Michael J. Bermel, PC

Dr. Bermel should honestly have his license taken away. Waited in a disgusting waiting room that made me feel like I was in a 1950s horror movie while I listened to him talk to a customer about person matters, very awkward. He then waived me back and started the exam WITHOUT CHANGING HIS GLOVES FROM THE LAST PATIENT. He then continued to stick his finger INSIDE of my eye (I’ve never had this done before) and told me how alarming and dangerous the scars on my eye were. I’ve had them for half of a decade and never been told this. I also confirmed that there is nothing alarming with them from the new optometrist I’m now going to. He then continued to push gentle molding and 500 other services only he could offer on me and when I said I wanted Lasik he said he could do it but does not suggest it at all. I understand this is a matter of opinion but he was so obviously biased towards his ways I knew he wasn’t considering the actual results of Lasik. I was then charged an obscene amount at checkout that I refused to pay and also given another 10 minute selling point for some $ 100 contact solution?! The appointment took over an hour for a regular check up and most of this time was spent in a sales pitch. I requested another exam for a different doctor from my insurance due to the fact that this appointment was outrageous and wrong in so many ways. Oh, he is also the only doctor that has ever told me that I have astigmatism and my current doctor does not agree. Total scam and should honestly not be able to practice. If he actually cared about anything but his wallet he would be caring for patients completely differently. Pathetic.

Although the staff at Dr. Bermel’s office are professional and friendly, the actual vision services I received there were very poor. I visited on two separate occasions, two years apart. During the first visit, I was seen by Dr. Bermel’s associate who was polite and professional, and seemed mostly okay at the time. I expressed some concerns to her about the prescription she came back with after my exam because it was off a lot from my normal prescription and my vision had hardly changed in 10+ years, I had quite a few headaches when wearing the glasses she prescribed so switched to my old ones. I later found out the prescription she gave me was incorrect. I had been wearing the wrong glasses for nearly two years!
After that experience, I had been hesitant to visit again, but the end of the year was approaching and I needed to use my vision benefit or lose it. During the second visit I saw Dr. Bermel himself, and it was that visit which cemented my determination to never go there again. Although the admin staff were all nice, and I was seen fairly quickly by the assistant, I was asked for my medical insurance information. I expressed my concern as to why they would need that when my vision insurance was separate, and was informed it was in case there was ever a medical emergency while I was being seen by the doctor and that it would not be accessed or my records pulled until or unless such an emergency occurred. I relented, but told her point blank that they did not have my permission to access my insurance, and even wrote it onto the consent form, initialing and dating where I made the note to that effect.
When I saw the doctor, the visit took nearly an hour. I had never had such a long eye exam. On three instances during the exam he walked out of the room, only to criticize his staff for not having pushed a specific service or product on me while I was waiting to see him. After the lengthy exam, he pronounced that I had a condition that would require eyelid cleansing cloths, which were around 30.00 per box. When I asked if it was serious and what would happen next, he told me it could also be treated by antibiotic eye drops. When I asked for the drops, he said he wanted me to try the pads first. I looked on my phone and saw I could get them elsewhere for around 8.00 per box, while he wanted around 30.00 so I told him I wasn’t interested. When I was checking out, he told the receptionist that I was getting the cleansing pads and forcibly put them into my bag when I reminded him I was going to get them elsewhere. He then proceeded to tell her to add them to my bill, which I of course did not allow once he walked away.
When I tried to check out, my bill was 35.00 more than it should have been. When I asked why, I was told that it was because of the medical eye exam that he performed… without my permission. When I said I had not approved such an exam (and I had been quite clear from the time I first made my appointment that I wanted a vision exam and contacts fitting only) she said «but your insurance covers it so why wouldn’t you want it?». I was obviously quite upset since I had blatantly told them earlier they did not have my permission to access my medical insurance. I pointed to the form that I had earlier initialed and dated showing that I had written they did not have my permission. When she told the doctor, he got so upset at her for not telling him before he did the exam (which was not scheduled in the first place) that she nearly cried.
Overall, the constant push of very expensive add on services that are not covered by insurance, combined with the attempt to force me to purchase products and services I had already point-​blank refused, resembled nothing so much as a used car salesman. I was eventually able to get my money back for all the services except the basic vision exam, and also eventually got my written prescription (which I had requested multiple times on the actual day of the visit, and which he was required by law to provide if I requested.) but only after many repeated calls and written communication requesting it.
This doctor engages in practices that make it a very unpleasant experience to go there. He ignored my expressed wishes on three occasions during a single visit. He left during my exam three times, all to curtly remind his employees about added (non insured) services or products they were supposed to have tried to push on me before I ever got to the exam room. I would definitely not recommend him to anyone, and in fact would encourage those who have been there in the past to visit another doctor at lest once to make sure they are not also being treated for conditions they do not have (or are not wearing the wrong glasses for nearly two years, potentially doing damage to their vision). While it is possible that you may have gotten acceptable care from him, based on my experiences, it is just as likely that you have been treated for conditions you may not have.

