I am a nurse practitioner myself and did a lot of research before deciding upon Visian lens surgery as I was not a candidate for less invasive procedures. I wanted to make sure the surgeon I visited had a breath of experience and training. After the experience I can truly saw I was impressed from my initial consult all the way through surgery and after. Dr Patel does fantastic work he is great at communicating, has a wonderful bedside manner and an amazing team of support staff. I wake up daily amazed that I can now read the clock across the room without glasses or contacts! I was so impressed with the operation aspect of the business, the entire staff is friendly, communicative, professional and values your time, investment and confidentiality. read more

Always behind in their scheduling. My eye's vision is worse after the cataract surgery....Patel upsold me on a trifocal lense that doesn't work. Horrible experience all the way around read more

I saw Dr Niraj Patel at Pacific Northwest Eye Associates for correction of cataracts. At that first consultation, after the exam and the doctor's assessment, I started to ask a question when Dr Patel interrupted me saying: "I've only done about 20,000 of these. But go ahead, ask your question." As if I was offending him by having concerns. As if by asking questions I was somehow challenging his expertise, rather than acknowledging it. As if this wasn't exactly the right time and place to ask questions. A bit shocked by his dismissive comment, i initially thought I should simply leave and find a different doctor. Then I thought about the weeks I had to wait just to get this appointment, and starting that process all over again, and I swallowed my pride and simply responded, "No, never-mind." But I also knew then that I would eventually write a review in which I told prospective patients this story, in case anyone preferred not to be disregarded in this way. To be fair, I am pleased with the results of my surgery. I had researched Dr Patel and never doubted his skills. But I was offended by his manner at that initial consult and believe that patients deserve to be treated better. read more

Dr Niraj Patel is a super doc. Lots of experience and takes the time to explain the procedure and answer all your questions. I can recommend him without reservation. His rating has to be five star. RON S read more

I usually don't write reviews but when I do, lookout, the reviews are either great or terrible. I can honestly say that my cataract surgery performed by Dr. Patel was exemplary in every single step. I wish I would have gone to see him for my first cataract surgery, instead my optometrist from Bridgeport Vision recommended Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute,better known as PCLI what a terrible experience that caused me so much grief and lost of some vision. I had heard that Dr. Patel was the very best eye surgeon for cataract removal. Unlike PCLI that did not anesthetized me , Dr. Patel has the very best Anesthetist, the entire operation took 15 minutes and I had no pain, no issues whatsoever. Dr. Patel is the real deal, he's successfully completed more than 20,000 cataract surgeries and has maintained a 5 star rating. My review of PCLI is forthcoming stay tuned and be forwarned. What happened to me can happen to you. Thanks Dr. Patel, you are the best. read more

I highly recommend Dr. Patel because he is not only highly skilled and caring but he also made me feel comfortable because he has a great sense of humor. Laughter really is good medicine! I just had my left eye operated on for a cataract and my vision is completely restored. I will be having my right eye done next week and I'm looking forward to having the surgery. I know I am in good hands. His staff is just wonderful, too. I'm grateful these people are so qualified and professional. Anne Beattie (Rose A. Brooks Beattie) read more

Dr. Patel was great. He was honest and let me know that lasik wasn't the best option for me and a lot of other places would have just agreed to do it. I'd recommend him to my family members and friends. read more

I had been suffering (more than I knew) from cataracts for years. I got a recommendation to Dr Patel, and from start to finish the experience the experience was amazing. Both eyes done and could not be happier with a doctor or their staff. I get incredibly professional service at the clinic, never wait beyond my appointment time, and the techs are always cheerful and professional. Dr Patel is an incredibly capable doc who has given me the best vision of my life! As well as being skilled, he is also a positive happy person who makes you feel at ease and cared for. Wholeheartedly recommend Dr Patel & his facility! read more

I was losing my sight quickly from Fuchs Dystrophy and Cataracts. Dr. Patel was fantastic. I can see perfectly now, no more foggie images and I can drive at night. I would recommend Dr. Patel to anyone who requires eye surgery. He explains things well, treats you respectfully, and follow-up is good. read more

