certified registered nurse anesthetist

medical receptionist

ophthalmic assistant

plastic surgery technician

technician

St. Lukes Cataract & Laser Institute

Max pay for technicians (regardless of certification) is around 22-23$ and raises range from 20 cents to 1$ are only given  once a year in May-June to all staff based on a rotation so you’ll only get 1$ raise every couple of years and the rest is a few cents regardless of new skills or certifications so if you’re getting offered more somewhere else I’d take it. (Who doesn’t love getting a 20 cent raise when they’ve taken on a dozen new rolls while watching the owner of the company fly his personal helicopter to work?)
Employees either love working at St Luke’s or they hate it. The vast majority of clinic staff have no prior ophthalmic experience and a large portion of them are also young with minimal prior work experience and these are the people that enjoy working here (aka the people that don’t know better). The people that do not enjoy working for St Luke’s are the people with prior ophthalmic experience or are older adults . Every manager / supervisor at each location have been promoted from within, which is a thing St Luke’s does well, BUT only one of those managers has prior ophthalmic experience and none of them are a POC or LBTQ+.  A negative impact on promoting from within is the obvious favoritism from the managers, and the internal promotions go higher than clinic management so you can assume there’s more favoritism taking place than be plainly seen. 
Technicians work for one doctor and travel with them to other locations. Mileage is paid and it’s the distance from your home to the doctor’s home office, not the closest office to you. Some employees have their home office changed to a location closer to them while others are denied this change, playing into the favoritism. 
They no longer give raises to employees obtaining certifications but I admit I was given a raise for mine and an employee that passed there’s a week after me was denied a raise for there’s, more favoritism.
Techs working for MDs are paid significantly higher than OD techs. If the MD is surgical, the techs are required to assist the doc in the OR, and be on call.St Luke’s pays for the certification the 1st time and on call hours are paid. 
They train if you have no prior experience but the training is terrible and techs are not prepared for clinic. In my opinion their errors are blown out of proportion as clinic is overbooked and understaffed keeping stress extremely high, so any error that prolongs a patients time and the staffs gets a big reaction.
They offer basic health insurance, dental 401k and basic life insurance policy.
The only person I’d recommend working here is a medical student getting hours in clinic because it’s paid for you and you can get a doctor recommendation. 


Being employed at St Luke’s for more than a few years, I can say that the work atmosphere is a little lacking. The business is growing but not able to keep up with the patient to tech ratio. Having a clinic everyday that is over booked by 10-15 patients leads to an unrealistic expectation of keeping people happy; patients and employees alike. Giving your technicians only 30 minutes for a lunch break on top of the work load means some techs are not even able to take a break without making the rest of the day a miserable experience. Being unable to sit down to eat without feeling rushed to come back or having to “eat on the run” (not clocking out for lunch at all) is poor for employee morale. 

In regards to pay:
The fact that employees are not given a pay raise when obtaining additional certifications directly related to their positions is honestly sad. This gives employees little incentive to progress in the career field if they are not adequately compensated for their time and effort put into obtaining said certifications. Even if the company offers to pay for the training materials as well as the cost of the exam. Pay raises are given once a year and max cap at about 3-4%. This means most early level employees, and even some of the more senior technicians only get 50cents ~$1 per year. This is severely lacking and unable to keep up with the cost of living. Most people would require a second job, which is also difficult to do with the amount of time put in Mon through Fri at a job that is overbooked and understaffed.
Most employees are given a higher work load than their pay is worth. 

The employee turnaround is high. I have seen a number of new technicians only last 60-90 days before leaving because of either the work load or getting a higher paying job elsewhere. This in turn means the established technicians suffer more because the work load still increases. Starting pay for someone without any prior experience/certifications is only $16 per hour. In comparison, a Starbucks barista starts at $16.50 with no prior experience in the same area.

Some good notes:
The medical providers in The Villages locations are really top notch to both their patients and the staff. The offices are clean and in good repair. Qualifies for the Charter School. Friendly people to work with as well. The patients are mostly in good spirits when they come to be seen. Occasional weekend work hours that are voluntary. You get most major holidays off and you get holiday pay.

The rules seem to only apply to certain people. They no longer offer a raise for obtaining certifications but some employees are still given raises for it. Some employees receive raises for duties that are in addition to the role they were hired for, while many employees are not. The annual raises are now only given once a year to all employees and are always only a few cents to 1$, keeping moral very low. PTO requests are normally approved the week before even when put in months in advance because that’s when the schedule is made so it’s difficult to plan a trip or a doctor’s appointment. Some employees with children that have to leave early or miss work unexpectedly face disciplinary actions for their absence while others do not. They have these “fun Fridays” and they give out St Luke’s swag that feels self promoting and they often will have food and they will give out “points” for extra work or helping that are redeemable for things, but it seems like it’s in lieu of paying employees better. They are good about promoting from within, and internal job openings are emailed routinely to all staff, and management can be very encouraging to help employees advance. The majority of the doctors are fantastic and treat their staff very well. They hold quarterly awards for acts of service and other things where employees can vote for each other, but it’s basically a popularity contest and the reward is 250 points (about a 25$ gift card equivalent). The reimbursement for scrubs is great, about 300$. Pay is based on the team you work for, MDs techs get paid more than ODs regardless of experience or certification so the turnover for the ODs techs is very high. They offer paid training if you have no or little experience. They pay you mileage monthly and they pay for overtime. The staff is very friendly, most patients are happy to be there and the offices are very clean.

