I have been a long term patient of Dr. Kessler and Lifetime Eyecare Center and I have nothing but great things to say about not only this office, but also this doctor and his staff. For as long as I can remember, Dr, Kessler has been the primary eye doctor for myself and my entire family (husband and children included). We have all been treated as valued patients each and every time we have gone there and in many, many instances have been shown the type of service and respect, one would want for their closest friends and family. The office goes out of their way to make you feel at home... little things like remembering you by first name, asking about a recent trip or a new puppy... I have never experienced that with any other office I have visited. In addition to the warm and friendly service, Dr. Kessler also provides the most extensive eye exam I have ever had. I don't feel like it's a simple in and out visit like you might receive at some chain store, I feel fully and professionally examined and I know when I leave that my eyes are 100% healthy and well taken care of. I also like the fact that Lifetime Eyecare Center is privately owned, it's a small business (in this age of big box stores and HMO's) and I feel good supporting the Middleton area and someone who has been there practicing optometry for 20+ years. I would HIGHLY recommend this office to absolutely any and everyone! ...read more

If you have been baffled by or disappointed in explanations of what's going on with you eyes, this is the place for you. Dr. Kessler not only provides thorough, up-to-date examinations, but is a skillful listener who takes into consideration all your wants and concerns. He is simply THE BEST at putting the complexities of vision exams, diagnoses, and treatment options into comprehensible language. His staff is just as wonderful as he is, taking note of your situation (financial & otherwise) all while making you feel like you're talking to cool, non-judgmental friends. Besides myself, Dr. Kessler now sees (ha!) my teen son, who needed his first pair of glasses, a friend whose previous practitioner only offered limited options for her compIex vision needs despite there being many, many, possible treatments, and my 82 year old mother, who deserves the best treatment around. I would give this business TEN STARS, but merchant circle* limits me to five (sigh). ...read more

You have THE BEST and FRESHEST bird food products that the birds will actually eat. After trying numerous bird foods from big box stores I realize that your bird food has NO FILLER SEEDS, and the birds eat it all. This is a huge savings because I'm not purchasing seed that just falls to the ground. Plus, I love all of the nature related gifts and fun items you have in your store. It is my go-to place for Christmas gifts for my nature loving friends. Thanks and keep doing what you're doing. ...read more

I am truly sorry that you feel that way. In over 25 years in practice, you are the first and only negative review I have ever had.If I may comment on two of your criticisms...There was no "refusal" of giving you the contact lens prescription at the time of your initial evaluation... you went through a re-fitting, changing the brand of contact lens that you were wearing from what you had worn prior, and once the re-fitting was complete, you were given a copy of that prescription and a year supply of contact lenses were ordered.As for the denial of the online order approximately one week ago, I explained in great detail, that our office policy has our contact lens prescriptions expiring as of the first of the month in which you are due back. In this case, ordering a year supply of contact lenses two days before the one year date of your last evaluation, was not something I could authorize in good conscious, knowing that you had no intention of having another exam. As a doctor, I am agreeing to be responsible for the health of my patient's eyes. I've determined that it is in my patients best interest to follow the FDA dictated replacement schedule and care regimen, and have also determined that an annual exam is critical to maintain good ocular health while wearing contact lenses. I am (like other doctors who prescribe systemic medications) hopefully stressing the importance of the annual exam in a proactive manner, rather then waiting for complications to occur. (Possible complications from contact lens wear include infection and corneal ulcers.)My primary concern is now and has always been the health and well being of my patients. "Making a buck" is not even a thought process at this office and as a small private practice in a world of large big box clinics, I confidently stand by my office policies and the integrity of not only myself but my staff as well. Stephen D. Kessler ...read more

Dr. Kessler is more concerned with making a buck than helping his patients. He was very condescending during my exam. He then refused to give me a contact lens prescription at the time of my initial evaluation (which I later found out is against the law - see the "Contact Lens Rule" implementing the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act from 2004). When I later attempted to order contacts online, he refused to verify the prescription, telling the online company it was "expired," despite it being less than one year from the original evaluation (and thus within the minimum 1 year expiration as set by the federal law above). Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this practice under any circumstances. ...read more