I have read the recent yelp reviews and was going to schedule my first appointment with his office. So this review is more about his front office scheduling staff and not the doctor himself as Dr. Patel, I was told is not available to be scheduled with till October. I would then be scheduled with another eye doctor on staff. Ok, so I called the number given, the call was picked-up by someone in scheduling; I could hear talking going on between the staff then phone was hung-up on me as I was saying "hello!" I call back only to be told I was number 1 in the call waiting and waited over 3 mins to be answered which means it was left to keep ringing on their end. So I literally called back twice because it wasn't being picked up even though I was caller #1! So on the 4th try, someone finally answered and was very rude! WOW! I was not unpleasant nor was my tone showing any annoyance, though I was quite disconcerted by her handling a new patient call! The doctor may be amazing but they definitely need to get their staff on board with better phone conduct for new patients as well as phone etiquette for all their calls! I will call somewhere else for services. read more

Today I was discussing my recent eye appointment with my Mom. I was saying how I only saw Dr. Patel for a few mins when he was called in for a second opinion, but even in that short time I just loved him. My Mom freaked out that I was seeing THE Dr Patel, because apparently he did my Gramma's cataract surgery a few years back. All her friends were getting surgeries done by different Drs, and my Gramma was the only one who never had any problems. Incredibly skilled as a surgeon and a wonderful bedside manner with patients! read more

I was nervous about surgery to remove cataracts and correct my vision. Dr. Patel and his staff took the time to carefully explain each step of the process and answered my questions along the way. The results were amazing! I am now eyeglass-free for the first time in 50 years! If you want a doctor that will tailor your surgery to your specific needs with a supportive staff then look no further! They even have affordable, no interest for 2 years, financing so you don't have to wait. read more

Dr. Patel is a wonderful surgeon with excellent people skills. I have put off doing LASIK for 20 years but finally decided to have the procedure done after meeting Dr. Patel. Quick recovery time and 20/20 vision on the second day. read more

Excellent experience all around with Dr. Patel and his team. Like most people considering LASIK, it was something that I wanted to do, but I was timid about the idea of eye surgery. Patel's and his team do a great job educating you, answering your questions, and making the experience comfortable. He's got all the credentials that you would want, and is a part of a full service eye clinic. Pricing was fair, and in-line from what I've seen around the Puget Sound - and really, who wants to do some kind of discount eye surgery? The actual procedure is quicker than you think, maybe 15-20min from walking into the operating room to walking out. Most of the time at the office on surgery day is sitting in a pre-op recliner waiting for the drugs to kick in, or waiting for your wife to pick you up afterwards, knowing full well that you won't be able to read the receipt. Once we got home, I crashed in bed for the rest of the afternoon. The next morning for my follow up, I was able to see 20/20, and golfed 2 days after the surgery. After a week of eye healing, I was at 20/15. Pretty incredible. read more

Dr. Patel did the cataract surgery on my right eye, and he was great. He and his staff are friendly, efficient and professional. For all my pre-screening appointments, the surgery and follow-up appointments, they saw me exactly on time, and got me in and out quickly without making me feel rushed when I had questions (much better than the place where I had my left eye done a few years earlier). They even called me the day before each appointment to remind me of the appointment time. The surgery itself was painless, and I had multiple people checking in with me before, during and after the surgery to make sure I was comfortable and doing OK. The surgery itself only took about five minutes, and I was already seeing more clearly that evening. After the dilation in my eye returned to normal the next day, I was off and running. In addition, the waiting room is comfortable and spacious, and is stocked with newspapers, magazines and coffee, which my friend really appreciated when she was waiting to drive me home. I highly recommend Dr. Patel. read more

