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Arthur W. Allen, M.D.

5.0 (3 reviews)
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Services - Arthur W. Allen, M.D.

Laser vision correction

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1 year ago

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8 years ago

Friendly specialist and right to the point. Brutally honest but good bedside manner. I totally trust him and his insight.

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West Coast Retina - Exam

West Coast Retina

3.7(104 reviews)
0.6 mi•Lower Nob Hill

I am writing this review on behalf of my wife. She does not post reviews so I feel compelled to do…read moreit on her behalf. Like so many others, she suffered a full retina detach in her left eye in May. She had seen our amazing optometrist who somehow didn't catch it and another opthamologist who missed it. On the third he referred her to Dr. Shah and West Coast Retina. I accompanied her on her first appointment. Using their super high res scan machines he could quickly see a complicated detachment that was a severe case. He told her he could operate on her the next day. She received her first surgery literally the next day that went well. Recovery was as expected. She had to go in for a second procedure (he said all of this during the first visit so it wasn't a surprise) to remove a cataract and tidy up the scleril buckle from the first procedure (removed oil and put in air). Here we are about 3 months after the first procedure and she is doing as well as anyone had hoped. She will likely suffer some permanent loss of vision / color acuity because her retina had been detached for some time so what's gone is gone, even though it's re attached. I'd like to tell the world that Dr. Shah is one of the best doctors I have ever met and we are so grateful to have found him and been under his care. We have gotten to know him pretty well through the many follow appointments and he is not just an amazing surgeon, he genuinely has passion for his practice and patients. My wife was understandably upset and he would literally hold her hand and sooth her during some appointments. Who does this? We learned on our last visit (by asking him, he never would have told us) that he does a lot of surgeries "pro bono." We found out how we can make a donation to help with some of the less fortunate. He does this because there is a massive need for surgeons like him to repair retinas. I don't know why so many people are having problems with their retinas but that facility is full of people all day every day. The staff is all top notch. Great 'bedside manners', smiling and positive and great at what they do. If you suspect any problem with a retina tear or detach, do not waste any time. Get in to see specialists like this RIGHT AWAY. Do not wait for optometrists who may not have the equipment to spot this. We are lucky we live in times where retina problems are usually treatable. My uncle went blind when I was a child from 2 retina detachments. Going through this process makes me wonder why he couldn't get his repaired but it was a different time and situation (he was type 1 diabetic). Good luck to you if you do need help with your retinas but I can promise you will be in as good of hands as you can be in with West Coast Retina if you end up there.

I got referred to West Coast Retina due to an issue I have mainly with one of my eyes. Since it's…read moreregarding the eyes, I was super nervous about seeing a specialist. Receptionist for check in was lovely. They had disposable shades for clients to grab and I thought that was pretty nice. The wait was just a few minutes until Maddie called me in to get my eyes numbed and dilated. Another staff took photos of my retina with a machine and I was brought up to their second floor. I met with Dr. Andrew Lin and Dr. Shah. Dr. Lin took his time to examining both my eyes carefully and I didn't feel rushed. Dr. Shah came in after, did his check of my eyes, and answered my concerns. He even gave me a sample of eye drops that he recommends for my symptoms. They were very nice and professional. The office isn't as modern but it is clean and had everything needed to check on retina health. Overall, my appointment was quick and efficient. I didn't experience bad wait times like other reviews have mentioned. My appointment was around 10am. The waiting room did have a lot of people as I was leaving.

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West Coast Retina - Interior

Interior

West Coast Retina - Waiting Room

Waiting Room

West Coast Retina - Interior

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Interior

Pacific Vision Institute - One-day post procedure!

Pacific Vision Institute

4.5(314 reviews)
0.6 mi•Lower Pacific Heights

I can't recommend Dr. Ella Faktorovich highly enough. My LASIK surgery with her has been truly…read morelife-changing. I now have 20/10 vision (which means I can see at 20 feet what most people need to be 10 feet away to see)--something I didn't even realize was possible--and for the first time in 15 years, I no longer need to pack 4 different glasses (distance, readers, sun glasses with prescription, and without if I'm wearing contacts) to get through the day. But beyond the convenience, what surprised me most is how different I feel moving through the world. Without glasses constantly framing (and limiting) my vision, I feel more present, more connected, more capable of exercising, hiking, enjoying outdoors, even a whole decade younger. My peripheral vision is clear and unobstructed, and there's a kind of ease, immediacy and largeness to everyday life that I didn't anticipate but deeply appreciate. Dr. Faktorovich brings an exceptional level of expertise to her work. Her extensive experience as a refractive surgeon, combined with a strong research background, was evident from the very first consultation. She takes the time to explain the science behind the procedure, answers questions with clarity and care, and inspires a great deal of confidence. Every member of her staff were also incredibly professional, warm and caring. I felt safe and confident in every step of the process. If you're considering LASIK, you couldn't be in better hands.

