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Lasik Eye Center
Categories: Health and Medical Optometrists Health and Medical Doctors Ophthalmologists Health and Medical Laser Eye Surgery/Lasik Beauty and Spas Skin Care Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, Laser Eye Surgery/Lasik, Skin Care [Edit]
3920 Wilshire BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90010
Neighborhood: Koreatown
(213) 384-5222
Announcement
Dr. Joe Lee is an Inventor and has many U.S. Patents. His most recent invention, is unrelated to EYES, Best Golf Net in the world! (maybe)
- Hours:
Mon, Fri-Sat 9 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
158 reviews for Lasik Eye Center
158 reviews in English
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Review from Howard R.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 1/24/2012
I wanted to give everyone an update on my eyesight...well... it's still great and I keep referring people to see him! Thank you again Dr. Lee
Was -4.25 in 2006... surgery done 6/20/06 perfect as of writing this review 1/24/12.
Six years and going strong. Thank you sooo much Dr. Lee!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/10/2010
The first thing that comes to my mind when someone asks me about Lasik, is Dr. Joseph Lee. Nestled… Read more »
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Review from jen k.
Fullerton, CA
Updated - 1/23/2012
One year later...
My eyesight is AWESOME!! It's been so good to be able to live contact and glass free. I'm thankful that I met Dr. Lee and that I have perfect eyesight! He is one of the friendliest doctors ever, and his staff is great, too.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/19/2011
I finally took the plunge. I first went in for consultation in March of 2010, and went in for… Read more »
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Review from Jennifer B.
Redondo Beach, CA
1/23/2012
The positive reviews are all true! Dr. Lee is a brilliant surgeon. As mentioned by another Yelper, don't expect a ritzy office in a fancy building. This is one instance where you cannot judge a book by it's cover. The service is excellent and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. And the best part...Lasik is affordable!
Dr. Lee actually tried to talk me out of having the surgery since my prescription was not that bad and because I'm over 40 I will need to wear reading glasses soon (or so they tell me). Well, I told him I'm ok with reading glasses but just don't want the hassle of wearing contacts and/or glasses every day.
I went ahead with the surgery a little over a month ago and could not be more pleased with the outcome. I was more than a little terrified sitting in the chair as he performed the surgery but he talks you through every step with a calm and steady voice that makes you feel safe and comfortable. Dr. Lee is honest and straight-forward and very cautious when it comes to post-op eye care.
The only downside to surgery, if you are a female, is that he does not want you to wear make up for a month. I lasted 1 week, he wasn't pleased about my decision but I made sure to buy all new mascara, etc. just to be safe.
I would highly recommend Dr. Lee and his wife Dr. Kim, they are a great team! -
Review from Erica R.
Glendale, CA
1/16/2012
I am extremely pleased with Dr. Lee, my surgery, and my eyes so far. It's been nearly a year since my surgery and I have 20/20 vision! Yes!!!
If you read the reviews, yes you'll find that the wait time is long and the office isn't your typical "modern, ritzy office" with a giant fountain or something, but once you get past that, you find that you receive excellent service, care, and even better, the surgery is affordable! Try to make an appointment on a Monday if you can, since I've had far less wait times going on that day. Once, I even waited only 10 minutes for a follow up surgery because I booked my appointment on a Monday! Otherwise, bring some entertainment like a magazine, book, or your smartphone as you wait...
Of course, I was nervous about the surgery itself, but with friends and the calm demeanor of the staff, I was able to keep myself calm. The surgery takes no more than 10 minutes and you just have to keep very still. Another yelper said that the experience feels like you're being probed by aliens and I completely agree with that.
I had no pain and no tears before and during my four hour nap and could see with 20/20 vision the day after my surgery. However, I quickly began to notice that I was seeing halos during the nighttime. Now, when I had met with Dr. Lee during my first check-up, he said that his wife had the same problem and that her nighttime vision cleared up within six months. When I went in for my (I believe it was) 9 month mark check up, he then said that my night vision might get worse as well as better. This response did not come up before, but I had nothing to say or do except simply hope that the halos get no worse. My vision has been exactly the same as day 2 as the one year mark and i have never had any problem drive during the night. The halos are simply an annoyance - nothing more.
If you are keen on having laser eye surgery, know that anything goes and be prepared for the risks and rewards because nothing is guaranteed. My life is a million times easier without putting in and taking out my contacts each morning and night (and not being at risk for infection for doing just that). Even though those halos can be annoying, I love the fact that I can see with ease! I'm not sure how many people with perfect vision take for granted being to roll over in bed and see the clock clearly in the morning upon waking, but I love that I get to do that each and every morning - even a year later!
I hope everyone makes a good decision and keep doing your thang Dr. Lee!!! -
Review from Duy L.
Lawndale, CA
12/20/2011
I trusted the yelpers in finding this place. I actually went in for a consult at the Lomita location, and... noticed that all 5 of the staff that day were not wearing wedding bands. It just struck me as odd. Yes, my friends already laughed at me for even paying attention to this.
Anyway, Dr. Lee wasn't at that location that day, but I was told my cornea was too thin,so Lasik wasn't an option. They did offer PRK to me, and you can google that. I told them I'd think about it, and went home, googled it, and called em back to schedule the op.
Yes, the procedure can be a little freaky as you smell the burning tissue. And YES, it is veryyyy painful AFTER the procedure, when the anesthesia wears off (for PRK). I slept probably 12 hours a day for the next three days. Make sure someone is able to take care of you -- my mommy did =)
I've got to say, Dr. Lee's website was what won me over -- the "world's hardest questions" section. He seemed like a straight shooter, and I found it supremely amusing that he mentions not having lost a ping pong match in years.
I did make notes on my phone regarding wait times:
- Surgery appointment at 1pm, done at 223pm = 23 minutes total.
- 1st follow-up appointment at 9:30am, left at 10:23am. This first wait was pretty bad, and the amount of patients he had surprised me. It's pretty busy, and I was completely understanding of the fact that some patients just take more time than others (I'm a pharmacist, and I'm continually apologizing to patients that there's only one of me there and that corporate is trying to make money so they cut the help). I wouldn't make any appointments too closely following a visit, to be on the safe side.
- 2nd follow-up appointment at 9:30am, left at 9:39am. It literally took 2 minutes for him to see that my eyes were healing well, and, as I had no questions, I was happily headed home.
- 3rd follow-up appointment at 9:30am, left at 9:43am. My vision is pretty much as good as it was with my contacts on before -- no blurriness unless you count trying to focus on fine print across the desk. I'm secretly hoping my eyes mutate into the eyes of a hawk, but I'm prepared for "just normal" vision. This visit was a little longer because I ended up chatting with him a bit about love, life, and dreams. True story, I drove home with plenty a thought on my mind!