Dr Niraj Patel did a Refractive Lensectomy on both eyes, a week apart each. it went so well; fast, painless and easy. Dr Patel is a-matter-of-a-fact guy, an easy going and compassionate physician, with delicate set of hands. i am free of glasses, right from the day of the operation! i am so happy I choose to have it done. and one more thing to mention is that now that my eye are so great, i am able to see colors the way i used to long ago!!! thank you Dr. Patel!!!!! read more

Dr. Patel is wonderful. I have been a patient of his for the past several years and was so happy to have found him. But, he is no longer at Pac. Med. I would like to continue to have him as my dr. If anyone knows whether he is now with another clinic in the area, would you post it? Edit--I have learned that Dr. Patel is now in Tacoma. I am so happy that Dr. Patel has stayed in the area! He is a fantastic doctor. read more

Dr. Patel is a highly-skilled eye surgeon who really cares about his patients. In 2018 he did cataract surgery on my wife with great results. Last month he did cataract surgery on me. I now have the best vision I've had in my entire life. I can drive, use a computer, read a book or use my cell phone, all without glasses. Also, the staff at the eye clinic are friendly, helpful and well trained. The nurses and surgical assistants in the out-patient surgery center are caring, attentive and make sure you have the best experience possible. I highly recommend Dr. Patel and his team to anyone who needs eye surgery. read more

Dr Patel puts his whole heart into his patients. I have been taking my elderly mother to him and have observed compassion, focus on her wellness, and commitment above the norm. He is highly skilled and well reviewed and we were very fortunate to have been sent to him. Add to that a relaxed and positive attitude from the staff both in the clinic and the surgery. We cannot praise Dr Patel and the staff at Pacific Northwest Eye highly enough. read more

Caring. Works hard. Top notch skills. Great team. I highly recommend Dr. Patel. I had a fantastic experience and most importantly a great outcome! read more

I went to Dr. Patel in March 2010 for PRK surgery. I had an extremely difficult refractive error to correct (less than 1% of the population). After consulting with several surgeons in Seattle and Bellevue, I chose Dr. Patel. He clearly articulated the risks and benefits of the surgery, and was nothing short of perfect when it came to monitoring my eyes post-surgery. He took the extra time to make sure I received the best treatment, and his entire staff was very professional and friendly (especially his surgery schedulers). I am very happy with the care I received and the results of my vision correction surgery! read more

I had no vision in my right eye. In addition to that I have had a number of retina surgeries due to a hole in the retina that would not stay closed. I also have a number of other problems with that eye but the great news is that Dr. Patel was able to do a partial cornea transplant it was a success. I now have some vision out of that eye where before I had none! I still have a way to go but my transplant is still only a couple of months old so I am still putting drops in my eye and Dr. Patel is still checking on it. What can you say about a person who has restored your sight again!! Through it all he has always been very professional, honest, with a great positive manner. He always makes you feel like he is glad to see you! I can't say enough good things about Dr. Patel! read more

Dr. Patel and his staff at Pacific Northwest Eye Associates are amazing! I am a surgical tech so I was very picky when looking for the right surgeon to do my refractive lens exchange surgery and as you know people in the medical field are the hardest to please. Dr. Patel did not disappoint! Through online research and many referrals from friends and other surgical techs that work with him, I decided to go ahead and do it. He is caring and excited about changing your life through your eyes. The office visits are quick and to the point with out the long waiting for him to see you. The office and the surgery center is very clean and the team is like a well oiled machine. You are in and out quickly, but you still feel like you are getting the best quality care from the most knowledgeable staff and doctor. So if you want to entrust your eyes with a professional, caring and very talented surgeon, Dr. Patel is the only choice!! read more

I'm not sure what I can add to the outstanding reviews below; I agree with all of them. My vision was horrible most of my life (-10) and I was not a good candidate for lasik due to keratoconus. I wish I'd known more about ICL years back but then I might not have come across Dr Patel. And here is just one of the great things about him. I'd lost contact with Dr.Patel when he left his practice in downtown Seattle. About 3 years later, I managed to find him in Tacoma and made an appointment right away. Without the benefit of my charts(which have since been requested), he remembered me and every detail of my surgery. When I tell people that I drove to Tacoma to see my eye doctor, they question my sanity for making the drive from Redmond. I explain to them that I'd happily drive much further to keep Dr. Patel as my eye doctor. read more

