I saw Earle Scharff III, the only OD doctor who works at the downtown branch of Koch Eye, and I'd recommend to stay away from this place. I had a minor eye irritation from my contact lens (been wearing them for 14 years, but just now bothered by them), and Dr. Scharff looked at them, but didn't seem to look terribly close, and then gave me a prescription for general antibiotics. ""Take these antibiotics for a week and if it doesn't work, come back."" I was skeptical, since that sounds like a line from a bad screenplay about a lazy doctor, but I did it.
I paid out of pocket for both the appointment and the antibiotics, and then when it didn't get better 2 weeks later, I went to the UC Berkeley Optometry School when I was visiting family out on the West Coast. They immediately identified the problem (Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis, a common problem for contact wearers), and when I told them about seeing Dr. Scharff, they said, ""Did he flip your eyelid over, and look at it?"" Nope. They were shocked. And then they prescribed me steroids for 2 weeks, and said I should see a doctor after 2 weeks to make sure it had cleared up.
So I went back to Dr. Scharff, even though my previous $150 had been ill-spent on him. I explained politely what had happened, and said ""It seems to me that you didn't give me a thorough exam last time, so today's visit should be free -- all you have to do is flip my lid and tell me if the GPC is under control.""
He got belligerent and said he didn't do things for free. Well, it's your reputation, doctor.
Thank goodness for the internet, to share our stories.... now can anybody recommend a good eye doctor in Providence?
Cons: ""Use antibiotics, come back in a week if that doesn't work.""
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