UAB Callahan Eye - Pelham

I had heard spectacular things about Callahan Eye Clinic so I came to this satellite office with unrealistic expectations, I guess. The staff was friendly, our appointment was on time, but here are a few things they could improve. 1. Dilation. Putting dilating drops in somebody's eyes is so 1950s. It lasts for hours, and God forbid you have to do anything else that day that's outside. Yes, it's possible to have a comprehensive eye exam without dilation. Techniques like Optomap retinal imaging use digital scans to visualize the retina without the need for dilating eye drops. Even Walmart has this in some locations. They could take some of that UAB sports money and reinvest it into newer equipment. 2. Minor issue, but the website and some other advertising says "call or text 844 UAB EYES" for an appointment. You can't text letters without looking them up. I tried but the message was undeliverable. 3. Had a young, inexperienced Optometrist for my exam. That's no problem, you gotta start somewhere. But delivering the news that both my wife and I both have pre-cataracts but may not need surgery for 10-20 years is kind of alarming. I called my old Optometrist and he told me he had seen no signs of this less than a year ago. I guess it's possible, but I'm wondering if it's just standard language for people our age for future marketing? 4. Without asking, my optometrist wrote me a prescription for Progressive lenses. I hate progressive lenses because they make me nauseous. My bad, I should've caught this before I left. Now I have to call back and get a prescription for standard lenses. 5. I could only get an eyeglasses exam appointment -- a contact lens appointment was at least eight weeks out. Wondering why it's so difficult to get a contact lens appointment? Most other optometrists can do both in one visit. 6. The frame selection at the Pelham office was kind of weak. But I'm guessing it's a low-profit satellite office. Maybe the other ones have more of a selection. 7. My prior Optometrist checked our peripheral vision and also did a colorblind test. Neither of these tests was done at this office. With that said, I am hoping the main office in Birmingham is much more up to date. We may have to take a ride down there next year to see if things are different. Apparently, eye exams are booked up to six months out at that location. Will update here when I know.

Such a horrible experience. We took our grandson in for a checkup. They did not order his glasses and then forgot to order them. They proceeded to argue that we did not order. Horrible

Disorganized and disorderly from the link to sign in to the appointment all the way through a needless lengthy visit. Getting a hold of anyone afterward is impossible. No one calls back. These eye clinics are not patient centered. Their focus is on volume and bottom line.

I was pleased with my visit soon as I walked in I was greeted by the staff with open arms. Dr. Jennifer Risting Is very thorough with so much patience. As I checked out I was still pleased with the professionalism by Mrs.Kamila . Excellent service UAB Callahan Eye Clinic

Wonderful service! Thank you for getting me in so quickly! I will be back and will be recommending your clinic to others.

We went to get our eyes checked( whole family) . They ran our insurance as a drs.visit we got billed for 3 co-pays . My son who is special needs has medicaid and when we went to pick put glasses , she threw the box and said pick one.! That's it she didn't try to fit his face to see if glasses looked good on his face. She didn't ask if we wanted to add anything to the glasses ..Nothing! She said they will be back in 2 weeks we will call you ! They called us to tell us the glasses were ready. I went the next day to get glasses on a Friday at 11:30 .NO ONE WAS THERE( even the door says open on Fridays. I called the main line downtown and they said yeah they took today off!! I go back today to pick up the glasses the lady at the front desk handed me the glasses an said Have a good day!! I asked is anyone going to see if they are correct or fit him or something. She told me., No one is here to do that !! I told her this is ridiculous and I walked out with my sons glasses Not knowing if they are right, or if he could see or anything. We took tye glasses over to Costco and they fixed them at no charge.. DO NOT GO TO THIS STORE. ITS BEYOND TERRIBLE.. Rude, non caring, lazy employees!!

My daughter's glasses have been sitting there for a few weeks waiting for pickup, but no one notified us. Can't pick them up if we don't know they're ready.

Apparently someone picked up my glasses? Lady on the phone was not understanding. So now, I can't get my glasses anymore. Probably worst eye clinic I've ever went to.