Hong Nguyen's Online Review Report Card

I don't usually write reviews on Yelp but this is a must for me.I had a bump at the end of my left eyelid and the area around it is starting to swell up after 2 days. I didn't think to call up my optometrist, Dr. Nguyen, instead I called and spoke to a triage nurse on Monday, May 1st, she recommended I come in to see the doctor that afternoon . So I did. Big mistake! After I was seen, the on-call nurse practitioner determined it's NOT a stye, she prescribed me azithromycin antibiotic and asked me to pick up artificial tears. She said if it doesn't get any better by Friday then I need to see an optometrist. Not exactly what I wanted to hear....After taking the azithromycin antibiotic Monday afternoon, my eyelid got worse. My eyelid was tender and sore, my eye was dry and itchy. When I apply warm compress it makes my eye swell. Cold compress, help reduce the dry and itchiness of the eye. I texted Dr. Nguyen right away that evening and sent her a picture of my swollen eyelid and the antibiotic I was taking. She asked me to wait until the morning to give the antibiotic time to see if it'll kick in. Tuesday morning, May 2nd, the white membrane around my pupil started to swell and prevents my left eye from moving around and looking toward my left side. My eyelid didn't get any better and my upper cheek near the eye became puffy. I received a text from Dr. Nguyen asking how my eye is doing. I described and sent a picture of my eye to Dr. Nguyen. She asked me to come in the same day and she'll try to fit me in between her patient appointments so she can examine my eye and eyelid at her clinic in detail. Dr. Nguyen said that she normally doesn't prescribed azithromycin to her patients and wasn't too happy with the results. From my condition, she thinks that my body has an allergic reaction to the azithromycin and plus I had a combination of stye and eye infection. She ask me to stop taking it completely and prescribed me a different antibiotic, the one she normally prescribes to her patients whose diagnosed with a stye. Due to the inflammation around the eye/upper cheek area and white membrane of the eye, she also prescribed me anti-inflammatory eye drops and anti-inflammatory oral medication. She also consistently reminds me to apply hot compress to the stye to help it go away. What that being said, I was on full eye treatment! Within an hour or two of taking the medications prescribed by Dr. Nguyen, I feel and see results right away. The inflammation around the eye reduced a little and my eye no longer feels itchy. After day 1, my eye was 50% back to normal. After day 2, my eye and eye lid is 90% recovered. After day 3, my eye was pretty much back to normal. I just had to continue to applying hot compress to get rid of the little bump remaining because I didn't get it treated early enough and I didn't constantly applying hot compress to the eye due to my busy work schedule and taking care of my kids. After a week, the little bump disappeared and my eye is 100% back to normal. Dr. Nguyen kept in touch with me throughout the recovery process to see how my eye is doing. Which I really appreciates. Words cannot express how great and wonderful Dr. Nguyen is. She takes her profession seriously and is a very caring optometrist. She makes sure her patients are fully recovered before she would let them go. I'm grateful to have known Dr. Nguyen and glad that she's my optometrist because I know that I'm always at good hands. If you're looking for an optometrist within the North Seattle area, I highly recommended Dr. Nguyen. She's friendly, caring, responsive, professional, experienced and detailed. You will not be disappointed.

I found this location through the VSP. I went in because I wanted to get my contact lens prescription upgraded and to eventually get my glasses back up to date as well.Now that some time has passed, I feel that I can give a good review.11/2014 I went in, and every one was nice and accommodating, did my exam, trial pair, they were very nice and understanding the 3 times I had to go in and adjust things to be well. It took me until 12/2014 all said and done to get my prescription with the contacts done right.For me, I do have astigmatism (about 1.50) - and am in the Negative End (about -4.0 to - 4.5) with my vision. (To give some perspective). I have been wearing corrective lenses since I was a child.The glasses I went in with, were still doing a fair job - and were about 4+ years old at the time.The Dr. explained to me in the exam, that she likes to practice a method where (after she sees your vision) she sets the prescription below the readings she takes so the eyes work the rest of the way and get stronger this way; and adjusts from there - which is part of the reason I had to go back three times for the fittings.I was fine with it at first - she explained it could get some getting used to. For the first few months (3 - 4) I had to fight to focus my vision the first 15 - 20 minutes after putting in my lenses, then it was fine. My eyes were understandably a bit tired after, but not enough to give me headaches.The next 4 to 5 months I was used to the initial vision adjustment, and was otherwise fine.Then my eyes started to do the slow down hill on the vision, I started taking them out right after work, which was a new habit for me.I started getting more of a Dry Eye, and I started using drops, but they didn't really help. Same with the Cleaning Drops.After a few months of this and new symptoms (not being able to focus in the middle of the day) - I decided to start looking for another Dr.My new exam showed that the contact lens prescription was far below in power compared to my glasses (which at this point are now 5+ years old). The astigmatism adjustment was essentially nonexistent.I would not go here again, just based on the more "experimental" practice she uses. I am more comfortable with just getting the prescription I need.

