Burlington Eye Associates/Boston Vision

Was looking into Lasik surgery and had to call to find out the cost for the consult (which turned out to be free). Arrived and not sure where I was going. Person who EVENTUALLY helped me said that there was no payment information on file. Told her it was a consult at no charge. She then gave me a blank folder and told me to go to the third floor. The person there was just as welcoming as downstairs. After sitting in a stuffy waiting area for over 20 minutes, I decided this was not the place for me and left. The doctors may be great but I never got that far. Not a welcoming experience at all.

I have tried 5 optometrists in the Greater Boston Area and this one takes the cake. Previous reviews (and a previous visit to Boston Vision's Boston location where I met a very terse optometrist) made me question my choice. When I walked into the office and saw eye checking equipment in the waiting room I really thought I made a mistake. HOWEVER, the people here and attention to detail is what makes this place the best. Dr. Smail and Sue obviously love their careers. They take time answering questions clearly and pleasantly. Sue provides (refreshingly) direct feedback on frame selection/fit and knows how to put insurance companies in their place. I have no doubt I am getting the most out of my benefits and have the best medical care possible with these two incredible people. I'm done shopping for my eye doctors; after 6 years of searching this is the place!

My mother who was staying with me while I recuperated from surgery had an emergency and needed to be see immediately. After giving all of her insurance information over the phone and telling them that she didn't have the physical card we were told she was all set. On the morning of the appointment she was told that she would need to pay in advance for her appointment because she didn't have one of her two insurance cards. When I provided my credit card information over the phone for payment, they left her waiting in the waiting room for 1 hour because they needed to speak with a supervisor to allow the credit card payment without the physical card and card holder present. Mind you I can order a pizza over the phone with a credit card no problem. While she was sitting in the waiting room with an eye emergency waiting for a supervisor to call the office to allow the payment, I called a couple of other offices and they all told me that she could be seen with just her insurance member ID number and an ID. This is my first ever Google review, but I felt it was necessary to warn people about this place because it was such a ridiculous experience. There are plenty of eye care facilities in the area, and I'd try them all before going to Burlington eye associates.

I took the chance to go to this place for a routine eye exam after reading all of the negative reviews. a routine eye exam... this should be easy... HA. I set up an appointment and gave my insurance info, things looked go to go. then I got a call that my insurance was coming up as inactive. I gave my insurance a call they told my my insurance was active and I have a $50 co-pay for routine eye exams. Called the Dr office back and they still couldn't figure it out, still said my insurance as inactive. I ended up having my insurance company call the office and hash it out. I called the office after they had spoken with each other and the lady told me i was all set and my insurance was good to go. 15 minutes before my appointment the next day, i get a call from the office saying my insurance was inactive! I told her she had to run it through under the medical plan, not the separate vision plan that I had years ago (my insurance company told me to tell them this the day before). she said she couldn't do that because they've never had me as a patient before or something... I had to cancel the appointment because it took 3 hours to figure this out the day before, no way it was going to get figured out in the 15 minutes before my appointment. I called Burlington eye care (a different office just down the street) and made an appointment with them. I had them verify my insurance on the spot, they put my insurance info through there system and she told me "it came up as inactive but give me 2 minutes so i can try to run it through under medical." she came back after 30 seconds and said my insurance was accepted and it would be a $50 co-pay.... incredible. How was Burlington eye associates not able to figure out my insurance after multiple phone calls as well as speaking directly with my insurance company but Burlington eye care was able to figure it out on there own after 2 minutes? Nobody knows.

I have been to this office three times. The first two times with Dr. Gendelman were fine. He addressed my issue and prescribed me medication which worked. However, very long wait to see the doctor. I went today to see a different doctor because I was supposed to be seen for a six week follow up and it had been at least 8 weeks and I felt my eye needed to be looked at sooner than my June appointment. I saw dr. Deborah Zuckerman. I was very upset by her bedside manner. She was rude and demeaning. There is no reason to speak to patients in that way. It's not hard to be pleasant and explain things or field questions from the patient. I work in healthcare myself and I would never speak to patients the way she spoke to me. Please don't go here. I will be finding another practice.

I have been taking my kids here for years. I think very highly of Dr. Smail and would recommend him to anyone. The ladies in the eye glass department are also very helpful and friendly. I go out of my way to get here (only wish their hours were longer!) but I do it as I like the service I receive here so much!

Fantastic work, was in and out my first ever visit within 40 minutes (including new patient paperwork). It was easy and my doctor was super nice and understanding with my issues. I wIll definitely be returning when it comes to my next routine eye exam.

Although I really like Dr Smail I'll be looking elsewhere after latest appointment here. Rude staff and you're locked out until someone comes into the hall for temp check. Really? Still pushing the covid theatre with this and masks even though the CDC has stated no longer necessary outside of acute care settings? I overheard a staff member tell Dr Smail what my temp reading was. When I asked the rude woman guarding the door when all of these rules were going away she said "never!" That's enough for me and I won't be enabling and propping up this charade any longer. I've already made calls to find another practice. Keep looking folks as there are many who have moved past the covid hysterics and are no longer forcing any of this nonsense. I just cannot support or respect businesses who are still living like this.