It has been almost 3 weeks since my LASIK procedure and I am in awe of my new eyes! I was very nervous going into it, but looking back I had nothing to worry about! From the initial consultation, the staff were friendly, patient and understanding of my nerves. On the day of my surgery, Dr. Giles was great and made me feel comfortable the entire time. The procedure took less than 20 minutes and was painless. After the procedure I experienced very little discomfort and after a few days, any discomfort I did have completely went away. I experienced dry eyes for the first week, but since then that has also gone away. Being able to see is the greatest gift and I am beyond grateful to TLC for giving me the gift of eyesight. If you are nervous to get LASIK, know that I was too, but wish I hadn't been so nervous because in the end I had such a positive experience. read more

I am grateful and incredibly happy with my TLC-Laser Eye Center experience. They were extremely professional and attentive. They performed preliminary exams to diagnose the possibility of surgery. After that, they scheduled the surgery date and, finally, on the day of surgery, they assisted me throughout the procedures and, most importantly, always kept me calm and confident about the surgery. The rest was just personal nerves, a fact beyond their control or mine. However, everything went wonderfully well and according to their plan. I am truly grateful for their professionalism and passion for the work they do. Congratulations to the entire team, especially Dr. Christina La, Brandy, the doctor who performed the surgery, and the friendly lady who performed the initial exams. "I'm sorry I didn't write your name, but you know who you are." Congratulations to the entire team! Excellent work and keep loving what you do. You are the best. read more

It went great! Everyone was extremely helpful and great with the process. Completely painless and quick.

Good experience, a few kinks here and there, but I don't regret getting LASIK here! Consultation was easy to book online and was free. I asked to book my LASIK procedure at the end of the consultation. Otherwise, I would have had to call their 1800 number, which is a hassle because it takes time for them to get back to you. I know this because I called the 1800 number to ask a quick question before my procedure, but the office didn't get back to me until 4 or 5 days later. At my consultation, I found out I was a good candidate for LASIK. The consultation was very thorough. The staff gave me a price quote and reviewed the risks, what to expect on procedure day, and what I should do after the procedure. They also examined my eyes and wrote down my measurements to configure the laser correctly on procedure day. I was lucky to have my procedure in April because there was a higher promo discount that month (20% off) compared to the $1,000 off promo discount in March. So make sure to check the website for the discount they're running and mention the discount when it's time to pay! Procedure day comes. From the time I sat down in the waiting room until I left the office (after the procedure), it was almost 3 hours! There were also a few people that had their appointment at the same time as me. I knew it would take time based on previous reviews, so I was patient. I went to a few different rooms before getting into the actual procedure room. As for the procedure, it went well. SCARY but well! I was very nervous while it was happening, but I had faith it would go fine and that I was in good hands. There was definitely discomfort sometimes and brief slight tinges of pain, but overall, the procedure was bearable. Making the flap in each eye was quick and painless. However, applying the laser in my right eye was more complicated because the doctor hit a blood vessel in that eye. So the right eye was bleeding for a bit. They had to manage and stop the bleeding first before applying the laser treatment. In contrast, my left eye had no complications and was done in 5 min! After 20 min, my procedure was done. They applied clear eye shields and sunglasses on for me. My ride was waiting for me when I was done. I recommend calling for your ride before going into the procedure room, that way, they can help escort you if you need the extra support when you are done. As for my vision after the procedure, I could see right away! It was very clear. My eyes were just sensitive to light so I kept the sunglasses on and napped on the way home. When I got home, I napped some more. I followed the eye drop instructions until I used them all up. I had some red spots at the top of my eyes but they slowly disappeared in the subsequent days. After 1 week they were gone. As for glare, I had it from time to time especially when there are bright lights. I'm writing this review 3 weeks after the procedure. I have 20/20 vision now! The glare still happens around bright lights, but is getting less each day. My eyes are only dry when I wake up in the morning, so I apply drops every morning. I am so happy to be able to get my perfect vision back! I recommend that you do it too because you will never regret it! read more

Dr. Chia and Rene have done my pre-op visit today, they are gentle and friendly! I have a good experience during my eye test. I only regret that I haven't meet with my surgeon Dr. Villazon. I know Dr. Villazon is very busy and have lots of patients to see and wasn't able to be present during my pre - op visit today. I strongly believe adequate preoperative communication is essential especially this is my first surgery that will be perform. If I can meet Dr. Villazon prior to my schedule surgery date, it will really help me ease my mind. However, I'm looking forward to have my lasik surgery which Dr. Villazon, I'm waiting for my surgery day, so excited!! read more

TLC Laser Eye Centers - Optometrists Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Don't even bother getting a consultation from here. It's been nearly 2 weeks to get an answer on my candidacy. I self-initiated a call to inquire on my status and they mentioned that they were still "working on my file" and will get back to me soon. I asked as to why the delay in getting back to me, and the person I was speaking with *in an annoyed voice* said "we'll get back to you when it's ready." Clearly my file fell through the cracks, and they still haven't got back to me. Boston Vision on the other hand was great both at consultation and scheduling the procedure. Not to mention, they are slightly cheaper and they offer the same guarantees as TLC... without the delays and attitudes! Why wouldn't you go to Boston Vision?! read more

Horrific. I chose this place due to the amazing reviews, but I see that recently a lot of people have had experiences that resemble mine. The center was great for the consultation and very responsive. Everything went downhill for the surgery. I was called a couple of days before surgery to rebook, which I did. When I arrived for the pre op the day before surgery, they hadn't told me what eyedrops to buy, what to bring or any important info. The surgery was terrible. They were having a party for a retiring surgeon, who was very nice but they left me waiting for 5 hours for surgery. I had to call the main office to remind the waltham office that I'm there. on the day of surgery they had to use the first laser twice on my right eye. I assume they made a mistake. Nobody told me that this could result in far greater pain post surgery. I had such extreme pain in my right eye that I felt that something may have been wrong and they did not answer the emergency line until the third call. Scheduling post ops has been a nightmare, they never return calls even after a week, and haven't sent the receipt I've requested for the past two weeks. Not patient focused at all and a really disappointing experience. Do not go here. read more

