Dr. Chen may be a competent doctor, but he does not supervise his employees. If you have a problem caused by one of his staff, he will not even talk to you about it, much less fix it. To him, you are just a pair of eyeballs, not a real person. read more

I have been a patient of Dr. Chen's for several years and have always received outstanding service from him and his entire staff. In particular, in the past year, Dr. Chen performed two cataract and two eyelid surgeries on me. Prior to the surgeries, he clearly explained the various procedures including risks, likely outcomes, details of the surgeries, and recovery/follow up steps. The surgeries themselves went extremely well and the results were even better than I had hoped for. For the first time in thirty years, I did not need glasses for reading and every day tasks. This was a major improvement in my quality of life. In addition to his impressive professional skills, Dr. Chen has always exhibited a sincere commitment to my personal well being. I strongly recommend Dr. Chen to anyone seeking the highest quality eye care. read more

This doctor ruined my vision!!! He did cataract surgery on me, up sold me on the laser to break up the cataracts, prior to the surgery. Also, upsold me & used hard crystal lenses, (which are really not used anymore, because there are so many problems with them.) I couldn't see well at all after the surgery, and then he said it was "scar tissue", and proceeded to fake treat me & lasered both of my eyes, to remove the "scar tissue". He also had me coming in to place contact lenses that were very uncomfortable and shouldn't have had to be used after cataract surgery. I ended up with a tear in my right eye, and subsequently, a full detachment in the right eye. I had to have an intense surgery on my eye by a wonderful retinal surgeon. But now, I can't replace the lenses that Chen placed improperly, because of all the fake treatment of lasers which he did post surgery, saying that it was "scar tissue". It was actually that he placed the lenses incorrectly and blamed me for " jumping" during surgery! The retinal surgeon who treated me after him, for the detachment , said it was his mistreatment (and they have heard this from other patients as well.) My vision now is horrible!! I have to wear glasses for distance. I can't see without them! Chen is horrible, and doesn't take responsibility for his actions. His office manager basically told me, after the fact, that this shouldn't have happened. Some of his staff assistants also told me this shouldn't have happened, but again he doesn't take responsibility whatsoever. read more

Care quality, office experience Strabismus surgery consultation I would refer a loved one to Doctor Paul Chen, MD read more

Dr Chen performed eye lid surgery. He is very professional and explained my procedure well. He encourages questions. The office personnel are friendly and professional. The staff at the surgery center were efficient, very caring and professional. My eyes look great and I can see better. I highly recommend Dr Chen. Catherine W. read more

Dr Chen is a great. Very knowledgeable and helped me with an eye infection that was continual. I would recommend him. read more

The team at North County Laser Eye Associates immediately assisted me when I thought I was having a retinal emergency. They took me in for an initial screening within minutes. Very shortly after that, Dr. Chen gave my eyes a thorough examination and determined all was well. The team was caring, professional, attentive and efficient. Dr. Chen was outstanding. It was a phenomenal experience. I highly recommend North County Laser Eye Associates. read more

We have been going to Dr. Paul Chen for almost 20 years now. He is wonderful eye doctor. He has helped us with various eye issues over the years ( as well as many of our friends). This Summer, it was finally time for me to have cataract surgery. I had each eye done separately---about 6 weeks apart. It was a smooth well-orchestrated procedure in both cases with everything going as planned. I am very happy with the results. He is a miracle worker and an expert in his field. I always feel that he has our best interests in mind and I trust his opinion explicitly. His office staff was also very competent and professional. Anne Shuput read more

Great experience doing PRK here. Did one eye at a time. They have the equipment at site. very convenient read more

I've been going to Paul Chen for over 6 years and his staff has always been fantastic. Professional, polite and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend them. read more

I recently had PRK surgery. Dr Chen and his staff have been very informative. He answered all my questions & guided me through the procedure. I had my surgery 3 weeks ago & my distance vision improved. I'm still having blurry vision close up. Dr. Chen told me to be patient and it'll improve in time. read more