What a journey with PRK, and I don't regret it one bit. It's true what they say: PRK is a marathon,…read morenot a sprint. The staff were professional and made me feel welcome from the start. My first appointment was a consultation, during which they explained everything thoroughly, including what to expect before, during, and after the procedure. I appreciated how carefully they examined my eyes. Unfortunately, I had a small scar on my cornea, so I wasn't a candidate for LASIK. Dr. Faktorovich highly recommended PRK instead. On the day of the procedure, I was given oral Ativan to help ease my anxiety about the procedure, and honestly, the whole thing probably took less than 10 minutes. I spent the rest of the day napping and applying eye drops. I definitely recommend staying home and avoiding anything strenuous for the first few days. The procedure itself wasn't too bad, but the post-recovery was a struggle. Post-op days 1 & 2 were the toughest. My eyes were watery, EXTREMELY sensitive to light, and it was uncomfortable. Felt like sandpaper on my eyes. But don't worry, they prescribe pain medication to help manage the discomfort. The pain eventually went away by the 5th day, and I was no longer taking anything for pain. Keep in mind that PRK recovery is significantly different from LASIK. For the first few weeks, my vision was fuzzy, and I definitely didn't feel comfortable driving. I also developed an astigmatism, which made my night vision worse initially. I was told it was completely normal and would eventually go away once my corneas were healed. I had to keep reminding myself that with PRK, the vision improvement is gradual, there's no overnight change. The healing process takes time. With PRK, I had more follow-up visits with their optometrist and a longer duration for using eye drops. The first few months were all about allowing my corneas to heal. I think around the 1.5 to 2-month mark, I finally noticed a difference. By that time, I was comfortable driving at night. Now, I'm about six months post-op with 20/15 vision. I couldn't be happier with my results! I used to have a vision of -6.50 to -7.00 and was completely dependent on glasses and contacts. Now, I wake up and can see clearly and that is life-changing! Thank you, Pacific Vision. If you're considering vision correction, book a consultation and see where it takes you. It might just be worth it.

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Pacific Vision Institute - Chatting with Dr. Faktorovich

Chatting with Dr. Faktorovich

Pacific Vision Institute - With the PVI team!

With the PVI team!

Pacific Vision Institute

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Pacific Vision Foundation - Front desk

Pacific Vision Foundation

3.3(4 reviews)
0.8 mi•Fillmore, Western Addition

Awesome surgical center! Came here for my first of two cataract surgeries and from start to finish,…read moreit was as smooth an experience as possible. All the nurses exceptional, e.g. found my vein for IV with zero difficulty and no issues--When I mentioned that in the past nurses had trouble finding my vein, she said, "Don't let anyone tell you that you have bad veins." :-) The place is modern and gleams, almost like a spa! The check-in also easy (they had let me know the pricing the day before, so no surprises). When I go back in two weeks for my second surgery, I'm glad that, despite it being out of pocket cost, I picked it!

Poor communication! I was supposed to get eyelid and brow lifts to get them out of my field of…read morevision. PVSC had three phone numbers for me but only left a message on one. When I called them, they did not go over any pre surgery restrictions, but I had printed instructions from the doctor. These had no restrictions on eating prior to surgery, which made sense because the instructions stated that it would be local anesthesia. I ate an early breakfast. After traveling to San Francisco from the East Bay, completing a questionnaire, and PAYING the copayment I was told they would need to cancel my surgery because I ate within 8 hours. It would have been a bit more than 5 hours. Again, no written or verbal instructions indicated this. I plan to reschedule at a different surgery center. A refund on the copayment is pending.

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Pacific Vision Foundation - Lobby

Lobby

Pacific Vision Foundation - Lobby

Lobby

Pacific Vision Foundation - Lobby

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Lobby

Arthur W. Allen, M.D. - laserlasikeyes - Updated May 2026

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