The front staff is pretty nice -- there is a very perky one, whom you will recognize if you visit the office ;) I wonder if she's ever had a bad day..
I know my days are brighter after having entrusted my eyes to Dr. Lee. Or should I say nights, cause one of the primary hassles of contacts were taking them off at bedtime... I couldn't even tell whom I was sleeping with half the time! ... jay kay.Listed in: LA, Best of the Best
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Review from Tara C.
Burbank, CA
11/13/2011
The reviews are all accurate. Dr Lee is truly amazing but in my case not for the same reasons other people are raving about. He actually told me I was not a good candidate for surgery. Note that this was after another LASIK center told me i was a great candidate, no problem.
After he said he wouldn't do the surgery he actually sat with me for another 10 minutes and explained why I shouldn't get the surgery and his philosophy as a surgeon. How many doctors do you know that takes that much time with you when there is no chance of getting paid for it? He truly seemed to care.
I would highly recommend Dr. Lee. The office is a bit crazy, but as long as you go in with expectations of waiting a bit (20 minutes in my case) it is not a big deal. -
Review from Heather T.
Santa Monica, CA
1/8/2012
Dr. Lee and his staff are EVERYTHING good you have read about them. His staff is kind and courteous and very attuned to the patients and their needs. You will have to wait but , as with most good things in life, it is well worth the wait. Bring a good book, a bottle of water and settle in knowing you are in the best hands possible.
Dr. Lee is a skilled and knowledgeable eye surgeon. He is thorough and will talk you through every step of the procedure. He is honest, straightforward and has the ability to communicate exactly what is possible for you as his patient. He is also quite candid about what is not possible.
He will take the time to answer any and all of your questions. He is compassionate and funny and makes himself fully available during his time with you.
The one thing I would recommend is to take a day or two off after your procedure and rest. Resting your nervous system and your eyes are a very important of the healing process and, as is the case with most Western medicine doctors, is not something usually discussed or encouraged. Give your eyes and your body the time needed to adjust to the profound changes you will experience. -
Review from Nicholas R.
San Jose, CA
9/14/2011
(This review is for the LA location)
A friend recommended that I check out Dr. Lee for LASIK, and I must say I'm glad I did! I went for a free consultation one weekend, whereupon Dr. Lee himself came in and checked my eyes. He was very thorough, and after a positive examination informed me that I could have the procedure done. He also told me all of the risks involved and answered all of my questions.
After receiving an estimate (much lower than I thought it would be), I opted to have the procedure done that very day. Dr. Lee himself calibrates all of the machines, and is a very skilled physician. He practices his craft extremely well, and establishes a great patient-doctor rapport.
The procedure itself was quick and relatively painless, just a bit strange. Following that, I was given some medications samples and prescriptions. I was also given a list of all the post-op instructions (which I had been briefed on before) and sunglasses.
Additionally, the post-op checkups are free and thorough. Dr. Lee will also perform one correctional procedure should within a year should your eyes not heal up to par. Thus far, I have had no problems.
To note: Parking is validated. The office has limited seating and the wait time can be a bit long, but it's worth the while. I would definitely recommend that anyone looking into LASIK schedule a consultation with Dr. Lee. -
Review from Eugenia L.
Temple City, CA
12/19/2011
I found Dr. Lee on Yelp, so I decided I'll give back a review here for Dr. Lee. :)
It will be a repetition of what everyone else says: Dr. Lee is a great doctor. He's honest, straightforward, and funny, and on top of all, he's very caring and willing to share a lot of health tips with you. I happened to walk into the office with a really bad allergy day (running nose, swollen puffy eyes). Dr. Lee shared some of his little observations on how to treat allergies. And everytime I go in for post surgery check up, he always remembered to ask me how my allergy is doing! Hey, doesn't that just make you feel so much better when someone always remember your minor symptoms!!!
The procedure was good, and yes, Dr. Lee offers top notch service at a very competitive price. i had my surgery back in july 2009, and i just had my vision check last month, still 20/20. (Well, I do a pretty good job in maintaining my eye sight, its unfair if I shuffle myself with 8" of space between my eyes and my monitor for video games 14 hours a day unrested and blame my doctor for a bad surgery) I had my surgery in the Artesia office because the only day my dad can drive me to do the surgery happened to be the day Dr. Lee is in Artesia. Then i went to all the post surgery check ups on my own in KTown.
Ok, the Artesia office is VERY nice & clean. But yea, everyone was right about the LA office, its small, unorganized and kind of ghetto. But, my dentist's office is even more old school than here but I've been with the same dentist for 20 years. Afterall, I'm here for the doctor's practice, not for the intetior design. The front desk ladies are not mean, I've always thought they're pretty nice; if I have to picky on the front desk's professionalism.... ok, many times I visit the office during lunch hour, and the ladies are always eating lunch at the front office. I love Korean food, but it's quite an experience if I always smell BBQ meat in a clinic environment....mmm........
Other than that, I'm exteremely satisfied with Dr. Lee and Lasik eye center. -
Review from John O.
Honolulu, HI
1/19/2012
Wifey and I been wearing glasses/contact lens for approx 15 years. We've decided that LASIK would be the next best option for us. After doing intense research on Yelp and Google (LOL)...we've ran into several possible candidates for our LASIK experience. After visiting two offices in Koreatown, we were a little discouraged because of pricing. Lastly, we went into the Lasik Eye Center with Dr Joseph Lee. Facility is clean and easily located. Easy parking. Wait was pretty long, but that's what happens when there are many patients and one doctor. A very good thing. Also, a very good time to catch up on your Angry Birds game. Finally! THey called my name and took my tests. Consulation portion with Dr. Lee was very pleasant. WIth all the people waiting, possible and current patients, Dr Lee not only discussed our candidacy for Lasik, we were able to talk about other things. I felt like he wanted to know his customers, he even asked us questions and actually listened.
(BY THE WAY, check out his Golf invention on youtube.) Im sure he talks to hundreds of people, and for the fact he took time to listen and talk to us was very pleasant for me and my wife.
To make things short, scheduling, pricing, and post operations was done efficiently and pain free. Staff is friendly, thorough, and full of information.
Went back to see Dr Lee for a post op, and he remembered our names. Awesome or what?!
ANyways, I will strongly recommend to pay a visit to Lasik Eye Center.
ALso, free parking and coffee....Lol...
THanks. -
Review from Pomegranate Y.
