Dr. Thomas R Walters, MD

Fantastic results, wonderful care. Highly recommend Dr. Walters.

Dr. Walter's is doing cateract surgery for me. I am overjoyed with the whole experience. Yes he can be abrupt, but he isn't my drinking buddy, he is (maybe) the best eye surgeon on Earth. He did one thing no doctor has ever done before. When zI was being wheeled into the OR, he clapped me on the sholder and said "ok". Right than I know the whole thing was going to be smooth as silk, and it was.

this man did my lasik surgery. i saw him a month later for follow up after my ophthalmologist had no idea how to deal with my severe post surgery symptoms. he is quite frankly the rudest, most arrogant doctor i have ever been to. i wouldn't recommend him to my worst enemy.

I am a physician, my wife is a patient, about 10 years post two cataract surgeries, 3 years apart. Excellent results in Dr. Walters care for each eye. Richard Swint MD

Having done my homework and having a decent amount of ophthalmic knowledge already due to my job I came to Texan Eye for a consultation regarding lens replacement and vitrectomy (to address floaters from PVD). I saw Dr Walters who told me to go elsewhere for the vitrectomy because he did not have that much confidence in the retina specialists at Texan Eye. He also said that I would need to get the vitrectomy done first before replacing the lens. I went to a retina specialist. He told me that I would need to have the lens replaced before the vitrectomy because cataract surgery can sometimes cause floaters. When I went back to Dr Walters I had a clear plan already in mind. I wanted a specific multifocal lens so I wouldn't need glasses moving forward. Dr Walters repeatedly tried to convince me that I should instead have a monofocal lens with one eye for distance and the other for near vision. I took his suggestions to heart and did some more research. I was not convinced… by the information I found and insisted that the mutlifocal lens was what I wanted. I had to make yet another appointment in order to speak with him and inform him of my decision. When I went in I was given an optical biometry test (IOLMaster) (for the 3rd time) before I saw the doctor. When I finally saw him I expressed my decision and we began the same old back and forth. When I asked him to explain why he was so adamantly against multifolcal lenses he said, and I quote, "I'm not in the business of educating my patient but you seem like a sharp guy so..." He then proceeded to explain to me the most basic structures of the eye and drew me a picture with such condescension that I almost stopped him to ask if he'd prefer to do the drawing in crayon but I held my tongue and ended up scheduling the surgery anyway reasoning that only a REALLY good physician could have such a large ego. When scheduling the appointment (and before) I went out of my way to make absolutely certain I understood exactly what the cost of the procedure would be. The day I arrived at the surgery center I went through all of the details of the surgery with the staff to make sure nothing about the plan had changed. I discovered that the lens the surgery center had on file to implant was a MONOFOCAL! This was infuriating! After all the discussion and extra time it took for me to insist on the lens of my choice it appeared that he was just going to do what he wanted. When I confronted him about this he finally conceded to use a multifocal but he would only use the brand that he wanted and not the TECNIS Symfony® Toric EDOF IOL that I requested. I even almost went along with that (don't ask me why) but when I discovered that the cost of the surgery was going to be TWICE as expensive as I was told it would be I had them reverse the charges on the card I had already given them and walked out. Now, a year later... I get a letter in the mail stating that I've been sent to collections for the IOLMaster test I had to get in order to see (and argue) with the doctor about what lens I was going to get! I've paid the balance... grudgingly. There are so many physicians to choose from in Austin there is absolutely no need to endure this one's manner and dealings. KEEP SHOPPING FOR ANOTHER DOCTOR!

Not a good experience, and not a very good job.

Everything about my visit to the south Mopac office was disappointing. Since I have glaucoma, I went to Dr. Walters for an exam primarily for a new eyeglass prescription. Apparently, this was too simple for him and his tech did the entire visit, including writing the prescription. Dr.Walters stepped in the exam room for literally 5 seconds, signed the prescription, and left. I was amazed at his total lack of concern and the fact that he did not even examine my eyes! On the way out, I noticed what seemed like at least 10 exam rooms and decided I could not recommend Dr. Walter's services to anyone.

Dr. Walters is one of the best in his field; Austin is lucky to have him. That said, be prepared for fairly terrible office experiences (except the Balcones office). Office staff are like Registry staff: talking on the phone, ignoring patients, making you feel like you're a burden on their time. Dr. W isn't a super friendly sort, but don't take it personally...he really cares about his patients and will spend whatever time you need to explain, test, treat, etc.