Updegraff Laser Vision

Over the course of 2 ½ years I have experienced nothing but poor customer service from their offices. Today was the end of it. I will not return, will not let you touch my eyes or give you another penny. You greedy, money hungry people that care more about the almighty dollar than you do your patience.

Wow. Dr. Updegraff and his staff are unbelievable. I’ve been wearing contacts for 21 years, and after much persuading from my mom I decided to finally do something about it. My dad was legally blind until he has LASIK from Dr. Updegraff a few years back, and after my mom has watched his quality of life improve dramatically she’s on a mission to get every other contact wearer out there to Dr. Updegraff’s office.
I live in Ireland, but the surgical coordinator, Valerie, helped us schedule the procedure when I was home for just a week. She was fantastic, really accommodating and comforting when walking me through what the day of the procedure would entail as well as a brief overview of the after care.
You have to go in for a checkup to make sure you’re a candidate, and they’re really thorough taking measurements of your eyes, checking your prescription and asking you questions. I found out after about two hours on a Friday that I was a candidate (woo!) and the surgery was scheduled for Monday.
The day of surgery you’re instructed to come in to the office dressed in warm clothes (tough for August in Florida but luckily it was overcast that day) and no makeup, and you’re supposed to prep your eyes by putting some drops in 4x/​day the day before. You also can’t wear contact lenses for about a week before the surgery.
They give you a Valium and instruct you to relax, and they even ask what kind of music you’d like to listen to (I chose jazz) in this reclining pedicure-​style chair pre-​operation.
I panicked when they brought me in the room a bit, so they gave me more Valium and were really understanding when I needed more time. About a half hour later and surgery was underway.
Dr. Updegraff walks you through everything he’s doing during the surgery, and it’s clear he’s really committed to what he does. They numb your eyes so it’s painless, but you’re fully awake which could be unsettling. They have someone in the room who’s a designated hand holder, which I thought was a nice touch. My mom was able to watch from the next room, and my fiancée could even log in online and watch it live! Talk about advanced technology.
The whole surgery take about 20 minutes, and afterwards they outfit you with an aftercare kit of drops, ointments, and super sexy goggles (subtle sarcasm) you have to sleep if for 5 days following the surgery.
I had to come back one more time the next day after the surgery so they could check the results, and when I was given a thumbs up they sent me home with a complimentary mug, Chapstick and video of the procedure (which I still can’t watch, the camera is inside the LASIK equipment!)
It’s not cheap — even though I got a family discount thanks to my father’s referral, it was still $ 4,200, but when you work out the cost of eye doctors, contacts, solution and just overall quality of life I thought it was well worth the cost.
My eyes healed beautifully and I can see the moment I wake up in the morning, something I haven’t been able to do since I was 9 years old. Thank you, Dr. Updegraff! What a great experience.

I have been contemplating Lasik for many, many years. After being told I was not a candidate by two doctors in my early 20’s I had given up hope. A few years ago I decided to give it one last chance. I went to Dr. Updegraff and, to my surprise, was told I was indeed a candidate. However, my nerves set in and I decided not to go through with it. Three years later, being over the inconvenience and burden of glasses and contacts, I decided to go back for another consult. This time around I wasn’t going to let my nerves get the best of me. Did I get nervous? YES! But Dr. Updegraff and his ENTIRE staff did everything possible to make me feel so comfortable. During the procedure there is a tech that literally holds your hand the entire time. Dr. Updegraff talks to you and gives you a step by step of what he is doing and what to expect. Today was my 24 hour follow up and already my vision is ²⁰⁄₂₀. Coming from someone who has had glasses since about 10 – 12 years of age, it is so hard to comprehend. I could go on and on. Of course, do your homework … but if you want the best experience and results, go to Updegraff Laser Vision! And trust me, there is nothing to be nervous about. I was completely comfortable during the entire procedure!

I have lived wearing contacts and eyeglasses since I was 8 years old, I am now 35 and I finally got the guts to get Lasik. I had been scared of it my whole life. I had heard Updegraff was the best around, not cheapest but best. {Not going the cheap route and looking for discounts on my vision!}
I had Lasik done 4 months ago here, and it has been amazing!!! My site is ²⁰⁄₁₅!!!
Great experience all around!
1. Staff was amazing, friendly and always took time to talk and answer any questions I’ve had.
2. Updegraff met with me and addressed any questions and concerns I had the week before and also 3 times now since in 4 months! He has been great! Love the follow up appointments since, they continuously keep having you come in and make sure your eyes are healing perfect. Feels great having them watch over your eyes in the healing process!!!
3. Office is clean, large, comfortable & easy to get in and out of.
4. My appointments had very little if any wait time.
GREAT EXPERIENCE ALL AROUND! BIG THANK YOU TO UPDEGRAFF AND STAFF FOR MAKING MY EXPERIENCE SO WONDERFUL AND GIVING ME BETTER THAN PERFECT VISION!!!
BEST Money ever spent on myself. Would absolutely recommend Updegraff laser Lasik to anyone wanting perfect vision! They have been AMAZING!

