Performed cataract surgery and lens implants on me ten years ago. Still going strong. See him…read moreregularly for checkups. Soothing manner, well spoken, clear and full explanations, thoroughly professional overall. Office staff have always been personable and responsive. Sometimes long waits, more often not. Takes the time he needs to take good care of his patients.

I was unfortunately not even able to get face to face with a doctor as the receptionist was very…read moreunorganized. I communicated with them over the phone what my insurance provider was. They informed me that they had a contract with the company and that it wouldn't be a problem to be seen. I came in a few days later, filled out all the paper work, handed over my insurance information and went into the back to have a basic eye exam. Not 60 seconds after the assistant dilates my eyes, she comes in and says that she regrets to inform me that they don't take my insurance. She says that it'll be around $80 if I want to be seen without insurance. I am wary of this at first for obvious reasons, but I concede as my eyes are already in a sensitive condition and I didn't really want to drive immediately after dilation. We go up to the desk and talk a little more...she ups the price to $120. I just leave. This place is unprofessional and unorganized. Don't risk it.

He's the best of the best! Takes care you no matter the situation and your needs. I will be back…read morefor sure. 100% garaneteed!

Dr. Lauritzen performed routine cataract surgery on my left eye at Ambulatory Surgery Center in…read moreTempleton CA in August 2020. Before surgery, my vision was 20/40. At one point during the surgery, the pain was so intense, I moved involuntarily and told Dr. Lauritzen it hurt. The pain was not addressed. Instead, a nurse held my feet so that I would not move, and Dr. Lauritzen continued with the procedure. It was never explained why the anesthesiologist did not control the pain or why Dr. Lauritzen didn't stop to talk with the anesthesiologist about the pain. The pain was traumatizing. After the surgery, my sight was very foggy. I saw Dr. Lauritzen the day after surgery and 3 days post surgery. On the fourth day post surgery (a Saturday), I woke up with searing pain in my left eye. I called Dr. Lauritzen's number but couldn't reach him. I went immediately to the ER. The hospital repeatedly tried to contact Dr. Lauritzen with no luck. After 2+ hours at the hospital, the emergency room doctor sent me to an ophthalmologist, who sent me to a retina specialist. The retina specialist immediately took a sample of vitreous fluid and injected the eye with an antibiotic. The lab result confirmed that the eye was infected with gram negative bacteria which destroyed many retina photoreceptors. The infection also caused a macular hole. Over the next 6 months, I underwent 3 more surgeries to repair as much of the damage as possible. I learned that Dr. Lauritzen had left debris in the eye and that he had positioned the replacement lens upside down and skewed, with one edge of the lens behind the iris and the other in front. One year later, the vision in my left eye is 20/800 (legally blind), with no hope for improvement. It's a continuing challenge to adjust to have permanently lost the use of one of my eyes.

I feel like the customer service here has never been great…read more.. My recent experience was extremely disappointing. I felt the level of customer service was poor and the overall process left me feeling misled. No personal customer service .. Very mechanical feeling During my visit, I was informed that I would need to pay an additional $30 for an eye exam unless I agreed to have my eyes dilated, which I am unable to tolerate. I paid the fee, as I recall a similar charge from the prior year, although I was not comfortable with it and chose to remain with the office rather than switch providers. Afterward, I was asked whether I was there for glasses, even though I have only ever received contact lens services at this location. I was then informed there would be an additional charge for a contact lens prescription, which I believe was approximately $70. At that point, I urgently needed new contacts, or I would have left the appointment altogether. This raised concerns for me about the purpose and value of having insurance coverage. Also, why was I not informed prior to the visit? To add to this, the customer service throughout the visit was unprofessional and made me feel as though I had done something wrong simply by asking questions. Finally, I was concerned about sanitation practices. I did not observe or smell any cleaning or disinfecting of the equipment used during my exam. I was also left questioning whether the contact lens case provided was new or previously used. Additionally, I noticed the solution bottle handed to me did not appear to have been cleaned, and after I used it, I placed it back on the shelf myself--confirming it was not sanitized at that point. While I typically bring my own supplies, I came directly from work that day and had forgotten them One last side note... last year I ordered my contacts and they were sent to the Templeton office.. Huh? I live in SLO and go to the office there. I was made to feel like I was in the wrong. I ended up going up there and picking them up because it was going to be at least an extra week before I could get them. I'm still bewildered by that one! Overall, the experience was disappointing and has raised concerns regarding transparency, customer service, and hygiene standards.

