Boston Laser

I wrote a review right after my surgery. I wanted to follow-​up. I had some complications only caused by my own body reactions. I have to say I would still give 5 starts to this group. Dr. Brenner and Dr. Melki, along with All their staff has been absolutely fabulous. They have been so kind and attentive. Even with all my complications (that they have not seen before) it is now June and I’m at ²⁰⁄₂₀ in one eye and almost ²⁰⁄₂₀ in the other as it is continuing to heal. I would have my procedure again in a heartbeat and would only trust Boston Laser to do it over if I had to. I can not thank them enough or say enough good things about their experience, customer service, helpfulness, etc. Thank you to everyone for everything!

WARNING– UNRELIABLE EQUIPMENT
I chose to have my long contemplated Lasik surgery done here based mostly on the Unilocal reviews and the good feeling that I got about what I could expect from the procedure. I was only 20÷30−20÷35 going in, but I was told that ²⁰⁄₂₀ could be expected, possibly ²⁰⁄₁₅.
I went in for my surgery on a Friday, wearily signed many pages of waivers and doomsday disclosures, took a Valium and I was told that I would be in and out of the operating room in approximately 12 minutes. The doctor cut flaps in both my eyes on the first machine before moving me to the Laser correction machine which actually broke down IN BETWEEN EYES-​MID SURGERY.
At first I was told that they needed to re-​calibrate the machine, and they would move me into another room «for my comfort», it should take about 10 minutes. It was an equivalent feeling to the pilot telling you «The engines don’t seem to be working, recline your chair, we’ll keep you posted»
After about 25 minutes, alone in the darkness, mid surgery, the doctor comes in to tell me that they are having issues and are on the phone with technical support– they are rebooting it like it’s a laptop. Finally, they say that they cannot get the machine working and I’ll have to come back sometime the following week to finish my surgery. I got sent home with a flap cut in an eye that they couldn’t treat!
*Why didn’t they cut one flap, treat that eye, cut the other flap, treat the other eye? My suspicion is that it would have taken an extra 2 minutes and they wouldn’t be able to see as many patients– more on that later.
There were problems rescheduling the second procedure the following week-​from 11AM, to 8AM, to 10A… as if I should accommodate their schedules. The surgery requires next day followup appointment, eye drop/​protection regimen for 5 days post op. I had to miss multiple days of work, and unexpectedly go thru everything twice.
My results were unspectacular. They tell me I’m ²⁰⁄₂₀ of course, I honestly do not feel that my vision is much better than before… but at least I can still see I guess. I will always wonder if I would have had better results if their equipment worked properly. I suggested that a refund for the cost of the procedure ($ 3990) would be appropriate given the (as they had stated), very unusual circumstances. I was told that they don’t do that. «That would be an admission of wrong doing. As inconvenient as it was for me, it was also inconvenient for them.» Seriously… you can’t make this up.
As a courtesy, they offered me the Lasik for Life Package for absolutely free –a $ 450 value… something I shouldn’t need, don’t want and won’t cost them a penny. Thanks but no thanks.
When I told them that I was not satisfied with the «Lasik for Life» offer, I was then given the customer service number for the laser manufacturer and told that I could pursue it with them. «Unhappy with your flight? Call Boeing, leave us alone».
*They had mentioned that they were re calibrating the machine earlier the day of my procedure, and that they were doing 16 patients that particular day. It seemed to me that they could have reasonably foreseen that something was wrong with the equipment that day. They ultimately seemed more concerned about getting as many procedures done ($$$) as possible, rather than ensuring optimal outcomes. If you are considering Lasik, please beware of the risks associated and make sure that you are going to a facility that doesn’t overcrowd their schedule at a cost to you the patient.
UPDATE: In response to Daniela P. I don’t know who you are, I’ve never had any dealing with you. They could not have finished the surgery the next day (Saturday) because as your staff had acknowledged, the laser was not even working until the following Monday. And why would I want to be the first one back on that table anyhow? Your claims about your successful procedures, track record and field publications are offensive to me, because as you know, my experience was not in keeping with that. If you care to reply further, you might consider addressing: 1) why two flaps were cut before first eye was treated if laser could potentially go down, and 2) should the clinic reasonably be treating 16 patients in a day? Or is this a bit excessive and potentially stressful to the equipment? Or don’t…they are both rhetorical questions.