The place and the people are everything you have heard about and excpect from a place/​Dr. with their reputation. Staff is excellent, service is top notch, Dr takes his time to make you comfy and ensure you understand everything you need to know. Im 8 days out from having PRK (my corneas were too think and Lasik would have been minutely risky) and so far so good. Not fully healed yet but I can see almost perfectly. The procedure was super quick and easy and the week following only brough minor discomfort on a few days. Overall I am very satisfied with Updegraff, the procedure and the results.

Dr. Updegraff and his staff have been an exemplary health care provider that I am truly ecstatic about. My vision is now better than ever before, and especially night vision has improved a lot. Almost everything went just as they said it would, on schedule they told me about during consultation. The Dr. performed the consult himself and I felt great about going to them, felt like they really knew what they were doing. I might have found a cheaper option but could not have found better, and it’s the only 2 eyes I have. I have to do a follow up enhancement and they have been happy to schedule it, but only when my eyes are ready. Strong recommend for them, I’ll bring my kids when they’re old enough!

I’m so happy I went to Dr. Updegraff I have been wanting to do LASIK for 10 years.
Dr. Updegraffs staff is so professional and even let me watch someone (with their permission) get their eyes done so I knew what to expect.
There were 3 people in the room. Dr. Updegraff, his assistant and a hand holder.
Dr Updegraff talked to you thru the entire process and even did count downs with how much longer something was going to take.
The hand holder. All I know is her name was Danielle. She was amazing, because I have never been so quiet and still for my entire life. LOL
As soon as the surgery was over, they sat me up, and immediately I could see time on the clock! I was –6.75
I can’t believe the results, and I’m so happy.
Someone I knew who lives in MN, had their eyes done the week before me. She said she hated it, and 5 days later she couldnt see!
If anything, after hearing her experience, I knew what I was getting into with Dr. Updegraff that her horror story actually made me even more confidant with my choice.
These are your eyes people! Not tires. Go with the best!
Hes the top 5 in the COUNTRY, if not #1.

Updegraff is a great place for LASIK. They are very efficient and organized. Every visit was quick to get in and out. The surgery itself was easy. Dr. Updegraff narrated the entire procedure and that really put me at ease. I’m very happy with my results and would recommend to anyone considering LASIK to visit Dr. Updegraff.

This is a review for Lasik consultation only, not the procedure. The procedure will be reviewed separately.
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After weeks of researching online and asking everyone I know who had gotten Lasik, I decided to get consultations from Updegraff Vision, LasikPlus and Eye Institute of West Florida. Here’s the break down:
Consultation:
1) LasikPlus
2) Updegraff
3) Eye Institute
The consultation at LasikPlus was wonderful. Lisa, the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant, was great from beginning to end. Here, you get only one assistant who performs all the measurements and even tells you the cost at the end. The part I like the most about my consultation is that Lisa explained to me what each piece of equipment measures as she’s about to perform that measurement.
At Updegraff and Eye Institute, no explanation was given, and I was being handed from one assistant to another. At Updegraff, each machine is placed is separate rooms, so I was constantly in a room, then wait area, back into a room, then wait area, and so forth. Also, whatever drops that were used for dilating my eyes, I was told that they would be extra strong. Well, they were strong alright because it took me 2 days to gain my normal sight back. The worst 24 hrs ever because I couldn’t see my phone at all to use!
As far as getting ready for the procedure and afterwards, if you choose LasikPlus or Eye Institute, there’ll be medications you’ll have to get. Prescriptions will be given when you schedule your appt. Updegraff, on the other hand, has all the drops for you in a kit. No need for you to go to the pharmacy. I like this convenience.
Meeting doctor who will perform the procedure:
1) Updegraff
2) Eye Institute
3) LasikPlus (did not meet doctor)
Towards the end of 2 consultations, Updegraff and Eye Institute, I did get to meet the doctor. Dr Updegraff did some sort of measurement and approved me for Lasik, but seemed a bit in a hurry. Dr Robert Weinstock also did some sort of measurement and approved me. Although, at one point I wasn’t sure what was going on because I was never told what happened, but 2 other doctors came into the room and gave me the same measurement. The assistant said something along the line of them making triple sure everything is accurate, but it didn’t feel right. I already knew I wouldn’t get my procedure done here so I didn’t press on.
At LasikPlus, and based on my research all LasikPlus across the country, the patients don’t get to meet the doctor until the day of the procedure. After the assistant was done with certain measurements, I was asked to wait to see Dr Petit O.D. He did some more measurements and approved me for Lasik. But he’s not the one who’s going to do the procedure, instead Dr Groden will, though I won’t see him until the day of. Due to this reason in the end I ruled out LasikPlus.
Condition of office and equipment:
1) LasikPlus
2) Updegraff
3) Eye Institute
LasikPlus was a cleanest and the machines looked clean. Updegraff was also clean, but some machines had signs of wear and tear. Eye Institute’s building is huge from the outside, but once inside It looks like the reception and waiting areas take up most of the space. The rooms I was in were small and cramped with equipment. The equipment also seemed worn out due to usage but the users not taking care of them well.
Cost:
1) LasikPlus
2) Updegraff
3) West Institute
LasikPlus had a promo at the time, so my procedure would have costed around $ 4,000. Updegraff first told me it’d be $ 5,200, but after I said my friends have gotten it cheaper here, I was given a 15% discount, so final bill was $ 4,420. West Institute was around $ 5,000. I was most disappointed at how this place handled the cost issue. After all the measurements were done, I asked the assistant how much it’d cost. She said that someone else handles that part so told me to wait in the waiting area. A few minutes later a lady called me in to her office and proceeded to schedule an appt for the procedure and was about to hand me the prescriptions needed to be filled. I was like, Ummm, how much does it cost? She then finally told me.
Closest to home, easier for follow-​ups:
1) Updegraff
2) LasikPlus
3) Eye Institute
Updegraff is the closest to my house, making it so much easier for someone to drive me to the follow-​up appt the next day. Also, Updegraff has a car service that will pick you up and/​or drop you off if you need it. I nice gentleman did just that for me the day of my appt.
I ruled out Eye Institute immediately because I didn’t feel like I was treated as a valued patient. I was then torn between LasikPlus and Updegraff. In the end I chose Updegraff Vision because I met and was examined by Dr Updegraff during my consultation. What drove me away from LasikPlus was not meeting the doctor until the day of the procedure.

