Fishkind Bakewell Maltzman & Hunter Eye Care and Surgery Center

Cataract Surgery: "Don't Worry! Be Happy!"[My Testimony, June 19, 2024]When the smiling dentist coming at you with the drill says, "Don't worry!"You: "Easy for you to say! You're on the other side of the drill!"When the smiling surgeon reassures you about cataract surgery says: "Don't worry!"You: "Easy for you to say! You're on the other side of the scalpel!"Yesterday, Dr. Henry and his surgical team provided all kinds of encouragement, and the anesthesiologist, Dr. "C" (as she called herself), gave very fine, graphical, and believable examples of the few sensations that I actually WOULD be feeling. But, no matter what encouraging words I heard and read about yesterday's cataract surgery, as I was being prepped for it while lying on my gurney - no matter WHAT I was telling my emotions, my emotions kept whispering back, "But, how do you know what is going to happen?!" The fear of the unknown does not like to listen to statistically based comforts. Situations like this tend to intensify one's prayer life - if one has someone to pray to! Fortunately, I do, and it sure helped. But I also wanted to reassure anyone reading this little testimony that those comforting words that came from my surgeon, his team, and his pamphlets really ARE true! I not only felt no pain; I didn't feel or see a THING! No scalpels, no thumbs!The drops and gel that they apply make the vision in your affected eye so blurred and anesthetized that you see no details of any kind, and feel very few sensations of any kind. They put a covering over your face, so that your good eye sees nothing at all. Then they open a little opening in the covering to expose that little "patient." That eye just "sees" some dull colored background light with no details whatsoever. During the entire procedure, I "saw" absolutely nothing: no scalpel, no thumb! I also "felt" absolutely nothing. This went on for what seemed like ten or fifteen minutes; I was still waiting for something to start when they announced that it was finished! That was it. Over the years, even though I have spent most of my days working on my laptop, that eye had become worthless for reading anything. But, when I woke up this morning my "new" eye, which had been the far worse of the two, saw things in better detail than the formerly good eye! And with my surgically corrected new eye, that eye can read what I am now typing here with no glasses at all! Yesterday, even with glasses that uncorrectable left eye saw nothing that I had read or written but a black blur! I told Dr. Henry this morning that I feel like a kid at Christmas eve who went to bed hoping to get a jackknife and being given a new pony!So, "don't worry, and be happy!" You are in good hands! And thank YOU, Doctor Henry, you and your marvelous team! In a few more weeks you get to work on my RIGHT eye!Reed Merino, M.Div. (age 83)[email protected]

My elderly, low vision family member had an infection in her seeing eye that needed to be checked out. Dr. Lewis was the first appointment available, and he pulled in Dr. Maltzman since he regularly worked with her. Dr. Maltzman prescribed antibiotic eye drops and scheduled a follow-up with her at the start of the following week. At that appointment, the condition had not improved, so he added another drop and--because the cornea was involved--got her in to see Dr. Bakewell two days later.Dr. Bakewell took a corneal scraping to determine what antibiotic would work best. The testing process, unfortunately, takes 3-5 days. He had her back in as soon as the results came back and called the local compounding pharmacy to get the appropriate antibiotics in our hands that day. He also called Dr. Duerksen to see if she could fit my family member in to fix her ectropion eyelides, since he thought it contributed to the infection. The phone calls were much appreciated and beyond what many doctors would do.For the next month, he saw my family member every week to check on her progress. When she became ill and passed, we notified the office so they would cancel future appointments. Within days we received a sympathy card from the office.Our family's experience with Drs. Maltzman and Bakewell was 5-star. Do make sure you get electronic confirmation of appointments made over the phone.

In the 90s, I had RK surgery up in Phoenix by another doctor. Because I had so many cuts in my cornea getting my cataract done was quite a challenge. I live in Mesa Arizona and researched all the cataract surgeons in Arizona. I met with a number of doctors. Dr. Bakewell was the doctor I selected for my cataract surgery. Going to Dr. Bakewell was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Dr. Bakewell and his team were outstanding. The level of service and care is exceptional. Well worth the 2 hour drive each way. It's been two weeks since my surgery and I haven't been able to see this clearly in 20 years... And I don't have to wear contacts and glasses anymore! If you need cataract surgery, you can go to Dr. Bakewell with complete confidence and I know you will be incredibly satisfied with the outcome, as am I!!

First and last visit to this clinic. Every step of the appointment, staff seemed to be rushed.Dr. Huttendorf was the worst of the worst. Flew in to the exam room without introducing himself. Spoke about me (to his assistant) rather than directly to me. Was dismissive and sarcastic. Left without as much as a "nice to meet you." I am used to my eye doctor spending time to tell me how my eyes have changed since my last exam (which I had brought a record of) and getting to know a little about me. I felt like I was on an assembly line in this place. They certainly were efficient in getting me to the desk to pay the bill, but after I did, no one pointed me to where I should go to get my lenses; I had to ask.So I order glasses, and don't hear anything for weeks and weeks. I finally went in, and they told me they had called me and left a message. I looked on my phone and could find no record of them calling. I suspect they dialed the wrong number, which any human can do, but after not getting any response from a client, wouldn't you try to reach them again? The optician did very little to make sure that the glasses fit me correctly.This place seems to be about profits, not patients.

I've been a patient since 1995 at the Tucson main office and always receive great care. My first experience was with recommended Dr, Fishkind: successful Lasix surgery! Then I saw other doctors in the office for yearly exams: all good. Today I met Dr, Sherman for the first time; she was fabulous. She gave a thorough exam with detailed explanations of what she found. She answered my questions and gave specific recommendations for my needs. As ever, wonderful care at this clinic!

Knowledgeable doctors and good surgery area. Everyone was very nice and instructions were both told and printed.

I am never going back to this office or company again. They have no respect for people's time. They just run routinely late as a business practice and they never apologize for being 30 plus minutes past your appointment.

The staff is extremely rude, verging on elder abuse. One lady even yelled at me for asking a question (loudly!) They are impatient, and give you dirty looks. Some even make fun of you to their coworkers and laugh at you. This includes multiple staff members in-person and on the phone at multiple locations in Tucson and over many months. Seems to be their policy to be nasty and rude. Does not give you a very trusting feeling to allow a knife to the eye while surrounded by such hateful staff.

I had cataract surgery performed amazingly by Dr Hunter. He was skilled, kind, and carin! Although I only was able to have the standard lenses, it turned out better than I could have hoped for. I have between 20/15 & 20/20 distance and will only need readers for newspape reading and computer work!! I highly recommend all the doctors and staff here!

Never do they pick up their phone - keep you waiting on line 40-60 min. multiple tries. horrible business practices. done wasting my time with them. I dont think they care at ALL about customer service and that speaks volumes.