Great experience and completely recommend for anyone considering LASIK! Originally, Tufts /​New England Eye stated PRK would be better for me (high prescription of –6.50 and –6.25). Boston Laser saw no issue with LASIK for me, and it has been a month since my surgery, and my vision is great.
The office is super easy to get to (right in front of the C line), and Boston Laser is very technologically advanced — I didn’t have one piece of paper my entire experience. Easy to schedule the consultation online, and the free consultation was about 1 – 2 hours long (very thorough, and you speak with both the fellow and Dr. Melki). The actual surgery was also straight forward, Dr. Melki is great with telling you only what you need to know during it. Physical recovery took a few hours and took a week to feel back to normal. Wonderful customer service my entire experience.
Note — all the surgeries are performed in the same Brookline office on Fridays.

Had Lasik surgery done today by Dr. Sood, it was a great experience! Dr. Sood was so soothing, she really talked me through the surgery and made it so much easier. I was seen promptly both at my consultation and my surgery. Dr. Sood even had my eyes checked again just before surgery, she is very thorough. which I really appreciated… because it’s your EYES! All of the staff were genuinely nice and very accommodating. I know, it’s soon to be posting; but I am so excited. I was able to see walking out of the office. I went in for a consult on Wednesday and had my surgery, today. (the following Friday). Will post updates. This is a great group, if you are considering Laski, go here… the C line of the green line literally drops you at the door of the building too.

Have been seeing Dr for past few weeks. Great guy and always so very accommodating. I hope he can help me and have great faith dr m will do so. Please trust and love this great doctor! He will give it back tenfold.

I can see with no contacts/​glasses. Pretty amazing. The staff and doctors all seemed nice and the procedure was quick.

I had Lasik done with Boston Laser several months ago and I remain convinced it’s one of the best things I have ever spent my money on. I chose Boston Laser based on the good reviews (after much extensive research), and I was very pleased with my whole experience. Using Qualsight, thanks to the recommendation of other Unilocal reviews here, I saved $ 2,000 off the original price of $ 6,000. My Qualsight representative was also extremely friendly and helpful.
The whole process was very simple and efficient. All the staff at Boston Laser were friendly and answered all my questions well. The actual surgery was really easy… in and out with minimal recovery. There are certainly some weird sensations (they very thoughtfully give you a stuffed animal to squeeze during), when the flap is cut and your eyes are lasered, but it’s a quick and streamline procedure. After that, I went home and took a nap for several hours and when I woke up… nearly perfect vision. My vision settled and became even more clearer over the next few days. I had a couple weeks of my eyeballs feeling strained, though I work at a computer all day and read it was a fairly common temporary side effect. Dr. Melki also told me that I might see more auras around lights at night (as I have unusually large pupils) and I did find that to be noticeable in the first couple months. However, whether I just got used to them or they went away (I’m not sure), it’s not something that I notice anymore or bothers me. My eyes have also not felt strained since and my vision is perfect. It’s amazing!
I am so happy with my experience with Boston Laser and Qualsight. Your eyes are important enough to spend a chunk of change on and make sure you’re going to the best… and having to no longer deal with contacts and glasses worth every penny!

I used QualSight LASIK in January to find a LASIK provider, obtain pricing, and schedule a LASIK procedure. They made it extremely convenient. Apparently, I saved over $ 1000 with one of the best LASIK providers in the country. Boston Laser was also conveniently located near my neighborhood.
The reception staff at Boston Laser are very polite and upbeat. They treated me with much courtesy and made me feel comfortable prior to my exam and surgery. The assistants who initially screened me and prepped me before and after surgery were great. They were professional, gave me their full attention, and really put me at ease.
Dr. Melki and the other doctors were some of nicest, most professional physicians I’ve ever had. They’re clearly first class experts in their field, and are devoted to serving their patients. This gave me a lot of confidence going into the surgery.
Since then, my vision has been excellent and the staff has been attentive to any issues I’ve had. They’re professionalism continues with each follow-​up appointment. I would recommend this practice to anyone!

I used QualSight LASIK over a year ago to book my first appointment with Boston Laser, which saved me a lot of money, and they were super helpful finding me a doctor to go to and we settled on Boston Laser. If you’re wearing contacts, you have to wait roughly a month until you can see the doctor so have a pair of glasses handy.
I had ever had to wait long at Boston Laser. You have to see the doctor before and after, and they always saw me on time. I don’t know how they did it, but if your appointment is at 2:10, you will see the doctor at 2:10.
The staff and doctor were extremely friendly and helpful and answered all my questions. I felt very comfortable and well taken care of. I got life time insurance because the extra cost wasn’t much for a lifetime of perfect vision. The surgery itself was rather painless. It just felt like a lot of pressure on my eye as if you pressed the palm of your hand into your eye. It was over within 10 minutes and I started to see clearly soon after, but they want you to keep your eyes closed and take a nap when you get home.
I would do it all over again, and I’d do it all over again with QualSight LASIK and Boston Laser right there beside with me. I can’t recommend them enough. If you’re going to get eye surgery, there’s no better place then to go here.