Although I’ve had no trouble putting contacts in daily for over a decade, the thought of having my eyes cut was terrifying. Since I didn’t sleep in contacts and have a young child, waking up in the middle of the night meant stumbling around or knocking everything off the bedside table looking for my glasses. My husband encouraged me to look more seriously at LASIK as my current stash of new contacts dwindled. I had been looking at different LASIK located for some time but hadn’t made the step to go to a consultation.
Meeting Dr U during the consult put me completely at ease. I didn’t feel that our time was rushed and he answered all of my questions thoroughly. I was impressed that he had developed some of the technology used in Lasik over the years.
The procedure a week later went smoothly and calmly, thanks in part to the muscle relaxer they prescribe you beforehand ;-) A week later my vision was a little worse then 20/​20, with some dry eyes. A month later my dry eyes were mostly gone, and my vision was a little better then 20/​20, about ²⁰⁄₁₇. I don’t know what my old 20/​? was, but my contacts were –4.50. I still use rewetting drops maybe once per day, but before LASIK, anytime I took my contacts out my eyes would feel dry, so I think some of that is just my eyes not used to being exposed directly to air 99% of the waking day.
LASIK with Dr Updegraff was a great experience and I should have done it years ago!

I recently got Lasik done here and I love this place! Everyone who works here is very nice and accommodating, and the office is PRISTINE and state of the art. The way it works here is Dr. Updegraff typically does his Lasik surgeries on Friday mornings, and then you are given a sleeping pill and instructed to keep your eyes closed for at least 4 hours immediately following the surgery. Until your post-​op appointment the next morning, you’re supposed to wear an eye shield, and then you go back Sat. morning and you’re able to take the eye shield off and then voila, you’re good to go! You have to not wear contacts for several days before the surgery, and after the surgery, you have to put in a bunch of different eye drops every day for about 2 weeks. My vision was pretty much perfect about a day or two after the surgery! It’s been a few months and I have no side effects or anything!
I hated wearing glasses and contacts, and it is AMAZING being able to wake up in the morning and be able to see without glasses/​contacts. Completely worth it, and I would absolutely recommend Dr. Updegraff. If you want to get Lasik, this is absolutely the best place to go. He is experienced and knowledgeable and the staff really takes care of you.

It has been a few years, 10 to be precise, and I think that is really relevant.
I was thrilled with the Lasik procedure that Dr Updegraff did in 2003. It was all that I had hoped and expected. What prompted me to write a review a decade later when I now live in California? I just had a first checkup with a new ophthalmologist — perhaps my third check up since Lasik — and his first comment looking at my eyes was «nice job on the Lasik!»
I asked him a minute later what he meant by that. «Typically there are signs of surgery around the flap or in the cornea. So when we see a cornea that is crystal clear, it shows that it was done really well.»
Ten years later, my vision is ²⁰⁄₂₀ and 20/​15, and I am still extremely thankful.
Thank you, Dr Updegraff! Peace,