i wish i can put zero star here!!! dont go there… they put the dilated eye drops to my 5 years old son, put one for me, then said the insurance company will pay for everything. Ended up we have to pay for a bill over $ 150. They tried to ask u go back and do all the unnecessary exams, follow ups…

The first two appointments were ok but when we went back for follow up the third time, we waited over an hour past our appointment time. After we finally got to see the doctor, he spent five minutes total on both of my kids. Then I was told to pay an $ 80 co-​payment. Five minutes for $ 80??? I feel like they should pay me $ 80 for waiting over an hour! This is totally ridiculous. Will not go back to this doctor, EVER!

I don’t even know where to start. I waited until I finally got my prescription in hand before I wrote a review. First of all, I did an annual eye exam and a contact exam. I used 2 insurance companies and still paid $ 200 at the end of the appointment and walked out with nothing in my hands — no contacts, no eyeglasses. When I inquired about replacing the lenses in my Juicy Couture glasses, they told me they couldn’t because the glasses would break. (complete B.S. by the way) Then they showed me the JC glasses they were selling for $ 225…frames only! I asked for my written eye glass prescription and they told me I shouldn’t buy glasses anywhere else because my insurance would give me a discount there. (B.S. again!)
There are two ladies that work the front area who are rude, pushy, and completely inconsiderate. The doctor is actually a nice guy, but when you have two loonies running the place, you’re just uncomfortable the entire time.
Do not go here. Just don’t.

I have never been treated this poorly at an optometrist office before. Watch out for insurance ignorance and/​or scams. Basically, I called up my insurance before heading to the office to confirm my co-​payment. Then I called up the office to get an idea of my co-​payment and I got the same amount. When I get there and get done with my exam. I went back to the front desk to pay, I was given some ridiculous amount. When I questions the amount, the lady at the front desk looked at my file and told me that I qualify for a 50% discount on my contact lens exam. This would not have been known if I didn’t ask them to check again.(The same lady also lied to me about online contact lens retailers being comparable to their prices. I just ordered my contact lenses today for ½ the price they quoted me). The amount was still high and then I realized that the co-​payment was twice the amount I was told by my insurance it should be. I wanted to confirm with the insurance. So I left the office and called my insurance company that tried calling them but they said they were closed and would get back to them the next day (they never got back to the insurance company). I went back there to check on my charges and was treated like they were doing me favors for checking on my charges. Basically there were three at the front desk. One employee said that he spoke to the insurance company and that I was right about my co-​payment. the other two were stubborn about giving me my money back and one of them actually told me it was a very small amount so it can wait. When they figure it out with the insurance (which they will never call), they would refund my difference. The people that work at the front desk do not know the difference between a regular eye exam and examination by a Ophthalmologists (specialist eye doctor). They do not know they difference between medical insurance that cover an annual eye exam and the type of insurances that give discounts for eye exams. It pathetic when they treat their customers so poorly. Rule#1 of running a business — At least give the customer the benefit of the doubt.

Today I had an eye exam done at this location and it was a great experience.
Dr Sun is very knowledgeable and friendly. She answered all my questions and never rushed throughout the process. I definitely felt like I was in good hands.
The ladies at the front desk were all smiles and very personable as well.
I don’t know how their selection or prices compare to other places, but I can’t imagine a better comfort level and friendlier staff anywhere.
PS. The office has recently moved form the address here, to the Wegman’s shoping center on route 29. They are next door to the AT&T wireless store now.