Fenton Vision Center

Today was my last day communicating with this office. Today, I experienced first hand what it feels like to be a patient with a question and be rudely answered with frustration by front staff and Dr. Alvarado. I have been a long time patient of this office, never have gone to another optometrist for my care. I've purchased glasses and contacts from this office for many years. My last visit in June of 2025, I expressed I wanted a glasses and contact exam. In some form, miscommunication occurred about receiving a "contact lens exam." When I left the office that day, that's what I thought I received. When I called, I've been asking for my contact and lens prescription to be sent over to me for my records. But, my contact lens exam was expired to my surprise. I asked the woman speaking to me, "What is the difference in procedures that take place in a contact exam so I can know as a patient if a contact exam does not take place." This was not a question she could answer so she got Dr. Alvarado. The rudeness and frustration coming to me shocked me as I thought this was a harmless question out of genuine curiosity and hope-fullness that I can make sure my "contact lens exam" doesn't get missed in the future. The answer to my question, stating "It's more work." And couldn't give me a direct answer on what exactly the difference is. And when I expressed, "I just wanted to understand. Maybe I'm asking a confusing question." I reframed the question to ask again, "Is there a part of the exam that I can look out for so that I can make sure I don't leave the eye exam without a contact exam." And he said, "I've heard you ask this question and I don't know what to tell you other than it's more work and things I look for in a contact exam." Now, I responded with, "That's all I needed to know then, that there's nothing I can look for in the future." My discourse is this: How am I to continue being a patient at this clinic when I can't ask harmless questions regarding my care without feeling like the people in authority are rude to me or frustrated with my question? The animosity was astounding. As a future physician, I feel that this exchange was rude and belittling. I will no longer be a patient of Dr. Alvarado at Fenton Vision Center. An update after finding out from another optometrist, what the difference is. All the answer needed or could've been was, "We fit you into contacts and then exam your eye in those contacts." That would've been a sufficient answer where I could've replied, "Thank you so much, don't know why I didn't remember that." That's all.

I took my daughters for the first time yesterday and the Doctor was absolutely amazing with them. One of my girls has unique eye needs and I felt so at ease with his confidence in treating her! I would highly recommend for children's eye needs!

Edit 06/10/2025 Im bummed I've had to edit this review, I've been a customer for years now. I went into for a normal eye exam and contacts exam. I asked about switching to daily contacts and was given a trial pair. My prescriptions didn't change and I paid and left. When my insurance statement came I saw that they did not bill insurance for the contacts exam. When I called they explained that switching contacts brands made my exam a premium exam meaning it would cost me $80 instead of the usual $40. I argued that they billed me all the same codes and even the same pre insurance price. I was told that when they submit a claim thay my insurance deems my new contacts as premium. I hung up and called my insurance, this was INCORRECT. My insurance explained that the provider decides if my exam was premium or not. Nothing was different about this exam other then asking about trying daily contacts. Im pretty upset they would try to make excuses to make $40, my insurance reviewed my bill and agreed I should have paid the same price I have the last 5 years. Really bummed, I will update this if they change their mind or say there was a miscommunication. I see some negative reviews about having your prescription here and only being able to order contacts/glasses through them. This is 100% incorrect, my first visit was 3 years ago I had never spoke with anyone there before, had my appointment and ordered contacts and glasses online not through Fenton vision and had no issues. Everyone here is very nice and I've only ever witnessed one issue and that was from a customer walking in and demanding an appointment right that minute because there glasses prescription expired. I would recommend this eye doctor for anyone who needs an updated prescription with no hesitation. They have never tried to up sell me or get more money out of me, always hassel free.

I have been long time patient. Tried to order a new contact at 9:30 am. The lady I talked to said she was having a problem with my file. She would find the answer and call me back. 3:30 pm I called them back. They had not bothered to complete the task. Finally after I pushed them they decided that they could order my lense. Two weeks later still no lense. Per the office, should be in soon. Two & 1/2 weeks, I received a letter from Dr. A. Basically he told me to take my business elsewhere. I think they made a mistake and did not want to admit it. Sam's took care of me same day. Had my new lense in two weeks. Guess where I'll be going in the future.