So, I was told that I would receive a 50$ Visa Gift card for every person I referred. No, never happened. I stupidly referred two people. They both stated they had a horrible experience and tons of pain and no sympathy whatsoever. No warning either. Couple things: had two people refer me that were ok, not blind, happy said it was great. So I signed up. I had to pursue all of my appointments, while the receptionist was pleasant and wonderful, I found this super unprofessional. I was told, make a follow up appointment as apart of their "guarantee". Get to appointment, female doctor or nurse makes me feel stupid, says that's not true, even though it's on my paperwork. Tells me "follow up with your own eye doctor". By the way, they SCRUB the insides of your eyelids for eye make up minutes before procedure and all my q tips were black. I hadn't worn make up for weeks prior to surgery. Same female doctor or nurse also was very impatient about this. Day of surgery: waited 6 hours. In the waiting room. With my husband. It was aweeeeesome. Got there really early. Walked out starving and super annoyed. At the same time? Neilson did my friends eyes. Hers are all messed up and needed extra care etc. , she got flowers, follow up calls, complimentary appointments etc etc without anyone asking "why are you here". Do your research. Find people who care and Send flowers for paying them to laser your eyes. read more

Got lasik done here couple of months ago. Surgery was smooth and had no pain after the procedure..I gave lower rating for the staff and appointment scheduling system. I always am on time for appointments but have to wait for at least an hour to get checked. This has happened in every visit which is very frustrating. read more

Best decision of my life. The doctors and staff are incredibly welcoming and made very comfortable. I highly recommend. Now here's my experience with the procedure itself: I was nervous going in, so that was a big part of it. But the procedure was honestly painless. It did not hurt at all. However, I found it extremely uncomfortable. I'm not claustrophobic but I imagine it feels something like this. They give you drops to numb which is great, but the cup thing that holds your eye was freaky. It's a feeling you never experience so you're like AAAHHhHhH. Then they start the laser which is pretty cool actually. It was like a light show of green lights your head. They play music for you and give you a little toy to fiddle with and everything. They were really cool about it and make you feel super comfy. Then it's over in like ten minutes. BOOM Obviously after my eyes were super sensitive for like 6 hours. You can't even open them they're sensitive to air. So I recommend taking a nap. Then that's it next day I was driving! Takes a few weeks to completely adjust but not big deal. Make sure you take your artificial tears. Eyes dry up quick for a couple but gets better. Moral if the story. If you can deal with with what I just said DO IT Best decision I've ever made. Highly recommend !!!! read more

A horrible experience. I came in 3 weeks ago for the initial visit. The examining doctor expressed concern that one of the eyes may not be a good Lasik candidate and said they'd discuss and get back to me. Called back a few days later to say that the doctors discussed and agreed that Lasik is the way to go. I came in for the procedure today and just as I came in the doctor I've never seen before (and not the doctor who I was told would be doing the procedure) tells me that they decided PRK is the way to go. This was NOT communicated to me in the 3 weeks they had before the procedure and not in a few reminder phone calls I received. PRK is a completely different procedure with a longer recovery time, for which I'd have to plan in advance (at least a week off work would be needed). To spring it on a patient ON the day of the procedure, while they had 3 weeks to inform me, is unprofessional at the very least. I planned my month around this date, rejected participation in a conference, and shaped family activities around it. My husband took time off from work to be with me today. This center is unprofessional and, frankly, I am now glad I didn't put my eyesight into their hands. So, so disappointed and disheartened. read more

I had a great experience at TLC Waltham. Everyone was so nice! Dr Carmen was so sweet. The procedure took what felt like 5 minutes!! Dr Nelson was awesome, he was very comforting and helped ease the experience. Would highly recommended. read more

Please if anything read this review before you book I 100% do not Recommend this place. My fiancé went for lasik in early October and they had to stop the procedure half way through after cutting his corneas due to poor calibration of the laser, which I'm sure they should have checked prior to starting the surgery. They did not give him any after care instructions or what to expect with this complication or if this would affect his healing or success of the surgery. They told him they would "try" to fit him in on Monday or next Thursday (surgery done on a Friday) and kicked him out of the office high on Valium (from the surgery pre medication). They gave him and I (his caregiver) no explanation or communication what so ever on after care and potential complications for their error. On trying to call the call center for after care instructions of this error or confirmation that he would still have successful lasik following this error, no one called us back following 5 calls and 5 emergent communication requests placed for the on call physician. (Calls started at 5:45pm when he left the office until when they closed at 10pm) each call I was told to wait 30 min to 1 hour for a response and never heard back regardless of the escalation to supervisors. As a nurse myself, I consider this the worst care and medical education/treatment he could have received We are horrified of the lack of regard to his recovery and time by this entire company. Due to their error he has to go through the pain and healing of lasik twice with what is assumed a lower success rate. Once finally getting back to us following multiple phone calls to reach them, the next day, we were promised a refund for their error and mistake. Now almost 2 months later we have been contacting them and haven't heard back. The charge was fully processed for full price for a botched job and we have no one to contact except for the 1-800 call center number. I wish I could give them less than 1 star. Please do not book this place. They have no regard for their patients and only care about the payment. They have the absolute worst customer service and will not contact you back if their is a medical error or mistake. read more

