Harris Opticians

Previously I had used Harris Opticians to fill the Rx of another doctor because Harris Opticians took my insurance. So when it was time to get a new exam and Rx I thought I would give them a try.
When I made my appointment I made it clear that I had another appointment behind it and insured that I would be able to complete the exam in an hour. I was told yes.
I arrived for my appointment and was given typical paperwork to fill out. I asked again if I was going to be OK on time as I had another appointment behind this one down the street. As I was filling it out one of the administrative workers asked me to sit down to do it. I was more comfortable standing to do it at counter height and offered to move to the end of the counter if I was in the way. She somewhat rudely said that she had to call a patient and couldn’t do that due to regulations if I were standing there. So I moved 6 feet to another counter while she made her call. It seems if they are concerned with HIPAA compliance they should make these calls from the back. Because anywhere you sit in this small office you can hear them.
After waiting about 20 minutes past my appointment time I was called back to the counter for a prescreening test. They did this right there in the admin area, it was an autorefractor test to get a rough idea of my Rx strength. I was then told the doctor would be with me «soon». I inquired again if they thought I would be ok on time. They said it would only take 20 minutes for the exam. I went back to the waiting area.
42 minutes after my scheduled appointment time I was called back by the doctor. She stated «I understand you have another appointment and need to leave soon?» I told her yes and asked if it was realistic to get the exam done in 13 minutes. She told me «No but we can start and then you can come back for the rest. You won’t have to pay a second fee.» I then said there was absolutely no point in doing ½ an exam nor any point in putting her further behind. I would reschedule.
At this point her reply is «Sorry, emergencies happen.» At no point prior did any of the staff tell me she was dealing with some sort of emergency (I would have realized it could be timely and rescheduled instead of sitting for 40 min before doing so).
I rescheduled for a different doctor to get a faster 2^nd appointment. Upon contemplation I cancelled this appointment the same night.
There are many much more considerate places I can get my eyes examined at., and I recommend you do the same.

My first few visits at Harris were good. Nothing out of the ordinary either positive or negative. The staff was hit and miss as far as competence and both doctors have slightly odd demeanors, but overall, the only thing I had major complaint for is that they do the glaucoma test at the reception desk, then ask you to sit down in the waiting area. So I have to sit in the middle of the room totally blind until called back. Weird, but not a dealbreaker.
Then the problems began.
First, Dr. Furgerson prescribed me a toric contact lens for my extremely slight astigmatism (mind you, I’ve worn contacts for 20 years, and never had a toric lens). I gave it a try, but could not stand to wear it. He put me back in regular lenses, no problem. Not a huge deal, but was inconvenient to go back for a second fitting.
Then, after that prescription expired, they wouldn’t renew my prescription with 1−800-contacts. They claim a law changed and they can’t. No biggie, I make an appt to come in. But, after biking all the way up to their office in 90 degree heat, I find Dr. Furgerson has left for the day, since the staff did not inform him I was on the schedule. There was virtually no apology, and they acted like it was my fault. In fact, one staffer was really quite rude to me and unwilling to help me at all, until she found out about a group I was involved in on a subsequent visit — then she fell all over herself to help me in a way that actually made me even more uncomfortable than the rudeness. They got me in to Dr. Reed a week later.
Fast forward a year. Dr. Reed switches me to Acuvue Oasys 2 Hydraclear lenses despite the fact that I’m fine with the regular old Acuvue 2s I had. I have NOTHING but problems with them. When I mention this, she kind of scolds me about my care of the lenses. I then get a new box. The problems increase DRASTICALLY. After some googling, I find the problems indicate an allergy to the lens. The office staffer I talk to says she’s never heard of that, but agrees to put me back in my old lenses. But now I have to pay for another appointment because I’ve waited too long in the fitting period. Ok, that part is partially my fault — I didn’t pick the new lenses up within the 30 day window originally because I was out of town. But then it took nearly 2 weeks for the replacement lenses to arrive, and they wanted me to wait a 3^rd week before they scheduled me. Despite the fact that for the first time in 20 YEARS I’m wearing my glasses every day, which is a major inconvenience to me (I don’t see well in glasses, play a contact sport requiring peripheral vision, and commute to work by bike.) Every other eye doc I’ve gone to since childhood has had lenses in stock at all times (I have a very standard prescription.)
They later diagnosed me with chronic dry eye as a result of another medical condition, which Dr. Reed made some rather offensive comments to me about (like I can help the things that are physically wrong with me). That was the last straw, and I’ll be switching doctors. There are just way too many other options in Columbus.

It sound odd to say, but this place really cares about your eyes. Nice glasses selection. Wonderful staff and very helpful. Lots of glasses in different price ranges.