Started off good, ended badly. I sent them the sizing for my contacts, went in and had my eyes looked at. They order the wrong prescription. Incorrect cylinder and reduced the prescription itself in both eyes even though he'd said he would just be doing it in the one eye, which i know everyone is always back and forth on. I called let them know about the issue got an appointment for what I thought was a recheck. Nope, I go back and they completely disregarded the issue, got stuck on brand name changes(100% not the issue, which i explained multiple times) and rather than fixing their error, decided without talking to me to just get my benefits reinstated with my insurance. (Slow process typically, i worked with my insurance and they were great about helping after i got a supervisor) wrote me an 8$ check, I should have looked at that before I left because that also falls short of what I paid them out of pocket. Overall worst experience I've ever had with any vision provider. My vision sucks! I have had horrible vision since I was little. If they had just fixed their mistake rather than trying to brush me out the door, it wouldn't have "left a bad taste" Dr Alvarado's words, as he was leaving said bad taste. ETA went to another provider, my prescription increased, not decreased, and she advised given my astigmatism my prescription should only ever increase. Much better fit and vision.

Had one of my sons come here first when I found this place, then one of my daughters, then I started coming here. Very patient and friendly, especially important for my kiddos whom have different diagnosises. I won't go anywhere else now. I just switched my youngest son to this place and my other kiddos will be coming here soon, too!

I have been coming here since I moved to Fenton. Customer service ANYWHERE is important to run a business Since Dr. A has hired a new doctor the whole office has gone down hill. Even the staff has left, I would assume due to her,because she just ran me out. I have had an eye issue for over 3 months, and because they could NOT GET ME IN they won't even look at itunless I get some special testing I don't need because and I quote "do any service for free even if it is thereissue". Me and my 2 kids will be going to a different doctor. HIGHLY SUGGEST NOT making an appointment here.

The worse experience I've been through, is with this location. First they try to make appointments without checking on your insurance, for example my insurance covers every 2 years. They try every year to schedule an appointment, knowing it will be out of pocket costs. I was told that something was covered on our glasses, went to pick them up and they tried to charge me! When I explained that I was told it was free Catrina was extremely rude and tried the whole "I can show you". I don't care what you show me, everyone in the office remembers me being told it was covered, besides her because she wasn't there! Asked for a contact to speak to someone about her rude attitude, was told I'll have to talk to the Dr. Had an appointment today, was told that they have to pre authorize insurance. Ok. Then Catrina again rudely told the girl that was helping me that I would have to pay out of pocket until the pre authorization came through! I guess that takes 48 hrs? Why wasn't the pre authorization done before our appointment? So I wasted gas, my time, pulled my kid out of school, and exposed myself (I'm fighting cancer) to come to an appointment that I had cancel because they didn't do their jobs. Bella the girl taken care of me was in shock I felt when catrina said we had to pay, she said "the whole thing?" Which made me feel like Catrina was just extending her rudeness because I told her I didn't care what she showed me. Unless you want to be charged for random things after being told they were paid for this is your place. Something's changed in here over the last 2 years. The girls who were in here before were way nicer, understanding, accommodating, and just honest. EDIT: talked to the dr. Ended up walking out crying because I was so mad. He instantly got defensive when I told him I was writing a review about Catrina, and asked "so you're gonna write me a bad review, but you want me to wave this fee". That's when I told him I didn't even want the glasses, to go ahead and have them re done to what my insurance covers. I NEVER asked for anything free, what I asked for was what I was told I was going to get. Nothing more nothing less. He told us there would be a charge when he suggested it, but the two women who put the order in said there wouldn't be because my children are under age. Who are you to believe in this? The women who do the billing everyday? Or the dr who just does the exams? I went with the women who do the billing everyday! I made it very clear to everyone at the last appointment that due to my condition I couldn't afford any extra charges. There seems to be some kind of communication issue in this office.