Reviews of Grand Traverse Ophthalmology Clinic (Ophthalmologist)

Jessica FNP

Have had a few appointment for skin care and for Botox injections with Kim Hope, the RN who is the ONLY person doing skin care and injections in the office - sad to say that she not only is completely inefficient in her care of patients, but also stumbles over attempting to "educate" patients on procedures and information that is requested on offered products. I have been to other cosmetic offices in the area and would highly recommend the other offices compared to the incompetence experienced at GTOC. Suggest the office should stick to vision care and not skin and cosmetic care if you cannot get a competent person in the position to do so.

Mike Fitzgerald

I was referred to GTOC because I have cataracts and a cornea problem. The doctor I saw told me that they would do the cataract surgery first on one eye. If that didn't cause any problems with my cornea then they would do the second. She told me that since I would still need to have glasses after the surgery that the IOL lens wouldn't provide any real benefit so the standard lens was her recommendation. She also recommended the laser cataract surgery, because it would be easier on the cornea. She told me the laser surgery is not covered by insurance and would be $1400. No problem I told her, if that was what she recommended I would defer to her expertise. I thought about it for a few days and then called and scheduled the surgery. In a few days I got a packet, which included a waiver for the IOL, not the standard lens that she had recommended. This procedure cost $1400 and was not covered by insurance. I called the office to see what the mistake was and they told me that the IOL was required to do laser surgery. When I told them that wasn't what the doctor told me they had me talk to someone else, who told me the laser surgery was needed to correct my vision. When I told her this wasn't about correcting my vision she had me talk to someone else. This person told me that the laser surgery was covered by insurance, but the IOL was not. The doctor had put in the notes that she was going to do the IOL surgery. So they want to do a procedure that was not needed, just to get $1400 that could not be reduced by the insurance. I've heard of doctors doing things for money rather than health, but I never thought I'd see one try that with me. I did not have the surgery with them.

Brian Green

Terrible! overcharged us for unnecessary services performed without our consent! Avoid this place at all costs for they will be high! over $1000/hr!! Edit: note to owners: I DID contact the facility, three times, before I wrote the negative review. I believe in giving a company the chance to make things right. The doctor was condescending and the billing people said they wouldn't even consider adjusting the bill for the unnecessary charges.

A Langemo

This place is great. Doctor Thuente is very knowledgeable. The eye glass shop is the best. We had an amazing experience with Jeremy. He helped ensure our 9mo old had the best possible fitting glasses. We had been to other eyeglass shops and each time recieved glasses that we couldn't use due to improper sizing. I highly recommend Grand Traverse Ophthalmology for an all around wonderful experience.

Larry Daniel

Beware of their shady business practices. I have a rare birth defect in my eye that is rare and interesting to eye doctors. I went there for a routine eye exam and glasses prescription update. The eye doctor asked if he could do some additional testing, I allowed him to because its become routine for eye doctors to take special interest in my condition. Then, I get a bill for the additional testing above the routine exam that my VSP covers which they claimed against my medical insurance, also without telling me. So I basically got charged to be this doctor's research guinea pig. I've never been charged by any other doctor for the same set of tests. Also, by the time I found out about the additional charges their billing department first stone-walled me on the phone then when I went in in person they told be its too late to for them to alter the charges or help me in anyway. Lesson learned, that is the last appointment I make with them.

Toby Dunne

I went to the GTOC for the first time yesterday with our 4 year old daughter and thought I would write a review on here because my experience was fantastic. We were greeted with kindness and a smile at the front desk! The lady at check-in was wonderful and interactive with our daughter! In the first room for her interactive eye checks we were met by Matt who was simply amazing with our girl, not only did he have the patience of the gods but he managed to explain everything to her in a way that was understandable for her and made the whole exam exiting. After the drops we met the Doctor who managed to turn her eye tests into a truly interesting science project. I will highly recommend this place to anyone! Thank you to everyone who works there for making this experience easy for parent and child alike!

Zak Smith

Great Doctors that ACTUALLY know what they are doing. I have had some pretty bad experiences with doctors in general, but these ones are good at their job. No bullsh*t tell's you what you need. They only do what they need to do. Fair prices. Friendly staff that care. Oh and free coffee!

K wolf

Great with my children. I so appreciate the time they take to really figure out what is going on.

