East West Eye Institute

I had my laser eye surgery and i could say everything went well. Im so scared of course but im happy that i was taken care of. Love Dr. Marsico. The best. The only thing i dont like is the waiting time. The appointment time wasnt observe properly. I always arrived 15 minutes before my appointment time but i end up waiting an hour before they check me in. I hope they will improve in this aspect. No complaint about my doctor. Staff were friendly and approachable.

It’s my first visit to this place. I found it in Unilocal and went there because it was highly rated with respectable reviews. It didn’t disappoint. Dr. Kato and her assistants were professional and I felt that I will be taken care of.

Dr. Marsico and Dr. Kurata have been fantastic. They are kind and informative. I couldn’t ask for better eye care. Thank you for taking part in saving my eye.

Great place. They discovered my eye stroke. I didn’t even know I had one. Thank You.

Love this place! Staff is wonderful, I would highly recommend all of my family and friends to come here.

This just happened moments ago. I have been a patient of East West Eye Institute for years and have always had a great experience. In fact, even after this horrible experience with the optometrist I recommend the group highly.
Unfortunately my wife just returned with a story that sounds like the bad old days when optometrists used to refuse to give you your eye prescription unless you purchased your contacts and lenses from them.
Dr. Steve Kurata, OD, refused to give my wife her contact lens prescriptions after repeated requests. He was incredibly nice, even joked with my wife, until she asked for her prescriptions for both two-​day and two-​week lenses.
He gave no valid reasons why he wouldn’t give her her prescriptions. He first claimed he didn’t know which prescription was «right» for her, the two day or two week lenses. My wife asked him to just provide both. He refused saying he won’t write two prescriptions! She told him «Fine, then just give me the two-​week prescription, I’ve been wearing two-​week contacts for years.» He said he would but only after she came back in two weeks for another appointment.
Only after my wife told Kurata, «LOOK, JUST GIVE ME MY PRESCRIPTIONS» did he finally relent and turned over one of her prescriptions. He still refuses to provide the two-​day lens prescription as required by state and federal law.
Federal law REQUIRES your optometrist to turn over your prescriptions upon completion of the exam. Don’t let your optometrist pressure you into purchasing your glasses or contacts from them if you don’t want to.
Again, we both have had nothing but great experiences with our eye doctor, Dr. Nick Marsico. I highly recommend East West Eye Institute — the staff and nearly all the doctors are outstanding. But the optometrist that apparently runs the prescription dept had better learn not only the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law and the spirit of excellent customer service as well.

I don’t normally write reviews but I felt that I needed to write one so that I can warn future customers about the terrible experience that I had and so that they can avoid what happened to me. So, two days ago, I took my mother for her check up. At first I felt it was going to be quick and easy and things were going so well. We were greeted by some «uppity» Asian girl who seemed to love her job. She was filled with energy and checked us in fast and easy. I don’t remember her name but I think it was like Annie or Anna, I forget. But for any of you customers who go here, I do hope you get this lady because she made the check in process so simple and easy. Then somewhere down the line, things started going south as soon as we were getting checked out. And this «lady» whom, I for sure remember her name because she was the upmost rudest, snotty, negative person I have ever met! This «lady’s» name was RUBY! Anyone and everyone, please avoid this vile woman at all costs! I have never been so disrespected and talked down to in my life! And to top it all off, when I told her I was ready to check out, she looked at me and ignored me while rolling her eyes! Who does that?! I came there to have my mother get her check up! Not to be disrespected and talked to like I’m idiotic or just some little child who broke something! I feel this review has served its purpose and there is no need to go into further details on what was said because it will not change what happened or fix the damage. But I will say, that if this company has people like this working there and refuse to realize it and change it then I might have to consider taking my business else where. So please avoid RUBY AT ALL COSTS! Unless you want to be disrespected and talked down to and ignored then she’s the perfect person to go to.

over priced service, avoided my question on my insurance when i asked if i could
get contact and glasses, after i took exam, that is when i found out i could only get
one or the other, was pretty pissed at that point felt i was tricked, when i priced
glasses they were over priced, my guess is because i had insurance .
remember get all your question asked and answer if you have
insurance before you take your exam .
going to warby parker for my glasses on 3^rd and alameda st
in art district 10 min away, FOR 195.00 INCLUDING LENS AND FRAME .
also forgot you have to pay for parking that made it suck even more!

