sad customer leads to another 20 who will be hesitant to come.
I think its against customer service philosophy…

I was traumatized and my eyesight seriously compromised for about six weeks after what was supposed to be an easy, 5-​minute procedure. Dr. Cottle misfired a laser and hit the cornea. I was told everything went great, but the eyelid was slammed shut. I am ashamed I drove all the way home-​I should have been arrested and am very lucky I did not kill or injure someone.
I call Lake Austin Eye, they say come
then both eyelids are slammed shut, I’m in a lot pain. Someone grabs my wrist and drags me to the «dark room» and flings me in a chair. I am not exaggerating. I sit there 30 mins and then I’m taken, kindly and gently, to a treatment room where I try to get comfortable for another hour. I’m told four times the Doctor will be right in. At some point I hear Dr. Cottle in the hallway loudly chastising her assistant. She is obviously extremely angry. Still, I wait, about 90 minutes now in excruciating pain and blind.
Then, as I am in the slow process of getting seated in the treatment chair, I hear the door open. The doctor does not say a word, I don’t see her reaching for my eyelid which she flips open. Surprise! And Ouch! I involuntarily leap from the chair. Her tone is downright hateful as she says,“If you can’t be still, I can’t help you.” Really?
As she works on the eye she says it’s «…no big deal.» She finishes and tells me it never hurt, that I didn’t know what pain was. I was speechless, since I have been in treatment 13 years now with liver failure caused by hepatitis C and a host of other painful conditions. On the transplant list 10 years. Guess she didn’t read my chart. Also a mystery why she let me suffer for 90 minutes without a numbing eye drop.
When I leave I’m hit with a $ 100 charge for a test I had not been told about .Same thing happened after my evaluation visit, which took 2 and a half hours including all of 10 minutes with Dr. Cottle. The second visit which zapped my cornea also took 2 and a half hours again including only 10 minutes with the doctor.
I was lucky and found a different, excellent eye surgeon who saw me on short notice. removed the bandage lens from the laser misfire. He told me what caused all the pain. Dr. Cottle did not tell me what caused the problem, only that it was no big deal and I was crazy to think I was in any pain.
The same procedure was done in my second eye by the second surgeon without a hitch.
I should have seen a red flag when I made my first appointment and was told my insurance was inactive. That took a full afternoon to straighten out.
I have been in countless private medical clinics in two states and at two major universities. This was the worst experience of my life.

Dr. Cottle treated my dry eyes with Lipiflow. The treatment was pleasant and the result is incredible. My eyes have not felt this good since my twenties.
I highly recommend Dr. Cottle and Lipiflow.
Dr. Cottle also removed an irritating pterygium I’ve had for decades. The procedure was fast and easy, and the result is amazing! I could not be happier.

Horrible experience at Lake Austin Eye!
Made an apt with no problem. Exam was just ok. Dr Cottle didn’t seem to spend much time with me… Most of the work was done by her helper.
After the appointment the problems began. Right away, they were asking me for more money, which i knew was wrong because I’ve had the same insurance for 12 years. Figured it out that day. Then i get a bill, with the charges billed to my insurance wrong. Myra, the office person, assured me she will take care of it and give her two weeks. I was patient and gave her two months since it was during holiday season, etc Had to call back myself, one issue was taken care of, but a new issue created. At this point, three months later, i’m giving up on it. Now I’m desperate, i need to order contacts. I place the order wit Myra. She said, that because I“m placing a big order, it should be here within 2 days, but because a weekend was coming up, give her until the next week. I called twice since that time frame. No phone calls back. Finally today, they called me back saying my contacts were on backorder. I wear Acuvue! How can they be on backorder??? The receptionist, told me that Myra told her, to fax me a prescription so i can go somewhere else. Basically, i got kicked out.
I’ve lived in four states prior to Texas and this has never happened to me before!
Now, with my last pair of contacts lenses in my eyes, i have to go and find a new place to order them from. What a way to treat you customers!

I was referred to Dr. Cottle when it was found that I had Glaucoma. She began immediate treatment to control the Glaucoma, and found that I had Cataracts on both eyes. She has operated both eyes and my vision has improved significantly. She treated me initially in Cedar Park and when she opened her office in Bee Cave, I followed her there. If you want professional, prompt and friendly service, give her and her staff a chance to serve you. You will be glad you did.

Dr. Cottle has been my eye doctor for several years and now has a new facility which I am so happy to say is a stone’s throw from my new business! Who could ask for anything more.
Not only is Dr. Cottle an M.D. which is IMPORTANT when having your eyes examined she is always on time and doesn’t leave you in her lobby or in the room for long periods of time. That is a bonus. I look forward to my next exam. Highly recommend her.