Rating Feedback for Dr. Pal (2515704)

The rating:
'Since I am new to Toronto, I was seeking an optometrist and I went to her office for my anual contact lenses/eyeglasses checkup. However, as someone else mentioned here, she got the reading of my eyes wrong and insisted I needed new glasses (which can be conveniently done in her office). However, I also saw two Toronto ophthalmologists to follow up with a congenital eye condition I have. Both assured me my glasses were good and I should NOT change them unless I wanted a new frame. Moreover, I later was told that (because of my eye condition) OHIP covers my eye exam and I should not have been charged (or fully charged). Instead, I was charged 200 something $ for an exam+follow up - one shot bill. I didn't go back. As much as I understand that one needs money for a living, it is not right to not inform people and make them pay for a covered exam. As for the prescription, I will never know if that was an strategy to make money or she really got it wrong.'
(http://www.ratemds.com/doctor-ratings/3205184)
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I apologize that you felt that things were not explained to you well in your appointment with me. As a new patient to our office, we spent a lot of time together discussing your eyes and the tests needed to bring your eye health back up to a safe and healthy place. There is a lot of confusion that has taken place.
We determined during our visit that your contact lenses are the cause of your suffering. In addition to the time needed to allow your eyes to heal, many tests are needed to be done to update your records. During your visit, I recommended that you do not wear your contact lens until your redness resolves. Medications were prescribed and you were advised to wear your glasses. I also informed you that your glasses prescription had changed and that it was most likely due to the irritation of your eyes. I did not recommend that you get new glasses on this visit. I had said we would recheck these numbers again at your follow up when your eyes had settled down. At your follow up visit in addition to reassessing your red eyes and rechecking your glasses prescription for changes, we planned to refit you with new contact lenses so that you would not experience these painful red eyes again in the future. Nothing could be done until your eyes are white, quiet and comfortable.
We discussed that we may need up to three visits to complete all of these tests including a dilation, which I recommend for each new patient in the office. As an Optometrist, I do not have the authority to bill OHIP for a red eye that has been caused by the over use of contact lenses. Ophthalmologists and Optometrists have different OHIP billing privileges. The total charges for all three visits, non of which are billable to Ohip would be $340. ($60 for your red eye evaluation, $25 for your red eye follow up appointment, $155 for your full eye exam including dilation and $100 for a contact lens re-fit). I offered to do all of these test for you for $205 so that you would have more funds available to put towards updating your glasses when your prescription is finalized so that you would not run into these red eye situations again by over wearing your contact lenses. As a student, I offered to assist you, not pressure you or cheat you. My primary concern for you is the health of your eyes and avoiding recurrent red eye irritations due to misuse of contact lenses.
Having glasses available to purchase in any doctor's office is for the benefit of the patient and for convenience. Many of our patients choose to purchases glasses from us because of the quality of service we provide, the safety in having your eye care professional making their glasses, the service and care given, and the guarantee of satisfaction.

Thank you for your feedback and I look forward to resolving this with you.