If I could, I would give them a 0. I got a NOT requested call from them on my message machine. I…read morecalled back and I talked to one person and I asked her why they were calling me and where did they get my phone number. She hung up on me. I called back and talked to a man and told him I had been hung up on and again asked why they called and how they have my phone number and he gave me a juvenile response and hung up on me. I tried calling again and my call was immediately HUNG UP ON. I don't know if there is some agency I can report this to but I will research. I have no problem with my eyes and I have a Doctor who would refer me to some notable agency if I did and DEFINITELY NOT SLO EYE ASSOCIATES.

Dr. Steven Johnson was a recommendation from my insurance agent. He had great success so I went to…read moresee if my cataracts were ready to be removed. Dr. Johnson was great about discussing my eyes and the choices for lenses. His staff is very helpful and concerned about my well being. After all the tests, I indeed need surgery. It was scheduled by Lorraine that day and she even coordinated with Dr. Daniel Hile for checks in between surgeries. It was an amazing surgery at San Luis Surgery Center. I felt very safe and was cared for. Thank you all for a great experience.

My optometrist told me I had cataracts and recommended Dr. Johnson at Central Coast Eye. Short…read morestory: Everything went extremely well. The results exceeded my expectations. Highly recommend Dr. Johnson. If you want more details read on. My eyesight has always been problematic. The amblyopia in my right eye was not diagnosed when I was a child. As a result, I have never had binocular vision. The lens for my right eye has basically been a thick magnifying glass for the last 50+ years. On my first visit with Dr. Johnson, I was impressed with the thoroughness of the exam and friendliness of his staff. Dr. Johnson characterized my eyes as "challenging" because in addition to the amblyopia in my right eye I have a partial hole in the macula of my left eye. On top of that, I had astigmatisms in both eyes. He recommended a modified blended vision option with an intermediate focal point lens for the amblyopic eye and a monofocal distance lens for the left eye. Both lenses would be sized to increase my visual acuity to their maximum potential and thereby minimize the need for glasses - except for reading. I was a bit hesitant and lobbied for a multi-focal lens or an extended depth of field lens for my dominant left eye since that is what many in my peer group had successfully received. He carefully explained why that would produce a poor outcome for me. I heeded his advice. I had the two cataract surgeries a week a part. My world is now brighter and clearer than I ever remember. I want to thank Dr. Johnson for his patience in understanding my individual situation and providing the type of seasoned advice that you would expect from an experienced medical professional.

Excellent care and office experience! All staff were friendly and professional. Going there felt…read morewarm and welcoming. Flexible scheduling was appreciated. All our needs were met and we are looking forward to returning. I highly recommend for basic eye care services.

I am very happy with the outcome of the blepharoplasty procedure that Dr. Hellman did on my…read moreeyelids. The doctor and his crew are professional and friendly.

I'm new to the area. I found this place after seeing all the good reviews. I can now see why they…read moreget all the good reviews. All of the staff was so friendly and nice. Doctor gave me one of the most thorough and educational exams I have ever had. Definitely would recommend checking this place out of you are in need of an optometrist.

Doctor Parreira is by far the best eye doctor that I have ever seen in my 66 years of life. I have…read morea complex eye disorder and have been to many eye docs all over the country and Dr. Parreira is the most skilled at properly fitting contact lenses by a mile. She is thorough, professional, highly skilled, a great communicator and totally cares about the wellbeing of patients. I can't say enough good things about this great doctor. I completely trust her with my eye health and highly recommend her services.