Los Angeles, CA
12/16/2011
Be prepared to wait 1 - 2 hours. I waited around 30 min. for the initial check up (taking pictures, checking the cornea.. etc.) and another hour to talk to him. Bring a book or something to keep you occupied.
The workers there were all friendly and great. Honestly, he wasn't.. very polite.. I think he might have a bit of an ego.. but he definitely knows his stuff really well which is probably why. I can tell that if you get on his wrong side.. it won't be pleasant.
I unfortunately am not a good candidate, and I appreciate his honesty. There needs to be more doctors like him who can be upfront and honest. -
Review from Winston O.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 6/8/2011
Dr. Lee has been harassing me by private hectoring messages, calling me a racist and threatening me with litigation.
He rambles on about how my reviews are either 1 or 5 stars. Yes, that's true. I reward the great and I expose those that have it coming. I wish I had done the math of the previous reviewer. 40,000 surgeries=15 per day. Had I known, I wouldn't have gotten on this assembly line.
I told him that there wasn't a single word I wrote that isn't true and how DARE he play the race card. Really really cheap strategy. I went on to tell him that should he choose to go the legal route, I would happily describe in detail what has happened to me and my vision. I will also retain expert witnesses who will corroborate this.
Every other persons negative review is also true. The place is as messy as a dorm room. The waits are endless. The staff barely speaks a word of english. This doesn't make them bad people and it doesn't make me a racist.
When I wrote the initial review, it was based solely on incompetence.
Now I just think he's really a bad guy.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/1/2011
Wish I could give ZERO stars.
A day doesn't go by that I don't resent this guy. My eyes, hurt… Read more »
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Review from Esther G.
Ithaca, NY
8/1/2011
I came here in August of 2008 to get lasik for my 18th birthday, yay! Unfortunately, my left cornea had been scratched due to wearing contacts too often/too long. I was pretty devastated since a) I couldn't get lasik b) I couldn't even wear contacts anymore, I had to continue wearing glasses.
Thankfully, after my initial consultation they told me that I could come back in December to get the surgery if I was diligent about my daily eye medication and gave my eye time to heal.
Boy, was I diligent.
Over 2.5 years later, my eyesight is AWESOME. The surgery itself (back in December of '08) went very well. It took less than 10 minutes and was only mildly uncomfortable (but not painful). I went home, slept for 4-5 hours, and was able to drive myself at night to a friend's Christmas party. I had some mild halos (i.e. when I looked at the traffic lights while driving) but they were completely gone the next day. I've never experienced such fast recovery from a medical procedure before!
Dr. Lee is definitely a busy man and the time you spend in the waiting room can be longer than the time you spend in the examining room, but for me it was definitely worth it. The parking is also convenient (NOT street parking- you have to go into the complex). They also have a ton of free candy during the winter, yay. -
Review from Sarah H.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 7/4/2011
Just wanted to quickly update: it's been over a year, and my sight is still fantastic. No halos, no blurriness, no pain, no side effects.
I did all the follow-up appointments Dr. Lee's office recommended. Most follow-up appointments aren't technically "scheduled;" I would request a time to visit (usually on Saturday morning) and the office would happily agree. But essentially, anyone else can schedule at the same time--you all just show up when you do and sign in, after which it's just first come, first served. Hence the potential for waiting. I think the longest I ever waited for a check-up was 30 minutes, and the shortest wait was probably five minutes. So there are no guarantees regarding how long you'll be here.
FREE PARKING. Don't park at a meter on the street. There is a lot in the back, which is accessed from Wilshire, not Ingraham (the back is exit only). The gate into the parking lot is just west of the office's street entrance. On Saturday mornings, the gate is closed, but when you pull up to it, it will swing open. Spaces in the lot are marked for different offices; the Lasik Eye Center spaces are to the left.
Dr. Lee's staff is super sweet and helpful. From what I can tell, the office staff can speak English, Korean, and Japanese. Probably other languages as well.
I still wholeheartedly recommend this place. I would spend that two grand again in an instant.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/24/2010
It's been 7 hours and my goodness, I am over the moon!!
The consult was quick. I went on a Monday and… Read more »
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Review from Thomas W.
Arcadia, CA
11/8/2011
Got my eyes done in 2009 and my vision is still 20/20. In the beginning there was some halo but it went away after 6 months. This is the best money I ever spent and I refer everyone I know to this place. Yes, the wait is long but if you see a line you know its good. Once you get in the room with dr. Lee you can take as long as you want and ask him any question you might have. I never felt rush when I'm talking to him, maybe that's why there is a wait outside. I don't know why one of the reviewer said none of the staff speaks English. The tech that help me was Holiday and he speak perfect English. All in all 5 star for dr. Lee, the staff and the price. So be patience bring your iPad and wait, it will be worth it.
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Review from scott m.
Los Angeles, CA
9/12/2011
I had lasik performed by Dr. Lee in 2007... or was it 2008? At any rate, it's been several years now and my vision is great. I did a lot of research beforehand of various lasik surgeons but Dr. Lee came highly recommended and had a brilliant track record. From my visits I can remember the professionalism and personal care delivered by Dr. Lee and his staff. I visited two locations three times in total and had excellent service all the way.
For those of you putting this off... Don't! (Unless you have a valid medical reason for holding off). The process can seem a little unsettling and scary but its over in a flash and the short-term discomfort is well worth the long-term benefits. When you wake up the morning after and look over at a crystal clear alarm clock, free from contacts or glasses, you'll wish you did this long ago.
Go to Dr. Lee and don't look back... -
Review from Niraj D.
Los Angeles, CA
4/5/2011
Dr. Lee was excellent. It's been over 6 months since I had the procedure done, and I haven't had any side-effects - I'm still seeing 20-10.
I had the procedure done around 2 and had my friend drive me home (it would be impossible to drive yourself home after this procedure). The first few hours sucked, and my eyes were constantly watering and it was not very pleasant (but not painful). I slept for about 4 hours, but when I woke up around 6:30, all the discomfort was gone and I could see very well sans spectacles. There was a little fuzziness, but not enough to prevent me from going to the Hollywood Bowl for a concert at 8. So, within 5 hours, I was good to go out!
I'd say the 4 hours of discomfort were certainly worth it. After a couple weeks, the fuzziness dissipated and my vision has been 20-10 ever since.
Dr. Lee is an excellent doctor, and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking into Lasik. From what I hear, he calibrates his own equipment and can take it apart and put it back together. That certainly put me at ease, and I was happy to know he would be doing my procedure and not someone else.
About the procedure - my eyes are pretty sensitive and I suck at putting drops in, but I was able to have the procedure done without any problems. There's some mild discomfort associated with having your head taped to the chair and then your eyes pried open with their Clockwork Orange-esque implement, but don't be a pansy, just suck it up, it'll be worth it in about 5 minutes.
