Spectrum Eye Physicians

This five star rating is for Dr. Tarek El-​Sawy (although I also had a five star experience with the Spectrum optical department.) Dr. El-​Sawy is a remarkable surgeon. I visited four other surgeons before deciding that he was the doctor for me. His «bed-​side» manner is patient, attentive and respectful. I have never felt rushed in an appointment and have been impressed with how sensitively and carefully he listens. He is both thoughtful and thorough when he explains his treatment and he has a remarkable ability to eliminate all stress and anxiety from his procedures.

I see Dr. Engelman for management of glaucoma (I’m in my 30s and have had glaucoma since childhood with many surgical procedures behind me). When my eye pressure become dangerously elevated he scheduled me for glaucoma implant surgery 2 days later. The surgery has been a success with a smooth recovery. He was available for any questions and even saw me in the office out of hours to ensure my eye pressure was under control. I felt I was in safe hands and very well taken care of. I really appreciate his care in preserving my sight. It wasn’t easy finding the right doctor to manage my glaucoma (I originally saw another doctor in San Jose who referred me to Dr. Engelman when she moved out of state). I’ve been very fortunate to have someone this skilled on my doorstep and would highly recommend him to other patients looking for a glaucoma specialist in the South Bay area.

I had my annual eye exam and contact lense fitting with their optometrist, Dr. Leanna Nguyen. She was helpful, informative and great on the interpersonal side. Despite having a disparity between the left and right eye for many years, she was the first doctor who let me know that contact lenses may be medically necessary for me and thus fully covered. My son was also examined by Dr. Nguyen, and it was a really good experience.

Dr. Tarek El-​Sawy did surgery on my right eyelid in August of 2015, to correct a relaxed muscle that made the eyelid droop significantly. I can’t say enough about how outstanding Dr. El-​Sawy is. He was caring, knowledgeable, patient and did a perfect job with my surgical correction. I would whole-​heartedly recommend him.

I am writing this review for Dr. Tarek El-​Sawy who recently performed eye lid surgery on both my eye lids to correct a serious peripheral vision problem. Because of Dr. El-Sawy’s outstanding surgical skills, I am seeing better then I have for many years. In addition to being an excellent surgeon, Dr. El-​Sawy has a very warm personality and I enjoyed my several contacts with him before and after the surgery

The 5 stars is for Dr. Liu. Read more for star ratings.
I’ve been seeing Dr. Liu for 15+ years. My parents have been seeing him for just as long. I even referred my husband when he had a stubborn sty that wouldn’t go away. He was well taken care of and said he had a good experience.
The one thing that stands out the most about Dr. Liu is that he is always patient when it comes to my questions. I never feel like I’m rushed. For the most part my eye exams are quick. My eye sight has not changed in the past 20+ years. But when I had more medical issues with my eyes, he’s been patient to explain my situation and the possibilities of why it happened. In the past he’s always made time for my family and myself, even if he’s booked. However, I’m sure because of his professionalism and excellent care he provides, his client list has grown. Which leads me to my next review…
I give 1 star for the front desk receptionist, Michelle. I don’t know if she’s always been the one I spoke with on making appointments in the past. I remember working with someone who was pleasant and would see if Dr. Liu could squeeze us in for last minute emergencies. However, the last few times I’ve called, I’ve NOT had that pleasant experience. Now, I understand that Dr. Liu is booked if not over booked. And I certainty don’t mind seeing another physician. However, booking that appointment was no walk in the park today. My conversation was met with an instant wall of defense and «look I’m trying to help you, but you’re not making it easy» when I wasn’t even being argumentative. She is hot and cold. Mostly cold. And as this is the 3^rd time this has happened, I find it unprofessional. If I were a new patient calling to make an appointment, I would probably go elsewhere because I would figure if her attitude is sour then the rest of the staff would be the same. Since she sits in the front, I can’t imagine how awkward it would be to be a patient listening to her speak to clients this way. But then again, I’m sure they’ve all experienced the wrath of Michelle themselves. Honestly, I don’t expect to be hand held or be speaking to someone with a personality like Mary Poppins. But if you’re going to be the front/​first face of the clinic, you would think it would met with some air of professionalism and patience.

Update: I gave 5 stars to manager Joel and associate Caron. 0 star to receptionist Michelle. I finally got my cash back by the help from Joel and Caron. But I don’t think I will come back to this branch.
My previous comment:
Terrible place. Please avoid this clinic if you don’t want trouble.
Receptionist called Michelle told me to pay cash in advance and send me check until they get reimbursement from my insurance company. I trust her and paid $ 100. The other place normally charge $ 80 – 90 by cash and provide better service. However she refused to pay me back later and said I misunderstood her.
She shouted at me in the phone and didn’t want me to tell the truth. My god. If I recorded what she said, I want to see her face how she was shamed to tell a lie. Doctors there are so so and not very reliable and detailed.
Super bad experience That I have never met before. I don’t want more people get trouble here. Honestly Avoid here. Everywhere is better than here.

Love dr liu. Been coming here for about 15 years. My appointment was at 3;15 and it’s now 3:53 and I’m still sitting in the room waiting … Uh hello?

