‘Very unprofessional’: Rock Hill eye doctor closes office without telling patients

ROCK HILL, S.C. — There are two signs on the doors at Carolina Eye Cataract and Laser on Herlong Avenue in Rock Hill.

One tells people that the office was closed on the week of June 7. The other sign blames “sudden staffing issues” and remodeling.

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However, patients were never told about the closing and they didn’t find out until they showed up for appointments.

“To me, it was very unprofessional,” said Karen Bolt, who had a June 21 follow-up appointment after having cataract surgery earlier this year. “It was just so frustrating to go up there that morning and then find out that they’re closed. I never got a call, text, letter. Nothing.”

The sign said the business is processing refunds for surgery patients but it left no contact information for anyone at the office.

Channel 9 repeatedly called the number for the office and chose different extensions. None of the voicemails said anything about the office closing.

Carolina Eye Cataract and Laser has an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, the complaints were listed before the sudden closure last month.

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Bolt found a new doctor in Pineville but can’t be seen until October. She said she would rather not have to drive that far but is more concerned about other people who have more serious conditions and can’t reach their doctor.

“I hope all the patients he left hanging can get the service they need,” Bolt said.

There are other medical offices on either side of Carolina Eye that are not affiliated with each other. An employee at one of the offices told Channel 9 that patients from Carolina Eye Cataract and Laser have been coming in asking them what happened next door.

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