Brent C Norman, MD

So far, very impressed with Dr. Norman. He operated on my Wife for a macular hole. Although we won’t know the result of that for some time, the care and treatment so far has been nothing but professional. Yes, his waiting room is usually full and there is usually a wait. This man is a surgeon and his day starts before sunrise. Depending on how his surgery schedule goes, he sees patients after that.
I prefer he takes his time with the operation, we can sit and wait a while. Great communication, he explained everything concisely in advance. Pleasant and seemed quite caring. I think some of the other reviewers should consider what is being done here. It is not instant gratification.

Last Wednesday, I had an appointment with Dr. Norman. After sitting in his waiting room over an hour, and listening to the crowd of others who had also been waiting (many as much as three hours) I asked the receptionist why the great wait. She informed me that nothing could be done, that is the way it is. He said this is because Dr. Norman is very professional and spends more time with some patients, so others must wait. I have news for that office, every doctor worthy of the name spends the necessary time with his patients.
And, of course, we don’t mind, it could happen to any of us.
It is the nature of his office to be like a free clinic — not a professional doctor’s office. He has a crowd of people waiting for his convenience, not for the patients. And we can wait endlessly.
It is difficult to believe that he thinks of himself as an excellent doctor when he has such contempt for his patients. If he was even a decent doctor — like all of the others in the country — he would find a way to manage the time of his patients with some fundamental sense of respect.

Dr. Norman is certainly competent, but he has far too many patients for a solo practice, Yesterday 12÷4÷15, I arrived 15 minutes early for a 10AM appointment. Mine was a routine retina exam. The waiting room was jammed when I arrived, and it stayed that way. I did not see the doctor until 4 hours later. He should bring in a partner or hire an associate to help share the workload and reduce the waiting time.

Seven years ago I was referred to Dr. Norman for a detached retina. He worked me into his overloaded Monday schedule, examined me, and got me in for emergency surgery at 5pm that day. And yes, that was after seeing all his scheduled patients and who knows how many other emergency last minute additions like myself. And he did a fantastic job! I have no doubt that he saved my eyesight.
I saw him regularly for several years, as he followed the progress of my eye. Yes, sometimes I waited hours past my appointment time, but I NEVER forgot that one time it was me, with my emergency, that screwed up his schedule.
Recently, I’ve had some complications from cataract surgery, and had to go back. I can’t even express how relieved I was to be back under his incredible expertise, knowing I was in the most competent hands imaginable. His kindness and understanding is palpable. He explains everything in plain English, not doctor-​ese. He also tells it like it is, but does so with compassion, knowing that to virtually everybody he sees, talking about your eyesight is inevitably pushing a hot button. I swear he never loses sight of that.
Hi office staff has always been friendly and efficient. I can attest that over the course of seven years, a lot of his staff has remained in his employ, so they really know what they’re doing.
Overall, I can’t imagine a more knowledgeable, competent and kind doctor. I wish I could say the same about all doctors, but Dr. Norman really stands out.

Last September I had a terrible accident and nearly lost my eye. Dr. Norman came to see me at Hoag hospital and immediately began to prep me for a complex surgery. He came to begin (after a long day of seeing patients) the surgery at 6pm. It took 4 hrs but he was able to repair the terrible mess I made with my eye. My wife, 6 months pregnant at the time, spoke to him afterwards. He was thoughtful in how he treated her and fully answered all her questions. It was very late when he left. The next morning (early)I was surprised when I saw a full room of people for him to see. I was amazed by his energy and professionalism knowing the task he had accomplished the night before. The wait was fine, no more or less then every other medical facility in the entire country. Once again he thoughtfully explained to my worried wife everything that was happening. He has since performed 4 more surgeries successfully and each time we learn what the hospital staff already knows, «Dr. Norman is AMAZING! «When my wife and I went to see UCI for a second opinion, they were unable to help me any further than Dr. Norman had. All three specialists spoke very highly of him. I’m still under his care and thankful to be his patient. Had I ended up anywhere else on the night of my injury I would not have an eye today. I highly recommend Dr. Norman. Just like the rest of the professionals who are «in the know «in Orange county, we think he’s the best!
Richard Hammond

Three surgeries in two years. Over 25 office visits and he never spent over five minutes with me. Calling to make an appointment you can’t get in for two months. Once there you wait over an hour for your couple of minutes of doctors time. I never really knew what was wrong with my eyes. Every question I asked the doctor had one foot out the door. I am sure he is a fine doctor but he is way too overbooked. This doctor and office is too hectic and I was never comfortable. I finally went to another specialist.

Doesnt Validate,! Condescending & RUDE. I show up 10 minutes early for a 2:30 appt, and wasn’t seen till 3:20. And it’s like this EVERY TIME. I’m the big idiot for keep going back to him, but he’s close. The staff tries to apologize, but it’s not worth anything because I know he’ll Do it to me next time. He keeps overbooking to get the business & gives you the bums rush once you get in. I would search for another specialist, cause this guy is just about the $$$

I like Dr Norman… I hate the wait. I have been seeing him the last few months and every time I go in, I get called back for my turn at least and hour and a half to two hours AFTER my appointment time, even when I schedule my appts as early as they have them. It was sad the last time I was there when the front desk staff told an old gentlemen that he was 20 min late, he didn’t call, and they couldn’t see him that day, rescheduling him for 4 days later. There needs to be some more org in that front office to get the patients in and out in a more timely manner… something is wrong there.

My 2 laser retina surgery experiences with Dr. Norman have been exceptionally good. He is a kind and caring doctor who will listen and he has done a very good job with my eyes. The nurses are very kind. There is one person on the reception staff that is very hostile/​lazy but just avoid her. It’s hard for doctors to control the staff completely. And this is, in my experience so far, a very good doctor.
I believe he is misclassified, however, on this list. I don’t think he is an opthamologist. I believe he is a retina and/​or surgery specialist. So he’s not the person to go to for a routine eye exam. I know he performs both laser and other types of eye surgery.

Dr. Norman knows his stuff. I see him once a year for something on my retina that, in medical terms, I can’t even pronounce. He checks it for me, both visually and with photography, and I am thankful to have a really great doctor helping me with prevention.
Because Dr. Norman is really good, his practice is crazy busy. I think that many of his patients are seniors and many appointments are emergencies. The wait time for a scheduled appointment can be long. My personal rule is not to sit in a doctor’s waiting room for hours, but I break that rule for Dr. Norman. All you have to do is watch him practically running up and down the halls, and you know that he is working his tail off.
The office is easy to find right across the street from Hoag. The parking lot is paid and sometimes it can get a little full.
I have not interacted with Dr. Norman’s front office staff that much, but they are polite and efficient, and that works for me. I recommend this practice highly.

When I was a teenager Dr. Norman treated me for Ocular Toxoplasmosis and did a great job! I remember him being caring, thorough and very knowledgable.
To this day the nasty germ is still «asleep» thanks to his persistent treatment.
Thank you Doc!

This guy’s really good. He had been treating me for my Intermediate Uveitis. Very knowledgeable and I can’t give him high enough marks for helping to treat me and telling me like it is.
I encourage women, the world over, to learn communication practices from Dr. Norman.
Word.=)