UC Berkeley Refractive Surgery Center

Have your doctors ever went on a hike with you after your surgery and took you out to Olive Garden and a tea shop afterwards?
One of the best experiences I ever got going to an optometrist’s office. I was recommended here by many of the people I work with who suggested Lasik and I was met with the help of Dr. Tran (Boss), Stephanie and Jenny Cho who were extremely helpful and patient with my questions regarding Lasik during my first check up and continued to check up on me and work with my appointments all the way up to the surgery date.
I would be giving this review a 10 star but sadly Unilocal only offers a mere 5. To top it all off, Boss is also a huge 49’rs fan like myself. I couldn’t remember the day where I was actually happy to visit my doctor and during the check ups we would spend so much time talking about football and the current trades and woes of what was once a great empire, turned soft in the NFC West.
My review stems on the fact that the employers here at Meredith W Morgan University Eye Center are all stellar and amazing. I know that reviews are meant to be used as references, but seriously, there’s no need for me to talk about my experience with the Lasik procedure, the people here know what they are doing and not only are they courteous and professional, they make you feel at ease when you talk to them. 5 stars goes to how well I was cared for during my Lasik procedure and operation, and another 5 stars for Dr. Tran, Stephanie and Jenny Cho for being straight up awesome.
Seriously. An organization thrives on how well they do their job and how their employees are. Not only are the surgeons and doctors here certified and credited, they are all down to earth and act like actual human beings!
Go get Lasik now! Included in that package is a free group hike up Mission Peak and the constant satisfaction that you went to the right place to see an optometrist.

Getting LASIK at UC Berkeley was one of the best decisions I ever made. I was shopping around for LASIK centers and a friend recommended UC Berkeley, so I made the appointment. From that moment I felt completely taken care of, from the initial meeting to determine if I was a good candidate to my follow-​up appointment three months later. The surgery itself was quick and hassle-​free, and I am now enjoying my ²⁰⁄₁₅ vision. I am so appreciative of their care and expertise and would recommend them without reservation to anyone!

I recently got LASIK at the UC Berkeley Refractive Surgery Center and I am very pleased with the results. The staff was very friendly and extremely helpful with guiding me through the process. Also, I had no problems with making appointments or rescheduling them. Very professional group of people.

Short version.
Absolutely awesome! Scheduling, pre-​op, day of the procedure, post-​op, payment, convenience, everything. I cannot think of anything to improve.
Long version.
If you are contemplating refractive eye surgery, start by looking at reputable university centers as opposed to standalone, commercial entities. Why? Because university medical centers are also teaching and research facilities. They are not there to merely make money, they exist to conduct research and make some money on the side, so to speak. For a consumer, that translates into superior quality. If, for example, after an initial examination it is determined that the risk is too great to perform the procedure, a university center will turn you away. Which is exactly what you want!!! Refractive surgery is an expensive, elective surgery whose outcome can be emulated with a pair of $ 100 glasses. Your $ 5K is simply not worth the risk of having your bad outcome on their record. Again, they just want to train doctors and conduct research, they don’t need your chump change to stay open. A commercial entity, on the other hand, is motivated _​solely_​by profit. So even if a standalone LASIK doctor determines that you’re on the «kind of risky» side of the spectrum, (s)he might go ahead with the procedure anyway because (s)he needs to pay the bills. I am in no way suggesting that all or even a significant fraction of independent refractive eye surgery centers will conduct themselves in a manner which endangers their patients. I only wish to explain why I chose UC Berkeley and that anyone considering this procedure should keep this conflict of interest in mind… because it totally does happen from time to time.
They contract with an excellent optometrist in San Francisco for the post-​op procedures, which was great for me because I live in SF. You can elect to do all post-​ops at Berkeley, however.
My LASIK cost me $ 4,800 out of pocket, VSP paid another $ 1K on top of that. They take credit cards, so I recommend getting one prior to the surgery with a large sign-​up bonus and cash back to knock down the cost a few hundred dollars; that’s what I did. The price of the surgery is well above most minimum spending requirements for some of the best credit cards out there.
ADVICE: follow all of their instructions! I didn’t follow one and immediately regretted it. You need to have someone pick you up. I got a cab. I could see relatively well however, I couldn’t keep my eyes open for longer than a fraction of a second: too much light. During the ride home I had two sets of sunglasses on and a bag over my face. Only complete darkness felt tolerable. I managed to stumble into my apartment and crashed for a few hours to sleep through the discomfort and well into the darkness. I was fine as soon as the sun set.
The next morning I went in for a post-​op: ²⁰⁄₂₀ in both eyes. It has been about two months since the surgery. I’m ²⁰⁄₁₅ in both eyes and it keeps slowly getting better. I was told that the speed of improvement varies from person to person and cannot be predicted. Some people get ²⁰⁄₂₀ the day of, some wait a couple of months for the same result.