I am not happy with the care I have received. I decided to go to TLC due to their initials and their reviews. Let me start off by saying, I have been a provider for over 20 years and own and operate my own private practice. I am also a full time working mother of two toddlers. Every time I have had an appointment, I am made to wait 15-30 minutes past my scheduled appointment time. This has caused me to be tardy for my patients....this is unacceptable in my practice. TLC appears to not see this as an issue as evidenced by their lack of response or recognition of their unprofessional behavior yet far, even after offering feedback in person and in surveys. I am shocked that there are not more complaints in the reviews about this. I am also extremely disatisfied with the care. My care is cut short due to the ongoing tardiness. Feels like a drop in clinic... you never see the same person twice, which means you need to take time and energy to debrief each person after waiting 25 minutes to be seen. What the hell is going on here? This is care?? Tender loving care!? Look, they are all nice for most part..I really like some of the nameless staff...BUT its not about that..Its about my eyes. Staff is horrible at introducing themselves, stating their credentials/title or wearing badges with that info. In sum, I have worked in medical facilities in past and this place did not feel like patient care is taken seriously. In my opinion the care I have received yet far lacks modern standards of quality medical and surgical care. I would strongly recommend saving money and going elsewhere. read more

TL;DR I got LASIK on Thursday afternoon (4/11), it's Sunday night (4/14) and I'm still in shock at how perfectly everything went and am adding yet another five-star review to this place. I was TERRIFIED to do it, but the entire procedure was a dream. It's the best money I've ever spent and I'm so grateful. The longer version: I'm obsessed with TLC Laser Eye Center in Waltham. I'm passionately in love with everyone there. Every single aspect of my entire experience from booking the initial contact to post-LASIK recovery was absolute perfection. I realize I'm adding to the chorus of five-star reviews to the point it is almost boring, but THESE ARE YOUR EYES, and thus, it's important. Plus the TLC employees (Mary, Brini, Jim, Dr. Chia, Dr. Baylus, Dr. Villazon) deserve all the accolades, they're fantastic people. For reference, I am a 38-year old woman who has had glasses and then contacts since ages 9 and 12, respectively, and my vision pre-LASIK was 20/750, which can be politely referred to as "oh my gosh, you are halfway to legally blind, how do you function?". Life without glasses or contacts made me a helpless baby bird and my vision consisted of blurry Monet watercolors. Traveling to foreign hotels, swimming in the ocean or pool, and long days at the computer in a corporate job were becoming more and more annoying to my contact-lens-filled eyes after 20+ years. I had two initial consults on back to back mornings in late March, one with TLC on Monday and one with another Boston-based place I won't name on Tuesday. TLC could not have been more warm, thoughtful, helpful, respectful, efficient, reassuring, and thorough. My initial consult was a dream and I was confirmed to be a LASIK candidate with incredibly healthy eyes who would benefit greatly from the procedure. I booked a surgery date about 3 weeks out due to travel/work commitments. What most impressed me about TLC was that my second opinion consult elsewhere told me I was a candidate for PRK or ICL, but not LASIK. I didn't get a good feeling about this place, but still, it was concerning. When I emailed Jim (secretly in a panic) Tuesday afternoon asking why the difference of opinion, he set me up to talk on the phone within 24 hours to TWO DIFFERENT DOCTORS (Dr. Chia and Dr. Baylus) about what my test results were and why they felt I was a strong candidate for LASIK and that yes, I had enough corneal thickness to be a success story. After talking to Dr. Baylus, who is awesome and calmed my fears, explaining the medical details behind their reasoning, I decided to proceed. Nervous but excited, I confirmed my scheduled surgery for April 11 in the afternoon. The day of I was super nervous, but busy with work. I arrived for my 3:30pm appt. I did payments and paperwork and met with multiple people confirming my name, procedure, etc. I met with Dr. Villazon, who is a lovely and soft-spoken - I had to strain to hear him but since he's done 45,000 surgeries I felt confident he knew what he was doing. The actual procedure is painless - I can't stress this enough. They give you a sedative and Aleve, you wait around a bit, and then you're on a table. They give you tons of numbing eye drops and talk to you the entire time and there is zero pain. I like that they tell you what's happening (my vision was so bad I couldn't even see it - just tons of colors, like a light show). Dr. Villazon is so soothing, it was like an NPR voiceover. They gave me stress balls to squeeze. I could see IMMEDIATELY upon getting up off the table - amazing! All up, I was in and out by 6:00pm, so 2.5 hours. The recovery was so easy. About an hour after I left the burning/tearing/wanting to keep my eyes closed started, but due to a Xanax and nighttime you just take some Advil and take a nap/go to bed, which is why I liked my afternoon procedure. I felt much better in the AM and just kept up on all my RX drops and tears. By 10:30am at my post-op I was confirmed to have 20/20 vision. I am in zero pain and have been since the day after. This is the best money I have ever spent, everything has been fantastic, and I love TLC so much. Thank you! Tips: Be out of your contacts for a week before your initial consult. Do the pre-consult w/dilation at that initial consult to get it all done more quickly - you don't have to go back again that way. You can use a Care Credit financing card with 12 months no interest to help pay it down. Tell TLC what your current health insurance is - although the procedure isn't covered by insurance, it still helps with a healthy discount - mine was about $700 less. Plus there are Groupons/their own website discounts for the initial consult if you do that and book surgery. And you can see an affiliated doctor at a location closer to you if 95N in Waltham is not convenient for you, which I did and I love my new eye doctor. read more

Dr Villazon performed my procedure ~10 years ago. My optometrist not only recommended him, he wished he had done his. Anyway they all told me I would more than likely need to use reading glasses. Not only do I hardly use reading glasses, only for newspaper print, small print or dark rooms, my eyes have essentially not changed since the procedure. Can you get it done cheaper somewhere else, maybe, probably, but in this case, I was NOT looking for a sale or a cheaper way to get things done perfectly. read more