I've been coming to this office for 10+ years for my regular eye care. Even after moving down to San Diego I still make the trek. I have always had a smooth experience and appreciate the staff here. After almost 30 years of wearing glasses and/or contacts I finally decided to take a leap and get LASIK. From start to finish I have had a great experience. Dr. Chen is extremely thorough in the work he does. I appreciated his attention to detail and verbal guidance on every step of the process, including the actual surgery. I'm 3 weeks post-op now. My vision is fantastic, and the only side effect I'm still experiencing is some dryness, which is normal, and that has continued to improve. I was definitely hesitant for years to get LASIK but I feel confident in the decision I made. I would definitely recommend coming here for your care. read more

I finally decided it was time to correct my vision. I had my first consultation and was impressed with Dr. Chen and his staff. They are very knowledgeable and answered all my questions and concerns about my lasik surgery. The day of my surgery, everything went smoothly and I went home to bed and woke up with near perfect vision, that I had never had before! My vision is now 20/20 and I am so pleased with my results and so grateful. I highly recommend Dr Chen for lasik best decision ever. read more

I had been contemplating getting LASIK for most of my adult life, but the whole process made me nervous. Ultimately, the procedure was painless and the recovery time was minimal. I was surprised how quick it was and how soon I was seeing clearly. Dr. Chen and his staff were professional and informative throughout the process. It has been about 5 weeks and it is great to wake up seeing clearly and not have to deal with expensive and uncomfortable contacts ever again. I highly recommend Dr. Chen and North County Laser Eye Associates if you are considering ditching your glasses or contacts. read more

I went to see Dr. Paul Chen for removal of cataracts, which is usually a routine procedure. The experience could not have been worse. I ended up with 2 eyes which focus differently, one supposedly for near vision and the other for far. Dr. Chen never told me ahead of time that he was going to do that, or got my consent in the matter. Months later I learned what he had done. I can see neither near nor far with my right eye, so it's useless and uncomfortable. My right eye is better, but vision is still blurry. The two eyes do not function together. Both need to be redone (by someone else), but at this point my surgical options are few. I went along with Dr. Chen's recommendation to get deluxe lenses, which cost an additional $10K. All that money is down the drain. What should have been routine surgeries turned into a nightmare. When we attempted to talk to Dr. Chen about the fact that I can't see well out of either eye, he referred us to his malpractice carrier. It sounded like "informed consent cases" were a common occurrence for him. read more

Being new to the area I turned to Yelp to help make my decision on a dr to preform LASIK surgery on my eyes. After my exam Dr Chen came in a explained my options. He told me the risks involved with each procedure. He suggested a slower option (PRK, doing one eye at a time) which has less risks. I eventually chose LASIK and even though it wasn't his preferred choice he didn't question my decision. The day of procedure i never felt nervous because his staff is very kind and calming. I knew I was getting the Best services because a lot of pre test that are taken. Each time making sure they were exactly right and if dr Chen questioned the test it was ran again to guarantee the best results. I had the procedure done at 6pm. Dr Chen talked me through the whole procedure and what he was doing at each moment, and what I should be expecting (lights, strobing, blackness, etc) I was sent home in goggles to wear for the night. That first night, when taking googles off to apply drops...I COULD SEE ALMOST COMPLETELY FINE!! Not more than 3 hours after! One year later and I do have some dryness probably once a month. My eyesight is amazing and I'm so happy I went with Dr Chen. read more

On 22NOV23 I have appointment for cataracts. As a retired and disabled veteran. I was led to believe that they accepted tricare for my co-payment. If I had been informed that they do not I could have made an upfront decision if wanted contiune or not. The Dr. was ok. When introduced the staff that does the scheduling that is where took a turn for the worst. They were very unprofessional, I was trying to understand all the costs and had some questions. They made me feel very uncomfortable. After further thinking and researching the reviews and sending the DR and office an email regarding my concerns. I informed the office that I decided not to move forward. I was told I they hope I find a staff I like. As I explained back to them it's about being respected as a customer. Following my research there were other reviews written with some of these concerns. If had been treated been and respected as customer I would have moved forward. read more