Working for this company has been an incredibly positive and rewarding experience. From day one, I felt welcomed and supported by both management and my coworkers. The staff works exceptionally well together, creating a positive team environment where everyone is willing to help one another and contribute to the success of the practice.

One of the things I appreciate most is how supportive and approachable management is. They truly care about their employees and make it clear that hard work, dedication, and initiative do not go unnoticed. The company values its staff and regularly acknowledges employees for their contributions, which creates a motivating and encouraging workplace culture.

There are also excellent opportunities for growth within the company. Advancement is attainable for those who are willing to work hard, and it is fulfilling to know that there is a clear path for career development and pay increases. The company invests in its employees and provides opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed professionally.

The doctors are outstanding, knowledgeable, compassionate, and always willing to help both patients and staff. They foster a collaborative environment and treat employees with respect, making it a pleasure to come to work each day.

Overall, this is a company that truly values its employees, promotes teamwork, recognizes hard work, and provides meaningful opportunities for growth. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a supportive, rewarding, and positive workplace.

A typical day is hectic and busy. The departments were understaffed for years. The entire building feels rushed. 

The entire time I worked there. Management was not open to suggestions or changes.

HR management thinks the worst of you and fires good, hard working employees when the rest of the staff is desperate for help. 

General workplace culture is positive energy and nice people. They try very hard to show kindness to their patients. 

Hardest part of the job was getting a straight answer when there was an issue. Most of the staff will not take responsibility and answer a question because they are worried about getting in trouble for making a mistake. 

They have a very strict attendance policy. It’s unrealistic and good employees end up being let go for missing too many of work. 

There is a lot of favoritism towards certain members of the staff depending on their role and which doctor they work for. Some staff members are given iPads and hockey tickets and others are given a $200 bonus. Management preaches fairness but only follows through when it’s convenient. Meanwhile, the doctors make millions while the rest of the staff can’t afford food. 

In the business office, you’re in a cubicle environment that is mostly quiet. You’re given the workload of multiple facilities and it’s split between the team. If your team is unable to complete their workload, you’re expected to stay and complete their work.

Management is lackluster- and some of the doctors have egos and/or power and have tendencies to cause problems in non-clinical departments. 

Any big changes or improvements you make will be looked over and/or recognized as your managers and not your own. You will not be compensated for any improvements made unless you’re a friend of the management team.

Overall you’re going to be expected to have overtime, complete your team members work, potentially come in on weekends, and won’t be recognized for going above and beyond- while being reprimanded for small mistakes.

Most employees here have just learned what they could and left for better pay or for higher education (good for them!).  High stress levels, extreme amounts of patients and low pay are the norm here. Doctors are very skilled and friendly (mostly- there are a few bad apples) and staff is truly excellent. You will be made promises that never are fulfilled. Your emails will be ignored by management. Staff compares pay causing lots of disgust. Staff is treated as though we are worthless and should be thankful to work here. You will become a blank robot going through the motions like all the others just trying to make it to the next paycheck. The goal here is for the rich to get richer, regardless of the wellbeing of all the undervalued workers who collectively make it happen. Do yourself a favor and find someplace else to work, or at least don’t stay here for long.

Overly traditional workplace. For example no men at any of the desks in the entire company. Very few men in positions reporting to women. Very few men period. Also, no room for those too "eccentric" or "unique to the usual hires". This all starts at the top. Aging administration doesn't understand today's cultural norms or chooses to ignore them. Other problematic areas are no sick time and very little paid time off so everyone is constantly ill. This is not good to pass on to elderly patients even if it is cost saving. Don't get attached to your work because others will claim it as their own and you'll be told to pick up the pace. Clinics are a pig sty. Hoarded equipment everywhere and food and drinks all over technician lanes. Outsides are faded, loaded with mildew, and crumbling. In short it's not the glamourous place they pretend to be. It's a behind the times mess.

The training process was disorganized and did not provide new employees with the support needed to succeed. During my time there, I often felt singled out and treated differently by the manager and assistant manager, which made me feel uncomfortable and unwelcome in the workplace. Communication was poor, expectations were unclear, and there was little guidance throughout the onboarding process. I left the company in February, and they are still trying to fill the same position months later, which says a lot about the turnover and challenges associated with the role. Based on my experience and the concerns reflected in other reviews, there are significant issues with management and training that need to be addressed.


If you’re looking for a job where you’re constantly short-staffed, overworked, and underappreciated, this is the place for you. As an Ophthalmic Technician, you’ll be expected to move patients through like you’re on a conveyor belt, with little regard for providing quality care. The focus is strictly on numbers — not people.

Training is minimal, turnover is high, and burnout is inevitable. You’ll often find yourself doing the work of two or three people with zero support. Management talks about patient satisfaction but does nothing to improve conditions for the staff who actually interact with them.

If you value patient care, teamwork, and a sustainable workload — keep looking.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Certified registered nurse anesthetist 10 salaries reported	$179 per day
Medical receptionist 7 salaries reported	$17.00 per hour
Ophthalmic assistant 3 salaries reported	$19.50 per hour
Plastic surgery technician 4 salaries reported	$20.88 per hour
Technician 3 salaries reported	$16.67 per hour

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