Edward J Burns, Optometrist

I had visited Dr. Burns when I worked in the Belmont area in 2011. Very convenient location. Though his office may be slightly old-​fashioned, I felt that I received an excellent contact lens fitting and very professional and appropriate attention. He had me come in twice to get just the right astigmatism prescription for me — I am very hard to fit– and I had no problems receiving my contact lenses which were ordered promptly.
I have since moved and no longer have that job so I am not in the area anymore but would return to him if I was.

I have been going to Dr. Burns for 2 years now but after my latest interaction will absolutely be choosing a new Optometrist. During one of my previous routine visits, he had been rude and unfriendly, but I was willing to overlook this figuring he may have been having a rough day.
Most recently however I placed an online order for contacts after forwarding the most up to date prescription to the vendor. It is customary for them to call the doctor’s office to confirm the prescription on file is valid. After not having received my contacts nearly 3 weeks later I called this online vendor and was informed that the order was cancelled because when they called Dr. Burns office, they were advised that I used different contacts and had a different prescription than what I had ordered online. Turns out, his office quoted the wrong prescription and someone else’s medical information altogether to the vendor!!!
Aside from the fact that I still am without contacts several weeks later, the kicker is when I personally went into his office to ask about it. He was extremely rude and unprofessional and denied having given the wrong information, then asked me to re-​take my contact lens fitting exam and pay an additional $ 40. I assured him that I had already done so only a few months prior and showed him the new prescription he had given me as proof. He continued to argue back and forth and finally after reviewing my file for a 3^rd time was able to read his own handwriting and acknowledged, ‘oh yes, you did have a visit just 3 months ago where I performed a contact lens fitting. I will write you another copy of the prescription but I do not get involved with the online order.’ great, but how am I to be sure another misquote wont’ happen again?
No apology, no offer to facilitate the process despite the substantial delay in my order to due to his office’s mixup, no offer of a free sample to hold me over.
This is by far the most unprofessional doctor I have ever encountered made worse by the fact that he refused to take ownership of a major error on his part.

I needed some new glasses and drive by this place every day so I stopped there. Not only was the service great, Dr. Burns is a very knowledgeable and experience optometrist, but the selection of glasses was very good too. I got my glasses very quickly and it was inexpensive. I did ask for the cheapest pair they had because I only wear glasses when driving and they do not have to be the best.
Anyway my experience was overall outstanding then get this, I find out only after this that this is the optometrist that both my parents go to as well as my brother! I was always the only one in the family that did not wear glasses and only started to wear them long after moving out of my family’s home. So I just never knew where the rest of my family who all wear glasses would have gone for an exam.
Small world right?

I have been a patient of Dr. Burns for a few years. I find him to be a highly competent and experienced optometrist. He takes the time to answer your questions and make sure you fully understand your specific situation. He has a no — nonsense approach which I prefer. For example he does not use optimap or other high tech equipment to examine your eyes, rather he uses more traditional eye exam methods. He has never pushed me into more expensive tests or eyeglass options, rather he asks questions and helps you decide if things like progressive lenses is better for your situation. If you decide to also purchase glasses, he helps you personally and is happy to explain the parameters of your insurance and options at various price points. I’ve always had a positive experience.

So I was searching for an optometrist around the area and stop by his office to go check it out. It was an okay experience at first. There were some issues with my insurance and they took the insurance number and checked it out for me. I left without receiving any services, I had to go pick up my daughter and informed them to call me when they find out what my allowances are. Dr Burns called back to tell me how much services I have left and I told him I would call him back. Months past and I was now in dire need of glasses, so I decided to go with somebody else after searching Unilocal again. The other «new» optometrist was trying to make a claim and couldn’t do anything because Dr Burns’ office still have my insurance locked up with them. So I had to make a call to inform them that they need to release my insurance because I wont be needing them at all. The problem started is when I called and spoke to Dr Burns. He immediately accused me of not coming to my appointment after hearing that I wanted them to release my insurance. I told him that I never made an appointment with his office, and he started raising his voice at me. He even wanted to know where I decided to go and was asking for the name of the optometrist. It was a very uncomfortable conversation but I just immediately told him that whoever I use is none of his business. I clarified with him that I stopped by that day to come check his frames etc but never made any appointment with his office. They only checked my insurance allowance and that was it, never made an appointment whatsoever.
It was a rude experience. And sadly, here I am making that review about them.

I’ve been going to Dr. Burns for about 25 years. Egads, that’s a long time.
I wouldn’t consider another eye doctor unless I move out of the area. He’s friendly, excellent at what he does, and always looks out for his customers. He gives me mail-​in rebates that make my contacts cheaper than or comparable to what you can get online…
Just outside the Cushing Square area of Belmont, on the Watertown line and very close to West Cambridge.
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