Total cost was $1500 for BOTH eyes and it was only this "high" because I have an astigmatism - it would have been a few hundred less if I did not have one. I think they also have payment plans with 0% interest. Some places in Beverly Hills are charging about $3K PER EYE. You won't get the fancy offices and Robb Report magazine in the waiting area, but somehow, I was able to manage (saving $4500 probably helped).
Get it done right away! -
Review from Rashmi V.
9/20/2011
Dr. Lee is the MAN!!!. Had my surgery in 2007 and so far so good...Dr. Lee definitely knows what he is doing. I got a great deal and highly recommend him. He does tons of surgeries and his staff is excellent. Dr. Lee and his staff told me all the risks that were involved with the surgery and answered all my questions. I'm sooo glad I got Lasik and glad I had the surgery with Dr. Lee.
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Review from Ashley G.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 4/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yep, i'm in love. He charged for both eyes what most doctors to for one. As promised he did a free "touchup" (my eyes were so bad I'd never seen 20/20 before so it was discussed and expected).
So happy to refer everyone I know to Dr. Lee.
Oh and the "halos"? GONE!Listed in: Places I like
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/17/2010
I was waiting for a few weeks so that I could say with sincerity how much I love Dr. Lee. I'll admit… Read more »
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Review from Devin W.
Los Angeles, CA
5/9/2011
Quick and painlesss - that sums it up. Dr. Lee was very friendly and never made me feel rushed. I am one who could afford to pay three times what I paid for the procedure. But why the heck would I do that? I have perfect vision now and it was at a fraction of the cost. I've read other reviews comparing the office to the DMV. I think that comparison is not accurate. There are a lot of people there, but so what? Once I'm in the examination room, it's just me and the doc. The procedure took all of 10 minutes.
I did have to wait a long time to see Dr. Lee even though I got there on time for my appointment. But I had already taken the whole day off anyway so I did not mind one bit. Listen, the wait is worth it. You spend three thousand less with Dr. Lee and you get a great result. -
Review from Chloe F.
San Mateo, CA
1/31/2011
**** Edit ****
Thus another edit because Dr. Lee doesn't seem to stop editing his replies to me.
Yes, I am a real person with real reviews. I'm not some smear campaign. A one star review is considered, "Eek! Methinks not" which is completely how I feel. I didn't walk into his office hoping to leave a bad review. On the contrary, I walked in sincerely hoping to find the right experience. It was unfortunate that I didn't. If the bad experience wasn't enough, now I have to deal with his multiple rounds of reply revisions.
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**** Edit ****
After reading the doctor's reply, I've decided to eliminate a star. In addition the tirade, I was rather put-off by his statistical analysis of my entire yelp reviews.
example:
1star + 2stars is -greater than- 5stars ...... true but . . .
Why not 1star + 2stars vs "4stars" and 5stars??
This was in regards to his reply (which he already deleted and revised):
"I was curious as to how it is possible you could have had such a bad experience at my office so I looked at your profile. Which explained a lot. You have left fourteen 2-star and 1-star ratings for businesses and only thirteen 5-star ratings. You are often surprised at the number of good reviews a business gets. A little secret, if you play nice, you will be amazed at the number of people that are nice back to you. Not saying you're not nice. Definitely not saying you are."
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I know there's a million 5 star reviews. But I'm not giving any additional stars until the office shapes itself up! And note: I never met Dr. Lee. I'm sure he's the best LASIK doctor around but with an awful office, I'm curious why the reviews are so good. One more note: this is specifically a review of the L.A. office (and not of Dr. Lee or his other offices).
I called ahead to make an appointment for a consultation. Unfortunately, making an appointment didn't mean diddly-squat. After walking in to the office (with no one in the front desk) I couldn't get past how unorganized the files were and how the desk was messy with random things piled on top of each other. I admit my desk is messier but I don't want to get surgery done in an office that looks messy with files floating around everywhere.
After waiting 40 minutes I overheard the front desk lady (who I would give a -2 stars to) telling another patient (who was ahead of me) that it'll be at least another hour to see the doctors. Great. So I've been waiting 45 minutes and I'd have to wait another hour? At that point, I just got up and left. It wasn't worth seeing the 5* doctor where the office was unorganized, condescending (yes, the front desk lady), and unhygienic-looking.
I ended up getting LASIK done by another doctor who's office is clean and modern with great office staff at about the same price.Comment from Joseph L. of Lasik Eye Center 6/9/2011
Again, for all this back and forth, please keep in mind.… More » -
Review from Yuffie G.
San Francisco, CA
2/17/2011
Yes, it's true that you'll have a long wait. But it's because Dr. Lee meets each potential patient IN-PERSON and really takes his time to put every single patient at ease, thoroughly answering any and all questions, even the stupid ones. After you're out of questions, he'll keep asking, "Any more questions? Are you sure?" Not many doctors out there like that.
Oh, and if you've ever been to other Lasik clinics (I have), you don't even get to meet the doctor who's going to perform the surgery on you until the day of! Instead, your consultation is performed by some staff member or medical student. -_-
In terms of the actual surgery, Dr. Lee is wonderfully reassuring the entire time, and his staff is extremely supportive. They're totally upfront and honest about the procedure, including the *temporary* pain you'll feel after the anesthesia wears off (unlike the Lasik clinics that lure you in with promises that it's "quick and painless" and leave out mention of all else. Just to be clear though, the actual procedure itself IS quick and painless, so don't be scared! But as with all surgeries, you do feel a little pain afterward (an hour or two), although some people apparently don't feel any. It all depends...).
Lastly, Dr. Lee is very reasonable in his prices. People are always in shock when I told them how much I paid. But I think it's because Dr. Lee is not out there to just make a buck off ya, he just genuinely wants to help people. And if he can't, he'll actually recommend they forgo Lasik, which is what he did with my mother.
It's been about 4 or 5 years since I had my surgery done by Dr. Lee and I still have 20/20 vision and rave about him to anyone who's interested in Lasik. So do most of his patients, I imagine, since his office is always teeming with visitors and it seems they are almost all word-of-mouth referrals.
Thanks, Dr. Lee! This review was long overdue (I don't think Yelp existed for LA back then), but it's the least I can do in return for my perfect vision! =) -
Review from Andy L.