I made an appointment for a consultation based on the recommendation of a friend who received lasik treatment here, along with my own research. I was impressed by Dr. Villazon, and was definitely looking forward to the appointment. When I arrived at the office - I was impressed. I arrived 30 minutes early, and they were ready for me as soon as I filled out the paperwork. The office was clean and modern, the front desk staff were nice, and the tech that worked me up was knowledgable, and explained every step of the work up to me (why they use which machines, what each test tells them, etc). Everyone was extremely pleasant. The tech even shared how pleasant it was to work in the office. After the work up, I waited over 30 minutes for the doctor to come in. The staff offered me coffee/soda while I waited, which was super sweet. I was extremely satisfied with my appointment so far. The doctor finally came in, and she was very open and casual, which I appreciated. I assumed I wouldn't be meeting with Dr. Villazon, just because I imagine that he is extremely busy and probably only meets with patients who definitively move forward with the surgery. This doctor, although friendly at the beginning, came off almost condescending and really decreased my motivation and hope for the future treatment of my eyes. She called me "dude" multiple times through the appointment, which shocked me each time. When I asked her for advice on what she recommends for my next steps, she responded "I don't know what to tell you." As someone in the healthcare field, those are 2 things that I consider extremely unprofessional, and would never say to a patient who is coming to me for advice and care. Overall, my experience at the beginning was great, but meeting with the doctor really ruined my perception of this clinic. I'm sure my experience would have been much different if I was able to meet with Dr. Villazon, but that was not the case. I was really looking forward to this appointment due to the personal recommendation given to me, and the exceptional reviews online. read more

I've been contemplating LASIK surgery for a few years now, and I am SO glad I chose TLC in Waltham! The consultation process was super streamlined, the doctors really listened to my concerns and didn't rush me to make a decision. And they got me in super fast for the surgery once I made the decision say yes. I would definitely recommend TLC in Waltham if you are considering LASIK or PRK for vision correction! read more

I can't say enough nice things about everyone at TLC in Waltham. During my pre-op visit all of my questions were answered thoroughly and clearly. The day of the surgery, 2-26-2021, they made sure I knew exactly what we going to happen first so that I wasn't too nervous...I don't think anything could have made me not nervous, but the actual Lasik surgery was so fast that being nervous wasn't too big a deal. Since the surgery, everything has happened exactly as they told me to expect, except that I think the recovery is easier than they said it would be. Right after the surgery I never felt any extreme pain. I had some minor burning sensation in my eyes, but the drops helped and I didn't even need Advil. The best way I can describe it is that my eyes felt like I was in the garage with a car idling for just a little too long. 2 weeks later...this is the best thing I've ever done. I can't believe how good my vision is. I wore glasses for 31 years, and even with a brand new pair right after an eye exam my vision was never as good as it is now. I've clearly seen the halo/starburst around lights at night, but it's been better every day. Same goes for eye drops...the first few days I felt like I needed them often and used them a lot. Now 2 weeks after the surgery, I use them more often than the instructions from TLC, but it doesn't feel like I need them, and I'm hopeful that I'll be back to normal soon. Eye drops are such a small price to pay to be free from glasses!!! I still need sunglasses because I'm sensitive to bright light, but again I can already tell it's getting better after only 2 weeks. I'm thrilled and everyone I know with glasses now has me saying "you should call TLC in Waltham". read more

From my first appointment with TLC in Waltham, through the surgery and into the aftercare I was impressed with their professionalism and genuine care for my vision. The surgery went smoothly and the results were almost immediate! I could tell a difference in my vision the next morning, and 4 days later I have 20/15 vision. My eyes were a bit teary after the surgery, as expected. The streamlined appointment and follow up appointment making, Jim took care of it all! Dr. Villazon was very comforting and professional. My decision to get Lasik with TLC has already improved my quality of life and comfort (no more headaches!) ! read more

If you've ever thought about getting LASIK done, get your butt over to this place PRONTO. Let me count the ways. Like most people, I had your garden variety concerns about LASIK. I mean, who wouldn't? Since it's your eyes, you want to be in the very best hands. After doing some homework and deciding to go with TLC for a Bladeless LASIK procedure, my journey, which began with -4.50+ in both eyes along with astigmatism 2 days ago, ended with 20/15 vision yesterday in my first post-op visit. That's better than 20/20 vision and I'm told it might get even better with each passing day. I am ridiculously happy with the results and wished that I had done this years ago. From my first consultation with Jim Butler, the Surgical Consultant, down to the day of the procedure with Dr. Villazon, the entire staff has been A++. Jim was friendly, informative and especially patient with all my appointment updates/cancellations. I also saw him the day of the surgery being his smiley self in the operating room. Dr. Villazon was very knowledgeable of course but I appreciated the fact that he was very approachable and had a calming demeanor about him. As for the procedure itself? Dr. Villazon narrated through the entire process, informing me every time something changed (i.e., when the lights would be blurry or bright and when we moved from one table to another, etc) which made an otherwise very anxious and nerve-racking experience a lot more bearable. Best part? It was absolutely painless! I had a late afternoon appointment that synched up well to finish by the evening, have dinner and then zonked out until the morning. Then, just like that, BAM!, I woke up to a pair of perfect vision eyes. Don't get me wrong, there are medicated eye drops you need to take for a week and lubricant drops for a while after to ensure you heal well but overall, I can't say enough fabulous things about this place. Best decision I have made in a while. P.S. They offer a discount if you have VSP insurance! read more

I had my lasik surgery on Thursday and I had the best experience! When I originally went in for my consultation, I was a little hesitant. I hated wearing glasses and absolutely hated wearing contacts, so the only solution I had was to get my vision corrected. When I went to TLC for my consult everyone was so nice. I had the pleasure of having Jim walk me through everything step by step. Everything was a breeze The day of my surgery, man did I have anxiety. When Dr. Villazon came into the room I was waiting in about 1/2 hour before my surgery he went over step by step what would happen during the procedure. What made my nerves calm down a little was the way Dr. Villazon spoke to me. He was extremely nice and soft spoken. When I went in the laser suite it was a little on the colder side and right off the bat Jim gave me a blanket. The procedure was so quick and easy, when it was over I asked "that's it?" I didn't expect it to be so quick and easy! This is definitely something I recommend and this location is perfect. It's amazing that I now have perfect vision & I can't thank Dr. Villazon and staff for making it an amazing experience. read more

