I Might Get LASIK, But Not at Saddleback

I've been getting annoyed with my contacts and glasses, and after years of watching improvements in laser eye surgery thought I would look seriously into LASIK. After hearing Saddleback Eye Center advertise on the radio and getting a recommendation from someone who went there, I thought I would give them a shot.

I got an "pre-screen" appointment easy enough and went there this morning. My first impulse when walking in was to walk right out since I thought I was at the DMV.

The place was packed. There were enough people milling around in the waiting room to fill a good-sized plane. "Of course", I thought, "this is a mass-market place that advertises on the radio." I had already made the appointment, however, and decided to wait it out to see if I was any more impressed with the staff. I never got the chance to find out.

I got called in 10 minutes - a good sign - for a quick eye screen, then was told to go back out into the waiting room. And there I waited. And waited. And waited.

They had a "Classic Johnny Carson" video running while I read the paper. It ran out after an hour. When it ended, the TV reverted to some cable channel where some evangelical preacher was screaming at the top of his lungs. I thought the staff would go put another video in. After 5 minutes of listening to his screaming - it was impossible to read the paper and ignore - I was going to say something to the staff, but decided to leave instead. I had enough. The rest of the cattle waiting for their appointments were still sitting there watching it when I left. Maybe they were enjoying it.

If I am going to spend $2,000+ on elective surgery, I want a personalized approach instead of an assembly line surgery-house for the masses. I still might get eye surgery, but it sure as hell won't be there.