Kierstin Gunsberg

My four year-old was referred to the Traverse City location to see Dr. Thuente. She was incredibly nervous but the entire staff here from the front desk to those on the retail end were kind, knowledgeable and patient with us despite more than one tantrum. I'm grateful to Dr. Thuente for taking the time he did with us, the exam was streamlined and efficient which you always hope for when you're bringing a kid in. Also, less on the care side but still important to me, the office is really comfortable and full of natural light and plenty of seating. There's a wonderful corner in the back for pediatric patients with big windows and lots to play with and our exam room had Toy Story playing. It's little things like that that make a visit to the doctor less scary when you're a kid.

aimsical

Would give a better rating because they did my husband's eye exam reasonably well, except they used a numbing drop before the dilation drops and didn't tell my husband the possible side effects... After the exam he asked why he had blurry vision. They said the numbing drops can do that sometimes, but then they let him drive home alone! And because the effects don't wear off for about 4 hours I have to cancel the rest of our plans today because my husband can't safely take care of our newborn baby alone when he can barely see things several feet in front of him. They are not giving important information until after something happens and not making sure their clients are safe afterwards.

Chelsea Fuhr

Dr. Sneed is so wonderful! I had to have a procedure to remove something on my lash line, and I had a panic attack as soon as I walked in the room. I was so nervous. Dr. Sneed carefully explained everything to me and calmed me right down. The procedure was quick and painless! Dr. Sneed hummed then entire time which was a really nice distraction and kept me calm. Such a great doctor!

Drita D'Alessandro

I went here for about 5-6 years. Recently I had to move across the country, right before I was due for an eye appointment. I called twice to see if I could get 1-3 months worth of contacts without an exam as I was moving and my new insurance wouldn't kick in for 60 days. No one would give me a straight answer, and they wouldn't book an appointment for me. (I was willing to pay out of pocket for an exam if need be. I just didn't want to be without contacts for the move.) All in all, the 6 years of service I got out of them was excellent until this point. I was really upset to get passed off, person to person, till I got a voicemail, and no call backs.

Renae M

I have nothing but great things to say about Kim Hope, RN. I have been going to her for the past 9 years for cosmetic procedures. She is incredibly skilled in her craft of fillers, neuromodulators (ie: Botox), lasers and chemical peels, all of which I have had done by her with excellent results. She is very knowledgeable, personable and makes you feel comfortable. She’s also phenomenal with lip injections! I would highly recommend Kim.

Barb Reneaud

Very nice staff. Excellent care.

Kirstin Policastro

Would never recommend them -- even though I never got to see a medical professional at the practice. Gatekeepers are great at what they do-- Or Not! Every person I came in contact with over the phone, from the time that I called about being wanting to become a new patient as a referral from my PCP, to setting the appointments, to confirming appointments and insurance information THEY WERE ALL RUDE. Presumptive, judgy, snide tone. Found another provider who treats me like I am a functioning adult and am happy to have not started a long relationship there.

David Cooley

Grate costumer Service awesome Drs

Joey Thuente

Dan Thuente is the best doctor in the world who works at the best eye center in the world

mofun5108

I've gone to GTOC twice in the past year, during COVID, and this is an impressive office with well trained, professional people! I had the Dr analyze a chalazion and then a stye. For both visits, I had a short wait and was escorted to the suite where the team was waiting for me. The doctor checked out my eye, answered all questions I had, and gave me the option to extract the chalazion right away. I appreciated that the issue was taken care of right away and I didn't have to make a second appointment. Then they escorted me to the sign out person so I didn't have to guess where to go. Also, it was easy to make appointments and get the bill processed thru insurance. I do not like going to the doctor, but they made these experiences pleasant.

Angie McFadden

My 15 year old son just had his wisdom teeth removed in May 2018. Dr. Madion was very informative and compassionate! His Dental Assistants and front staff were super friendly! I would definitely recommend him!

Cynthia Sischo

Worse bunch of doctors...ever...compared themselves to Kellogg Eye Center UMich, not even close. Told my dad...well there is nothing we can do to restore vision in the eye THEY operated on, your blind. Kellogg will do corrective surgery on the eye TC idiots ruined, with results being in the high 90%... This clinic, these doctors are only there for the money...