Used QualSight to set up a consult in April 2013. I had to wait 6 weeks during which I couldn’t wear my contact lenses.
My consult was on a Tuesday, and my surgery (Instralase Custom LASIK) was scheduled for 3 days later! The staff was helpful and friendly, and Dr. Melki was professional and also funny.
IRC, my eyesight for the first month was 20/​10, and later settled at ²⁰⁄₂₀. The procedure itself was quick, but for someone like me, it was a bit uncomfortable. I’m glad I didn’t watch any LASIK videos on YouTube beforehand. I opted for the «lifetime» guarantee (free «touch-​ups» as needed) for an additional $ 400 or so, but haven’t had to use it yet.
Saved a bunch of money using QualSight, but LASIK is still a luxury expense! I’m glad I treated myself :)

I had my LASIK done here 3 weeks ago and I couldnt be happier. everything about them is top notch, from the customer service to the quality of the care to the follow up, everything was better than i expected. Immediately after surgery I was reading street signs on the drive home (out loud and very annoyingly to my boyfriend who took the day off to take care of me) I woke up able to see perfectly the next morning and have had no issues since.
the procedure itself was quick and painless. was it weird and nerve wracking YES! did i experience any pain or discomfort at any time NO! I was recomended by a friend to go here and it was the best decision I ever made. Like many other reviewers I went through Qualsight and saved about $ 1,000 off the procedure.
the building itself is great, tons of parking and theres tons of public transportation available if needed. the office is clean and friendly, every staff member is happy and friendly and really makes you feel comfortable and at home (which is hard to do when you think about a laser in your eye)
all the staff were great but Rachel in particular was outstanding! she answered every question i had flawlessly and made me feel i was in good hands. she probably sees hundreds of people every day in her office but she remembered both me and my boyfriends names and greeted us by name at each follow up. They truly go above and beyond for their clients and it shows.
Dr. Melki and his team are great. I highly recomend them for LASIK!!!

Can I give more than 5 stars??? Wow this place is literally life changing. No more contact lenses, solution or all the costs/​hassles that go with it. Everyone there were top notch and professional. I do have to give Rick and Samaria an extra thanks. They made the whole process as smooth and clear as my vision. I had it done 2 years ago and it was the best decision I ever made (just don’t tell my girlfriend I said this.) Do not wait another second. Call now!!!

I recently visited their office for an eye exam. I have been there once before but the office looks even better after their renovations. I found the staff to be very friendly and knowledgeable and Dr. Melki was great! He is friendly, direct and to the point, which I like. I can tell he is very confident in the information he is giving me. I have had some friends who have gone here and have had great results with LASIK and Cataracts. I would highly recommend Boston Laser/​Boston Eye Group for any of your vision needs. Also, Harry helped me get me a cool pair of sunglasses. It’s like one stop shopping for your eyes. You need to check them out if there is a need.

I had Lasik done here back in November but just wanted to wait a good period of time to see how the procedure help up. Knock on wood everything has turned out GREAT and I’m very happy that I had it done.
I chose Boston Laser based on the recommendation of a coworker (plus good Unilocal reviews) and would definitely recommend them to others. The consultation process was very easy and comfortable, and the staff answered all my questions.
The procedure itself couldn’t have been any easier, and actually they had me out of there even more quickly than I had anticipated. Within a day I could see more or less perfectly! For a few weeks I experienced the semi-​common side effect where there’s a halo of light around light sources at night (i.e. headlights, etc.), but that went away pretty quickly and now it doesn’t happen at all.
I would definitely recommend asking them for the Qualsight price match during the consultation. My health insurance would have covered 25% of the procedure, but with Qualsight it’s almost 50% off. Thanks to a fellow Unilocaler for that great tip!
Dr. Melki is very professional and poised, and I’d recommend him to anyone.
I don’t have any experience dealing with their other doctors or normal eye exams etc. but the practice on the whole seemed to be well run.

