I had cataract surgery done on both eyes. So wonderful to see the real world again. I recommend Empire Eye Physicians. Excellent care all around. read more

The staff and physicians at Empire Eye are excellent. My low rating is due to their inability to schedule their day without overbooking. I've been in the office a dozen times and only one of those visits would I consider my wait time to be satisfactory. My time is just as valuable as theirs but they schedule believing the opposite is true. Unless you have a condition that demands these physcians I do not recommend Empire Eye. read more

I went in for a routine eye exam. My doctor (Claypool) was extremely knowledgeable. Told me I had a condition that my last Doctor (from another very busy eye surgery place in Spokane) had missed. Answered all of my questions and corrected my prescription. I left there feeling like I finally found a good eye doctor. My wait was 45 minutes past my appointed time, but they had quite a few severely disabled folks being seen and that made them run behind. Seems to be the norm for the larger doctor's offices anyway, so it wasn't a big deal to me. You do have to have patience in these places. I got to watch TV while I waited so that helped pass the time. The facility was exceptionally clean and well maintained. Staff at the front desk were very friendly and helpful. They have a high call volume and the lobby was quite full, so that told me they're quite busy which means: very good doctors! read more

The front office and Dr. Claypool deserve 5 stars. The very low rating is referring to our experience with the surgical technician, Dr. Kontos, and the office manager. The disorganization and poor bedside manner was overwhelming. I placed 9 calls over 4 days to try to talk to the tech. Dr. Kontos didn't introduce himself or even look at the parents of the patient as I watched him walk into my sons surgery. The tech passed us in the hallway the day after and did not even make eye contact. Discussions with the manager went nowhere. I even asked for a follow up call from her. If the front office and Claypool were the only people we needed to work with, it would have been great. Thanks to Claypool! Amazing with my son! read more

The entire staff is very competent, friendly and caring. The cataract removal was a raging success; my vision has improved overnight.

Each and every time I have had an appointment with this clinic (5 times)I have had to wait over an hour to be seen. Clearly patients are not respected here. I lose an hour of pay because they can't organize themselves. read more

Great frnt office and staff, Dr Sturbaum did a great job, I can see again. I would highly recommend them

I would rate 10 stars if possible. The staff are al helpful, caring, concerned and efficient. Dr. Claypool is a joy to work with and took the time to explain my eye condition to me in terms that I could understand. I will never go anywhere else. read more

No one wants to hear that they have cataracts. It can be so scary. Empire Eye Physicians took the fear out of my situation. As soon as I was referred to them I was treated with caring professional courtesy. They got me in very quickly. Every staff member starting with reception then testing, off to meet Dr Sturbaum. Every step was explained to me as to what was going on and how they could help me. I decided to have the surgeries as both eyes were so bad at that point I could barely see and the fog/Mist was closing in fast. So over to the Surgery Coodanator ( I think that's her title) Libby Noordam. She clearly explained all of the costs, set up my two surgery appointments with follow-up appointments, Set up my prescriptions and dealt with both the pharmacy and insurance to make sure I had what I needed. Surgery day arrives and I was a bit nervous. No need for that! The staff got me in right on time (okay actually a few minutes early) They explained everything that was going to happen. They worked with my physical disabilities to make sure I was comfortable Surgery was quick. I was able to see much better almost immediately. Second surgery was just as good. I know this is long but I can't say enough good things about Empire Eye Physicians. Thank you so much for taking such good care of me! I am thrilled at being able to see again. read more

I had LASIK by Dr.Sturbaum at Empire Eye in October and it is the best thing I could have done. My free screening with Dr. Sturbaum , Dr. Claypool and staff was very informative and made me less nervous about the whole procedure. On the day of surgery it went incredibly smooth, during the procedure Dr. Sturbaum talked me though the whole process and made me feel very comfortable. The procedure was done before I knew it and my vision was spectacular! Waking up the next morning and not reaching for glasses was the best feeling in the world! Thank you Dr. Sturbaum, you and your team are the BEST! read more

I got lasik eye surgery with empire eye last week, and I couldn't have had a better experience. The staff was warm and welcoming and my surgery was so quick! My surgeon Dr. Sturbaum was wonderful to work with as well as all the staff. I had no pain at all after my surgery, even though I expected there to be some, and I am already seeing so clearly, I couldn't be happier! read more

First off, I already had a local optometrist I was seeing for glasses, contact lenses, and general check ups. But I had a few years of severely fluctuating vision that no glasses were seeming to work for me, and I was growing distrustful of the limited skill set/training an optometrist has. I specifically sought out an ophthalmologist. I researched and found Empire Eye Physicians--who advertise and are listed extensively and in my insurance directory as 'ophthalmologists.' So I call and make an appointment. I get there and I am seen by what I thought was a medical doctor who begins treating me for severe dry eye. I am immediately much worse, in fact, debilitated. I am scheduled for another follow up. The practitioner also ordered autoimmune blood tests for me saying they can only be read by one special lab in the country. I decided to cancel my follow up appt because now I couldn't endure my dry eye well enough to drive to the Spokane office. I later saw my local general practitioner about other blood tests for a systemic disease. I meanwhile discovered by doing more on-line research that the 'doctor' who treated me at Empire Eye Physicians was an optometrist. I never saw any ophthalmologist at Empire Eye. The blood test was ordered by the optometrist. The test appears to be 'sold' by the only existing lab in a manner than certainly calls into question its supposed usefulness in actual accepted standards of medical diagnostics. It is my firm belief that I am a victim of bait and switch. I didn't get what I thought I was paying for (an ophthalmologist, a qualified medical practitioner.) "As a medical doctor who has completed college and at least eight years of additional medical training, an ophthalmologist is licensed to practice medicine and surgery. An ophthalmologist diagnoses and treats all eye diseases, performs eye surgery and prescribes and fits eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems. Many ophthalmologists are also involved in scientific research on the causes and cures for eye diseases and vision disorders. Optometrists are healthcare professionals who provide primary vision care ranging from sight testing and correction to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of vision changes. An optometrist is not a medical doctor. An optometrist receives a doctor of optometry (OD) degree after completing four years of optometry school, preceded by three years or more years of college. They are licensed to practice optometry, which primarily involves performing eye exams and vision tests, prescribing and dispensing corrective lenses, detecting certain eye abnormalities, and prescribing medications for certain eye diseases." ALSO: 'Physicians' (as in "Empire Eye Physicians") by definition means 'medical doctor.' An Optometrist is NOT a medical doctor and no one in the practice ever told me the provider they scheduled me to see was NOT a physician, NOT an ophthalmologist. read more