Westminster, CA
Updated - 12/4/2011
It has been a littler over a year now since my Lasik eye surgery and all I can say is wow. Best investment I have ever made! I can see very well now without glasses. My vison is about 20/20. I never thought that I would get this sight since Dr. Lee told me that the best would be 25/20, but it got better on my last visit. My asigmatism is gone now too. I just went to do a post opt visit for my one year and he said it's at 20/20. I hope this review will help you make your decision. Also, if your into golf ask him about his new invention or he might just show it to you anyways.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/30/2010
Ran out of room so I have to wait until now. Well I Booked an appointment to have my PRK done on… Read more »
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Review from Anne N.
Los Angeles, CA
12/21/2010
1 star for the office space, 2 stars for the staff, and 5 stars for Dr. Lee.
This review is regarding the consultation for Lasik only. Walking into the office I was truly unimpressed. It was cold and the building is quite un-inviting. There is a large hallway with chairs lined up against one wall and the exam rooms on the other side. My main complaints are with the staff and the timing of this office. I have terrible vision, -12/-13 so without my contacts, yes I'm practically blind. I was told by the assistant to remove my contacts in the bathroom all the way down a hallway and to the right. I informed her that I wouldn't be able to make my way back to the front office without my contacts in. She was rude and said flatly, I needed to take them out in order to be seen. Yes, I need to take them out EVENTUALLY, in order to undergo the diagnostics. Pretty peeved I decided to keep one in anyway so I wouldn't stumble over other patients.
After waiting about 30 minutes, I was led into a room for some diagnostic exams. The medical assistant was perfectly nice, but chose to perform my tests with the exam door open. Fine. She then proceeded to verbally ask me about my medical Hx, still with the door open. The staff is apparently not trained on HIPPA patient confidentiality regulations.
Following this, I was told to wait outside again. After waiting ONE HOUR, I was led into another exam room by Dr. Lee's optometrist who did my eye exam. She was pleasant but did not bother to introduce herself or take the time to tell me what she was doing. She explained that my cornea was too thin and would pbb not be a good candidate. I asked her to explain this in regards to my procedure. She proceeded to explain to me, that different individuals have differently shaped corneas, just as different individuals have differently shaped noses, eyes, ears, etc....really? I must look pretty dumb.
I was then shuffled back into the cold dingy hall where I sat for another 30 MIN!!!
1.5 hours after the scheduled start time of my appointment, I was finally seen by Dr. Lee. Now from what I can tell Dr. Lee seemed very knowledgable on the matters at hand and was very nice. He told me upfront I was not a good candidate and was quite frank about my options. A very good sign! Indicates to me that Dr. Lee is NOT just a money hungry doctor willing to perform surgeries even on ill suited patients. He spent time discussing vision habits which could help my eyes from getting worse. He obviously didn't have to do that as my consultation was free and this was not LASIK related.
Overall the office, front office staff, medical assistants are thoughtless or incompetent in some way. Dr. Lee on the other hand as a doctor, not considering the equipment, seems like a good doctor and if I was a good candidate, I would have felt comfortable with putting my eyes in his hands. -
Review from Teresa W.
Pasadena, CA
4/10/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Efficiency comes with a price and method. I guess, I come from the Asian functionalistic culture, I don't mind at all the files behind the reception desk nor did I mind that the waiting area is also along the hall way. What matters to me the most was the expertise of Dr. Lee and the end result of the lasik surgery.
The wait at the office is nothing compared to the one at the ER or Urgent Care.
I have my lasik surgery done a month ago and so far so good. I really DON'T regret it.
The staff are multi-cultural and multi-lingual.
Dr. Lee is very personable, experienced and knowledgeable.
If you want to be pampered, I suggest that you get that at a SPA but if you want straight-forward result, then Dr. Lee is the BEST Lasik doctor in town. -
Review from John S.
Los Angeles, CA
1/11/2011
If you've read five reviews about Lasik Eye Center, you'll know what you are in for... rock bottom prices for an excellent Lasik experience. Balancing that out is the unfortunate result of the above formula: you gotta wait forever to see Doctor Lee, and you can tell that the semi-dingy overhead at his K-town office keeps the prices down. For some reason, the sing-songy cadences of his multi-ethnic (Korean, Chinese, Japanese) assistants only adds to the surreal experience.
That being said, I'm still not so rich (or rich at all) that I can't be inconvenienced a little to get the best treatment at the best price... and so I went through with the long waits to brave the consultations and surgery about a month ago. Very happy with the results, although at -1.25 and -1.5 respectively, my eyes weren't that bad to begin with... especially reading about people with prescriptions in the double digits! Jesu Christi, isn't that considered legally blind?
Anyway, if you're ready to spend 2-3 hours overall waiting for consultations and the surgery itself with the sea of humanity, I'd recommend Dr. Lee in a heartbeat. And if you really want to get on his good side, ask him about his elite Microsoft Excel skills. -
Review from Anne D.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
9/28/2011
I had my LASIK done by Dr. Lee in 2007 after my cousin got her eyes done. She got hers done after several co-workers got theirs done. Best investment I've ever made. Dr. Lee does the consult, pre-op, post-op. Long waits sometimes, but totally worth it. Check out his website, which explains why his prices are so low, if you still have doubts. My sister was prepared to pay $6000 for her LASIK in Beverly Hills; she paid a fraction of that with Dr. Lee.
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Review from Rene W.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 2/15/2011
(Part 2. See beneath "previous review" for Part 1 for: Waiting, Consultation, Hardware, Cost, Equipment.)
5. The Surgery--5 stars
The surgery was abt 10 mins. Dr. Lee had outstanding bedside manner!
The surgery was a bit freaky to experience. But throughout the entire process, Dr. Lee continued telling me what was about to happen, which made me more psychologically prepared. He also continued telling me that I was doing really well.
Confession: I was a bit (translate: completely) paranoid about whether my head/eyeball were still enough.
Throughout the surgery there was this little mouse-like frantic paranoid neurotic voice & this larger logical mature adult voice in my head:
Mousy Voice: "what if I sneeze & the laser beam shoots into my eyeball?!! What if I go blind?!!"
Logical Voice: "Don't be retarded. Shut up. Think happy thoughts!"
Mousy Voice: "Oh no my EYEBALL just MOVED!! AHHH! What if I GO BLIND???"
Logical Voice: "Cut it out!! Dr. Lee is REALLY good! His success rate is outstanding!!"
Mousy voice: "BUT What if that little movement makes this surgery only 60% successful???!!!"
Logical Voice: "OK HMMM now that IS concerning, cuz I felt that eyeball move too......ahhh...."
DR.LEE's VOICE: "You are doing BEAUtifully!! This is going super well! REALLY Great!!... "
Mousy Voice & Logical Voice: "PHEW....thank god..... that's really soothing......"
Repeat.
