Sandia Vision Clinic - NE Heights

My doctor has been great, and very helpful. I'd give her 10 stars. My 2 stars is due to the front desk customer service. I called to ask how much I will expect to pay for my upcoming eye exam for contact lenses (I'm on a tight budget), I spoke to Cheyenne, and she could not give me a price. She first said around $75 (co-pay plus retinal scan), then after I mentioned that in the past I've paid over $150, she said, "be prepared with about $200". I asked who I could contact for a more accurate price breakdown, and she said "that would be us, but I am unable to tell you how much you'd be paying... our regular eye exams are usually $200..(I forgot the exact number she gave me), but it could be a different price for you". Price transparency is something that is essential in every business. I understand that you might pay a different price depending on your insurance provider, but at least offer to give the patient an educated estimate so they are prepared with enough funds to cover the service.

I visited Sandia Vision for an appointment on November 7. I arrive on time, the intake process is quick, and I am eventually taken into the back to start initial screening process. I do not recall the tech's name but she did her best with the screening. One test was particularly difficult and I thought the tech would at least tell me the optometrist would conduct the test during my visit with Aitana Marquez. There was a little bit of a wait but I expected that. Dr. Marquez came in and conducted a thorough check-up, I have no complaints about her service. She saw me out to the main desk for check out. From there, front desk staff notified me that my co-pay was higher than anticipated. When I asked why, I was informed they went through my health insurance rather than my vision insurance for this visit. When questioned about why that option was chosen, the front desk person became impatient and told me it was a health concern. When I pushed further as why this was the case, I was told 'its our policy' to end the discussion. I wish I had been informed my health insurance would be charged instead of my vision insurance but this was regarded as an afterthought for the front desk. I will look for another clinic that has more transparent practices going forward.

I have been going to Sandia Vision since I was a kid for over 20 years. This place used to be great and they really cared about their patients and went above and beyond for them. Since their founder Dr Chinisci retired several years ago the service and practices have fallen off a cliff which is clearly seen in the reviews if sorted by most recent. To be clear the doctors and medical staff are still great. Which is the only reason for the two stars. Last year they stopped taking Medicaid which is crazy. They make billing your insurance so confusing between vision and medical insurance and they don't actually know what they are doing so they can't explain it to you. They never pick up the phone. The front desk receptionists and manager are indifferent if not down right rude and act as if you are bothering them by just existing. Their glasses department is highly incompetent. Even just copying the same prescription and add ons you had last time down to the same frames and they still get it wrong. Forget it if you have any kind of complicated issue or multiple pairs. They used to have a lab onsite and you could sometimes get your glasses fixed the same day without an appt or new glasses within a week. Now they can't keep any lab techs hired (which tells you enough on its own) so they ship them out to another lab and it takes weeks to get them back only to be wrong most of the time. If you provide your own frames you have to pay a fee and they are not held responsible if something happens to them including if they lose or break them which did happen. I will continue to go here to see Dr. Hockett for my dry eye because she is great but I will likely go elsewhere to get my glasses or contacts because with the level of incompetence and higher than average prices it's not worth the hassle. So sad to see everything Dr. Chinisci built and maintained for so many years go down the toilet so quickly.

I did not have a good experience with the doctor. During my exam, I asked a question out of simple curiosity to better understand one of the tests. Instead of explaining, she responded in a rude and irritated way, as if I were challenging her expertise. The interaction felt unprofessional and uncomfortable. Given how expensive the services are, I expected a more respectful and patient approach. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. I'll be looking for another vision care provider.

I don't see a doctor here, I just get my glasses because it's the only place my insurance covers. I've had multiple problems in the past but today took the cake. When I went to pay for my new glasses, I was told I have a $79 credit. I knew nothing about this; the last time I got glasses was three years ago. Apparently, I had overpaid based on what the insurance paid and they just kept the money until I came back for another pair glasses 3 years later? I think this has to be illegal. If I could go anywhere else, I would.

The staff here did a great job to help me get in and get my exam done quickly and efficiently. Evita was a huge help and I'm glad they have such great people like her working here. I would definitely recommend Sandia for anyone. Thanks to everyone else who helped me from the front, to check out who's names I can't remember

This stings, I had United insurance that Sandia didn't accept so I patiently waited months to change insurance. I called Sandia asked what insurance do you accept, based around that answer I picked Blue Cross. I love Sandia Vision been going for a decade. Finally got to schedule an appointment but THEY DON'T TAKE MEDICAID. Very mad now.

I called and asked if they were able to put prescription lenses into my meta frames. They told me that I would need to order the frames myself and so I did about 2 weeks later. I took them in to be told that they were unable to do anything because the lab would want me to buy the glasses from them. I went to somewhere else instead and they were more than happy to accommodate my request. I think Sandia could have but for some reason they didnt. The people that were helping me didn't seem to be on the same page.