Great experience with Dr. Chen and team. Starting with the front office staff - very professional and friendly. The office is pleasant in a nice location. Dr. Chen was direct, got to the point immediately, and explained the process in an easy to understand manner without any condescension. Lots of follow up check ins, which have been much appreciated, to confirm that the eyes are healing properly. Highly recommend! read more

Dr. Chen is a great ophthalmologist. After treating my eyes for cataract and glaucoma. My vision has tremendously improved so that I can drive. Staff are helpful and courteous. read more

I just had an initial meeting with Dr. Paul Chen. I was experiencing painful irritation in my right eye, and I was concerned about glaucoma. Dr. Chen's staff and office are very impressive, and they are well-organized and courteous to patients. Dr. Chen is very knowledgeable and efficient. He and his staff did a thorough review and tested me for glaucoma. I felt like I was getting the best possible treatment in a very timely manner in comfortable surroundings. Dr. Chen said the problem with my right eye is due to dryness and recommended products to use for dry eyes. I will follow-up on his advice and use eye drops four times a day. This was a very positive experience. read more

Cataracts & follow-up laser for scar cleanup. Top-notch in every regard. 68, have had eyeglasses for 60 of those years. Now, I'm free of glasses for the first time in my life. Dr.Chen is a master and surrounds himself with a team of A players. Best eye-care practice I've used in my entire life. read more

I called many eye doctors Monday morning with an ocular emergency. I was seen at an urgent care for a severe case of pink eye. Unfortunately, I had an allergic reaction to the eye drops they prescribed and my reaction became horribly severe. I frantically called many ophthalmologists, but everyone told me they couldn't see me for another month (even though I explained the allergic reaction and ocular emergency). Many offices weren't even willing to take my contact information Incase of a cancellation. This office also had a full day and no available appointment as well, but Summer listened to my concerns and worked all day to find a way to squeeze me in. She texted me back and forth, kept me informed of the schedule. She went above and beyond to understand my emergency by asking me to send pictures, showing the pictures to her office manager, finding a way to squeeze me in between patients, AND checking my insurance coverage. Summer showed genuine compassion and went out of her way to take care of me. During emergencies, this type of customer service is unforgettable. I've never received better customer service and I'm truly grateful for her going above and beyond to help me during my emergency. Furthermore, Michael and Dr. Chen asked me a ton of questions regarding my eye health, they explained their differential, educated me, showed compassion, and great professionalism. This office made me feel safe and cared for. I cannot say enough good things about the relief and sincere gratitude I feel. If you are looking for amazing eye care, look no further than here. I will be recommending this office to all of my friends and family. Thank you again, Summer, Michael, and Dr. Chen. read more

My family has been seeing Dr. Chen for probably six or seven years now. He is patient, professional and very knowledgeable. His staff is very nice and also very professional. We usually also purchase our glasses, lenses and contacts through his office. We've found the staff that handles that aspect of operation to be very helpful and pleasant to work with. read more

I had PRK done by Dr. Chen 3 months ago and I couldn't be happier with the process! He is very informative about the procedure leading up to it, and reassured me of any worries I had. Surgery day was a breeze and the post-op appointments went great! My vision is better than ever 3 months later and I am so happy with the results! I highly recommend getting your LASIK or PRK with doctor Chen read more

Dr. Chen performed cataract surgery on both my eyes. The first was in December 2017 and the 2nd eye in March 2018. I decided on the crystalens. I am amazed at how well I see. I have 20/20 vision in both eyes post surgery. I no longer need glasses. He and his staff were terrific. All appointments were kept on time, no waiting! I highly recommend Dr. Chen! read more