Dr Mastman is one of the best doctors around. My vision was deteriorating in 2009 on my left eye and he helped me through cataract surgery to get rid off my contact lens and to see way much better than before. The same happened in 2011 for my right eye. Besides that, every time, I visit his office he gives me enough time to understand my problem and he always comes up, with the right treatment. I have endless admiration for this man.

I received a professional and timely response from the Office Manager.

Dr. Mastman is a great eye surgeon and helped my understand the process in a very easy way! I had cataracts in my early 40’s and decided to get mono-​vision lens implants. I no longer need glasses for driving, my computer work or reading. I had a difficult time with both bifocal and transitional glasses but my brain immediately adopted the mono-​vision lenses. I don’t know why more people do not get mono-​vision. It has been the easiest and most natural. Just think no glasses ever again needed.

I am writing about –Dr. Leeanna Nguyen, O.D. I have been a patient of hers for about 5 years. She is very thorough and extremely professional. I have been having problems with my contacts and was concerned that I might not be able to wear them anymore. Dr. Nguyen has been extremely patient and encouraging about finding new contacts for me. She also has been watching a cataract that I have developed and has kept me informed. I have followed her from another Dr. office when she changed locations this last November and my husband will be joining me as well. I highly recommend Dr. Nguyen if your looking for a top eye Dr.

This review is for their retail eyeglass dept not a review of doctors. I just paid $ 322 dollars ($ 850 if I didn’t have insurance) for progressive lens and a $ 160 frame. WAY OVERPRICED! Warby Parker is $ 95 online and great style. Just a heads up to everyone, get your eyes checked here but buy elsewhere.

First of all the staff at the optical department are super nice and helpful. They are why I came back so often. Between VSP’s lab and Spectrum however there is something really wrong.
I had my glasses done there about 2 years ago, I have a high perscription hence I go for small glasses. In fact I have the right size and told them to duplicate the size I have now (which they did). The glasses arrive 2 weeks later and they are much bigger than my originals. Humm… We remeasure and send back, they come back and guess what they are not right again. We send back. They come back and after 8 weeks from initial delivery they finally are ok.
Fast forward. My anti-​reflective coating prematurely fails. Glasses are under warranty. Take them in. No problem under warranty they will fix. Come it to get them and the glasses (which are rimless) have not been polished rather look like cheap cut glass. Being sent back to the lab again.
During all this the staff is super nice. They take the glasses and tell me no problem, but the number of back and forths to the lab really takes time.
I have been to other opticians and Spectrum has great people but the results are ok. I wish the glasses delivery was better so that I could give them the 5 stars that their service warrants.

I saw Dr. Liu for a basic eye checkup and while he wasn’t terrible, he wasn’t that great either. He didn’t stand out with an incredible bed side manner or anything. It sounds like from his other reviews that maybe his speciality is Lasik and not routine exams. The first pair of glasses that he prescribed for me were too strong and gave me headaches. We then went back to the same prescription I had before.
I feel the same way about his staff. Meh. The woman who runs the glasses area seemed too fake to me. With a big fake smile and she said all the glasses looked good on me. That just isn’t true.
Also, when my glasses came in the first time, the lens was protruding out from the front of the frame a lot! I do have bad eyes and need high index lenses. But I’ve always had glasses made with the extra part of the lens sticking out from the back of the frame, so you can’t see it as much. I asked for this to be fixed, but when I came back again, they were again sticking out the front. So it took 3 tries to get the lens made right. I’ve only had the glasses a year and the lenses have popped out multiple times. I’ve worn glasses for over 20 years and these were the worst pair of glasses I’ve ever had made. However, I don’t really know if this was a problem caused by them or with my insurance.
2 stars = Meh. I’ve experienced better.
That about sums it up right.
—
edit: I also just remembered that they didn’t order the type of contacts that I asked for. Thinking maybe I should bump them down to 1 star.

My wife and I saw Dr. Liu for many years. In addition to Dr. Liu they have experienced staff technicians. They always got our prescriptions correct. They also have an optometry department. The glasses always came back precisely what were prescribed. The cost under VSP was quite reasonable. They are a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

I’ve been going to Dr. Lui for over 15 years. He did my LASIK 10 years ago and I am so happy with the results. I was –9 in one eye and –10 in the other with astigmatisms in both and I am ²⁰⁄₂₀ now. I love it. He could have sold me on RK, and PRK back in the days when those were the procedure of choice but he had me wait until the right procedure was available for me. I am so glad that I did. My family now drives one hour (since we moved) for our yearly checkups to see Dr. Lui. The staff is great too.

I found Dr. Liu 8 years ago when I was looking for a good Lasik doc. (Had a friend in the biz who recommended him as one of the best. I interviewed 5 before picking him.)
He’s been «my eye guy» ever since. He’s great at all things eyes, and he’s nice too. (Even though he’s super busy he never makes you feel like he doesn’t have time for you.)
He’s honest — doesn’t sell you the latest procedure just to make a buck. (I asked, he told me to come back in 8 years when the technology was perfected and I was — ahem — older.)
The staff here is phenomenal as well. They fit you in when you have an issue, and they do what they can for non-​urgent creative scheduling as well.
My mother is also a patient here now, and she feels the same about her care.