I had never considered corrective eye surgery until my fiancé who is a PhD at Cal said he was interested. He wound up deciding to get LASIK and had excellent results. Was cleared to drive the next morning! Flash forward one month and here I was getting PRK surgery! The recovery for both of us went exactly as the doctors had informed us. Definitely listen to the staff with regards to pre and post op instructions - as well as having an open mind with regards to which surgery is for you. Despite my recovery being a bit longer than his, my eyes are definitely less dry and the discomfort was higher for him right after. In hindsight, both side effects were nothing that would've deterred us from getting it. There are pros and cons of both surgeries which you should read about online and/or ask the doctors if you're interested. (Warning: the procedures are definitely odd but it's manageable and certainly worth the few minutes of weird. Note that whoever takes you to the surgery can film it; again, strange to watch later but cool if you're not squeamish) The staff was very attentive and friendly throughout the whole process. We are both very happy we went to the best and got it done at Cal Such a life changing procedure to not need to worry about contacts anymore... and with about an 8-10 year payback if you're a contact user I would recommend to anyone considering! read more

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. read more

Had an amazing experience here! It's now two weeks after surgery and I see perfectly. Dr. Tran has a wonderful, assuring, and knowledgeable air to her and she did a fantastic job of guiding me through the whole process. It's a bit more pricey than other places, but I'm very glad I went for it! read more

I've been a patient for years and I accepted their recommendation of having the PRK eye surgery to fix my vision. They were great! Very helpful and attentive. Dr. Kathy Tran was so extraordinary that she even called me on a Sunday to know how I was feeling. I really appreciate her dedication to her patients and her follow up care. I would definitely recommend her. read more

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. read more

I've been looking at getting LASIK recently, and I went in for a consultation with Dr Tran and Nurse McGovern, and they were awesome! The evaluation was comprehensive, and the consultation was thorough - they did a great job of explaining the process, how it would work for me, and what to expect. They also answered all of my questions without hesitation. I would not hesitate to go back there for any reason, and highly recommend them. read more

I went for a consult at one other place before UC Berkeley and both were good, but I opted for Berkeley because in comparison the other place seemed almost cavalier about the procedure (Oh it's easy . . . you'll be fine . . . .etc.). While Berkeley was very reassuring, I also felt like they were completely honest with me, going so far as to say things like "If you go elsewhere, make sure you get it done by Machine X or Y, but not Z". I appreciate being respected as an adult capable of making an informed decision instead of getting half the truth and being sold on something. When it came to the procedure itself, the entire staff was kind, patient and genuinely helpful. The surgeon, Dr. Sorensen was excellent and personable. I felt very well taken care of physically and emotionally from start to finish. I would recommend the center without reservation to anybody considering this procedure. Oh yeah . . . now I see better than 20/20!!!!!! read more

LASIK's so nice, I got it twice! So... I had to get my LASIK enhanced after a couple of years because I'm a law student and I read a ridiculous amount. Even though my warranty was expired, Dr. Tran was nice enough to extend it because I had experienced some unrelated eye problems that prevented me from getting the enhancement earlier. I was supposed to get PRK--which entails a more intensive recovery--because I had my surgery longer than two years ago. Luckily, Dr. Sorensen is such a pro he looked at my eyes today before my procedure and decided he would be able to lift the original corneal flap from my earlier procedure and perform standard LASIK. Once again, it's only been 7 hours and I've already resumed normal life (after only 4, actually, I did some tutoring and went out to dinner!). I had some tearing on the way home, but after my mandatory nap I woke up feeling totally normal. No dry eye, no pain, pretty much exactly the same as I felt this morning before the surgery only now with superhuman vision. I can read signs from three blocks away, and only have slight halo-ing which I'm sure will subside in a few days as it did last time. Amazing work, amazing people, amazing experience... Again. Thank you all so much! read more

Dr. Tran and her team at Berkeley are the best. I wouldn't send anyone I care for anywhere else. They did a great job preparing me for the surgery, making sure my eyes were in the best shape possible for a successful treatment including some extra time to make sure my eyes are well lubricated and it has made for a fabulous result. I'm 3+ months post surgery and my eyesight is 20/15 - I've never seen this clearly in my life! Dr. Tran was wonderful with her follow-up communication and the whole team was very supportive when I had some worries the day after the procedure - everything went smoothly and I can't recommend them highly enough. read more

I've visited the Meredith Morgan University Eye Center at UC Berkeley for more than five years, and have always been impressed with the thoroughness of the eye exams I have received. I justI had LASIK eye surgery at the clinic two weeks ago. I received excellent pre- and post-op care from Dr. Tran, the laser eye program director, and her capable staff. They evaluated my eyes to determine whether I was a good candidate for the operation, and explained how to prepare for the surgery and what it would involve in great detail, and have been seeing me frequently after the surgery to make sure I'm healing properly. Dr. Sorenson, who did the operation, was both fast and careful; I could see distant objects clearly almost immediately after the procedure. I am thrilled I trusted the Meredith Morgan doctors with this delicate operation, and look forward to a lifetime of clear distance vision thanks to them. read more