Dr. Paul Chen performed PRK surgery on my left eye and now my eye is like brand new. The surgery was painless and easy. I love what he and his team did for me. I can see like never before. He and his staff are very professional and courteous. They did explain every step of the process and answered all of my questions. I am planning to take my mother for a consultation soon. I highly recommend Dr. Chen and his team to anyone thinking about eye surgery. read more

After cataract surgery with Dr. Chen, I have the best vision I've ever had since the age of 8 when I started wearing glasses. I am now 72. It is a thrilling miracle. Dr. Chen is a master. read more

Dr. Chen performed cataract surgery on me. Not only can I see like never before, but he and his staff are amazing to deal with. All appointments are kept on time because as Dr. Chen told me, "your time is just important as mine". Highly recommend him. read more

Recently passed my 70th birthday. Began wearing glasses at age six and contacts at age 14. The lose of the one old contact that provided 20/20 vision to my strong eye required me to research eye Drs (as you are now doing). I was most impressed by the facts and history of North County Laser Eye Associates. Dr. Oliver Chen is an outstanding contact lens eye Dr. But after extensive assessments, he determined my vision issues would be best corrected by cataract surgery. Dr. Paul Chen's highly professional and comprehensive assessment of my case convinced me to select him. Best "vision decision" I have ever made. Awakening with greatly improved vision the morning after cataract surgeries were emotional experiences. My vision in both eyes is better than ever!! read more

If you have an urgent eye issue there is a feeling of panic and they got us in quickly. So grateful. Staff was very kind and helpful. Some other places we looked at people talked about waiting for hours. This office had great staff and though busy the wait time was short. Very happy with our visit and the doctor was very good. Thank you to the kind staff. read more

Dr. Chen graduated from Princeton (undergrad) and Harvard medical school. My wife called in the afternoon and described my vision problems and they told her to bring me in at 5pm. Dr. Chen is amazingly thorough and he identified my precise problem along with a series of other issues. My medical crisis was a detached retina and he immediately called a retina specialist at Scripps La Jolla and arranged for him to wait in his office until we arrived. Dr. Chen was very clear and very direct that I needed emergency surgery. The mistake I had made several years back was not to have found Dr. Chen much earlier. He is far more thorough than my past Opthamologists. I will always tell every friend I know to go to Dr. Chen to do a thorough check on your eyes. read more

Dr. Chen performed my Lasik surgery back in November 2017 and I could not be happier with the results. His staff is great - very professional and polite. My surgery was quick and painless. I highly recommend Dr. Chen for Lasik surgery and as an eye care professional in general. read more

DR. CHEN ENHANCED MY QUALITY OF LIFE! In 2008, Dr. Chen did PRK on both of my eyes which freed me from wearing glasses during all my waking hours. During the entire process, Dr. Chen took the time to thoroughly explain my options and honestly identify any risks. His calm demeanor immediately put me at ease and his knowledge instilled confidence. He just did an exam and, now at age 57, I have 20/20 distant vision and only use over the-counter 1.5 "readers" for close up work. I couldn't be more pleased! Also, Dr. Chen identified that I may be at risk for glaucoma and through the years has been vigilant in monitoring my eye health for any early signs. Dr. Chen and his staff always take the time to thoroughly answer all questions. At the end of every visit Dr. Chen specifically asks me if I have any further questions or if there is anything he can help me with. read more

I chose to have Dr. Chen perform my lasik surgery and am thrilled with the results. I had really terrible vision (-7.00 diopters) and astigmatism in both eyes. The day after the procedure I was 20/20 in both eyes. To wake up and see clearly is amazing. No more uncomfortable glasses or contacts. The side effects I experienced were minimal. A little bit of dryness for a couple weeks, but very manageable. Dr. Chen and his staff are extremely courteous and professional. They explained every step of the process and answered all of my questions. I chose Dr. Chen partly because of his reputation. He is Harvard educated and has published lots of research in his field. I was confident in his abilities. If you're on the fence about getting lasik, go for it! And check out Dr. Chen if you're in the North County area. read more