To be clear, this is purely a review about the administrative and scheduling side of things. I have no experience with the procedure side.
As a Cal alum, I wanted to explore the possibility of having refractive surgery at Berkeley’s facility. I called and left a message, and it was two days before I received a call back. A bit slow, but okay.
The person seemed a bit flustered and uncomfortable. I made an appointment for about two weeks in advance, and arranged to take the day off of work.
The day before my appointment, they called and cancelled the appointment. They said the doctor had a medical emergency. Because I already committed to taking the day off, I asked if anyone else could see me. Apparently everyone else was taking the day off.
One star for the poor management, and lack of people to fill in.

All the Dr’s were really nice. Everything went well for me. I refer my friends here.

I had Lasik surgery with UCB five days ago, and so far, so good! These guys are top notch. They made sure I knew what to expect, communicated with me along the way… were patient with my nervousness and all of my questions. I am seeing amazingly well. Honestly, I can’t imagine a better experience and can’t recommend UCB enough for Lasik… Life is short — go for it!

My experience with Berkeley Refractive Surgery Center was awesome. I went through a few consultations with some other lasik centers in the area and UC Berkeley was by far the most professional and comforting. Angie and the other administrative staff were extremely nice and knowledgable. Dr. Melrose was extremely professional and trustworthy. My surgeon Dr. Sorenson was also awesome because it’s been 2 months and every day since the surgery has been a positive experience.
The main difference between UC Berkeley and other lasik centers is they aren’t in it for the sale… well business is business but there’s a bit more purpose here, one being to educate the students and the docs are very serious about only performing surgery on qualified patients.
Not going to get into too much detail but trust me when I say THINK TWICE about going to a corporate lasik center. There’s a world of a difference between a small or school affiliated program and other corporate centers. Remember, this is your eyes your thinking about cutting open and reshaping with a laser! It’s important you go to a place that makes you feel comfortable. Money shouldn’t be an option when thinking about refractive surgery.
Anyway, kudos to UC Berkeley.