It has now been one month since I've gotten LASIK at the UC Berkeley Refractive Surgery Center, and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. Most of my pre- and post-op care has been done by optometrist Dr. Kathy Tran, and ophthamologist Dr. Andrew Sorenson performed the actual surgery. Two thorough pre-op exams were administered to ensure that I was a prime candidate for the surgery. This center isn't one to dish out to anyone willing to pay, if they believe that your case is particularly risky then they will let you know. All of the doctors and nurses were very warm and knowledgeable, and I was clearly told what to expect before, during, and after the surgery. I was also given straightforward instructions on an eyedrop/healing regime, along with plenty of free samples to help out with the costs. I always felt that I was getting the highest quality eye care available, and that everyone at the center was extremely trustworthy. If you yourself are a prime candidate for LASIK, you should really consider it - it's truly life-changing. After living with debilitating nearsightedness for most of my life (-7.5 and -6.0 diopter contact lenses), I am now seeing 20/20! The UCB Refractive Surgery Center is as reputable as they get, and really, when it comes to your vision, you really want to seek out the best care that you can. As a UC Berkeley student, I was able to enjoy an incredible 40% discount, paying $3525 for surgery on both eyes and pre- post-op exams. The center provides a free LASIK consult appointment, so set one up to get started! read more

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. read more

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!! read more

I had the greatest experience Dr. Tran was knowledgeable and so attentive. She was able to explain the procedures to perfection, so I'll feel confident going into surgery. The appointments were set up to my convenience. Surgery was so fast and pain free! Recovery very fast with the slightest discomfort. I was able to see changes in my vision as I walked out of the recovery room, and drastic changes that same night. On my next day post-op appointment my vision was almost perfect. I definitely recommend this office. I am so glad I did it. read more

I've been a patient at the Meredith Morgan Eye Center for years and recently I got PRK surgery done at UCB Refractive Surgery Center in early 2019 and have to say that it was an excellent experience. They answered all of my questions during the pre-consult, and Dr. Tran frequently checked in on me post-surgery on how I was healing up. And even when I had an eye abrasion post-surgery, (accidentally got sand in my eye) she was super responsive and they took care of me right away. Now my vision is great and I would highly recommend UCB Refractive Surgery to anyone looking to have any kind of eye corrective surgery done. read more

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! read more

I got my LASIK done here in February and now I'm 20/15 in both eyes after three months, which Dr. Tran says means it's likely to last. Before choosing UC Berkeley, I also went to the highest rated place in SF, Pacific Vision Institute. The doctor never came to see me - it was only an assistant who seemed to be going through the motions. The appointment was about 30 minutes, 20 of which was explaining financing options to me. They also wanted to charge $7100 for a normal surgery. I got a bad feeling so I went to UC Berkeley. There, Dr. Tran did all the examinations on me herself, and she was very clear that this was a teaching institution, which meant that she would only recommend LASIK if I was a good candidate had no financial incentive to do the surgery on me. They turn away about 50% of people who try, so you know if they say you're good to go, your eyes are actually fit for LASIK. Dr. Tran also did extra tests to double check, which is MUCH better than Pacific where the assistant spent maybe 5 minutes. The actual day of the operation was very smooth - it was over in 30 minutes, about 20 of which was sitting in the office waiting for Valium to kick in. The operation was only 8 minutes and I was instantly able to see better afterwards (though everything still kind of blurry). It was performed by Dr. Sorenson with Dr. Tran assisting. Afterwards, I had 3-4 followup appointments where Dr. Tran checked to see if I was healing correctly. During the entire process, occassionally a student might observe but it's always a doctor who does the procedures and tests. The first few weeks, I would see halos at night and sometimes during the day, particularly around artificial lights. But now (a few months later), I have no side effects at all - no halos, no dryness, and no sensitivity. Overall, couldn't have asked for a better experience. read more

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. read more

Want to know what's up with your eyes ? For $80 or so you can have long long thorough exam by a grad student followed by a doctor checkup. By the time you leave you'll know exactly what you need to do. Totally friendly people and a service that supports students and UC? I'm a patient for life. read more