If I could give a 12 plus as a rating I sure would. Dr. Patel was truly just the very best. He was on track, explained everything to me and now I can see. He made me feel "normal" which eased my fears of total blindness. Now I can see, drive at night, and he encouraged me all the way. During surgery he was in command and I could tell he was business all the way and completely into what he does. I thank him so much and feel so lucky to have this type of person available in our area. read more

I was referred to Dr. Patel by my neighbor and I couldn't be more pleased. I had cataract surgery in both eyes. He set me for monovision because of my lazy eye. The staff was great and the surgical experience was very easy. I am now 20/15 in my distance eye. Reading is pretty good although fine print requires reading glasses. More than satisfied. Would definitely recommend Dr. Patel. read more

Delayed much needed cataract surgery until a friend recommended Dr. Patel to me. Did my research and was convinced by at all of his glowing reviews, and my initial visit with him and his staff, that it was time and he would be my choice. The results were amazing! I can see clearly in both eyes now. What a change after many years of worsening vision. The process was flawless. Dr. Patel was exceptional and his staff was amazing and they worked together like clockwork. read more

Dr. Patel is amazingly supportive with military patients. After my return from deployment, he gave me two post-op assessments at no charge, based on the fact that he was not comfortable with his assessments with my eye readings. In fact, Dr. Patel's honesty concerning my situation and his office move was refreshing. It turns out that I still suffer from dry eye, and need to maintain some eye lubricant, especially after I wake up from sleeping, or focusing for long periods of time, but don't need a re-corrective surgery. If you have a complicated vision concern and and are contemplating any sort of corrective surgery, I highly recommend Dr. Patel. read more

WOW - I have been turned down for both PRK and Lasek surgery to correct my desperately poor eye vision. I have been in hard contact lens (which years later became gas permeable) for more than 50 years. I have bad astigmatism and vision poor enough to be legally blind. I was recommended to Dr. Patel when I was unable to correct my vision with eyeglasses and unable to wear my contacts. I expected that - once again - he would find that my quirky eyes would not be able to be corrected. I was treated with the utmost respect mixed with a charming humor that made my appointments a pleasure. I had to be without my contact lenses for a month before they could be certain if I was a candidate. BUT, he determined that my vision could be greatly improved by Refractive surgery. My eye surgeries were performed on my eyes 2 weeks apart. I was tempted to cancel my appointment due to EXTREME FEAR. Unfortunately for the operating staff - they not only had to prepare me for surgery but also deal with my fears. They were all marvelous and the surgery went well. I woke the day after surgery on my first eye absolutely excited to do the second eye. The vision is much improved. The second surgery - while more complicated is also healing nicely. I don't have enough nice things to say about Dr. Patel and his staff. I feel as though I have received a new opportunity to enjoy all the thrills of a fresh look at the visual beauty surrounding us. read more

Dr Patel is the only optometrist you need to go to. Period. Dr Patel and his staff are the most qualified, educated and fabulous people. Don't trust your eyes to anyone else. Seriously! I went to him based on others' reviews as a last ditch effort in hopes he could help me see well since my prescription had gotten to a -18 and with brand new contacts I was still not seeing even close to 20/20. I've had poor vision my whole life and always feared going blind. I thought it was finally happening and was desperate that maybe he could help. After only a couple of minutes with him and his team they found what multiple eye doctors had missed for years (including one that evaluated my eyes ONE month earlier). I had advanced cataracts. This is extremely rare for someone my age (35) but it still shouldn't have been missed. I went years with terrible vision and it negatively impacted m life purely because of others' incompetency. After a couple of procedures I am now seeing 20/15 and couldn't be happier as I never thought I'd see this well. If you want to know you're getting the best care possible - look no further. I'll never trust another doctor with my eyes. You'll also be amazed with the incredible people on his staff. They are the kindest and most thoughtful people. read more