Came in for a consultation, had a wonderful experience with multiple doctors answering all my questions and even double checking about scuba diving. I was ready to sign papers to get the surgery but waited 2 weeks with no response. I even called the front desk to get them to send the paperwork but still nothing. This is none of my business but if I was the owner, I would be mad because I'm not the only person on this forum complaining and you're losing business. read more

I also had my surgery last Thursday 9/20. It was a great experience all around from beginning to end. Special shout out to Dr. Chia who understood that not wearing eye makeup in public for a week is one of the most challenging parts of this decision. I was a -8.25, and *knock on wood* so far I can't believe how few side effects I have had during my recovery. I have the night time halos but those aren't bad and I'm sure will lessen with time. My eyes are still healing. The TLC staff gives you great information and helps you feel prepared for before and after the surgery. If you are thinking about LASIK, please give this place a call for a consultation. They will give you a real answer about whether or not you are a good candidate. They won't just try to sell surgery to anyone. My personal eye doctor is not really a fan of LASIK at all, but this is the only place he trusts and will refer people to. That says something. read more

You know when people tell you something isn't a big deal, that's it's easy and great, but you kind of don't believe them and secretly think they're only saying it because they're trying to sell you something, or that they suffered and want you to suffer too? OK, perhaps a bit dramatic, but please believe me when I say that TLC Laser Eye Center in Waltham is THE BEST, and that the surgery is EASY AND GREAT. I've worn contacts and glasses my whole life, and finally got to the point where I just didn't want to deal with them any longer so started to more seriously consider LASIK. My eye doctor recommended TLC to me a few years ago, and I just wasn't mentally ready. When I finally got the courage to give it a try my doc said to get myself over to TLC for the initial consultation to see if I'd be a candidate. The initial consultation was amazing. Everything from scheduling the appointment, to checking in, to the multiple eye scans and tests, to the conversation about payment options (Donna, OMG so awesome), to the super friendly and knowledgeable staff... this team is the best and they made me feel really comfortable and confident in my decision to have the surgery done at TLC. Colleen was my consultant during this time and she was so smart and friendly, another TLC rock star! Brini was a dream, she was my primary point of contact throughout the whole process and answered all of my questions. She was so helpful, thoughtful and thorough. I never felt like I was bothering her and she was always quick to respond. The day of the surgery couldn't have been easier. All in all I was there for ~3 hours, a mixture of checking in, paying, and a final eye check to make sure I didn't have any residual makeup left on my eyes. I had the pleasure of meeting with Dr. Villazon before the surgery, he was so incredibly nice, calming, and reassuring. I told him I felt like I was meeting a celebrity because of all the accolades and hype about how tremendous he is... believe it, he's the best! He gave me a low dose of Xanax to take the edge off, had me lounge for 15 minutes until it kicked in then off to the surgery suite I went. This team couldn't have made the procedure any more fun, I swear! They had 80's music playing in the surgery suite, both Brini and Colleen were in the room with me, as well as Dr. V. They talk you through the whole procedure, letting you know what to expect and when. It took less than 15 minutes and when I say it wasn't a big deal, I swear it was so much easier than I ever expected it would be. I literally danced out of the surgery suite, headed home to sleep for a few hours (yes recovery for the first few hours isn't comfortable but if you sleep, it's manageable). Donna from TLC called that night to check in on me, and then Jim emailed the following morning to see how I was progressing. After my 1 day post op (handled by my own eye doc, not TLC) I was told that my eyes are healing perfectly, that everything looks superb, and that I have better than 20/20 vision. Like everyone else who has had this surgery, I wish I hadn't waited so long to get it done. Go to TLC, meet their amazing staff who feel more like family than medical consultants, and don't freak out about the surgery because it's not as big a deal as you might work it up to be. Thank you so much to the entire team at TLC, you seriously changed my life! read more

I'd give this zero stars if I could. The Waltham center is awfully run. It's impossible to get a hold of them via phone if you have questions or even if they leave a voicemail and say to call them back. You'll ring through to their call center who will also be unable to reach Waltham. It's amazing. Oh they'll also cancel surgery on you the morning of the procedure after you've fully paid, while you're in the car on the way to the center despite my consult being done over a month ago. Their complete lack of review in the month plus between consult and surgery and subsequent reviewing of my case on the morning of like a kid doing homework on the school bus is completely unacceptable. It shows a complete disregard for their patients, the people giving them rides and even their places of work. I'm not mad about the surgery being canceled. I knew I was borderline for laser vision correction. They had a MONTH to review my case and cancel on me. They did it morning of. Absolutely ridiculous. Even calling me the day before would have been acceptable. To add to my awesome experience, it took them almost a week to get back to me about refunding the $4790 that I had paid for the canceled surgery due to the aforementioned lack of answering phones. I had to threaten a chargeback and have the national call center (who are actually helpful and responsive) escalate things after a lack of response to my first call into Waltham and message left by the call center. read more

If I could give this place 0 stars I would. I had an appointment today. I filled out paperwork prior to my appointment with my medical history in there. When I got there they had me fill out more paperwork. They then proceeded to tell me I didn't qualify for the surgery because of an autoimmune disorder. Shame on them for not telling me ahead of time. They had all of my information they should have told me before I had to arrange for a babysitter and drive an hour to get there. read more

