Mountain View Eye Center - Fairbanks, Alaska

Mariah D.

Went in, got checked in, was seen by a tech quite promptly. He was friendly and took the time to hear my concerns and pass them on to the Dr.. Waited awhile for the Dr, but once she could see me she was very friendly and efficient. It almost felt rushed, but I understand they were busy when I came in. I appreciate that hey were sweet to my baby and entertained him while I got looked over- it's so nice to have providers that go with the flow in that kind of way.

Sabrina K.

This is the first time in 55 years that I have ever felt the need to complain about a medical appointment. My husband and I have been to Mountain View Eye Center many times over the years and although the previous owner was quirky, it was possible to get an appointment with her and she was always kind to us and took the time to talk to us. My recent experience was so different. I now know that if you visit Mt View, you will spend a great deal of time with technicians and very little time with a doctor. While some of these technicians are very kind, many of them are rather prickly and you don’t get to choose who sees you. Since these are the individuals who will be poking your eye to determine your eye pressure, I would like to have some consistency so I can build up trust..

Ophthalmic technicians may have Associates Degrees, but it is also possible that they just have a high school diploma, on the job training and passing certification scores. All this is fine and they are common in the industry, but Mt. View has 10 people in the technician department. During my recent visit I saw 5 different technicians and spent very little time with an Optometrist or even more importantly an Ophthalmologist. The only reason I chose Mt. View was because I was hoping to be seen by an Ophthalmologist.

I probably would not have been upset if I had been seen by the same Optometrist I had during my last visit, but I was not offered the choice to be seen by him. Honestly, I thought because it took several months to get an appointment and because I was now on “glaucoma watch” I would be seen by an Ophthalmologist. When I went to my first appointment this year, I was greeted by a very kind technician. She did all of the preliminary tests and was the one to do the “poke” pressure test. After waiting many minutes an Optometrist rushed in with another technician. The 3 of them spent most of their time talking to each other and I was asked very few questions and there was no attempt at friendly conversation.

I was given the shortest eye exam I have ever had in my life and although it is great to have a new prescription without scratches on my lenses, my vision is clearer with my old prescription. Although the Optometrist made no mention of the syndrome I was diagnosed with, I was at least told to schedule tests and an appointment to have the tests interpreted. I was told that I could not do them on the same day as I had done every other time I have had these tests due to “insurance reasons.” I accepted the necessity and three weeks later I went in for the tests and the next day I came in for the appointment. I was excited to get the results and discuss them with a DOCTOR.

When I walked in the room there was another technician! She started by putting up the eye chart and had me go through and read them. I explained that I had just had an appointment and I was wearing the glasses with the new prescription. She then wanted to stick her fingers in the air and test my peripheral vision. Confused, I reminded her that I had just gotten a Visual Field Test the day before and was here to get the results which would be much more accurate (and expensive).

I finally asked if I could just see the doctor. I was now 20 minutes into my 3rd appointment (after 3 months of waiting) and was really hoping to just have time to talk to a doctor. She went and got another technician and I was told that I could not have the doctor explain the results to these expensive tests unless I let one of them poke me in the eye and test my pressure. Again I wondered why the doctor couldn’t do this as I have experienced many times in the past.

By then the idea of either of these upset technicians poking me in the eye was unacceptable. I started to realize that if I was diagnosed with glaucoma, I would have to continue being seen only by technicians, with a very few distracted moments with an Optometrist. Fairbanks has many wonderful Optometrists which are way better options!

Ashley F.

The experience was going good until I had to wait 3 hours to see the doctor and than was pretty much forced into doing something I was not comfortable with because I don’t like things or people touching my eyes. Thanks for ruining my experience with this place.

amy L.

I went in for a laser surgery and the Doctor I had seen 2 weeks ago & scheduled my appointment with had left a week ago. No one let me know. I prefer to know the dr beforehand. The surgery went fine but I wasn’t really comfortable with a person I had never seen before he walked in to start. Also they did all the tests 2 weeks ago (had 2 appointments already in a month) but had to redo some of them, I told them they has already been done per 1st surgeon. Being a diabetic & on dangerous drugs for my eyes, having consistency is absolutely necessary!!
There is staff turnover & Dr Johnson lives in TX, so no longer practicing in Fairbanks. She was my original surgeon(11yrs ago) but in the last 2 years I have had 3 drs. Prior to coming to MtnView, I was with my last Dr almost 20 years but he had to retire due to health.

Kristina K.

I got Lasik at Mountain View Eye Center and from the very beginning, the experience was wonderful. From the front desk, to the techs, to the doctors, they were so attentive and kind. They took the time to walk me through the process, answer my questions, and ease any worries I had. The day of the surgery, they were patient and I never felt rushed. Special shout out to Kyle who was so helpful every step of the way and made sure I was comfortable at my appointments. You can always tell when people love their job and these people love their job. Would definitely recommend. The surgery went great and I’m very happy with my results!

Mary M. M.

This place reeks of incompetence. When I first attended my consult, I was very upfront with all relevant information. I answered every question they asked thoroughly and honestly. Due to a last minute family emergency, I also had to bring my 8 month old son. During the consult, they took scans of my eyes, asked about family history, and if I was still breastfeeding, along with other pertinent questions. I even breastfed my son while Dr. Lantz was looking at my eyes. She mentioned that they don't typically operate on breastfeeding women and she would personally talk to the surgeon about it prior to approval. About a week later, I got the call that I was approved for PRK surgery.

The day before my procedure, the surgical coordinator called me to ask if I was still breastfeeding. I said yes, nothing had changed since my consult. She said that she would have to talk to the surgeon for her own "peace of mind" and she would call me back that afternoon. She didn't. The next morning (day of my procedure) I called the clinic and they told me someone would call me back. A few hours before my scheduled procedure, the surgeon, Dr. Crowsky called me and said that he missed a few things when he originally approved me. 1. That my brother had a certain eye disease 2. That I was still breastfeeding and 3. That my eye scans disqualified me, so he was canceling my procedure. I wonder how I got "approved" in the first place and in the end I'm thankful they didn't touch my eyes.

Richard B.

I had metal embedded in my eye. Three different trips to the ER and still could not get it removed. The eye doctor at mountain view eye center removed it very easily with her steady hand. And on short notice.

Angela W.

After being a devoted patient to Mountain View Medical and Eye Care, for ~6 urs, I recently contacted them per advise from Basset Memorial Hospital E.R. for further care, I was denied because my provider has moved on to another's practice. So without notice I non longer have a provider. Was also treated very rudely with no common courtesy or direction. Constant shutting door in face per say. They don't care of patient or reputation and lack care and concern to a level I've never witnessed in my 58 yrs.
It's a shame. I'd suggest another Medical center strongly.