Dr. Patel top notch! I had my LASIK procedure with him a little over a month ago and am very happy about the results. My eyes are better than perfect, what more can I say? My boyfriend also had his LASIK procedure with Dr. Patel six years ago when he was still located in Seattle and highly recommended him to me. I'm telling you, the 1-hour drive is definitely worth it. Not only is Dr. Patel an amazing doctor but he is also very friendly, very likable and super easy going. He loves what he does and you can tell, which is awesome. And the results show! Thank you so much Dr. Patel for giving me perfect vision! read more

I was referred to Dr. Patel because Lasik surgery was not possible for my extremely difficult prescription. From my first visit through post surgery care, Dr. Patel and his staff gave me the very best care. Before the surgery, I was informed of the potential risks and benefits of the refractive lensectomy surgery. I would recommend Dr. Patel for LASIK or the refractive lesesctomy surgery. I have worn glasses since I was four years old. It is so nice to look at the clock and not to fumble around for my glasses. read more

I had a Refractive Lensectomy on both eyes and both surgeries were completely successful. Dr. Patel and his staff are professional, compassionate and respectful - with wonderful senses of humor. It is now 5 weeks after my last surgery and I am thrilled. No more glasses (except for drugstore cheaters for reading - I am 65 years old) and I am thrilled. I can garden now in the summer without my glasses filling with perspiration and falling into the dirt, I can walk in the rain without blurring problems and oddly enough my eyes are no longer dry. I do a lot of photography and bird watching and this is so much easier without glasses. Yahoo! I highly recommend Dr. Patel without reservation. read more

Dr. Patel is exceptional at what he does. I saw him after having a less than successful cataract surgery. My vision was not good. My original doctor told me "Well, that's the way it goes. You try to choose the right power lens but sometimes it doesn't work." Dr. Patel quickly assessed and told me he could replace the lens and hopefully give me better vision. He did and it did! Replacement is more complicated than the original surgery. That's where his skills come into play. He has all the latest tools at his disposal. He took his time and did an amazing job! He listens, comforts and explains. I had him do my other eye and it was also successful. He is a highly skilled professional. And also a very nice man :-) I am forever grateful to have found him and finally have the vision I need to do the things I want to do. (His staff are also great to work with.) Don't take chances with your eyes, see Dr. Patel first! read more

I was a 32 year old, type-1 Diabetic with dry eyes, and astigmatic, myopic vision with a correction around 7-7.5. I did a lot of research to identify the best possible eye surgeon, because I am a high risk candidate for eye surgery and I hate the thought of dry eyes. Dr Patel was the only doctor that met all of my criteria. Dr Patel is exactly what you want in a surgeon: confidant, intelligent, concise, and in complete command of the facts of your case, the risks, the timelines, etc. He is beyond-belief competent. You can tell he really, really likes and is interested in what he does every day - he lives for this stuff. He is also very personable and friendly. I got the Implantable Collamer Lense (ICL) procedure done because of my concerns and a pre-existing corneal scar. If you don't know anything about it, look it up, because it is amazing. Virtually no recovery time. Perfect vision the next morning. Almost no pain or discomfort at all. Absurdly low 'trauma' and recovery compared to my brother's PRK from a provider in Texas. My final results are 20-15 vision in both eyes and no dryness. I have minor halo'ing in extreme darkness. Movies and night driving are fine, but when I wake up at 3am and walk around the completely dark house, I get minor halos. Absolutely worth it - no reservations. I would send my entire family to Dr Patel, if they just lived anywhere near the Pacific Northwest. read more

I was a patient of Dr. Patel for several years while at Pac Med and promptly followed him to this practice because he is simply THE BEST! He performed refractive lensectomy on my eyes about 2 years ago with excellent results and has also treated and performed surgical procedures on a number of family members and co-workers including cataract and corrective treatments. I suffer from dry eyes and have the pleasure of seeing him regularly for this condition. He is always upbeat and takes great interest and care in his patients. The staff is friendly and the practice is spotless. I highly recommend Dr. Patel. read more

