Reviews

On 10/29/2021 I visited Carol Rosenstiel, OD at UAB’s Callahan Eye Hospital Clinic to obtain contact and glasses prescriptions. As a UAB student, I expected to be treated with professionalism and obtain accurate prescriptions. My student health insurance (United Healthcare) did not cover eye exams, and I paid $302 out of pocket for both prescriptions (contacts: OD -6.00 OS -5.75; glasses: OD -6.25 OS -5.50). As a long-time contact wearer, I did not immediately need the glasses and did not get them made until May. I wore them for about 3 hours, during which time I developed a migraine and severe nausea. Since the glasses prescription was obviously too strong, I made another appointment for 05/23/2022 with Dr. Rosenstiel in order to correct the prescription. When I checked into the clinic, the receptionist demanded I pay a $200 fee up-front since I no longer had medical insurance (which of course was irrelevant because UAB’s student health insurance plan does NOT cover eye exams!). I politely responded that there should not be any charge because I was only getting a prescription corrected. After she repeatedly told me that I still had to pay $200, I asked to speak to her supervisor. The hospital administrator that came to talk to me was extremely rude and beyond inappropriate. She said I had to pay for another exam because “anything could have happened since your first exam.” Thus, she was accusing me of lying about simply needing a prescription correction. She also talked diminutively to me simply because I was between health insurance plans. Finally, she acquiesced to me paying a $30 co-pay, and “the doctor will determine if an exam fee needs to be charged.” Once I finally saw Dr. Rosenstiel, she did not look at my eyes or do a complete exam to accurately determine a glasses prescription. All she did was estimate a new prescription by dropping both by “-0.50” and then had me try sample glasses for a few minutes. This statement turned out to be incorrect because in the new prescription (OD -5.50 OS -5.00), the right eye was decreased by -0.75. When I called the clinic to confirm the prescription, the nurse told me, “It’s okay because it was only an estimate.” This perfectly describes how Dr. Rosenstiel and Callahan Eye Hospital feel about my visual acuity. By this point, I did not trust either my contact or glasses prescriptions. Instead of getting my glasses remade, I went to see an amazing ophthalmologist at St. Vincent’s Hospital. After looking at my eyes, he realized that they were so irritated due to meibomian gland dysfunction that he could not give me an accurate prescription (which Dr. Rosenstiel would have realized if she had bothered to look at my eyes). He instructed me to go without contacts for 2 weeks (during which time I was almost blind) and use hot compresses, steroid/antibiotic eye drops, and rewetting drops. After that, I visited him again and obtained new prescriptions (contacts: OD -5.00 OS -4.00; glasses: OD -5.25 OS -4.25). Therefore, I was SEVERELY overcorrected in both eyes, which explains the headaches I had been experiencing since October. Therefore, accurate prescriptions have cost me: $302 (1st Dr. Rosenstiel exam) + $30 (2nd Dr. Rosenstiel visit) + $110 (1st ophthalmologist exam) + $185 (2nd ophthalmologist exam) = $627 NOT INCLUDING ANY GLASSES OR CONTACTS. It is REPREHENSIBLE that I had to undergo this experience at Callahan Eye Hospital, especially the inappropriate treatment by the Hospital Administrator. I have four degrees from UAB, including a PhD and an MS. My father was an ER physician and an attending at the UAB hospital for 30 years. I can NOT believe that I received such poor service from Callahan’s staff and Dr. Rosenstiel. I can not advise people enough NOT to go to Callahan.

This place isn't great. They gave me a wrong eyeglass prescription!!!! so I had to go somewhere else for a new eye exam and an accurate prescription. Plus, waiting takes forever, and when you see the doctor, it's so short you can't even ask all your questions.

Been bringing our daughter here for over 35 years we have had some issues in the past but today we get here and someone decided it was a good idea to square parking spaces instead of angle so now it is much more difficult to park in the parking deck. And with limited ada entrances makes no since for a hospital that is an eye hospital and not having a designated patient unload area in the parking deck area so as for the hospital experience I figured 5 starts then for administration ideas of making parking deck square I subtracted 2 stars giving a final tally of 3 stars

I've been a client for decades with Dr. Swanson. He's always treated me professionally and thoroughly. I've also found the staff excellent, but for a single instance.

This has been an awesome experience! Dr. Curle was wonderful and so sweet. The beautiful woman that helped me when I arrived could not have been sweeter. Then we have Amy. Amy gets the greatest of all time award. She was so helpful, kind, understanding and all around amazing! I look forward to going back!

Excellent service. Friendly staff. I have been a patient there since in the beginning , when they were on on the last office on the hill in the small shopping mall. Let’s just say for about 23 years. I keep coming because I love Dr Curl. The staff are so kind . The receptionist knows me as I sign in. That makes it more personable

Dr Curl is a very kind and knowledgeable doctor and the office is very attractive. My problem is 1 year ago I bought $500.00 glasses which I never wore because I couldn’t see to read with them. Then this year I had to pay over $400.00 for another pair so I could read. Just felt like this was overpricing. I will say she is a very good doctor but not fond of the business end.

Dr. Michelson is great. I've worn glasses since I was 6 and now I'm 67. He took care of my cataract in my right eye last year after giving another doctor years of attempting to correct my vision with PRK. I should have started here! I don't wear any corrective lenses of any kind. It's life changing after all these years. He's recently done the same procedure on my left eye and the difference is amazing. All the staff I've come in contact with have been super helpful and friendly. Very happy patient!

Dr.Marc Michelson and the staff were very nice, friendly and professional. My first visit was very pleasant. I have scheduled my two cataract surgeries to be done in December.

My mom Jessica recently had cataract surgery with lens implant with Dr. Marc Michelson from Alabama Eye & Cataract Center. She had struggled with her vision for 20 years. After visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center with Dr. Marc Michelson and Mrs. Teri the surgery coordinator, they discussed options throughly with my mom. She felt very comfortable and confident with the procedure. She would highly recommend Dr. Michelson and his whole staff. Now, after the surgery, she is extremely thrilled to have her vision back! Thank you Alabama Eye & Cataract Center for making my mom feel confident in her vision again!

UAB Eye Care is exceptional. I came here after seeing another eye doctor to seek a second opinion on some issues I was experiencing. The students that did my exam were very thorough and knowledgable. The staff is committed to providing a great experience and making patients feel heard.