I had LASIK done in October of 2012. The whole process went really smoothly. They worked with my schedule (I lived and worked in Providence) to be able to accommodate me and the necessary travel time. My initial examinations were straight forward; Dr Melki listened to my concerns and then explained the procedure very clearly, possible side effects, and how the healing process would work. At my appointment, the whole thing took less than an hour. I had a friend take me home. The next day, I was able to drive myself to my follow up appointment! My eyes continued to get better over the next several days until I ended up with ²⁰⁄₁₅ vision! And I was able to pay for it with an interest free loan over the following year.
If you want to avoid having to buy expensive contacts or glasses in the future, I definitely suggest checking out Boston Laser. Definitely worth the drive!

Boston Laser is a great practice and exceeded my expectations in many ways. I’ve heard nothing but positive things from family and friends who have also gone there for Lasik. Dr. Melki is very courteous and approachable, and his expertise is well known and highly published– so you know you are in good hands.
I also met with Dr. Lee for a consultation on a skin/​cosmetic issue, and he was fantastic as well. He spent a good amount of time with me during my appointment and answered all of my questions/​concerns.
The staff themselves are professional and do their utmost to make you feel welcome and attended. The girls at the front desk were friendly and conversational with me while I waited to be called in, which always makes me feel more comfortable at medical appointments. Appointments themselves were convenient, and the office itself seemed very clean and presentable– and bonus– they have a little coffee station in the waiting room. I would definitely recommend Boston Laser to anyone I knew looking for Lasik or general eye care.

Edit: 3.23.16
For anyone still reading my review edits, here’s an update. My right eye is still isn’t as good as my left eye. I was told it’s b/​c I have dry eyes. I’ve never been told I had dry eyes before coming to Boston Laser. I’ve been using eye drops every day but they don’t seem to help the vision. Dr, Melki wants me to try Restasis but I’m hesitant b/​c it’s something you have to use forever to continue getting the results. Feel free to message me for further details!
Edit: 9÷3÷2014
I’m a little late to make this edit: I got my enhancement surgery on my right eye. My vision as a whole is much better. I no longer see the difference between the prescriptions. My right eye still isn’t 100%- it’s not as clear as my left but overall I think the surgeries were a success. My husband got ICL from Dr. Melki. It’s a different procedure and too long to write about so if anyone is interested feel free to message me and ask. If there is something I had to critique I would say Dr. Haque finished her fellowship and a new Dr. is now at the office. It’s a bit of a hassle for both my husband and I because follow ups with the new Dr. means more follow ups since she tells both of us to «see Dr. Melki» another day.
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Edit: ³⁄₃₀
Hopefully my edits won’t make this review too long but Rick called me last week to come in earlier for my 1 month check up. I appreciate the thought and overall Rick has been great. The appointment is completely different than my previous appointments. It wasn’t rushed and even got to ask all my questions. Dr Melki and I had ample time to express our concerns and miscommunications. My right eye hasn’t improved but the meeting has made me more optimistic. We created a plan and potential timeline for my touchup (if needed). I’m looking forward to the next few appointments and re-​surgery if necessary.
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Edit: ³⁄₁₂
After much thought about everything I’ve decided to amend a statement: I still recommend Lasik but I do not think that you HAVE to get it at Boston Laser.
As I’m writing this I’m struggling with the differences in the eyes. I realized that if you qualify for Lasik (not including the ICL-​I have no comments on that) go to a doctor of your choice. Boston Laser really isn’t that unique that you should only go to. I know people who did Lasik at other places and they have no problems. You don’t see DR Melki until the surgery day (if you’re lucky than before that). You only deal with the staff prior so you’re really not getting Dr Melki expertise. In my situation, if your eyes don’t get 20/​20, no one cares. No one has called me to followed up and no one even cared that my eyes are not ²⁰⁄₂₀. My friend who had his done elsewhere received followed up phone call, balloons and flowers. I always wonder, if this happened at a different practice, they’d probably cared more. The biggest thing is «IF». Honestly, I doubt it would have happened if I had went somewhere else. The saddest part about this is that the more popular they get, the less personal they become.
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I had my Lasik surgery there less than a week ago. My left eye is great, the right eye is not great and will need re-​surgery (most likely). I guess I’m one of the [un]lucky ones that didn’t get ²⁰⁄₂₀ in both eyes. Reading is tough and seeing far is tough because my right eye is so weak.
Everyone on Unilocal is correct in their review of Dr. Melki’s bedside attitude. Going in I had no issues with it b/​c I had expected a perfect surgery. Honestly, when the result wasn’t perfect, the bedside attitude is the worst you can get from a surgeon. I walked out feeling defeated, upset, and devastated. No answers were given as to why it happened and no comforting words. Dr. Melki pretty much said «you could be the 3% that need the resurgery». me: ” … «DR Melki: «You don’t remember? go re-​read the contract it’s written on there». Then he in little words, ushered me out to make my 1 month appointment.
I went home and re-​read everything given to me and nothing says anywhere about the 3% crowd. On the folder they give out at the consult did say 1% of lasik outcome is not ²⁰⁄₂₅ within 12 months and for lasek it’s 3%. I’m assuming this is what he was referring to even though I did not have Lasek. I’ve tried to find information on a re-​surgery on the website but no luck. I’m not sure if it’s because it has rarely/​never happened or they don’t like to post that information.
My eyes currently are a huge improvement to what they were before surgery and I will update after I have my resurgery 3 months later. I don’t regret the procedure. Be warn, you barely get any time with the doctor. I saw him for 2 minutes the day of the surgery and another 2 minutes the 1 week follow up. I specifically asked for the time he was in the office though.
On a side note: I did call the doctor over the weekend that I saw the difference and he sounded a smidge bit more «concerned» so I think he does have some emotion to him.