Thank GOD Dr. Lee kept re-assuring me w/, "you are doing super. This is beautifully done. This is going excellently" THROUGHOUT the surgery so I knew what I felt like was spastic eyeball movement was all my imagination.
6. Staff--5 stars
These girls r rockstars!! They bent over backwards to make everything work for me.
Some yelpers commented on them being brash but they r really busy! Yea when I went for the consultation I also felt they were rushing.
BUT when it came down to business they were nothing short of fabulous. (I dealt with mainly Vickie & Alice.)
I flew in from Van & was flying out on Monday morning & was hoping to do the surgery on Fri/Sat. I talked to Alice who was sweetness incarnate and told me they were fully booked Fri/Sat and offered Tue/Wed/Thur. Tue worked but I couldn't get a ride back on Tuesday.
And she offered to have a staff drop me off (cuz they had a meeting in K-Town)!! Alice also offered to have one of her co-workers who lived in downtown LA to drop me off on Wed after my first post-op check up.
I have NEVER experienced that at ANY clinic for ANYTHING.
I was BLOWN AWAY by how the staff there was so willing to help and make things work. They did NOT need to do that for me & I didn't take it for granted.
I ended up not needing rides, but I greatly appreciated their effort. I needed to wait after the surgery, they actually took me to a room where there was a bed and I was able to rest there for about an hour before my boyfriend came to pick me up.
They brought me blankets, made sure I was warm enough, turned on the heat, came back a few times to check if I was in pain and relieved the pain with eye drops...etc. Wonderful people.
7. Post Surgery
It hurt after the surgery. Tears. But it's fine it's not that bad.
My surgery was done at 12:30. I napped until 4pm and by the time I woke up pretty much all the pain was gone and my vision was practically perfect!! By like 5 or 6pm I was already using the computer (typing most of this epic review cuz I had nothing to do since I thought I'd be in bed for two days). My prescription was -3.25 & -4.00 before. It felt miraculous.
More about $$ after the surgery...
i. Dr. Lee was super cool abt telling me a 2nd surgery might be possible--slim chance (5%), but possible. Not all doctors r upfront about this info. And If you need it within a year, it's free!!
ii. All (6) post-op check ups are free. One place I talked to in Vancouver charges $80 per post-op checkup. 'Nuff said.
8. A Month Later & Side Effect
I've heard abt primarily 2 side effects:
1. Seeing the halo effect around lights at night--Did not happen!
2. Your eyes get drier--Did not happen!
1. I don't see that effect AT ALL!! I attribute it to Dr. Lee's excellent skills.
2. My eyes actually were MUCH DRIER pre-surgery, lots of discomfort on a daily basis, rubbing my eyes all the time, I had to use eye drops all the time & was even using tear gel before I slept to "moisturize" my eyes because last year I had some really serious eye infections.
But now it's been a month after my surgery, I use the eye drops they instructed me to use 2-3 times a day, my vision is perfect, and my eyes don't feel dry at all!!.
Yea. Obviously I am overjoyed about Dr. Lee's Lasik Center I signed up for a yelp account and wrote a friggin essay about it (I have a life... I really do.... ). It's been a month and it's seriously one of the best investments I've made in my life, I can't describe how much I LOVE life with perfect vision except,... you know, write an epic essay about it on yelp1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/13/2011
(Part 1)
I am a fan of Dr. Lee! Definite top 3 in my experience dealing with… Read more »
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Review from Lauren E.
Los Angeles, CA
12/7/2010
What's there to say that hasn't already been said? About 10 months ago, I also had a successful Lasik surgery on about a -3.25/-3.5 prescription with slight astigmatism.
Lots of people coming in and out of the office all the time, sometimes long waits, but once you're in with Dr. Lee, he's extremely patient, knowledgeable, professional and personable.
Regarding the procedure, read what everyone else wrote for all the details if you'd like. The pain is sorta sucky for no more than 3 or 4 hours after the surgery (and you're hopefully knocked out sleeping for as much as you can of this). If you've ever dealt with getting dust or eyelashes in your contacts, this is about the type of pain you'll be dealing with.
I didn't realize all the post-op appointments at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, etc were included in the price...it turns out to be an even better deal than I thought!
Lasik totally changed my life. I would highly recommend it to anyone. -
Review from Ryan C.
3/25/2011
It's been a month since my surgery and life is good. Dr. Lee is very friendly, efficient, and remembers who I am, which is nice, knowing how many faces he sees every day.
It is indeed a lengthy wait whenever I come in, even with appointments, but I was already expecting this from reading the reviews.
The front desk lady, I think her name is Vicky - the one who speaks Mandarin - was always very friendly and I feel like her service surpassed my expectations, especially when it came to settling the billing and post-op guidance.
The operation was quick and easy. I got scared while I was actually being lasered, but Dr. Lee was calmly guiding and telling me what to expect, the entire time, which helped calm me somewhat.
Eyes were mildly uncomfortable up to a week after the operation, as if I had some dirt or lint in my eye, but Dr. Lee said it was normal, and the discomfort faded away sometime after the 1st week. All is good now. Very happy I chose to do my surgery, and that I chose to have it done here. -
Review from rod d.
Burbank, CA
10/23/2010
It's been about 8 hours now since my eye Lasik surgery at Dr. Lee's office. I must say, wow what a difference without contacts! I can actually see a lot better without contacts and no more heavy feeling in my eyes! My prescription was -2.75 left eye and -2.50 right eye.
Back in 08, I went to Dr. Lee for my consultation and surgery. The consultation is free and the doctor decides if your a candidate. I was a candidate and brought back for surgery couple of weeks later. Right before the surgery I actually told the assistant that I could not move forward and felt that i wasnt ready. I felt stupid at that time but felt a lot better while driving home with my father. I just couldnt see someone/a machine doing surgery on my 2 only eyes!
2 years have gone by (I'm 30 yrs old) and now i feel i'm ready again! Wearing contacts takes a toll on you (soft contacts). There are times when i cant take naps without first removing my contacts, my contacts get dry after a 10 - 12 hour day, they get dry while i'm out on Friday and Saturday night and that's when i know my night is done due to my contacts.
Last month i went back to Dr. Lee, he saw me again for the consultation, i was a candidate. This afternoon at 12 was my surgery. The doc took me in around 12:30 and it was a breeze. His staff is awesome, makes you feel great and the surgery didnt take more than 10 minutes- total time. The actual procedure probably took around 5-6 minutes the most with no pain. During the surgery, i could actually see my flap being removed and flipped. Now that part could be scary because for a split second everything blacks out from that eye! The doctor makes you feel good and always praises positive things such as "your doing great", "your doing just perfect". Hearing those words coming from the doc mean everything.