Hello Unilocalers! So I had my Lasik eye surgery at UC Berkeley a little over a month ago on 4÷2÷15 with Dr. Andrew Sorenson who has been in practice for like 50+ years. I was nearsighted with –2.25 power and considered to be a good candidate for Lasik. I’m 30 years old and have been wearing glasses since the age of 16. Wanted the surgery so I wouldn’t have to depend on my glasses/​contacts to see.
To be a little more specific about the procedure I had, it was «all laser» or «bladeless» or «IntraLase» Lasik which is where the latest computer-​controlled lasers create the flap of your cornea instead of a blade (this procedure is more expensive). I also had Wavefront treatment instead of traditional/​conventional Lasik. Wavefront uses the latest software for Lasik (also more expensive).
I am so grateful to have had it done! I now have 2020 vision and see wonderfully. It’s truly amazing how modern day medical technology works and it’s a priceless feeling to not have to depend on glasses to see! I have to admit I was terrified and nervous (who wouldn’t be) all the way up until I had the surgery. I did my research and visited 2 other surgery centers; Optima in Castro Valley with Dr. Mark Mandel and Lasik Vision Institute in Oakland with Dr. James Abrams. I chose UC Berkeley because they did both bladeless & wavefront Lasik for a reasonable price. The procedure at UC Berkeley cost $ 4,700 total with my VSP insurance vs. $ 5,300 at Optima in Castro Valley. However, price was definitely not the determining factor in deciding to go with UC Berkeley. UC Berkeley also had good reviews and is a notable eye surgery center that has been practicing for years. Furthermore, when I went in for my consultation I felt comfortable, got great vibes from the nurse (Nurse Stephanie McGovern is awesome) and Dr. Kathy Tran. They were all professional, knowledgeable and kind. I did not choose the Lasik Vision Institute in Oakland because they did not do bladeless Lasik.
The procedure was quick and smooth. I was literally in the surgery room for no more than 15 minutes if even that! The only part of the procedure that was mildly uncomfortable was when this clamp devise thingy was placed on my eyes to hold my eyelids open. But they were only on for about 2 minutes each! In all, again I am so glad I had the procedure done. I could see better immediately after the surgery and I am still seeing awesomely. I highly recommend UC Berkeley surgery center to all who are considering Lasik!

Obviously, when it comes to your eyes, you want to feel that you are the very best of hands and not merely another «customer.» I had read a lot of reviews of other LASIK providers in the Bay Area and was turned off by the very common complaint that patients felt they were getting a hard-​sell sales pitch on their first visit to a clinic. Nothing could be farther from the experience I had at UC Berkeley Refractive Surgery Center. Dr. Tran took her time conducting a thorough examination to ensure that I was a good candidate for the procedure, and ensuring that I was well informed about the procedure, the equipment, the likely outcome, potential complications, etc. This comprehensive initial visit was free of charge and there was virtually no pressure whatsoever to have the surgery or to have it done there. In fact, unlike other clinics that I have read about here, the Refractive Surgery Center did not ask for payment of any kind during my two preoperative visits and not until until the morning of my surgery.
Once I made the decision to go ahead with the surgery, I went back with my husband for a second, more comprehensive examination to «map out» my eyes for the surgery, etc. Again, the doctor was very informative and the clinic staff could not have been more helpful and pleasant. By the time I had the surgery, I was very aware of what to expect so things that might have been scary if I was underinformed were not that bad. (The pressure on the eyeball during the first part of the surgery is not a pleasant experience, so I was very glad that I had been warned about what to expect.)
The results of my surgery are incredible. I will be recommending the UC Berkeley Refractive Surgery Center to everyone I know.

I did check out a few LASIK options in the bay area but decided to go with Berkeley RSC.
Like many people thinking about LASIK, I was worried about the chances of things going wrong and losing my eyesight forever! Thankfully, Dr. Tran at my initial consultation assured me that everything go great after examining my eyes.
On the day of the operation, Dr. Sorenson was very professional. The surgery was very quick and the entire office made sure I was comfortable.
I could see (hazily) right after the operation. I followed their advice, went home and slept. My eyesight was fine after a couple of days, though I had to wear sunglasses.
I’ve been going to Post Ops regularly and they are thorough.
Go with a reputable lab like Berkeley and you won’t regret it. I have now better than ²⁰⁄₂₀ vision.

I visited the Berkeley Refractive Surgery Center for a Lasik consultation.
Pros:
— They have designated parking (however, today there was only one spot open)
— It was easy to schedule an appointment and I received reminder texts
— They saw me before my appointment time
— It is a teaching facility.
Cons:
— The room in which they did the first tests was not very clean. I am not a germaphobe but there were visible clumps of dust/​hair around the machines.
–Generally the facility seems old. While the instruments may have been updated, the facility feels worn and caught in the past.
— The Dr. who provided the consult felt rushed and uninterested in getting to know me.
— After a brief exam, they show you a video that looks like it was created in 2000 to answer questions. I would recommend they show the video before the appointment so that the patient experience is more smooth. It would also recommend they ask if you have questions. Not once was I asked.
— It just didn’t feel professional. The refractory center is housed in the same clinic as another service. It didn’t feel like anything was going particularly smoothly (I saw one patient asked for his paperwork by three different people) and many of the students seemed confused.
For a $ 4,700 elective procedure, I am looking for more.