I had such a positive experience here at TLC beginning from booking my consultation to post-op follow up I just had to share. The staff here are incredibly attentive, friendly, and their attention to detail is superb. Plus, the office is prestinely clean! I booked my consultation with Jim and Brini and both were quick to respond to emails. Brini did my consultation and after various eye tests said that I was not a good candidate for Lasik. She mentioned PRK may be better for me and throughly went over the process and what to expect should I do it. I went on to meet with an eye doctor who once again went over every part of the procedure and recovery. My whole 2 1/2 hour consultation was met with patience as I had many questions and concerns regarding PRK. I got PRK done 5 days ago on my -4.00 eyes and I cannot be more pleased. Dr. Villazon is *awesome* and once again I cannot praise the staff enough. Dr. Villazon meets with you right before the procedure and offers meds to lessen the anxiety (word of advice: take the meds). Then you chill out for a bit while the meds kick in then you go in to get your eyes corrected! The procedure was so fast like honestly less than 10 minutes (it's preparing beforehand that takes a while). I will admit I was firmly grasping a stress ball in each hand but the whole thing was painless. Dr. Villazon tells you every step of the way what is happening, when your vision is going to get blurry, etc. I could not believe I could see *immediately.* I was still lying down and only one eye had been done! Then my left eye was done and a few minutes later I walked out to my boyfriend in the waiting room with a big smile on my face saying, "I can see you!" Recovery was really not bad but I was also preparing for the worst case scenario. I had minimal pain and discomfort, however I stayed on top of pain management and eye drops. I was fortunate enough to have family help post-op so I could keep my eyes closed as much as possible. I went to the eye doctor the day after and was seeing 20/20, then 20/80, then 20/40, then 20/30! I am still taking it easy and healing. TLC even cares enough to check in on you via phone a few hours after the procedure and via email the next day. TLC should be on the top of the list for anyone looking into Lasik or PRK. My experience with them was excellent and seeing without corrective lenses is amazing! read more

*Note* - this review is for pre-op and surgery only. I received my post-op care from a TLC-affiliate doctor who is closer to my home. Even in this day and age, the decision to get laser eye surgery is a big deal. Yes, it's a well-documented and is fairly common procedure but there are still risks. In June 2017, I went to TLC to see if I was a candidate for laser eye surgery. My eye sight was terrible; I wasn't even 30 years old yet but both eyes were -6.00 and I was tired of dealing with contacts and glasses. After testing, I was determined to be a good candidate for PRK, which has a longer recovery time than LASIK. All the staff were friendly and wanted to make sure my questions were addressed. My procedure occurred in July 2017. Ultimately, I am very happy that I decided to have PRK and that I did it at TLC. I could see a HUGE improvement immediately afterwards. The joy that I felt when I could clearly see Dr. Villazon's face! Overall, the quality of care here was exceptional. The doctors and staff checked my eyes 3 times (initial consult with contacts on, another after having contacts out for 1 week, and lastly right before the procedure) to be sure that the map programmed was accurate. Dr. Chia in particular was a great consult pre-op, patiently answered all my questions and put me at ease. Dr. Villazon, who is soft-spoken and knowledgeable, was also a very calming person to encounter right before going into the operating room. The price here is noticeably higher (mid $5K) than others in the area so there is a premium. After seeing TLC, I felt that I would be in the best care here. There is only one price for both eyes regardless of prescription. Check with your vision insurance provider for discounts/coverage! I have VSP so I was eligible for a promotion. So glad that I went thru with this! It's been about 5 months for me. I've had to deal with finicky dry eyes but I'm 20/20 with both eyes! read more

The short version: this place is well worth your time, all employees seem to love working here and I am super satisfied with my LASIK (two weeks out now) Now for the long version: I set up the appointment through the online TLC website. Apparently you can't wear contacts for at least seven days before you go for your initial appointment/ scans but No one told me. The consultant I met with was thorough and still made the appointment worth my time, went over what to expect and pricing and took some scans. Then I had to come back for more scans at least a week later. I definitely got some sticker shock with the price (even with my Discount for VSP insurance) but I knew it would be worth it to pay more for a skilled surgeon and I was right. There is only one surgeon here who oversees all the surgeries (Dr. Villazon) so you know you are getting someone with experience. I decided to wait until after the new year so I could set up an HSA to offset some of the cost. Now for surgery day: I made sure to book the first appointment of the morning since previous reviews mentioned people were there for hours. I arrived at 7:30 and was already the third patient there. The man at the front desk was doing new employee orientation and juggling check ins and surprise! They don't have me scheduled for surgery. The front desk guy (Ed maybe?) was super professional, got to the bottom of it and made expectations clear: my surgery was cancelled in error but they will get me in as soon as they can. I waited about 3-4 hours which was not ideal but I get that mistakes happen and they truly did everything they could to fix it. The surgery itself: they bring you back to an exam room, check your vision and give you an opportunity to ask questions, then you go to another room and meet the surgeon who goes over the process and gives you some medication, then you wait in a comfy chair for ~45 min then go inside the surgical suite. You lay down on a table and the surgeon talks you through everything that is happening. Whole procedure took ~15-20 minutes. Then you wear your sunglasses and your ride takes you home. Then over the next 7 days you have three different eye drops you need to take (all of which need to be picked up at the pharmacy BEFORE the procedure) What I wish I knew: the sheet they provided states you may be in discomfort for at least 6 hours following the procedure and may not be able to open your eyes. I really did not give it much thought but it was true for me. I couldn't open my eyes for a few hours and had medium amount of discomfort that finally went away after I napped. Then the next 2-3 days it was uncomfortable looking at screens. I recommend getting an audiobook or something. Overall, I am very satisfied with this office and the procedure. read more