I was able to get in pretty quickly. The visit felt relaxed, and Dr. Nguyen answered all of my questions thoroughly. I would go again!

Dr. Nguyen and Don are great. I found her through the VSP network, and making an appointment was easy. There was minimal paperwork (1 page, both sides), the appointment was thorough and quick, and she was great at answering all my questions. Don (at the front desk) was also friendly and helpful. I had 2 glasses with loose nose pieces, which he fixed. One tip for parking - since the office is part of the UWMedicine campus, there is a parking fee. First half hour free, then $3 for 30-60 mins, $5 for 1-2 hr, and $7 for longer. However there is usually a lot of free 2 hour street parking on N 115th. And there's a walkway from the sidewalk right beside the McMurry building where her office is located.Everything was simple and great. We'll definitely go back for my husband and kids' appointment when we need them!

Losing one's insurance is pretty stressful, especially when you find out only five days prior to its expiration. I had been calling around town trying to get one last eye exam and pair of glasses with my VSP insurance, but every place was booked out past the end of the month. Thankfully, when I called Dr. Nguyen's office, someone had just cancelled for that same afternoon, so I gladly took the spot. The location is in the Northwest Hospital complex on N 115th Street. Parking on the street is a good idea; however, if there is parking near the pharmacy building, this is where you want to be. As pointed out by another reviewer, there is a neon "eye exam" sign to help guide you in the right direction. The entrance is on the north side of the building and the shop is to the right after you enter.The gentleman who answered the telephone was available when I came in and was very warm and nice. I filled out some paperwork and was taken back to wait for the doctor. She was professional, nice, had a sense of humor, and gave a thorough exam. She took a look at my glasses and pointed out some things that explained why I was likely having some issues using them for reading. The exam was painless, and when told there was some questionable issues with the optic nerve, she was very comforting and took the time to explain what I needed to look for in the future. She didn't hesitate at all when I asked her to please write down what she was saying, as I was afraid I would forget later. I had already planned to purchase my frames and lenses elsewhere, and when I mentioned this, it wasn't a problem at all. One suggestion for future customers: bring your own sunglasses with you if you think you might be getting your eyes dilated. While they have some plastic lenses that are very good at blocking the light, unfortunately they are a little curved, and I found this skewed my vision enough that I couldn't use them and drive. Thankfully, I only needed them to get to the car, as I had my own pair of prescription sunglasses in the glovebox.All in all, this was a very pleasant experience, and I would highly recommend Dr. Nguyen and her office to anyone for an eye exam.

I have VSP and found Dr. Nguyen via the VSP network. I made an appointment to get my annual eye exam. I agree looking for the place was a challenge at first because I did not expect it to be a part of the medical building. For those that are going for the first time I suggest for you to find street parking (there should be plenty) and walk towards the building. They do have a lit up sign that says EYE EXAM that should help guide you in the right direction. I also called and the gentleman that answered the phone was very friendly and guided me to the office. The experience with Dr. Nguyen was phenomenal. I've probably seen 5-6 eye drs in the past and she is probably one of my favorites! I would highly suggest her for any of your eye exams. She's thorough and the whole experience was stress free!

Dr. Nguyen was very professional, quick, knowledgeable, easy-going, and had a great sense of humor. My wife and I both felt comfortable throughout the exam. The down side to the visit was trying to get to the suite, you have to pay to park, and must ask for directions to the building (maybe my wife and I were having vision troubles ;) ).Regardless, it was worth the parking trouble, and I haven't felt that comfortable in a long time. She was a great doctor, and we will definitely be returning.

Hong was great at helping me get my contacts for the first time. I had no idea what to do and when I was struggling to put my contacts in, she was very supportive.They also fixed my glasses when they were broken. The appointment was great!

Not an MD, but still absolutely amazing.