I just got back from our honeymoon throughout Asia last week, and the best part of it was NOT having to bring contact lenses or glasses!
I finally found time in my schedule to go in for my free consult (with Dr. Melrose) in May to see if I would be a good LASIK candidate (since my prescription of –7.00 and some astigmatism is supposed to be borderline acceptable), or if they would recommend other corrective procedures, which they also do onsite. I wanted to do my consultation at a «conservative» surgical center so I could feel confident that they truly evaluated my risks and benefits, and weren’t just trying to churn out as many surgeries as they can for profit. Turns out, I would be a good candidate!
I had the remainder of my pre-​operative appointment and post-​operative follow-​ups done by Dr. Tran, who was super meticulous and triple checked my vision and the correction I would need with the LASIK. She was seriously so pleasant and so precise, I’m so glad I was set up with her. Dr. Sorenson was my surgeon on that special day in June, and he held my head and calmly gave me instructions and resassurance throughout the procedure.
Aftewards, I did experience some tearing/​crying about an hour after I got home, probably my own fault because I decided to eat lunch instead of go take a nap right away like I was told to. Other people I asked have said they didn’t experience the tearing since they took a nap immediately after they got home. That was probably the worst part of it (the surgery itself was not painful).
My husband and I married 2 months later, in August, on a windy golf course, and I was really grateful to not have to wear contacts and worry about debris falling in my eyes, causing my eyes to water and RUIN MY MAKE-​UP (and subsequently ruin our wedding photos =O haha I’m such a drama queen). I’m now ²⁰⁄₂₀ and am never looking back!
I also have to give a shout out to the staff– Jenny, Emily, Nancy, Nurse Stephanie– who all helped make the experience so smooth and efficient inside and outside of the exam room. Five stars for the whole team!
P. S. My student SHIP insurance didn’t cover the surgery, but they were able to offer me the student discount even though my surgery was a week after graduation. I believe that they extend certain discounts to other people if their vision insurance doesn’t cover the surgery either.

I had been considering corrective eye surgery for years, and took the recommendation my Optometrist gave me to check out the UC Berkeley center and Pacific Vision Institute in San Francisco. PVI was highly polished and awarded but their approach to the surgery itself was too casual and dismissive of complications for my taste. Also, they never had me meet with an actual doctor. By contrast, UC Berkeley was completely accessible, honest and open about the risks of the surgery though just as warm and welcoming. They made me feel like the most important thing was ME, and my eyesight. I felt very well taken care of and felt that they took the surgery seriously despite the low risk of complications.
The surgery went EXACTLY as they said it would in pre-​op, and the post-​op recovery went perfectly as I followed their instructions. Despite my apprehension about having my eyes messed with, I felt in perfectly capable and caring hands from the first moment to well after the surgery. All staff members answered my questions completely and patiently, and even went out of their way to help me a few times. They saw me for a follow up the next day by which time I was already seeing better than ²⁰⁄₂₀ (²⁰⁄₁₅). 3 months later everything seems perfect and I have had ZERO issues. Their surgery was — as my Optometrist has said multiple times since (part of the UC protocol is multiple follow ups) — incredibly precise and well executed.
I would go back to the UCBRSC in a second, and would recommend them to anyone and everyone wholeheartedly.

I had LASIK in 2012, and felt safe and confident with the Center. My vision was pretty awful, something like –7.0. I am very happy with the results and would absolutely recommend them.
The only way it could have gone better was if SHIP hadn’t decided to cover 40% of the surgery a year after I graduated. Luckily I still got the alumni discount.

