West End Eye Center

My kids been going here off and on for some years. The doctor does a great job. The representative are older ladies so they might seen a little aggressive and rude but they are some sweet ladies.

The staff at West End I care center is absolutely phenomenal. I always get red carpet treatment when I go to my appointments I'm in and out the thorough detailed and I always leave in style. Thank you thank you thank you for all you do to make me look good and feel fabulous.

Customer Service is Horrible!!!! Just the young lady who you speak to when you enter the center. I did not have contact with anyone else today. Her attitude is very unnecessary. You would think she had beef with everybody!! No one informed me that I needed gloves to enter the building or a physical insurance card for my son when I called and made the appointment. This young lady had the nerve to tap her temple and tell me it was self explanatory. I wanted to say girl spell it! But because I'm civil I advised her of the proper way to advise clients. She is bringing down the entire establishment with her bad attitude. Something for the owner to think about is you run a business to make money. I know that I will not come back. Two less customers at the hand of your "help".

Unfortunately, this business perpetuates the stereotypes about minority owned businesses. I believe in supporting black businesses, so I looked around until I found one. My fault I did not read the reviews first. The customer service was not good, and the person who answers the phone was so insensitive. I received services when they were located in west end mall. I went back to get a copy of my RX, and they had closed the office without patient notice. So, I called and it took two days to call me back. I was informed that they are in transition from one office to the next. When I asked for a digital copy of my RX, they would only fax it. I had to go to a UPS store to receive the fax and twice it did not arrive after they say they faxed. I was told after the 2nd attempt, that is all they would do. I had to order contacts as well. I had to go back and forth with the lady because I had a new insurance and she wanted to argue that I had to use the previous insurance. She finally stopped arguing with me and processed the order. I WILL NOT use them again!!

When I bought my daughter in for her appointment the person working the front and the doctor was polite and professional. She explained the new procedures due to COVID-19 so everything went well. But the pick up was another matter. They called to tell me her glasses were in but I couldn't make it on Thursday so I went the following Monday since those are the only 2 days they do pickups. When I went to pick them up a different person was working the front. She had no people skills was very curt and seemed irritated that I had to call the office so someone would come to the door because no one was in the front and I had been standing outside the door for a bit. Also she asked if I had called to say I was coming to pick up the glasses today which I hadn't because I didn't think I had to. The woman didn't let us in we had to stand outside the door even though we had on masks. My daughter's glasses needed to be adjust 3 times to fit her properly and she said the glasses were to big for her and we shouldn't have gotten them I told her the other employee never said anything about the frames being to large for her because I wouldn't have gotten them on the recommendation of a professional. She in turn said if your the parent and gave the ok they're not going to say anything. Ridiculous if they would've recommended something that fit better I would've went with it. We left with the glasses and went to another optical place who let us come in and sit down and adjust them properly. Needless to say I will NEVER recommend or return to this unprofessional place who hires rude, unfriendly and unprofessional people. It's sad how 1 employee can ruin the business to where they will lose business and make people not want to return.

STAY AWAY! I paid almost $800. My glasses are no good. The frame do not fit even after adjustments. Handles do not close and lenses do not fit in right. It took many of phone calls and I went there three times. I think the owner need to improve on how to run a business. From the time I enter after making an appointment, I was disappointed. MY TIME and MONEY was WASTED.

The horribly rude female who feels she owns the establishment needs to go! She is nasty, rude, and extremely curt. I called today to request a completed medical release be faxed to another medical source. With her obviously fake voice full of nice-nastiness, the unprofessional hot mess of a human being told me that Dr. Gowdy was not in the office. I asked if she, herself, could return the fax to the other source but was told Dr. Gowdy has "all patient files with her." She then abruptly hung-up on me! I called back and asked her did she hang-up on me. She had the nerve to sit silent for no less than 10 seconds before claiming, "I thought the call had ended." Such a liar! I informed her that she will be looking for a new job soon. If you encounter the same nastiness, please be sure to let Dr. Gowdy know and to post a review. Black ignorance is the worst as we demonstrate it toward one another all too often!!! Yesterday, the same person had me to fill out paperwork where I wrote my full social security number down. She later returned to the front desk with a copy of my driver's license and had the audacity to ask me to "write down the last four of your social security number." I reminded her that the full SSN is on the1st completed form. She dared repeat her request to me where I let her know she can get it from page one. Just lazy and trifling! When she called me over to participate in the eye pressure testing, she refused to raise the machine so that I did not have to further squat while already seated. She told me to "put your chin to your chest and open your eyes wide like you see a ghost." Well, I didn't see a ghost but I saw an overweight black woman with blonde weave and a despicably horrible notion of what is professional. As I told her yesterday, I've participated in eye exams since I was age 5. I know what to expect and how it is done. She had the nerve to lower her head and shake it to each side as though to suggest I was testing her patience. She knew not to say another word to me during the rest of my visit. She has NO BUSINESS working with humans, let alone the public! 2/2022- update:Dr. Gowdy demonstrated herself to be the reason her staff lacks genuine concern for others! I require medically necessary contact lenses and glasses. Despite telling me, "Your contacts will be here within 7-10 days," Dr. Gowdy delayed ordering more contact (I wear only one) for nearly a month. I lost my contact the week of Christmas. She was fully aware of this fact and my dire need for a replacement contact. I have Vision Service Plus; never an issue with payment from them. I called the office (after doing breathing exercises to calm my nerves before encountering more ignorance) and was told my contact was there but the office was awaiting payment from VSP. Medically necessary lenses cannot be withheld due to awaiting insurance payment. I spoke with VSP who had to contact the office. The new story was that my contact was NOT there and that it would be ordered after VSP submitted payment. I agreed with VSP that the service provided was beyond subpar. I was able to obtain a new authorization to see a different doctor. I saw him on a Wednesday and my contact was received the following Monday. This is how it is supposed to be done! I have worn the same brand of contacts for 33 years; never a delay in receipt of it. For Dr. Gowdy to allow me, a patient who is legally blind with the right eye being corrected with lenses, speaks volumes to her lack of genuine concern for all patients. Having "OD" behind ones name means NOTHING when an eye doctor fails even one patient! Stay away from this place!!!

I've never had a problem here, the employees are always polite. The doctor is also very polite and she really cares about her patients vision. I have been here several times for my children and also myself, and I would definitely recommend this establishment to others.