San Diego Retina Associates

I first visited this office based on reference from an ophthalmologist due to a detached retina. Dr. Hudson performed a procedure to correct this and that was successful. That’s the only positive to my experiences at this office. The wait times are sometimes excessive but that is something I can live with if it’s not every time. The office personnel have always been courteous and friendly. My issue is with the doctors. I don’t believe I have ever dealt with more arrogant group in my life. The patient doctor interaction is pretty much I’m a SURGEON so therefore you should be in awe of my presence. He pretty much mocked my questions, insinuated I simply don’t understand what he says. (Dr. Hudson) and the other guy basically told me I just have to live with the aftermath of this event and get used to it. I wouldn’t recommend these doctors to anyone — while they may be good at what they do, it’s the God complex they exhibit that I find unacceptable.

I want to say first of all that this is a review of patient care, or the lack of it, not of the surgery my father had for treatment of a macular tear. Dr. Smith may be a fine surgeon, but the office staff and procedures for patient communication and care are terrible. My 87 year old father was scheduled for surgery and my siblings and I were preparing to help him with the demands of recovery, given his age. We had purchased flights to his home. Then they changed the surgery date, despite communicating with Carmen several times about this. That was only the beginning. My father requested information about the surgery and recovery several times. Finally a week before the rescheduled surgery, he was emailed a set of PDFs. PDFs. For an 87 year old man. He had no idea what to do. My sister had to download and print them so he could fill out these «mandatory» forms in advance of the surgery. He had no pre-​op. He phoned for information about the post-​surgery recovery period and was given vague information by Carmen. He asked to speak to the doctor, but Dr. Smith never called to answer his questions more specifically (having to do with altitude and a planned trip). On the day of the surgery, my brother drove him to his appointment and IT HAD CHANGED PLACE AND TIME! Apparently my father was supposed to report earlier and at a different surgery. Carmen (again) claimed she emailed (again) my father to tell him the surgery place and time had been changed. There is no record of an email and she declined to show us one. My father has an answering machine on his phone, but there was no message on it concerning the change. A retina clinic no doubt serves many people of advancing age. It would be easy to have a pre-​operation sheet explaining the procedures and recovery requirements, and this should be given to patients before a surgery is scheduled, so they can plan their lives. But even this minimal organizational aide seems beyond this place. Carmen explains, «We are very busy.» I hope this review serves as a warning to stay away from this place if you want good care, patient communication, and organization. It is the least a patient should be able to expect from a successful practice.

While I really like my doctor, I am tired of the nearly one hour wait time just to be seen by his assistants, who test me in one room, then make me wait until testing me in another room, and then make me wait in the waiting room AGAIN. I estimate that total wait time is 1.3 hours. This happens every time. PLEASE START ON TIME.
Also, the staff called me THREE TIMES before one appointment to confirm I had insurance.

My grandmother was a patient here, but due to her lack of English-​speaking skills, I escorted her to every appointment. If it wasn’t for the restrictions in her health plan physician network, I would never have her return here again. From the receptionist who checked us in to the techs in the exam room that got the appointment started to even the PHYSICIAN who treated my grandmother for eye inflammation of not-​yet-​determined etiology for nearly 6 months — everyone was a huge grumpelstiltskin in a terrible rush to do something other than provide care and explanations of the treatment plan with sloppy «bedside manners.» Given the option, I would not choose to be a patient here myself. DO NOT recommend.

I am a patient of Dr. Fane Robinson, of the Oceanside, CA branch of San Diego Retina Associates. Dr. Robinson’s expertize and vast knowledge of Age Related Macular Degeneration was of paramount importance in assisting me in my decision whether or no to have cataract surgery to improve my vison.
Dr. Robinson is courteous, efficient and very experienced in the field of Retinal diseases. He explained the results of the tests I had taken and answerted my many questions, patiently and in language I could understand. I have visited many, many Opthalmologists and Retinal specialists over the thirteen years since I was first diagnosed with AMD. Dr. Robinson has been the most outstanding of them. I left his office with a new peace of mind that I had made the right decision. I highly recommend Dr. Robinson to all retinal patients who want expert care by a caring, conerned practitioner.

Came here with my seriously visually impaired Mom. She is practically blind and I was ready to contact the Braille Institute to help her cope with what I thought may be her permanent condition. She had seen several other doctors and eye surgeons who said there was nothing more they could do for her. When we got called back (short wait time), both Dr. Hudson and his assistants were very, very kind and professional. He offered words of encouragement to her during the uncomfortable tests. He then came up with two probable reasons for her vision issues, both of which he can correct. We are ecstatic! We still need to do a few things before she is seen for the surgery, but if this visit is any indication, we are in great and capable hands!

Monday, May 11^th, follow up from the appointment in the first review. Appointment 10:00 a.m., called back 10:50 a.m., seriously over this place forever.