Wow — it’s amazing how one quick procedure can make my life now look like it’s in high definition. It’s been about a month since I got my LASIK here, and it’s still improving from my initial ²⁰⁄₂₀ diagnosis! Everyone here is amazing — so friendly and welcoming and they go through all the steps with you so you are fully prepared for what is going to happen. The most painful part of the procedure was when they took the tape off my face from holding my eyes open :) That evening I could see perfect. Totally worth it. Dr. Sorensen and his team are incredible — I highly recommend if you are looking to get LASIK done then you go here — you will be glad you did!

Wow… what an amazing experience! I had Intralase LASIK surgery two days ago and my binocular vision is already ²⁰⁄₂₀ and still improving. The staff was amazing and made me feel super informed before the surgery and very comfortable during it. The procedure was nearly painless and I avoided any discomfort following it by taking a nice long nap. By the time I woke up, I could see! Since I’m a Berkeley student I got a remarkable 40% discount that made the surgery very affordable.
They say money can’t buy health and it usually can’t, but this week thanks to the amazing professionals here I was able to buy myself a pair of perfect eyes and I couldn’t be happier.

I had lasik in June 2013, and it was a great experience. My eyes were –5.0 and –4.75 before. I was VERY nervous, and almost backed out, but it was really a breeze. I got to hold a teddy bear and cuddle under a blanket during the surgery, and I asked for someone to hold my hand and one of the interns came and did! Must say extra thanks to her, because apparently the machine was in her way and she had to stand in a very awkward position for the whole procedure.
The center is very professional. I had most of my appointments with Kathy Tran, who was very nice. Speak up if you have any qualms, and then she will discuss everything.
I’m a student with SHIP, so I had a 40% discount. I paid $ 3600 total for both eyes to be done.
The whole thing was magical. The total number of hours I spent there with all of the pre-​ops, post-​ops, and the surgery was about 5. And now I have ²⁰⁄₂₀ vision. WHAT!!! Really, it was awesome!

I had my Lasik surgery nearly 3 years ago, and I have no big complaints.
I really did think the procedure was awesome, but the post-​op visits did underwhelm me. I felt that they provided you with unbelievable care leading up to the procedure (the testing, the procedure itself, the immediate after care), but your visits to check your progress/​recovery seemed to be rushed.
They did give you a discount if you were part of the Cal Alumni Association, and that was great.
I don’t wear glasses anymore, and my vision is much improved but not perfect. That is not why they are getting only four stars, by the way.

Honestly, I can not believe that this place doesn’t have more great reviews. I went here for my lasik surgery last thursday (review is on sunday after). I can see great — vision is at ²⁰⁄₁₅ using both eyes (²⁰⁄₁₅ in left and ²⁰⁄₁₈ in right) which is the point of lasik, right?
Through all the steps (consultation, prep, and then actually surgery) everyone was great. Understand that you are on a UC campus but I’m ok with that when the doctors are some of the pioneering minds in lasik and have performed thousands of procedures.
I didn’t have a terribly bad prescription so what I wanted was to have cost savings when compared to using contacts and glasses. Some places are charging $ 6000 for the same procedure that I got here for $ 4000. And they have a pretty easy payment plan.
So obviously this is a positive review — but I want to make sure I get a couple of people out there.
Dr. Aaronson for the initial great consult (this guy was doing lasik back when they were doing flap slices by hand and the procedure wasn’t even FDA approved — too cool).
Stefanie — my coordinator for going above and beyond by making sure I had all my appointments down pat before leaving the first appt.
Dr. Severin for a great procedure. Very comforting and not the slightest bit pushy — he’s given the same speech a thousand times but I could tell he actually wanted to make sure I wanted the procedure. And once we did it — it was quick, well done and he talked me through the whole thing.
Obviously it feels weird to get your eye sliced, burned and then reattached but you know exactly what you’re getting here and I love that. Plus, you get to hold the lucky Cal bear during the procedure. Not to mention they let my girlfriend come in after the procedure and take a look at the finished procedure through the eye magnification machine. Very nice.
I would recommend to anyone, whatever the eye disorder because if they can’t help you, you’ll be told so.