The Mackool Eye Institute

The Dr. s are fantastic, if you ever get to see them. Trust the reviews that call this place a «meat processing plant.» It’s a cattle call here, and to make things worse, the staff routinely argues with patients, loses their tempers and are completely disorganized. After seeing the Dr and obtaining clearance for surgery (my partner was told that he has an issue with his eye that is extremely time sensitive or he may permanently lose vision) we were then told by the receptionist that we had to wait for the «girl who does the schedule» to get back from vacation to make the call to the eye bank for his cornea transplant. We were then told that she is in the building now, but just too busy with other clients today. This was probably our 7^th or 8^th visit to this place where they continually jerk you around and ask you to reschedule after waiting 2 – 4 hours in the waiting room.
My advice; go somewhere else.

Seeing is believing,! cataracts be gone! hello world
thanks to all there, very satisfied
Thanks, Dr Rick

I recently had a cataract repaired in the my left eye at the Eye Institute. The experience could not have been better. From the initial visit through to follow-​ups, everybody was patient, friendly and answered all of my questions. I experienced none of the negativity indicated by other reviewers. Dr. Mackhool Junior performed the surgery. Overall, I would highly recommend this doctor and facility. The only downside is that parking is terrible in the area.

Simply said. The place is a love it and hate it kind of spot. If your having trouble with sight. I would recommend this place! The doctors are helpful and very efficient with their work. The workers keep things flowing. Down side. Parking is a pain and the wait is quite long sometimes. On a busy day. If they booked you 11pm. You won’t be leaving till 3 the least. On a good day. You’ll be in and out within the hr or 2. so it’s ⁵⁰⁄₅₀. But, it’s better then the ones in the city!

While the medical staff is professional and my 88 year old father’s cataract surgery was successful, the administrative staff is completely insensitive. The admission’s rep yesterday wanted to refuse to let me stay with my dad in the waiting room during the nearly 2 hour wait until the surgery was performed. My dad suffers from other issues at his age and really should not be left alone. There is a certain dignity involved. They allowed family members of other patients to stay if they were «translators». Needless to say we asked to speak with the supervisor who said I could stay. The whole situation transpired in the waiting room not even in privately. I would avoid this place if your doctor has access to another facility.

Dr Mackool (Senior) ‘fixed’ a failed cataract surgery done on my eye by a doctor at Weill Cornell in NY — which left me with no lens in the botched eye. Dr Mackool was able to do the ‘fix’ when other ophthalmologists I consulted (5) said they could not — although most said they thought it might be ‘doable’. I cannot say enough about what a great surgeon Mackool is and how thankful I am that I finally found him after months of visual incapacity and searching. I am still recovering from the months of not being able to walk alone in the city without support and physical guidance. But my botched eye was mended!
Mackool (and his son who did the followups to the surgery) are both impressive doctors — careful, caring, kind, thorough — just amazing. Recently, after a final post-​surgery follow-​up visit, I learned that I do not need now a corneal transplant surgery anticipated as the eye has recovered so well (though the botched surgery left me with minimal corneal cells).
Once, in the waiting room — and I would wait as long as necessary to see these doctors! — I heard one man mentioning to another that he had come from Oklahoma specifically for his treatment at Mackool; the other came from NJ and mentioned another who came from CA for surgery there. If Mackool were in CA, knowing what I know now after six months of being incapacitated, I’d go to CA if that’s where he was.

Dr. Mackool is the finest eye surgeon that I have ever seen and I have seen the best as I am a retired eye surgeon myself. I always thought that I was superior to all other surgeons untilI I observed Dr. Mackool. I humbly say he surpasses me.
So if your worried about having to wait or any other nonsensical thing, remember– your getting the best.

Be prepared to wait!!! Took a relative here for a 1:00pm appt…2 hrs later and still waiting. Front desk staff isn’t the friendliest either. This place needs to get into the 21^st century and learn about patient satisfaction. I think the clinical staff is knowledgable, that’s why I gave them three stars however they are all about catering and servicing the providers. All physicians seems to triple book appointments and to make matters worse they do so on the same days they are at their associated hospitals. The physicians here obviously don’t value their patients.

If you are searching for the best eye care the Mackool Eye Institute is the BEST!!!
I have been there numerous times and I always found the staff to be efficient and professional. While there I encountered some patients who were there to have remedial surgery for botched operations by other Doctors. I had Artisan lens implanted in both my eyes and my outcome was perfect. That procedure gave me back a true quality of life. I had been severely nearsighted and wore hard contact lens for most of my adult life. Without correction, I was considered legally blind and under Dr. Mackool’s highly skilled hands, I was able to throw away my lenses and my glasses and see the world perfectly, both distance wise and close-​up.
I found it to be worth every minute of the wait at that office… I will continue to travel from Connecticut to Queens because when it comes to my vision, I need to know that my eyes are being taken care of by the best.
Dr. Mackool can do eye procedures in his sleep because he does so many. After many years of wonderful vision with my lens implants, I am presently going to revisit him for Cataract surgery. I feel utmost confidence in the outcome I will have!

I most adamantly disagree with the other posts. I live in Red Hook, My Dr is located in Bklyn Heights. She recommended Dr Mackool (Astoria) for my Cataract surgery. I kissed her after I had the first Eye done on ⁸⁄₁₄. Went back today ⁸⁄₂₇ for the other eye. the staff and Doctors are marvelous. they are professional, knowledgeable and caring. the other post had to be flukes. I did not see anyone neglected or made to wait. the operation takes 15 minutes at most from the time you are escorted to sit in the chair till you are escorted to the recovery room where there are 3 recovery nurses hovering over you to ensure you are comfortable and understand all you follow up procedures. you are then escorted to the upper level to be seen by a specialist if necessary or await you car service to take you home. I was so Impressed by the Operation I baked for 2 days to reward the staff for how welcoming and at ease I was made to feel. I have recommend this location to all my FaceBook friends from all over the NYC area to make a beeline to have there work done here. I have had no residual problems and am amazed at how fast I could see without my glasses of 58 years.

so it’s 4.5 hrs and I’m still waiting in the office for my grandma to receive her procedure. Had to wait because the assisting physician forgot to wake up on time. the receptionist is pleasant and so are the nurses; if your insurance covers the care sure why not go. Be prepared however to wait and comfort your loved ones

Meat processing center, my aunt did her surgery here. At the time of entry on the main level you wait on line then they check that you are on the list and then they send you down stairs. Wow when you go down stairs it’s like DMV, employees checked their humanity and left it home.
First, there’s a lady at the desk that’s just wants to know your name then you sit and wait. No questions asked! Enough that most of the people here are elderly and nervous about the surgery with many having language barriers. When we were their, a lot of Asians. When she calls you back to do the paper work, she NEVER makes eye contact while talking to you about all the insurance, waiver, paper work info. It was funny because when I return the forms to her on the clip board she again never looks at you and I was about to give her the pen back and she like a set routine ask to place the pen in the clip board. I taught it was funny cause I realized she is just jarred from doing this for too long.
Next is a guy who does a physical check prior to the surgery and is very robot like, but there’s also a girl who does the same. She’s like day and night, she was more warm and friendly and multiple language person and I saw her taking her time to talk to the individuals she helped.

I took here my grandmother for a lazer surchery.
They are very friendly, with fabulus results.