Palmetto Ophthalmology

Be Warned. My experience here was poor due to consistent, long wait times. However, the way they handle their cancellation policy is what broke the deal for me. I called to cancel with 22 hours' notice (just two hours shy of their requirement) and they offered zero flexibility. They need a policy to ensure they can fill the spot, but they refuse to acknowledge that life happens outside of their rigid 24-hour window. If you are looking for an office that is run with any level of understanding or flexibility, this is not it. The strict, unforgiving policies and the shear inconvenience of the wait times are a major red flag.

This is my second time coming here for an eye appointment. I've now been waiting almost a full 2 hours to see an eye doctor and have only been seen (45 minutes in) by a tech to do a quick triaging. No updates given. And this is after they sent me to a different location for a 9:30 am app... that didn't take my insurance so they sent me back here. Been here since 10 am. It's 11:49. Haven't been seen by a doctor. No updates from anyone. I do not recommend coming here.

We were patients of dr walters and when he retired we were given without consent dr williams who is terrible for taking care of her patients. This is the 3rd time we have been cancelled so she can have the day off. WE ARE DONE WITH YOUR PRACTICE AFTER 10 YEARS ..YOU TREAT PEOPLE LIKE DUMB IDIOTS AND WE WILL NOT TAKE IT ANYMORE AND YOU WONT CALL US BACK TO EXPLAIN WHY YOU WONT FULFILL YOUR OBLIGATION AFTER OUR CATARAC SURGERY. DO NOT GO TO THIS PRACTICE.

They rescheduled my wife's appointment for a later time, one that wouldn't work for her schedule if she had to work. Well we found out she had to work over the weekend, tried to reschedule first thing on Monday morning at 8AM, $50 charge for trying to reschedule "within 24 hours" even though they aren't open Saturday or Sunday. So we wont be coming back.

Dr. Hartel, Shockney, Kanitkar- they're all awesome, I've seen tham all. I worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 21 years (Master of Science in Health also) and know good physicians from mediocre ones. I highly recommend them. They're brilliant, thorough and kind.

My Grandmother, Claudia Shuler, has been a long standing patient of Palmetto Ophthalmology for 10+ years. Last October, she had a stroke and is now in skilled care. She always kept a calendar with her appointments up until the stroke. When it came time for her appointment this summer, she missed it because she is no longer able to keep her calendar and my mother was unaware that she had this appointment. We got charged $50 because she was a "no show." When my mom called and explained why we were unaware of the appointment (because my Grandmother had a stroke), they informed us that we still had to pay the $50. I understand paying for not showing up to an appointment but I think there should be compassion when there is an extremity. I am very disappointed in the lack of grace and compassion for a long standing patient.

I haven't even went there yet and I'm already not a fan of theirs they keep emphasizing about a fee and if you have to cancel more than twice you can no longer be a part of their practice to me that's a red flag I already don't like them and will be looking for a new eye doctor the person that answered the phone was not very friendly

Excellent office: the doctor and staff are pleasant and accommodating. However, a word of caution for future patients, PLEASE doubly confirm if your insurance is in-network. I have been told at two different times that my insurance was in-network when it was not. The first time I came in, I was told AFTER I checked in that my insurance was actually out of network and I had to pay out of pocket. Apparently, they supported my insurance, but not that particular 'subgroup'. The second time, they did call me days before the appointment (thank goodness), but only to inform me that their particular office does not support the insurance that I have (it was a new one), and that I had to show up at another office 45 minutes away. It caused a great inconvenience on my part, and has really made me reluctant to recommend this excellent office to my friends.