Chris Tithof

My husband's vestibular therapist at U of M hospital suggested that he have an eye exam to rule out any possible eye issues that would hinder his recovery from RHS. We have been working with U of M for treatment of his condition for 6 months. When we scheduled an appointment we specified the details of his issues with the receptionist. Our appointment was on a Friday at 10:00. We checked in at the front desk and were directed around the corner to another desk where they take insurance info, etc. The woman at this desk was surly and combative. She told us that they did not have the online questionnaire that we were supposed to send in. We informed her that we had completed it and sent it in on the previous Sunday to which she responded, "it takes 3 days for us to recieve it!" I pointed out that it had been 5 days... She walked away and returned minutes later with papers that she began rifling through, while saying nothing to us. I asked her if she had found them and she said she had but then griped about the format of the clinic questionnaire and the information on the form that she didn't need. She acted like we were the reason she hated her job. We were called back for vision testing, refraction, etc. And then we waited to see Dr. Thuente. He finally came into the exam room at 10:50 and asked my husband when he'd had Ramsey Hunt Syndrome. We said "you've heard of Ramsey Hunt? and he said "well, to be honest, I just looked it up on the internet". That would explain the long wait time. Then he proceeded to inform us that our vestibular therapist didn't really know what she was talking about and told us how to proceed with treatment for RHS. Suddenly this guy was an expert on this very rare syndrome which we have been living with for a year! We are, and have been, in the care of the head of Otolaryngology at U of M and we plan to stick with his recommendations for care. Dr. Thuente looked in my husbands eyes and said "your eyes are fine, see you next year for another check". Nope. We will seek 'care' elsewhere.

Diana Holcombe

I want to give a 5 star review to this business! Not only do they provide a multitude of services but also have a great crew! The gals at the front desk are super helpful with billing and making sure you get any discount they may be offering at the time which is super cool. Than over in eyeglasses there is another nice group of people their. I have not met all the doctors but the few I have could not be nicer especially at 7.30a.m. In the morning without coffee. There is one gal named Kim Hope that I truly adore and has been super helpful and honest in what I need and don’t need. she bends her schedule for me, spends extra time she does not have with me, and has the personality of an angel. Kim’s talents are endless. From eyes to glasses and beyond give them a call. You will be glad you did

Susan Snyder

I thought they were wonderful and very thorough. I am familiar with doctors in the Detroit area from before I moved up north. I am used to the "best". I will say that I felt GT Ophthalmology was right up there with the best and I would recommend them to everyone.

Nick Thuente

Dr Thuente is the best!!!!

Beach Watersports

We made an appointment for our son to get contacts for sports explaining to them that we needed them soon as Basketball was ending in a couple of weeks. We were told by Dr Thuente at our appointment that we could try non bifocal contacts but we needed to set up another appointment with Dr Ritter to get fit correctly. So we set up another eye appointment with Dr Ritter and she insisted that our son try bifocal contacts and refused to let our son try the contacts that Dr Thuente told us we could try as my sons bifocal glasses weren't working well for sports. We tried to explain to Dr Ritter that we didn't want bifocals but she refused to let us try what we went in for to begin with and what Dr Thuente had recommended . The persons who answer the phone are very rude and uninformed , as was the doctors communication between each other and no Apology was offered for wasting two trips to there office. My son is very disappointed as he still has no contacts to try for basketball and the season ends this weekend . I would never recommend this place again ! Very unprofessional .

Norm Wolffis

After several appointments have found the staff and doctors to be friendly and concerned about the patient. Only drawback was having to wait until appointment time even though no other patients were in waiting room for over an hour.

Randy Rogers

Given the number of top reviews for GTOC in Traverse it is obvious that we in Sault Sainte Marie do not rate a member of the "A" team. Dr. Wentzloff botched my wife's cataract surgery leaving her unable to read even large highway signs. "The computer" was blamed. The insurer said Dr. Wentzloff could not be held responsible because, "He met the minimum standards," Baloney! We were offered $750 as a "'Customer Service Adjustment" which was ludicrous and refused, given the cost of having the botched surgery corrected by a downstate specialist. We in the UP deserve better than "minimum standards" delivered by, as some say, "Carpetbagger Physicians." Randy and Bonnie Rogers Brimley, MI

James Thuente

Awesome experience. Thank you!

Alisha Crutchfield

NEVER TAKE YOUR KID HERE! The most unprofessional clinic I've been to. My daughter went there needing glasses to strengthen her left eye. I was told she didn't need glasses because her vision was off but because the eye needed help. To just have her wear a eye patch on the opposite eye to help for a few hours a day. Well she went to get a exam from health department and I find out she can't see even with the glasses on! I'm furious so I call Dr. Thuente. He does nothing to fix it or help the situation because he doesn't like how I was speaking to him. Then hangs up on me... My child still can't see and I was told she can go blind in the troubled eye if not treated. Never again. I will be filing a huge complaint. He should loose his job for this.

Evelyn Jones

Phenomena doctors and staff. Very recommended

Maryann Bishop

This is an eye clinic. I had a cataract removed. My eye sight is 20/20. I wear glasses because I only have one good eye. The Drs and staff are good at what they do.

Charlotte P

Today was my 1st visit and I was undoubtedly impressed with the professionalism, service and selection of frames.