I'm due to go back tomorrow morning for a follow up check up. Yes, he is open on Sundays! After my appt tomorrow, i'm coming home and throwing away my glasses and contacts! -
Review from Jenn C.
Los Angeles, CA
6/20/2011
this review is for the consultation only.
the office is cramped. lots of people waiting. this place does make you feel like you are part of an assembly line. it would be better if the ladies working at the desk gave each person their undivided attention.
doctor was nice. he didn't take the initiative to explain anything (the exam, the lasik procedure, etc) until i asked the questions. maybe he was really busy and wanted to move on to the next patient? but he did answer all my questions.
i know some people that got their lasik done w/this doctor. they got a great price and 20/20 vision. my experience was average- nothing bad, nothing great. as with everything, it's important to always get a 2nd or 3rd opinion. i ended up scheduling my lasik surgery with a different doctor. -
Review from Julia b.
10/25/2010
Dr. Lee is as good as the rest of the reviews will tell you. Both my husband and I got our eyes done within weeks of each other by Dr. Lee and we both had an absolutely fantastic experience. Dr. Lee knows what he's doing, and his staff supports him in a way that makes the patient feel comfortable and confident.
Some things to know before you go:
1- If you pay in cash, you might get a better deal
2- You must come in 24 hours after your surgery and 1 week after. Schedule accordingly.
3- Women- you cant wear eye make up for the first few weeks after surgery. Again, Schedule surgery accordingly.
We trusted YELP with this Dr. recommendation and couldn't have been happier! My only regret is that I waited so long to bite the bullet. Thanks Dr. Lee! -
Review from Loretta R.
San Diego, CA
1/25/2011
Dr. Lee is a miracle worker. I had the procedure done eight months ago. I wanted to wait before giving my review. I was already confident about Dr. Lee because I knew a number of people who had already had their procedure done with him and they were very pleased with his work.
At my consultation, Dr. Lee had told me that he could give me good enough vision so I could use the computer and negotiate a room but that I would need glasses for watching a tv across the room and for driving. Still, that was better the mono-vision than another lasik surgeon had proposed (one eye made near-sighted and other one far-sighted) and for less than half of what that other doctor was charging. Better deal all around so I came up from San Diego and stayed overnight in the area for the checkup the next morning.
The first few hours after the surgery my eyes hurt quite a bit, more than I had expected so I was a little surprised however, by the next morning all was well. Of course, I had to wear the goggles when sleeping and take the eye drops, and I also took the dry eye pills but that was only for a few weeks so it was not very inconvenient.
Do your surgery with Dr. Lee, even if you have to come from out of town, like I did. This is why - Dr. Lee is an excellent surgeon. He somehow managed to not only give me very clear vision within the parameters he had promised, he did much better than that because I do not need glasses at all, not for watching tv, not for driving, not for anything, really.
While it's true that my reading vision VERY close up was better before (I was super, super near-sighted - about 20/600), who cares because the trade off is near perfect vision all around. Since this surgery the whole world is brighter and clearer and so is my outlook. It's amazing.
Instead of taking all the credit (although I am going to give it to him anyway) Dr. Lee told me I was very lucky because he had hit the "sweet spot" so I do not need glasses at all.
Bottom line: he pulled off a better result than he had prepared me for, which was already better than the other, way more expensive surgeon offered. Should you go with Dr. Lee for YOUR surgery? Definitely. -
Review from Condor C.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 1/19/2011
It has been 1.5 weeks now and I have two follow up visits. No long wait time but I was late for both appointments so Dr. Lee had to wait.. Sorry Dr. Lee..
So for so good. Still wearing my night protective goggles. That is another good thing. Lasik Eye Center gives goggles that you can wear. Another eye place gave you these eye guards that you have to tape on. That dumb..
Currently the only issues that i'm suffering from is dry eyes and sometimes it feels like i'm in a dream because the world looks a little creamy. I don't really know what the issue is. I think it could be a piece of eye snot from my steroid drops. Other than that feels just like I am wearing contacts minus the contacts. :)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/11/2011
I went to see Dr. Lee today. I read a lot about different techniques and after talking with several… Read more »
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Review from Randy C.
Irvine, CA
1/19/2011
Another successful patient story. Had my surgery on January 11, 2010.
PROS
-- Competitive pricing
-- Dr. Lee is knowledgeable
-- Dr. Lee is experienced
-- Dr. Lee has good track record
CONS
-- Long wait time
CONCLUSION
I am glad that I saved thousands of dollars by going to Dr. Lee instead of all the other higher priced doctors in the area. -
Review from Alex A.
Irvine, CA
10/6/2010
"I'm 43 but I feel 70. I do this everyday and people depend on me to see." - Dr. Lee.
He truly is a master of this craft. As I nervously laid in the chair on the day of my surgery I knew I was in the hands of a master. From the consultation to walking out I never felt anything but extreme comfort in knowing that Dr. Lee and his staff are the best. You're not going to get this experience anywhere else in socal. I depend on my eyes as a designer and Dr. Lee didn't fail me. I know he won't fail you either. If your on the fence about getting it done go and talk to him. He's totally rad and serious business about eyes. -
Review from Jess k.
Redondo Beach, CA
11/16/2010
I got lasik quite some time ago, almost 2 years ago and it was a great!! I had my consult 3 days prior to my procedure (don't wear your contacts for 3 days). The actual procedure lasted about 10 minutes, the doctor walked me through every single step, what was going to happen etc. I was completely comfortable with him. As soon as I was done with my procedure I was out the door with perfect vision!! I didn't have to wear those weird glasses, I just wore my regular sunglasses, stayed out of the sun, kept up on all my meds and eye drops and now can wake up in the morning to a beautiful day!!
My overall procedure was $1k w/out insurance!!! GREAT INVESTMENT!
FYI- If you are a girl, don't get lasik near any large event where you want to put on make up, because your not suppose to for 2-3 weeks or something like that. -
Review from Lucy P.
3/21/2011
First of all, I did not have any direct contact with Dr. Lee himself but did have direct contact with his staff. It was so unpleasant dealing with each woman at the desk, I could not take the banter any longer so I left. One of the employees took a photograph of my corneas. You look into a device that looks like binoculars and see a cartoon image of a hot air balloon at the end of a empty country road. Then they snap a picture of your eyes? Pretty cool, huh? Yeah, but not at this office.
I never experienced such lack of unprofessionalism and lack of diplomacy in a doctor's office in my entire life. I had to look around and double check to ensure that I did not make an accidental entrance into the DMV because that's exactly what it felt like.