I’ve been going to this practice for about 10 years referred by my internist who was first in her class in medical school. Her referrals are always top drawer. Dr. Marsico is my opthamologist here and he is first class: very careful, always, always explains and is great for follow through so he can keep checking on any conditions.
The staff here works well together; there is a team concept and it shows; everyone has a role so that you receive a well researched observation.
A++ to them all.

My PRK Surgery
I have been going to this practice since I was a kid back in the 70s. I have outlasted two doctors and have been a patient of Dr. Katow for many years.
I have Nystagmus so I have waited a while to have laser eye surgery, but I trust this practice and have decided to have LASIK done and was referred to Dr. Marsico who is the staff LASIK specialist.
In for a comprehensive pre surgical exam today. Will update this post as I go thru the process.
Updated: 12÷27÷13 — Contact lens fitting to see if I can tolerate monocular vision. If I can then will get my eyes zapped with left for reading and right for distance. I have decided to go PRK instead of LASIK.
Updated 01÷03÷14 — Last visit before the PRK surgery. Everything looks good to go with PRK and the monocular vision. Just need to schedule the surgery and post op visits.
Updated 01÷16÷15 — PRK surgery day at Laser Eye Associates in Beverly Hills.
Updated 01÷17÷14. ~ Day one post PRK surgery. Vision is unstable but I can kinda see. No post op pain but I am sensitive to light. Dr Marsico says I am about 30% healed.
Updated 01÷20÷14 Day 4 post PRK surgery and here for my second post op visit. Had only minor eye burning sensations the last few days and eye tearing but did not need to take Vicoden. They removed the contact lens bandage today, My eyes are healed but the surface has not smoothed out yet so I he’d be a bit of irritation but I am cleared to drive. My right eye is very good, but my left eye for reading is irritated and tearing. (This only lasted a few hours and was fine the next day). Next appointment in 2 weeks
Updated 01/​31/​2014 Day 15 Post PRK surgery. Distance vision with my right eye is good but reading vision with my left eye is still fluctuating. I have ²⁰⁄₃₀ vision for distance and can read ²⁰⁄₃₀ text at about 12 to 18 inches. Doctor Marsico says the fluctuating vision is due to dry eye and to use lubricating eye drops more often. Next appointment in a month.
Updated 03/​03/​2014 It’s now been 1.5 months since the PRK surgery. Vision has stabilized at ²⁰⁄₃₀ (pretty good since I also have Nystagmus) but I am still using eye drops for dry eyes so Dr. Marsico inserted plugs in my tear ducts to help keep my eyes moist. Next appointment in another month.
Updated 04÷07÷14 — it’s been almost three months since my PRK surgery and I think my vision is pretty much stabilized. Hopefully this is my last checkup.
Updated: 7÷7÷14 — six months since my PRK. My vision is stable but I think it has regressed slightly as it healed. Near vision is good and I can read smaller text than I thought I would. Downside is that when driving long distances my eyes tire out and my vision gets blurry. However my vision tested at ²⁰⁄₃₀ for both eyes (not bad considering my Nystagmus). Dr. Marsico said tired eyes is a normal side effect of mono vision as one eye is used more than the other depending upon the type of activity. He recommended resting my eyes for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. This is my last post op visit for the PRK. I am completely healed and my vision is stable.
Epilogue — I am very happy how the surgery went. Very little pain during recovery and pretty quick healing. I am very satisfied with my resulting vision. The monocular vision has some trade offs, I need readers for fine print on documents and might need driving glasses (if I was a bus driver); but overall I can do 90% of activities with no problems. I highly recommend Dr. Marsico and feel he did a great job.

I recently visited East West Eye Institute for the first time and I had a great experience. I went in for an eye exam and I’m glad I came here. I was a little bit early to my appointment, but even though I was early, Dr Kurata saw me right away. My exam went very well and the whole visit was great. When my insurance statement came I was a little bit confused about it, so I called the billing department with a few questions and they were awesome. I spoke with Denise in billing and she broke everything down for me 100%. I would definately recommend East West to friends and family because the staff is really welcoming, prompt and most importantly professional.

Had an appt w/​Dr. Fred Kurata. Staff was extremely friendly & Dr. Kurata was not only friendly, funny, but also very personable. I’m used to waiting appx 30 mins — 1 hr when I see a doctor so was extremely happy that I didn’t have to wait at all! Got my eyes checked and found the perfect pair of Ray-​bans, will definitely be back & refer all my friends and family.