Dr. Melki’s expertise is absolutely second-​to-​none. I had cataract surgery in one eye (sports injury), and LASIK in the other, so I’ve experienced a breadth of the catalogue offered.
My vision went from –7.5 or so (that’s ²⁰⁄₈₀₀) to ²⁰⁄₂₀ in one eye and better than perfect, 20/​15, in the other.
Dr. Melki was honest, to the point, and answered my random emailed questions in minutes, even when i sent them very late at night.
The facilities are clean, the staff is polite. Know, however, that you aren’t going into your childhood’s eye doctor’s office. This is a pretty massive operation, and you could see upwards of 5 or 6 medical professionals in a visit. I felt a little passed around — not a very personal experience. They have at least four waiting rooms, depending on what tests you need, if your eyes are dilating, etc. It’s as efficient as possible, but don’t expect you’ll have the attention of the highest chieftains for more than absolutely necessary.
And, as ever, take your medical experience into your own hands. Dr. Melki didn’t describe every detail of upcoming my experience because he’s not a mind-​reader and because he’ll laser a LOT of eyes each Friday (I think my eye was #44), so I had to make a point of sending emails to the office when I thought of something.
And sitting on the gurney for my cataract surgery (Melki does those at hospitals, not at the clinic), the instructions the hospital had were for the WRONG EYE. But Boston Laser’s paperwork were for the correct eye, which was a comfort. It took some time to change the instructions. But then they put a tiny stitch on the front of my eye that i couldn’t see or feel and they removed the next day, but I still feel totally metal.
There seemed to be a lot of post-​procedure checkups, which was good, even if Brookline is a pain for me to get to. I feel very well taken care of.
I didn’t even mention yet — I LOVE MY NEW EYES. I thought that since I’ve worn contacts every day since I was 10 (that’s 23 years, people) that I must not notice my contacts. I was wrong. An itch here, a lens adjustment there, extra fast blinking to clear something up, stinging after taking them out. I had no idea how much I thought about them!

I once had a prescription of –5.50, now I have ²⁰⁄₂₀ vision in both eyes and I’ve been taking advantage of this since my surgery in February! Dr. Melki and the Boston Laser staff are amazing. They were very nice, thorough and caring.
best investment ever and I’m very glad I came here.

So I had my lasik procedure about 2 months ago now and I am alive and I can see! Awesome awesome, I am still getting used to not putting on my glasses in the morning and taking my contacts out at night! I had astigmatism and –3.75 in both eyes and now I have ²⁰⁄₂₀ and couldn’t be enjoying my life anymore than I am!
The facilities are clean. They have coffee and tea. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The initial appointment was long (not their fault, just busy). I had my consult with Dr. Melki and we scheduled the surgery 3 weeks after that appointment.
I would give this place 5 stars except for the fact that I did get DLK, which has nothing to do with the doctors and happens randomly in a certain percentage of patients that receive lasik (so I would like to let people know that though lasik is safe it can have complications). HOWEVER, I did receive quality service and they ensured I recovered safely and were there every step of the way. (Dr. Melki even personally answered emails when I was worried). After drop therapy and multiple check ups to ensure my quick recovery I am 100% recovered.
I highly recommend Boston laser! You will not be disappointed!