Lange Eye Care & Associates

I would expect businesses such as this to be more customer friendly. If a customer calls to inquire about certain exams and to make an appointment as a new patient, it would be nice if the front desk could be even a little nice and helpful throughout the process. Disengaged, bored, and rude was what I had to deal with after being on hold for 30 minutes before the line rang and the same operator picked up as if it was a new phone call. I’m unsure if they forgot they put me on hold for that long but I think I’m more than okay with going to another place where I’ll feel better treated.

We just stopped in to check out their frames and found such a great selection. They carry several high end frames that you usually can only find in larger cities. Service was great. We were given honest feedback and we ultimately found the perfect frames. They even had the finished glasses sent to the Ocala store for our pick up (since we live in Ocala). That was so helpful.

This is one disgusting business. Dishonesty is the theme. I came here to get LASIK as advertised on their website. After a long wait, a nice young optometrist did a great job of discussing the various types of procedures and answered my questions. At the end, I asked when can we get the surgery scheduled, to which he replied, «Oh, we don’t do LASIK» and referred me to a LASIK surgeon in Tampa. Why does the website claim that they do LASIK at the Gainesville location if they do not? The misdirection is curious.
So I get LASIK in Tampa and have actually paid to get my 1 week, 1 month and 3 month post-​op appointments at the Lange Eye Center, but through the Tampa LASIKplus business. Lange Eye Care gets paid for leads they refer to LASIKplus and is then paid by LASIKplus for the post-​ops. Seems shady not to let the customers know up front. I didn’t even know that I had already paid for the post-​ops until I had already gotten one.
For one of three post-​op appointments that they force you to do with the guy who is never around, I showed up to the shop and it was closed!!! Imagine having a doctor’s appointment, and the doctor doesn’t feel like coming in that day. The office was closed!!! WOW! They put a piece of paper on the door explaining to their «valued customers» that they decided to not open their doors for the day. I had an appointment! That is a commitment between the business and the customer. If the business doesn’t open, trust is broken. It is a sign that they do not care about their customers.
The doctor has the time to do Mon-​Fri radio shows to market his business, but can’t even make it to his own appointments! You walk in and feel more like you’re at a used-​car lot than an eye doctor’s office. This business is more about selling than about eye care. You wait at least 45 minutes beyond the appointment time to see the doctor, then they make you wait another 30 minutes in the exam room and the receptionists are VERY rude. It is incredible to me that any business could function this way.
I think that Dr. Lange simply chose to expand beyond his capacity to manage. He has six locations, a radio show, and a line of vitamins. He simply forgot to run a decent business before spreading it and creating a large business. I wish Dr. Lange great success, but hope that he puts some time to improving operations so that the customer doesn’t continue to get shafted.
The takeaway is, as a customer, expect to wait a very long time, receive sub-​par service, and to get far less than what is promised.

The eye exam was rushed and I ended up with a sub-​par prescription for my myopia (nearsightedness) that was too strong. Now, reading at moderate distances with the glasses is a pain. Little care was taken to get the prescription absolutely right — definitely got the feeling I was a name on somebody’s clipboard that had to be dealt with, but nothing more. You’ll get a better exam somewhere else in town. This is fast food eye care.

When I called the Gainesville number and made my very first appointment, whomever took my call acted like I was a great imposition. The earliest they could get me in was a month later (I called early December and my appointment was for early January).
When I arrived early for my appointment, no one greeted me. I had to figure out for myself who to check in with towards the back of the shop. I spoke with the black lady who was very terse and informed me that my appointment was for the Ocala location. (Why would someone call a Gainesville number for an Ocala appointment. I didn’t know at the time there even was an Ocala location. When I made the appointment the scheduler didn’t say anything about Ocala).
I almost walked out, but they said they could «fit me in» if I waited. So I waited. The optician was ok. Nothing fancy about the eye exam («one or two, one or two, one or two?»)
When I finally got my glasses they were ok as well, but I didn’t go for the bifocals, anti-​glare, etc. Now I wish I had.
I’ve gone back just once, to have the frames straightened after I sat on them. That went quickly and well, with no charge. But the whole time I was in the office the staff were too busy socializing and Facebooking, even though there was a sign on the door looking for a Front desk/​billing and coder.
I’m looking for a more professional office. The front office staff is too much like a McDonald’s than a professional place to entrust my vision care.

They have a huge place inside.
They did a very professional and through examination for my daughter.
Optometrist was great.
Service in the front area was just ok. Actually it could be much better. Once we had picked the frames we were getting they used a negative sales technique on me to try to get me to upgrade the lenses with a UV coating. Listen, I understand a huge chunk of the money they make is in selling up-​charges, but the girl with black hair and tattoos shouldn’t lecture me in front of my daughter on not being a caring Dad if I don’t get UV.
I’d go here again for the Optometrist but I will now buy my glasses from Zenni Optical online where I get the same frames, lenses and free UV and scratch guard for $ 15.