Dr. Stephen Joel Saxe, MD

My vision is my most precious sense and ANY doctor that can contribute to preserving it is WORTH THE WAIT in my mind. I am treated by Dr Saxe monthly with medication injected into my eye for wet macular degeneration. The treatments have made a huge difference! I am aware that the medication (Lucentis) is expensive (about $2000 each time!) and the reimbursement by my insurance just barely covers that cost! Dr Saxe's office also has to play the game with my insurance to get the Prior Authorization to treat me with this medication EVERY SINGLE TIME, a hoop that definitely slows down our already taxed medical system! The rigorous training required to become a physician commands respect! And to be a RETINAL surgeon requires 10 additional years of training! There is a terrible shortage of physicians in this country! Im not suggesting that we allow them to "run amuck" but I for one will cherish and protect my doctor/patient relationship! Thanks Dr. Saxe and the entire staff… as SWEC for protecting and preserving my most precious sense of sight! You are always worth the wait!

My husband had been seeing Dr. Saxe for several years. A buckle around his eye had slipped, and after 2 months Dr. Saxe still could not get us in his schedule. We were seen by another doctor (not a retina specialist) at Southwest Eye Care (Dr. Saxe was too busy) who did confirm It required surgery. After repeated (and I mean repeated) phone calls we were finally told that Dr. Saxe did not have surgery privileges (something I think patients should be told upfront!) We then were told to go find a different doctor (zero help from Southwest Eye Care). I made one phone call to a different retina specialist. Despite that other retina specialists extremely busy schedule, we were seen that morning and my husband had surgery 2 days later. Due to the slipped buckle the eye was very infected. Extremely disgusted with the lack of service at Southwest Eye Care. Something is very wrong here! We have insurance, we pay our bills on time, we did nothing wrong here.

Waiting 4 hours one day and 3 hours the next to see Dr. Saxe was unethical, especially when the majority of his clients are elderly. Having to make repeat visits in the same week (double billing for exam services) for the same problem (scans and assessment one day, an injection the next or worse yet only available on Fridays) is burdensome and unnecessary. After reviewing the charges submitted to insurance for injections etc. it appears there is a large markup. I'm surprised medicare and/or our insurance companies are not balking. It appears there is a need for competition in the area of macular degeneration treatment in NM.

Even though I am a Registered Nurse the thought of someone sticking a needle in my eye was pretty undaunting,Dr Saxe and his team put me at ease and the job is done with out trauma. They are very knowledgeable, and sympathetic to the patients individual needs. The whole staff has a really good sense of humor which I feel, for myself is as necessary as medical skills. I have also seen Dr Sanchez who willbe removing one cataract next tTuesday and I am looking forward to seeing what he really looks like. Lol thanks a lot you guys!

Unfortunately, retina specialists are a bit hard to come by here in NM. And my backside and wallet are feeling the pain. If you have an appointment with Dr. Saxe, you better hope you are the first patient if the day, otherwise you are going to wait! I waited 3 hours with my diabetic husband for five minutes with this doctor. To top it off, his office charges the insurance company quite a bit more than other physicians. Maybe with all the money the office is making they could buy some comfortable chairs for his patients.

Dr. Saxe is the best eye doctor there is. He is courtious, friendly, Takes his time with me in exam room, professional and warm.

excellent doctor, very professional