Arellano Alvin OD

I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Orellano at American Eye Institute adjacent to Cedars Sinai Medical Center. I honestly have not been real pleased with American Eye as most of the staff seems miserable and most of the doctors lack bedside manner.
I have astigmatism in both of my eyes and they are hard to fit with contact lenses. I like to wear contacts during the day and my glasses at night. The optician at American Eye told me my previous contacts were the best they could do and I basically should be happy to have them even though my vision was pretty poor with those lenses.
A couple of years later I asked for someone different and was referred to Dr. Orellano.
He is warm, caring, patient always with a warm smile. He is most importantly very knowlegable. He fitted me with very unusual (to me anyway) contact lenses. It has greatly improved my ability to see with contacts. It took many visits to fit them properly due to my weird eyes but he hung in there.
He also prescribed Restasis for my dry eye problem rather than criticizing me for having dry eyes as the opthalmologists in that office did. So he has greatly helped my dry eyes and fitted me with contacts that are now a perfect fit and I can really well.
I am very grateful to him and as I am not really pleased with American Eye Institute
and their unhappy staff and doctors I may drive to Orange County to see him in the future.
Needless to say I highly recommend Dr. Orellano. He is frankly the best I have ever had and I have worn glasses since age 6.

50 dollars for an exam and 75 for a «fitting.» When I asked what was the difference between the two she said don’t worry insurance covers the exam. I said what about the 75.00 dollar fitting insurance was not covering. She replied that’s for glasses. I explained I did not receive glasses and the doctor had simply handed me a pair of contacts and there was no fitting involved. She excused herself and walk away never to explain it.
Later when it was determined the prescription ordered was not the one I would need she explained I had already ordered them so I would have to pay for them. I asked the Doctor to intervene which he finally did since I had not even picked up the prescription, which was wrong for my eyes. Bottom line the office staff is lacking in customer service and they are definitely on the high side when it comes to exams. I would be willing to pay more for service but you get less time and care than you would at COSTCO for double the price.
The doctor is very nice and takes his time with you. However, I feel he tries to give me whatever contact lens he receives the most credit for selling. He claims the brand i like is discontinued and I would have to switch brands. However, a search on line proves this is not true.
I have gone here several times over the years but after the service from his front staff and her unwillingness to explain the billing will never return