After over a week of speaking to a supervisor about my ‘situation’, I felt satisfied that the experience I had was a fluke. Tiffany was amazing, and told me that she would speak to her staff and everything would be taken care of. My Insurance card was still ‘lost’, but overall, I was content.
I had a follow-​up exam to pick up my prescription for my contacts. The doctor did his follow up, wrote my prescription, and put it in my file. He handed my file to his assistant (or rather the lady at the front) and she was ready to book my next appointment. I informed her I would call for that appointment, I was not ready to commit coming back. She then said, ok bye. I informed her she hadn’t given me my contact lens prescription yet. She said she was not authorized to give me my prescription until I pay. Let remember, I’m still standing there. So insurance hasn’t received her bill, and I haven’t recieved her bill. But until that happens, I have to walk around blindly without contacts because she is holding my prescription hostage?
There are so many improper and illegal things going on at this office. If you walk-​in, you are asking for a challenge.

I always receive phenomenal service when coming here. The only downside is you may have an appointment at 4pm but end up waiting till 430 for some odd reason. This varies from time to time, however being seeing by competent professionals is worth it in the end.

I hate driving in Downtown LA so the first time I came for an appointment I felt more nerve wracked than usual seeing an eye doctor.
But as soon I walked in, the waiting room was big, clean and inviting. Things you never associate with any doctor’s office! I had to wait a little because I missed my appointment but the lady at the front desk was very nice about it.
My checkup went well and I felt at ease the entire time. I think they have very high tech equipment so doing the eye pressure test was different from the usual air blowing feeling. You can tell they really try to stay on top the latest technology.
I think they specialize in Lasik but they also have the traditional eye checkup/​prescription. They even have a small area with glasses for sale. I would definitely recommend this place for someone in need of a good ophthalmologist, and with so many doctors in one office there is bound to be one suited for you. :)

The idea of going to a doctor only a week after moving to LA had me anxious. It certainly didn’t help that every ophthamologist near me seemed to cater primarily to the Asian population and did not put a very high premium on having English speaking staff. If the idea of having a stranger putting things in my eye wasn’t bad enough, now I also had to worry about a language barrier. The instant that the receptionist at East West picked up the phone, I breathed a sigh of relief. Not only could I understand her, she was friendly compassionate and made me an appointment for later in the day. The procedure up to my meeting with the doctor was straightforward, everything that you would expect from staff and technicians, although it was nice to note that the technician outlined very clearly what to expect from each set of preparatory drops.
When I finally got to see the doctor, he took a very close look at my eye (my left one having been red, dry, and blurry for almost 3 months now) and did two things that impressed me. Firstly, he decided to take a culture BEFORE prescribing me any drugs and secondly he was wiling to explore the idea that my eye felt dry and scratchy because *GASP* it was actually dry. Isn’t that something the 3 doctors I saw on the east coast might have picked up on? Doctors are very quick to give antibiotics on speculation, and while they may be right most of the time, 3 courses of stinging drops accomplished less than pure saline has in 24 hours.
The only thing that was less than perfect was the fact that the doctor tended to cut me off when I was giving him information about onset etc. Im willing to forgive that based on the fact that he actually spent more time examining my eye than any previous physician.
These guys are pro, and have my full endorsement.

I was referred to Dr. Janes in this practice about 5 years ago when I contracted (yuck) pink eye from my daughter. Everyone at this practice is top notch and very professional. Dr. Janes initially examined my eye and prescribed medication, but at the followup visit conducted a very through eye exam. Unlike may optometrists, they are concerned with the complete health of your eyes – not merely your vision.
I now see Dr. Steve Kurata for my annual eye exam and, in my opinion, he should teach other doctors how to work with patients. He is kind, thoughtful, actually listens to you, and is very thorough. Recently, I put a faulty contact lens in my right eye that had affected my vision. He had an idea that this was the problem, but still gave me a thorough exam and a new set of lenses. He also had me come back the next day so he could make sure my vision hadn’t changed.
The office staff is very efficient and they have Saturday hours for those of us who can’t always make it during the week. I’m so thrilled to have found them.

I really like this location mainly because of its staff, ease of obtaining contacts/​glass, and thorough exam. There is parking downstairs which is validated for 1hr and after that I think its less than $ 1 an hour. There are also many metered parking spots outside. If you live downtown this is a good place to go to instead of having to drive out.
The staff is very professional, nice, and in the 3 years I’ve gone, never given me a problems. They have great hours, including the weekend so this really helps with my busy schedule.
I’ve worn contacts and glasses for more than 10 years now and find them to be the best office yet!