I had an awesome experience at TLC Laser Eye Center in Waltham. I went in for my consultation and worked with Jim who was amazing. He went through the entire process in grave detail. I decided to finance the surgery and Jim help me set up my accounts. On the day of the surgery all of the staff was very helpful and talked me through the entire process. Dr. Villazon came to see me about 20 minutes before and told me what exactly was going to happen. I went in there with -4.75 in each eye and now I have perfect 20/20 vision. I couldn't be happier with my experience at TLC and will definitely recommend it to anyone looking to do lasik. read more

I am still in shock with having my new 20/20 vision!!! As someone who has had glasses/contacts for over 20 years (I'm 32), it's life changing. They give you a free consultation and once verified as a candidate, they call and tell you to schedule a Friday for your surgery! It is truly that easy. You have to come in once more for a dilation where they check your eye sight and corneas. Dr. Shwartz (amazing!) came in before the surgery to go over the procedure, and all the nurses are very sweet and excited for you. It took only about 10-15 minutes and felt like an acid trip (no, I didn't take anything). Lots of crazy lights, a little pressure, you're comfortably laying down, fun music, and then it's over! Not very expensive either. Highly recommend this place!!! read more

I've been wearing contacts for 20 years and after much consideration decided on TLC. Everyone I worked with was patient, professional, and likable. They honestly put patient care first and are good at what they do. Jim Bulter gets a special shout out for being dependable and trustworthy. I had LASIK on both eyes. I experienced some stinging for several hours after surgery but that's totally normal. I woke up from a nap and everything felt fine. Everything has been smooth sailing and I'm amazed that I can see so clearly 3 days later without help. It's a big investment, but I would recommend TLC to anyone. There is zero pressure from the team, so sign up for a free consultation and see how it goes. read more

I was nervous going in, but wow. It's so amazing!! I have to admit that I scare easily. Even the slightest possibility of things going wrong have a tendency to scare me. My eyes were pretty bad (-5 in both eyes), and I was just so excited to finally do something about it. The folks at TLC did such an amazing job preparing me to know what I should be expecting at every step of the process. Especially, one of the technicians (I believe his name was Nick), did an amazing job of giving me the play-by-play of what to expect. The bedside manor of all the doctors on staff were absolutely amazing. I wish all optometrists were like them. Their attention and care during my pre and post op appointments really helped! The procedure itself was much easier than I had even anticipated, and was over before I knew it. Having it done in the evening certainly helped, as it was darker and I was able to go home and sleep. Doctor Villazon and Jim Butler did a great job with the procedure itself, and had my on my way, feeling great, and noticing already a huge improvement as soon as I sit up. read more

Today marks one week since my procedure and I am THRILLED with the results! On September 14th, I had my consultation and found out I was a perfect candidate for LASIK. I scheduled my procedure for the following Thursday, September 19th. I am 23 and have been wearing glasses for distance since I was 8, and contact lenses since I was 11. The day of the procedure I was excited but also nervous. Waiting for the procedure was time consuming including multiple pre op tests and discussions with the staff.  The procedure itself was pretty straightforward only took about 20 minutes. They loaded me up with numbing drops and I felt a slight pressure during the procedure. Dr. Villazon guided me throughout the procedure, telling me exactly they are doing and counting the seconds. Having something holding your eyes open is unusual but not too uncomfortable. Dr. Villazon did a wonderful job performing the procedure and I instantly saw better when I sat up(blurry but better!). His staff was amazing and professional, especially one of the surgical consultants, Cassandra D. would did my pre-consultation tests and was also in the surgical room. She was extremely knowledgeable and had a calming presence. I went home right after the procedure and slept until my following appointment the next morning. I experienced slight blurriness and light sensitivity the first couple days. There are 3 different eye drops they prescribed me to take which are very important!  I had my 5 day post op appointment with Dr. Chia and she told me I was seeing 20/20 and 20/15. I am beyond happy that I had this procedure done. It is an expensive procedure but the clarity/ability of vision is priceless! Thank you TLC! read more

I was fortunate enough to be a candidate for PRK. Dr. Villazon, Dr. Chia, Brini, Julie, Coleen, honestly each and everyone of the staff ; from front desk to the OR, they are all there for you. They are so friendly, professional, and truly care. From consultation, pre-op through post op, you can tell they work so well like a family. I don't understand why they do not have more reviews than this!!?? Do yourself the favor, if you are seriously considering getting Lasik done, GO HERE. I hope they are ready because I am sending many folks their way!! Thank you TLC!! Update* I am still recovering from my procedure from about a week now. Although still healing. It is getting better everyday. It really feels amazing waking up in the morning being able to see. :) read more

This place is PAINFUL to communicate with and for that reason alone I wouldn't recommend anyone get lasik done here. They never followed up with me after my initial consultation. I had to track them down to get surgery booked. Then they booked and sent me for a glaucoma consult prior to surgery but didn't notify me when the specialist cancelled my appointment so I went all the way there for nothing. They didn't call me before my surgery to tell me about the eye drops I needed or ever inform me the prescription had been called in. Now I'm 4 months post surgery and still don't have great vision in my left eye and making a follow up appointment is nearly impossible. No one answers the phone. The central office tells you someone from Waltham will return your calls and they never do. I've called every other day for two weeks and can never reach anyone. read more

