Riverdale Eye Associates

Stay away! I had to have cataract surgery in one eye. Dr. Landzberg performed the surgery, very well actually, for which I am very grateful. However, she drastically changed the vision of that eye, to match that of the other — much weaker — eye, despite my having made clear that I liked my vision perfectly fine. In other words, she weakened my overall vision, in order to achieve her preference for balanced eyes. Now my distance vision in both eyes is weaker, my near vision is not noticeably better, and the range of vision between, say, two and six feet is miserably worse than it was! I now need to wear glasses even just around the house. She utterly altered my eyesight and hence quality of life. When I complained to her after the surgery, she suggested I get progressive lenses, though I had no interest in using progressives.
I also experienced sever peripheral flashes. She seemed baffled by this, but after a few minutes of checking into my eye, said, «Oh, yes, you have scar tissue that developed due to the surgery. This is very common in younger cataract patients.» These still-​developing cells cause light to be refracted in a strange way. If it was so common, why did it take her so long to figure out?!
Because of my clear unhappiness with the results of the surgery, they switched me suddenly to Dr. Schneider. When I continued to complain about my eyesight having been altered — seeing anything clearly on a computer screen at what used to be a natural distance was now impossible, for instance! — she suggested they could give me new glasses for the computer. Likely I would be charged for that. She also tried to make me feel bad for complaining, telling me, literally, «Many people would kill for your eyesight.» Only after repeated complaints on my part, at my final visit, did she mention that I could probably correct my vision through lasik surgery! Why couldn’t she have reassured me far earlier about this option?!
Finally, Dr. Schneider got rid of the scar tissue (not actually the right technical term, as I later found out) with laser surgery, but she did not completely eliminate the flashes caused by them.
All in all, I found the doctors’ communication skills terrible. Their cavalier attitude toward my eyesight, a central aspect of my life and sense of self, I found disturbing beyond words. I am very depressed by what has been done to me. If I need surgery to fix my eyesight I will have to pay for it, in addition to having to risk further mishaps with my eyes when they are adjusted medically. All because of one doctor’s insensitive decision. I have spoken with lawyers, but they are only willing to take on obvious cases — i.e., a dramatic injury of some kind — because I would love to take Dr. Landzberg to court.

I am writing a review just for the optical shop there. My husband is a musician and has specific needs in order to be able to have lenses that are good for looking at music on stands. He had always been satisfied at his previous optician that retired. Here at Riverdale they made him lenses that were no good for him and they refused to remake them. The office manager was rude and unhelpful, as well. This is no way to run a business. I was shocked.

I have only positive things to say about this practice. In one visit, Dr. Schneider was able to help diagnose and treat a condition that I had been seeking treatment for over the course of a few months elsewhere. She saved my sight! The office is professional and always runs on time, and everyone is courteous and friendly. I would certainly recommend this office to anyone!

I started coming here a number of years ago after my last eye doctor retired. I was very impressed with the serious and caring way I was treated and examined. I had an eye emergency (scratched cornea) and they took me immediately when I showed up at the door.
Over the years they expanded, specialized and got better. I have taken all my children here and now that they are adults my son who lives 2 counties away still comes here. Even though they are much larger they are more specialized and that is a good thing. They respond quickly to any call and the office is pleasant a nice place to be.