Shulman Julius, MD

I’m giving only 1 star for a specific reason so please read on. I’m splitting this review into two parts. Dr. Nagel and the front office/​other staff.
Dr. Nagel: is a caring, wonderful doctor who truly wants you to have the best vision possible. I was a little concerned when she repeated and was looking for information that had already been talked about/​decided, and should have been notated, but you’ll see soon why I don’t blame her.
Front office/​staff:
Appt. #1– I waited over an hour before I was seen by a tech, all-​in-​all the tests and meeting with the doctors took 3 hours! I know they were delayed, but, you know, some of us work folks, we NEED to get back to the office. When I made an appt., no one told me NOT TO WEAR CONTACTS 2 weeks before, so that they could do a specific test. So guess what, I had to come back and basically be retested for everything after waiting 2 wks. Result? I WASTED 3 hrs. After speaking with Dr. Nagel, she l told me they would give me everything I needed for my now conf. LASIK appt. up front. I was given a folder with Dr. Shulman’s book and a few handouts, and nothing else. I was confused since there was no location or any details, but I had to come in again anyway so I left., but thought this was just the process. The receptionist up front seemed confused when I walked up about what I needed from her. I had to tell her I needed to book another appt. (note: I’m beginning to do their jobs, there will be much more of this). Note: Dr. Nagel gives me a price for the LASIK.
Appt. #2: I was re-​tested on everything from the first time, this appt. took less time and was a normal time frame so no complaints there. When I asked where the procedure would take place, Dr. Nagel again told me they would give me everything up front. I went up front to make a 2 days before pre-​surgery appt., and when I asked where the LASIK would be I was given odd looks. I apologized and said I have no information on what to expect, where the surgery is or anything I need to know. Still, odd and confused looks. Desiree writes the name of the place down on a sticky note and hands it to me. AGAIN I ask, what are the details regarding what to expect or what will happen? FINALLY the little light bulbs went on at the front desk:
«OHHHHHHHH did you not receive a folder?»
«Yes, I got a folder»
«All of what you need to know is in there»
«Um…no there was only a book and some handouts, what do I need to do etc.»
«You didn’t sign a consent form?»
«What consent form?»
«Did you get your prescription?»
«What prescription»
As you can see, I am missing pretty much the most important info I needed. We proceeded to waste 20 minutes trying to figure out what I had or didn’t have, I signed my consent form and Desiree handed me a prescription.
Me: «Don’t you need to sign this?»
Desiree: «It’s not signed?»
Me: «Um…no…»
*she signs it*
*please note, she didn’t date it, so the first pharmacy wouldn’t fill it and I had to fill the date in myself to take it elsewhere (another wasted hour). I reconfirmed the price (which was NEVER written down anywhere) and they told me, and I quote «It’s whatever you worked out with the doctor.» Okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk. So I got no confirmation on the price.
Appt. #3: This was my 2 days before– this actually went ok and I was cleared for the surgery
Appt. #4: Surgery day-​had to be postponed because my corneas were irritated. I was extremely frustrated as I had taken off the last half of the day, but it wasn’t anyone’s fault. I was more frustrated at the how this whole process had played out and I just wanted to be done with it.
Appt. #5: Surgery day (the sequel) — this went pretty well, again Dr. Nagel is awesome! You’ll have to read my blog on Tumblr if you are interested in the details on what happened on the day-​of.
Appt #6: Day after went well, I go up front expecting to pay (that is their policy), and the girl says see you in a few wks. So I ask if I need to pay and she says that she doesn’t see that I owe anything. Um… okkkkkkkkkkk, I’m coming back anyway in a few wks, so I head out the door.
Appt #7: Check-​up was fine, again Dr. Nagel is a doll. I go up front where they realize I haven’t paid (*sigh) and I proceeded to tell them that the girl told me I owed nothing, which I thought was odd. They brushed it off as «oh, well, she didn’t have the right information» (this could be their MOTTO).
This is where the real fun begins. I give the girl 2 cards. One is an FSA (pre-​tax) card with a total of $ 2,550 on it and my Discover card for the remainder. According to what I was told (but what was never written on any piece of paper, I owed $ 3K). She DOES NOT confirm the total (which apparently is $ 2,500), but begins to swipe away at my cards like a bat out of hell! Because I’m running out of characters for this review, I have to just say I have over 8 receipts of charges and returns (which haven’t posted yet, it’s an utter mess!!!), and I told them off as they had earned it.
#saveur$

Staffs are fine, dr. Nagel was fine too. But I won’t recommend.
1. They gave me new contact lenses and whole day I couldn’t see anything, quite scary experience. They didn’t warned me that it would take time to adjust or, I have to be careful or anything. If I was driving, I had a terrible accident right away. That took 3days and more to adjust. Just as a doctor or a receptionist with certain experience, they should warn the patients.
2. I paid $ 350 for the most simple eye check on visit. Then 2months later, they sent a random bill of $ 175 without any explication. I thought it was a mistake then I tried to reach out them but always it was out of office time or the person was away. Then I received the collection letter. Finally I could speak with them, she said it was the test fee. ?? I had an eye sight test and also I paid $ 350 there, they didn’t said anything when I was leaving that I would receive an extra bill later. So I asked over the phone that if it’s about the test, where is the result? She said I have to fax a letter with my signature to ask the result. I have to pay this unknown extra «test» bill without result, without any explication. Very very unpleasant experience. Never go back.

Absolutely first class practice. Julius Shulman and his partner in crime, Dalia Nagel, are A-​list, top-​notch ophthalmologists that I would recommend to anyone. Shulman is a pioneer in cataract surgery, intraocular lens implants, and laser surgery, has several award-​winning books to his credit, and has been serving loyal New Yorkers since the 1970s. His younger associate, Dr. Nagel, is quite the egghead herself (Harvard Medical), and has won awards for her work in glaucoma.
I went in once with a mysterious redness in my eye that other doctors were dismissing as conjunctivitis, but wasn’t clearing up. Dr Shulman took a good look, and even brought Dr Nagel in to confirm his suspicions… it was a VIRAL SKIN INFECTION near my eyelid that was the culprit! After a little dermatology procedure (gentler than most dermatologists I’ve seen!), just like Bartimaeus, they sent me along my way! Voilà!!
As Steven said before me, the front staff and all the other attending personnel were extremely efficient, polite and professional. What any medical experience SHOULD be…

One of the best-​run medical offices I’ve ever been to. I have been to Dr. Shulman for routine exams. The place runs like a well-​oiled machine – refractive exam – bam! Pupils dilated-​bam! Tonometer – bam! (well, perhaps «bam» is not exactly the right word). I’ve been to other ophthalmologists whose intraocular exam was VERY uncomfortable – esp. the use of the bright light when my eyes were diated. Somehow Dr. Shulman manages to get the thing done without the pain. Ditto for the tonometry.
My wife had surgery done by Dr. Shulman a few years back (cataract) – at Mt. Sinai, where he is on staff. That was handled very professionally as well.
Very impressive – even more so to be treated by a doc in my health insurance’s panel as a person, and not a piece of meat.
Highly recommended.