New Braunfels Vision Center - S. Grant Smith, M.D.
1439 Hanz Dr,
New Braunfels, TX

I am so very impressed with Dr. S. Grant Smith, and the entire staff at New Braunfels Vision Center, that I felt compelled to share my story. I am a Registered Nurse who has been unable to work due to two issues with my eyes. Now, all my concerns have been resolved and I am elated. After my initial consultation with Dr. Smith, he diagnosed posterior subcapsular cataracts in both of my eyes. Dr. Smith and Surgery Coordinator Mika Taylor put together a strategy and plan of action to address my needs. Mika demonstrated incredible clarity in both organizational skills and communication of the plan in terms of presenting me with a detailed, well thought-out schedule moving forward. Perhaps the most amazing aspect of my care under Dr. Smith occurred at my initial meeting with him. I had previously undergone successful strabismus surgery on my left eye in early March of 2023. That surgery — which corrected a debilitating double-vision problem — was performed by a highly-regarded ophthalmologist working in San Antonio. Out of privacy and respect, I will not mention that doctor’s name. However, I will state that he has over 45 years of experience in his field. Although my two eyes were now in alignment after strabismus surgery, my left eye’s acuity was very poor. He told me, unequivocally, that I did not have cataracts, but that I would never again have clear vision with my left eye. In fact, the “best” that he could assure me of was that my left eye would attain 20/70 vision — which is legally considered to be “low vision.” In more functional terms, low vision is uncorrectable vision loss that interferes with daily activities. In other words, my left eye had permanently reduced vision which could not be corrected with regular glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery. I was depressed, dejected, and filled with hopelessness. I continued to search for a different perspective, a solution, a way forward. I even consulted with a retina specialist. Just three short months after being told that I did NOT have cataracts and that my left eye would only reach a visual acuity of 20/70, I walked into my first appointment with Dr. Smith…and my life changed. His diagnosis explained why I was struggling so greatly to see clearly — even with my expensive glasses. The opacity of the cataracts interfered with my both my distance and reading vision, reduced my vision in bright light, and created glare, flickers, and halos around lights at night. This made driving dangerous as well. The cataract in my left eye was worse than that in my right eye — which explained why I was having such difficulty seeing well. After Dr. Smith performed my two cataract surgeries, I have quickly and completely recovered. Everything went as planned…even better than I had expected. My vision is 20/20 and I no longer need to wear either glasses or contact lenses — for the first time in over 55 years! I am once again able to live my life to the fullest, work, drive, and enjoy all of my hobbies. I highly recommend Dr. Smith and New Braunfels Vision Center to everyone. I have never been treated by such a team of caring professionals, who are knowledgeable, experienced, compassionate, and dedicated to healing. Dr. Smith and his staff communicate extremely well and are always willing, able, and patient enough to answer any questions. I genuinely feel that I now have a new life. I couldn’t be any happier.

I am so thankful that I found New Braunfels Vision Center. Dr. Tompkins was amazing. She answered any and all of my questions. She was very friendly and got my prescription right on the first try (I haven’t had luck with that at other places in the past). As long as I live in NB I will be visiting Dr. Tompkins. The ladies in the office were very nice and helpful with making an appointment. The lady that took my payment at the end was very nice as well. Very impressed!

Rude and inefficient service. When I arrived at the prescribed 15 minutes before my appointment. I provided my insurance cards as I was to be a new patient to the practice. The receptionist asked me to sit at a computer station to complete a registeration questionnaire, which was fine. The receptionist who was rude and dismissive told me to come back when I completed the questionnaire. I did so, but the receptionist was constantly on the phone, so I couldn’t get a word in edgewise to tell her. It took 1/2 hour before l could inform her. When my total wait time to get in to see the doctor approached an hour, I decided to leave. Given the rude and dismissive way I was treated by the receptionist and how time inefficient the check in process was, there is no other conclusion other than this medical practice has systemic issues in their processes and procedures. If this is the way the front office handles patients, how can you have confidence in the quality of care by the doctors and technicians?