Dr. Nathaniel Harkins, OD

I recently moved to Wisconsin and applied for a driver's license. I did not pass the eye exam, so I needed an optometrist to provide an exam on the same day; otherwise, the application process would have started all over. I appreciated the same-day appointment and the friendly intake staff. The problem? Dr. Harkins was not listening because his responses were unrelated to my statements and questions. I established a Patient Portal and found inaccuracies by Dr. Harkins and Sarah G., such as 'yesterday had a little irritation in the outer corner of the right eye.' That was not what I said. I explained that the irritation was so bad the night before the exam that I could not fall asleep. At about midnight or 1 a.m., I applied a prescribed steroid and antibiotic ointment. Another inaccuracy was for 'Current Ocular Medication Use: None.' The ointment is an ocular med. My first medical appointment in Madison was disappointing but provided the documentation required by the DMV.

Came off as arrogant with poor bedside manner. Did not really spend the time to explore the issues causing my eye trouble.

He diagnosed me. And then seemed to kind of brush it off as unimportant. He didn't make sure I was well informed about the condition. If I had known it was going to be such a chronic condition from the start, I would have treated it differently. He's a nice guy, but I don't want him as my doctor ever again.