Dr Niraj Patel performed intralase lasik eye surgery on both my eyes less than 1 month ago. I will just come right out and say it--this man was born to work with eyes. Finding him was a happy accident as I was only there to find out if I qualified for any vision correction procedure. Previously, multiple doctors had told me I was not a candidate due to the severity of my astigmatism. Dr. Patel was warm, friendly, knowledgeable and immediately put me at ease. After my initial consultation, I quickly went to work researching Dr Patel as extensively as I could via the internet--I only found wonderful things as well as a great deal of education and training. I made the appointment and have never looked back. My vision is better now than it has ever been with glasses. I am so happy! Sunglasses shopping, being able to see in the shower---wow! He has called me to check in on my progress personally and has quickly corrected any problems the staff members at Pacific NW eye caused. My only reason for less than a five star rating is because of them. Due to their lack of attention to detail and seemingly impulsive need to answer questions on the phone without consulting him, there were many confusions, including overlooking my latex allergy--causing me to get a huge rash all over my face where they taped me up with latex tape. Luckily my allergy is not life threatening. None of these things reflect on him as the amazing Dr. he is and all problems were immediately rectified as soon as he was made aware of them. I would absolutely recommend him for any eye related situations. He is a magician when it comes to the impossible eye problem!!! I must also say, his surgical coordinator Kirsten, whatever they pay her--it is not enough. Just an amazing lady-patient, knowledgeable and so willing to answer my fathers endless barrage of questions and concerns, spending a lot of time with both me and him on the phone and in person. She really went above and beyond. Overall, even with the issues with the latex and friendly but misguided receptionists, my experience was wonderful and if I had the choice to do it again, I would. Dr. Patel is the only person that I will allow to touch my eyes ever again. read more

I had ICL with Dr. Patel about 6 weeks ago now on the right eye and 5 weeks ago on the left eye. I have struggled with my vision for over a decade. My prescription was -15 and technically correctible with glasses or contacts, but I tried many different eye doctors and nobody could get me adequate vision. To make things more difficult, I became contact lens intolerant for the past 10 years, so I was left with thick glasses that were the wrong prescription, nearly constant headaches and eye strain, and a distorted view of the world. I considered ICL for most of those past 10 years, and met with a couple of surgeons, but did not feel confident with my vision in their hands. Getting the ICLs from Dr. Patel was the best decision I have made in my life. Everything is different. My combined vision is now 20/20 and no more visual distortion. According to Dr. Patel, everything went as well as it possibly could have. I have some halos and glare in dim light, but totally worth it. I feel like I'm finally experiencing my life without the goggles. I can't really put into words how grateful I am to Dr. Patel. read more

I chose Dr. Patel for my ICL surgery, even though he was two hundred miles away, because i wanted the best for my eyes. Dr. Patel and his staff made sure everything went seamlessly for me.  Well worth the drive.   If there is one thing i can say about the ICL procedure i had done, amazing would be it.  I have gone from the person with the worse vision of anyone i had ever met, to the top 3% in vision.  My vision is so crisp and clear, it's like seeing in high definition.  The freedom from glasses and contacts is fantastic. My only regret is that i didn't do it sooner. Thank you so much Dr. Patel! read more

My vision has always been truly terrible. I can never remember a time when I could see anything clearly without glasses or contacts. As my contacts became less comfortable over time I was concerned that I would not be a good candidate for surgery due to my severe correction and astigmatism. After consulting with Dr. Patel I elected to have refractive lensectomy and have never looked back (although I would be able to see the past if I looked now!) My vision is now 20/10 and I am extremely pleased. Dr. Patel explained everything thoroughly and addressed all concerns completely. I truly felt like I was receiving the best treatment available and my results prove that I was. Dr. Patel's staff was wonderful, too. Dr. Patel was not the first ophthomologist I spoke to about surgery but the choice was easy once I had my first consultation with him. read more