Fantastic Costco Eye Care Experience in SLO -…read more Dr. Loren Yasunari, O.D. This past Saturday, my wife and I walked into the San Luis Obispo Costco anxious and on edge. She'd noticed a new, growing floater and, after some well-meaning but alarmist input from friends, was convinced vague "flashes" (really just night-driving fatigue) might mean impending blindness or a retinal detachment. We called Friday. They said, "Come in tomorrow." No weeks-long wait. No HMO MD nor triage ER nurse gatekeeping. Just: Saturday, quick appointment friendly. Enter Dr. Loren Yasunari, O.D., the weekend relief optometrist who doesn't take insurance -- and who just delivered the most thorough, thoughtful eye exam either of us has ever had. We both went to the University of Hawaii, which was very cool indeed. He just does the weekend and is semi-retired and is a nice guy who takes pride in doing a great job like in the old days. It feels sort of like Costco priced Concierge medicine in a way. To be fair, this is not the same as seeing a MD for potential surgical advice, but it does focus on ruling out the immediate need to see a surgeon. What Made This Different (and Better) Not a refraction mill - This wasn't about pushing new glasses. It was 100% focused on ocular health and our acute concern. Step-by-step, gold-standard eval: Detailed history Slit-lamp exam (used twice) Pupil dilation Retinal photography by tech Intraocular pressure check Multiple angles of fundus viewing Informed consent done right - Every step explained, risks/benefits clear, differential diagnosis walked through out loud. Bedside manner: A+ - Calm, present, zero rush. Made a scared patient feel seen. The Verdict: All Clear No bleed No detachment No urgent threat Just a benign floater + reassurance The Logistics? Shockingly Good Cost $125 total (includes retinal photos -- a $50+ add-on elsewhere, even with VSP) Insurance None accepted -- didn't matter Wait time Next-day, Saturday, appointment needed ER/Urgent Care alternative? Zero chance they'd dilate + image Pacific Eye / SLO Eye wait? 3-6 weeks -- useless for acute concerns Local Context: Eye Care Access in SLO County Specialists are booked solid ERs have no ophthalmology on call Medicare? Great. Spouse without it? Good luck. Costco? Open Saturdays, no gatekeepers, real diagnostics. Pro tip: While waiting 20 minutes for dilation, you can roam the aisles, try all the samples including AG1 samples (tastes like lawn clippings & is priced like Presidential Crypto), or just people-watch. Best bet Kirkland Multivitamins...not Gummies. Gummies are missing vital Thiamine, and Iron for the ladies....not to mention being low on most others. For some reason, random vitamins and minerals are missing in multiple formulations...so one can be forced to buy multiple formulations to cover even basic needs. Weirdly therapeutic.

Ok... this is in a Costco, which was very confusing. But the service and quality were outstanding…read moreon a busy Saturday afternoon. Everyone was very kind and the price for the service was more than reasonable given they don't take insurance. As good as an optometrist I've ever visited.

Dr. Amir is my favorite doctor for my mother. We see many…read more He performed cataract surgery years ago and we follow up with annual visits. This doctor has the best manner, ever. Polite, no-nonsense, but will answer any question you might have. A skilled surgeon that has my mother's eyes as good as they can be. Ten stars!

I only recommend Dr. Amir Ahmad if you need an Ophthalmologist examination, I do not recommend him…read morefor Optometrist visits (eye glass exam). My appointment was for an Optometrist visit with the doctor. Instead I was taken to a room for an exam with a technician that was in a hurry and not very good. The doctor came in, signed the paperwork and left. I was sitting in the chair waiting for the doctor to examine me when they escorted me out! The prescription was wrong and I had to return. Pacific Eye then CHARGED ME AGAIN for a follow-up exam a week later. Since I had used up my vision insurance visit, they insisted on charging my Medical Insurance. I FELT THIS WAS VERY UNETHICAL FOR A DOCTOR TO DO. I considered complaining to the medical board about this, but I never did. It just felt wrong for this to happen. The new prescription was better, but still not 100%. They re-made the glasses and they are okay for me. I probably will not be back to this establishment.