I would rewrite and cut and paste everything that has been said, because it is a recurrent theme for this place of wonders. At a -7.25 and over 50, I had bitten that bullet way too many times. Too expensive, I said to myself. Too time-consuming I'd repeat everytime I'd come close to doing it. And yes, when I opened Yelp to finally sit down and right, my heart skipped a million beats to see Dr. Villazon's beautiful smile. The same smile that makes your nerves melt away, and the first thing you see when you sit up and scream - I CAN SEE YOUR FACE! And Melissa's! And Jason's! I CAN SEE! It is life changing. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner... And COME ON, they keep a HUGE bowl with Hershey's kisses on the reception desk, and free water, coffee and soda. Its worth going in for a consultation if only to have a snack! (LOL!!!). Beware of Jim. He blinds you with his footwear... TLC is PLAGUED with professionalism and quality care. The ENTIRE staff is trained in "sootheness" to include the wonderful, feisty and funny manager Donna. EVERY SINGLE PERSON. So when I almost lost it because I was at my last straw, it was the ENTIRE STAFF and Dr. Villazon's generosity, that brought back eyesight and peace. On to my adventure... After realizing I'm not getting any younger, AND accepting that I could still use glasses and I am used to reading glasses, I decided on the 24 month 0% interest loan and the lovely consultation that walked me through EVERYTHING I had read, and then some. I fell in love with Melissa, even though she was stiffing my wallet blind (I went there). Of COURSE, I have to be the odd ball, and NOTHING went as the norm. I had to be tested and re-tested. High prescription, AND thin corneas (why can't my thighs, arms and belly take a hint from my corneas?) that are also dry. They will err on all sorts of caution to make 100000% sure you are a candidate. Unlike other "franchise/drive through" centers will do. And if you read my review on Jewell Eye in Marlborough AND my former care providers, you will find out without having to go through it yourself, that having a CLOSE KNIT team is REALLY IMPORTANT! I wasn't able to have the procedure on my appointed day after many trips to get checked, a month in glasses, no makeup (hide the kids and pets please!), getting there at 730 and leaving empty handed at 1200 because the new staff at Dr. Jewells office had a major hiccup with understanding the protocol (PS, as of the writing of this review, day 5 post op, I have YET to receive a call from Dr. Jewell... who couldn't care less of the impact this had on one of her former patients... sad and I digress). Dr. Villazon, who felt horrible for the comedy of errors, offered to come in on Friday (his day off), at 3. I get to the Center, nervous as all get out. EVERY person apologized for the inconveniences that lead me to a teary outburst the day before. Finally, Dr. Villazon walks in, with all his Cuban Handsomeness and a soothing and calming voice. He apologized for all the staff and assured me of how wonderful Dr. Jewell is, and to accept that this was a terrible case of new staff training and cross-team communication in process of rectifying. CLASS ACT. (of course not a peep from Dr. Jewell... piece of work. Just poor bedside manners and customer service or customer appreciation). Hands me the meds, and we start gabbing it up on my favorite topic second to my kid - FOOD. Good ole delicious latino food. And Flan. That is when the xanax kicked in, and the rest is history. His soothing voice, his soft hand, his incredible staff. Recovery requires discipline, and I hope worth it in the end! I'm still makeup deprived, looking like Godzilla. My eyesight is still adjusting. And I'd STILL tell you to RUN and beg for Dr. Villazon and his staff. If you are a candidate, they are your TEAM! THANK YOU ALL! (wish Yelp had 22 stars!) read more

I have quite the experience to share regarding my endeavor to get Lasik surgery. I live in Maine so I initially tried to get the procedure done locally. After all the prep work of 2 appointments and wearing only glasses for two weeks, the day of my procedure I was notified that the laser was malfunctioning and I would not be getting the surgery. Imagine my disappointment! The other Lasik facilities in Maine normally do the procedure once a month, could not meet my work schedule (didn't want to take more time off because I already took some beforehand), and were mostly booked for months ahead. Then my research brought me to TLC Laser Eye Center. I called and explained my situation. They set me up for the consultation appointment for the week after I called. Once there and the tests approved me for Lasik, they even did the pre-op appointment the same day to save me a trip back! Then, seeing they do surgeries once a week, I was scheduled to have my procedure done less than a month from that day, and I only needed to wear glasses 3 full days prior to my appointment. I was impressed... As for the procedure, it was about what I expected comfort-wise, but way more sci-fy. The equipment is state of the art (Wavelight EX-500 for any research geeks like me) and it was not at very difficult to obey Dr. Villazon's instructions with minimal discomfort. The flap laser part was the only discomfort I experienced, just a little pressure on front of your eye, but you get that done first. After you move onto the laser that corrects your vision which was a simple, less than 15 seconds of focus, and you're done! I walked in not being able to see any letters on the sight chart, always regarded myself as a "waver." I sat up out of the bed hazy, but able to see Dr. Villazon's and his assistants faces, which for me was an experience on its own. The rest of the day I did my best to take my drops on schedule and sleep as much as possible. I walked in for my post op appointment with 20/15 in both eyes. My friends are already calling me Hawkeye after hearing the news haha.  I know this is a review for TLC and they did an amazing job, but I also hope that someone reading this review can realize the difference this procedure can have and how life changing it can be (and has been for me only 36 hours later). If you are on the edge, just go for it, and if you are smart, go with TLC Laser Vision Center in Waltham, MA. read more

TLC Laser Eye Center - This place has a great set of personable, informed, medical professionals who really put you as the individual at the center of the experience. I went in for an initial consultation without removing my contacts and my cornea was too thin. I was instructed to take 2-3 weeks off without contacts, and allow my cornea to heal, put drops in my eyes every hour during that period, and to return for another consultation. It turns out my cornea was about 3 microns too thin for the doctor to feel comfortable completing a PRK procedure on me. I'm very happy with the ethical standards this company has. They could have just taken my money and done it. but I'm grateful for a facility that prides themselves in doing what's best for the patient. In my particular case, if I were to proceed, I could end up with a condition where the cornea begins to bulge outward, an irreversible condition due to the structural integrity of the cornea that remains after surgery (could lead to blindness!!) Short-term results are not what I'm looking for and am now looking into an additive surgery (permanent contact lenses embedded into my eyes) rather than subtractive such as Lasik and PRK. I recall hearing a woman leaving after the operation very elated repeatedly stating "I can see! I can see!!" lol wish it could have been me but I guess soft contact lenses aren't so bad after all. The only reason I am giving 4-stars rather than 5-stars is because I can't attest to their surgical excellence from my own personal experience. read more