Sound Retina has a geographical monopoly on an essential service to primarily older folks, providing monthly injections for Macular Degeneration. Dr. Nelson and his company crank out the surgeries, rake in the cash, keeping patients waiting for hours, at the mercy of snooty staff making patients wait long intervals between scheduling treatments. I have had a total of five surgical injections: one before moving to mid Washington, three from SoundR, and a last one recently elsewhere. At SR three surgical treatments were stretched out over nearly five months from my first contact with them which was as quickly as I could get from them, longer than the pharmaceutically recommended intervals. My fifth treatment was from an alternate provider, thank God. Although S.R. treats you nicely while you're there, I feel that the other two doctors CARED about me, a patient who needs help and doesn't want to go blind. During the time I used S.R. my vision in the eye which was treated drastically deteriorated. From the affected eye treated by S.R, while driving, the rear of an 18 wheel tractor trailer now looks like a minivan from the one eye which S.R. treated. S.R refused to use the drug Eylea which costs the insurance company around $1,850 per injection - the first medication I received elsewhere and opted to use. SR used Avastin costing around $70 per dose, because my "insurance company would not pay for Eylea." Only after MONTHs of begging for Eylea, did ONE SR employee reveal to me that if I change to straight Medicare Eylea would be approved. This took months to find out while my eyesight deteriorated using Avastin as SR raked in payments for treatments with Avastin. S.R. being the closer geographical choice is understaffed and schedules appointments spaced too far apart. I now have an alternate specialist, who administers my treatments in appointments which take ONE HOUR. Sound Retina requires TWO AND A HALF HOUR appointments. My new provider also schedules appointments closer together - more in line with drug manufacturer's recommendation. Although I travel 40 min longer to see my new doctor it is well worth it. I received three treatments from SR, the first two being of Avastan which costs about $70 per dose and the last after fighting to receive Eylea which seemingly works. Appointment Scheduling: At my last appointment with Dr. Banda of Sound Retina, to avoid the ridiculous wait between appointments I requested in person with the Sound Retina snooty receptionist, and twice via email to Dr. Banda to modify appointments in hopes to future schedule, which Banda ignored. Hiding behind a facade of snooty professionalism, S.R actually scheduled one of my appointments, ideally a month apart, to as long as FIFTY THREE days apart. Worse with Dr. Banda the subsequent results of my treatment were Far more painful than other treatments. I used an ice pack throughout the day and into the night after the Banda treatment. After the anesthetic wore off Dr. Banda's treatment hurt!, for hours. I am using an alternate practice, that although a longer distance from home, takes ONE HOUR for the appointment and didn't hurt at all after my injection of Eylea. The absurd requirements of S.R. to get an initial appointment, being forced to go to the Sound Retina Bottom of the list to even get a first appointment, and their disregard to patient scheduling requests, reflect their respect for patients. while waiting for TWO and a half HOUR appointments... forever. While under S.R treatment, driving behind a minivan looking from the affected eye, the vehicle looks like a Corvette. Once you go for your appointment at Sound Retina, the staff ACTS like they care about you. Drive to Seattle or Portland for an alternate doctor.If you require treatment for Macular Degeneration, I do NOT recommend Mark Nelson's company Sound Retina. It's a sucker's bet.