I have to completely agree with Chloe F. The front desk is a disaster!! There are files everywhere, several conversations going on, people hanging out in the hallways, the female employees talking at incredibly high volumes, etc. Furthermore, it does not look like a Doctor's office.
I came here after reading all the extraordinarily high reviews about Dr. Lee. I realize now that he advertises himself as the lowest prices Lasik doc in Los Angeles. The price you pay is the long wait, dealing with the low paid B***** office staff and feeling like a mass production Lasik center.
If you are NOT on fixed income, you will bolt out the door!!!! However, if you REALLY need Lasik and are on fixed income, this may be a good option since they have low prices
Note: This laser center is slightly antiquated. They are not high tech!! THEY DO NOT HAVE THE NEWER ALLEGRETTO LASER MACHINES HERE.
THEY ONLY HAVE NIDEK!!!
Update: They called me on March 21 inquiring whether or not I wanted to schedule another appointment for another consultation and surgery. Apparently, they must have not read my review and also they have no clue how to treat clients. Apparently, their conduct is "normal" for them and the culture of the office here.
Conclusion: This place appears to be a forum of Lasik mass production. This place boasts the number (thousands and thousands served) of procedures performed. Wasn't this McDonald's old marketing concept?
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UPDATE:
Dear Fellow Yelpers,
Please read my review in entirety in fairness to Dr. Lee and his practice.
I received a kind email from Dr. Lee himself so I am now increasing my rating to 2 1/2 stars. However, it does not negate the facts that:
1. I was treated VERY rudely by his staff. Feel free to read the other reviews regarding his employees which others rated poorly. Dr Lee himself has earned high stars himself but not his employees.
2. Dr. Lee boasts the number (over 40,000) of surgeries he has performed. The numbers are impressive but how good is that if you are going to treated poorly afterwards (They now already have your money so service will get even worse if that's even possible.. from worse to.. the WORST?).
3. The office is dank and cluttered looking. Dr. Lee told a client that he would rather invest in excimer laser machines rather than remodeling his office. THEN WHY THE HECK DO YOU NOT HAVE THE ALLEGRETTO LASER MACHINES???
The email from Dr. Lee sounded sincere and he did try to correct the issues I had with his office. He also agreed to waive the initial consultation fee for me. Since I was a previous Lasik client (not from this location) and had the surgery performed once over 10 years ago, their policy was to charge for a consultation.
THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM!!!! His office staff only told them that because they were trying to cover themselves up for bad service!!! I requested Dr. Lee to review the surveillance tapes himself. Thank you for your time Dr. Lee and I'm sorry I did not have the pleasure of meeting you in person.Listed in: "Gag me with a spoon"!!!
Comment from Joseph L. of Lasik Eye Center 5/31/2011
For all this back and forth, please bear in mind, Chloe F… More » -
Review from Thomas P.
Hinsdale, IL
5/29/2010
My review is 9 months post op for my LASIK surgery. I was near sighted before LASIK at -2.0 and -1.75.
I waited over five years to see the results of my friends before going under the knife myself. All had positive experiences with minor nuances and they all recommended the procedure if they had to do it again. Only one person I know is going back for another LASIK procedure after 10 years due to changes in his vision. Having that assurance, I opted to give it a try even though my vision was not poor enough to justify the risk and costs considering a revisit might be necessary like getting a new pair of glasses every few years.
A friend initially recommended Dr. Lee to me as he was affordable. At first, I didn't believe the price she paid because the average price for LASIK surgery is $3K-$6K. I originally passed on Dr. Lee and visited several leading LASIK surgeons in the LA area instead including Dr. Caster, Dr. Maloney, Dr. Lim, and checked out the franchises like Lasik Plus and TLC. I was ready to go with one of the Beverly Hills doctor and accidentally came across YELP with reviews of LASIK surgeons. I hesitated at first as I never thought of using YELP to search for a doctor.
With all the positive YELP reviews and my friend's encouragement who previously recommended Dr. Lee, I immediately booked an appointment. After initial consultations with Dr. Lee, he immediately gained my confidence and confirmed my decision that LASIK was the right choice over PRK, Epi-Lasik, IntraLase "Bladeless", and LASEK that I've been researching.
Although LASIK is a quick outpatient procedure, the LASIK industry portrays the procedure as a 15 minute miracle...it definitely is not. Yes, the procedure takes about 15 minutes or less, but full HEALING time post surgery could be up to ONE YEAR, hence proximity of your physician is beneficial for followup visits: next day, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Any eye Dr. can perform the followup examinations post surgery, but you'll pay extra.
Yes, you read it correctly....ONE YEAR....no reading glasses needed as I capitalized it for you. LASIK is SURGERY and your corneal flap is being cut. Your corneal flap is placed back on your eye without sutures so your body will naturally heal itself over time, similar to a cut in your skin. Scarring is possible and a friend who had LASIK done 15 years ago said he was able to see the line of the corneal flap that was cut. Fortunately for me, the latest blade technology is more precise as I was not able to see the line after my surgery. Every individual heals differently, so the healing process varies and hence the different results for each individual. No doctor can guarantee 20/20 vision after surgery and if they do, they're more a salesman than a physician and one doctor even guaranteed it an I almost bought it.
For those who are nearsightedness of -2.0 and higher, I'm sure LASIK is a miracle. After 3 months post op, I was debating whether or not someone with -2.0 or less should have it done due to the possible side effects of a lifetime of dry eyes. My decision changed at 6 months as my dry eyes went away. I highly recommend buying the Lutein vitamins Dr. Lee offers. A friend who had a different LASIK surgeon was never offered any vitamins and still had dry eyes one year post surgery. After taking the lutein/flax seed vitamins I recommended, his dry eyes went away.
About Dr. Lee. (5 stars)
Everything in his profile and on his website checks out. You're getting a world class Dr. who doesn't have to be featured in airline magazines.
Dr. Lee's staff. (4 stars)
They are not pushy salespeople. They're just employees helping Dr. Lee with the daily tasks of managing lots of patients in the waiting room.
Office (3 stars)
This is only for the office as it is not impressive and a bit crowded at times. Dr. Lee uses the same equipment the other top doctors use.
Summary
You might be asking yourself how and why is Dr. Lee so affordable? Low overhead. I recommend Dr. Lee to all my family and friends, but I hesitate to tell people how much he charges. Yes there will be some sneers out there who will brag about how much they paid for their Beverly Hills doctor, but for that price, you are paying for their high overhead. Also keep in mind the possibility a few years later your vision could change and you might need to spend another $3-5K or much less with Dr. Lee.
Thank you Yelp and Dr. Lee!