I found the office staff very helpful and thoroughly trained. Chen's office is very efficient. The doctor himself took the time needed to answer all my questions about the vision problems (cataracts and macular degeneration) and surgery. One thing I really appreciated was that he didn't make promises that surgery would be a 100% cure. He's a big proponent of vitamins also. I never got the feeling that he didn't care or was desperate to sell surgical procedures. He's very realistic and was willing to accommodate my financial and insurance situation. I like this doctor and don't understand H.L.'s complaints - but based on HL's other reviews, he just likes to bitch. read more

I started going to Dr Chen in the summer of 2011. I had some vision problems that happened unexpectedly and found out about North County Laser Eye through my insurance. As it turned out, I had a partially detached retina! Dr Chen referred me to a retinal specialist which corrected the problem. However, due to the trauma of the retinal issue, I consequently developed a cataract in that eye. My vision which has never been great was severely affected. In Sept of this year, Dr Chen performed cataract surgery on my right eye. My vision went from 20/85 to about 20/30. About 2 weeks ago he performed the same surgery on my left eye to balance out my vision. I am now seeing at about 20/25!! The surgeries were painless and easy. Dr Chen is a really professional Dr. He never rushes you, is always willing to listen to any questions or concerns you have and his staff is great. I would recommend them to anyone in the area who needs eye care. read more

Dr. Paul Chen performed cataract surgery on both of my eyes and corrected my vision. The care he provided before, during, and after my surgery could not have been better. Although, I was initially reluctant and nervous, at the thought of the surgery, in retrospect, I should not have been. I highly recommend Dr. Paul Chen for any and all of your ophthalmologist needs. read more

I chose to come to Dr Paul Chen for my LASIK eye surgery after my father had seen him for his cataract surgery and said he was the best! Making an appointment was super easy and everyone in the office is always very helpful and friendly. I was of course nervous to have eye surgery as I assume most people are, but I can honestly say it was a super simple process and completely worth the minimal amount of discomfort. The actual surgery itself only took about 15 minutes for BOTH eyes, that was the best part! I also greatly appreciate the concern about my aftercare, I came back for an appointment the next day after surgery to make sure everything looked alright (spoiler, it did!) and then had appointments weekly for the next month to make sure my vision was getting better and better. I HIGHLY recommend Dr Paul Chen for LASIK and thank him and all his coworkers for all their help and concern. My vision has improved greatly, colors are brighter and I no longer get headaches or have tired eyes at the end of the day. My only wish is I had done this sooner!! read more

I was referred to Dr. Paul Chen by the Scripps Emergency Room when I scratched my cornea. He was so professional, kind & knowledgeable; I felt immediately at ease and in good hands. Next, he performed my cataract surgery, and it literally changed my quality of life. I highly recommend Dr. Chen! His office also has an optical department, and they are fabulous (and honest!) Dr. Chen has a competent and lovely staff. You will not be sorry you chose North County Laser Eye Associates! read more

My husband and I both had a GREAT experience with Dr. Paul Chen and his entire staff. We were first consulted about the difference of traditional LASIK and the RPK method and the benefits and risks of both methods. We both made the choice to go with RPK which as Dr. Chen explained meant that we would get one eye done first, let that heal and then get the other one done. 6 months later we both see 20/20 after having worn contacts and glasses for 15 years. The result is actually pretty unbelievable. Dr. Chen is very thorough and explains as much as you want to know about the procedure. He uses top of the line instrumentation to measure the surface of your eye and then programs the laser to smooth out the surface of your eye. The recovery process was exactly as he and his staff outlined. Lots of drops, dry eyes and light sensitivity for a couple months. The entire staff is very professional and efficient--they work like a clock getting you from machine to machine and into an exam room for pre and post operative sessions. I would highly recommend Dr. Chen to anyone that wants to get laser vision correction. I only write YELP reviews for businesses that I 100% support. read more