I had PRK surgery for my -2.25 vision at UC Berkeley Refractive Surgery Center in February 2018, and I cannot speak highly enough of Stephanie (the kindest nurse practioner ever), Dr. Tran (truly an excellent, thorough, detail-oriented optometrist), and Dr. Lim (the opthamologist who performed my surgery). After just 1 week, my vision was at 20/15. It's now been 2 months and I remain extremely happy with my decision to undergo PRK surgery at Berkeley Refractive Surgery Center. I did my research thoroughly before selecting Berkeley Refractive Surgery Center -- I did consultations with two other places: Pacific Vision Institute and the one in the Peninsula affiliated with 49ers. Berkeley Refractive Surgery Center was by far the most patient-oriented -- at all times, I felt like my best interests were at heart. The regimen of pre-op appointments, post-op appointments, eye drop dosage, fish oil, and other medications necessary was considerably more thorough than what the other 2 for-profit centers recommended. At the for-profit center consultations, I also felt like they were trying to work me through a well-oiled factory. On top of it, with the VSP insurance discount, Berkeley Refractive Surgery Center's fee was only $4,800 vs. $6,000 or $7,200 at the other two places. Everything from start to finish was truly excellent. I had an easier-than-average recovery time, which I think was due to the very thorough pre-op and post-op instructions I received. The 10 minute procedure itself was utterly terrifying for me (I am very squeamish), but Dr. Tran, Stephanie, and Dr. Lim walked me through patiently every single second of what to expect, and literally hand-held me through the procedure with kindness. I recommend taking the full 5 days of recovery days off of work. Surgeries take place on Thursdays, so don't go back to work the following Wednesday if possible. On Monday and Tuesday, I was able to do a few hours of work at home, but a full 8 hours would have been hard. Basically the only stretch where the recovery is unpleasant is ~24 hours from Saturday AM to Sunday AM. As long as you take the pain medication they give you, do your eye drops as instructed, and just sleep as much as possible during that 24 hour stretch, you will be totally fine. The rest of the recovery period was full of audiobooks, podcasts, laundry / house chores, and quality time with my fiance :). Huge thank you Stephanie, Dr. Tran, and Dr. Lim! read more

I had my surgery on January 20, 2016. Yesterday I had my final appointment, and my vision is 20/15 in both eyes. I couldn't be happier. My experience at Berkeley: The Pros - The people who worked there remembered me every time I visited. Not the students, but the doctor, nurses, and intake people. (The students observing on occasion changed.) It was nice to not feel like a number. - With the exception of the surgery day (explained in cons below) every time a procedure was done the nurse or doctor explained what they were doing and why, to calm my obvious fears (I was very nervous about the procedure). - They use lasers for everything, including cutting the cornea flap, which for some reason made me feel better about the procedure. - Although it was not the cheapest, it was very reasonably priced, and they give a discount if you have certain health insurance or are a Berkeley student. I had a lot of reservations about going someplace cheap. Also, having it be part of the University gave me some comfort. - There were a lot of follow ups. My vision just got better at each. They gave very clear instructions pre and post op about what I should be doing during visits. - Everyone who worked there was really nice and approachable. - They have a video feed of the surgery so your friend/loved one can watch and even record it. - It was very easy to get reimbursed from my FSA, and they did everything they could to help with the process. The Cons - The location was not very convenient for me. Getting the Berkeley's campus at any time of the day is kind of a pain. They do have parking near the center, so it's slightly less of a pain. - The day of the surgery the doctor needed to put some kind of die in my eye to do something or other. I am very squeamish about things going in my eye, although I can be calmed down if I know what is happening and why. But the doctor didn't really explain what he was doing until after it was done, and I think it would have gone better the other way around. Overall, a great experience and I would highly recommend to anyone considering lasik to check out Berkeley. read more

This place rocks!!! Doctors are awesome and the staff are the sweetest people. Do keep in mind that getting there is easy w/all the foot traffic, construction and parking, but so worth it when you know you got one of the best doctors. So glad I listened to you Yelpers! Thxs! read more

Dr. Tran and the staff at UC Berkeley were absolutely fantastic throughout my experience of having PRK surgery, and just a week later I am nearly 20/20 and have suffered only mild discomfort. I am 32 yrs old and had mild astigmatism and a -1.5 prescription in both eyes, and considered Lasik for a while but had normal inhibitions about its safety and potential complications. I can say without any doubt that the negatives you read about Lasik/PRK online are way overblown when you are in the skilled hands of Dr. Tran and the surgeons of UC Berkeley (I had Mira Lim), and that you should absolutely spend the extra money to go here versus one of the corporate centers (like Lasik Vision Institute in Oakland). On the first point, I did quite a bit of research about all the ways the surgery can go wrong: dry eye, flap displacement, haze, vision loss, etc. However, the two main reasons this happens are 1) you are not a good candidate in the first place (too thin corneas, large pupils, not enough tear production, etc.), or 2) your post-op care is not handled well and you get an infection or fail to allow your eye to properly heal. Both of these points were discussed at length with me when I visited for my consult, and they were clear that they reject about 50% of potential patients for these reasons. The key is they don't have any incentive as they are not run as a standalone for-profit center that wants your $$$ ASAP. If you are a bad candidate, they will find out why and tell you. There were two appointments prior to surgery to triple-check everything with my eyes, and I got a full preview of the operating room and a step-by-step walkthrough of what the surgery would be like. I was a candidate for Lasik or PRK, but they explained that PRK was slightly safer if you could handle the longer recovery because you don't get a flap so I went with that. Other centers will often push you to Lasik because more post-op appointments are needed for PRK, and they'd rather stop dealing with you ASAP. I had a follow-up the day after surgery and Dr. Tran called me again on Sunday. This was all in very, very stark contrast to Lasik Vision Center, where I did an initial free consult and found out that a) they still use a BLADE for Lasik, which is an outdated procedure, and b) they pressure you into Lasik without being careful about your eligibility and without properly preparing you for the procedure. I had slightly dry eyes, which requires dry eye therapy for a few weeks, but then they tried to schedule me for surgery in the same week with heavy handed sales tactics (lied about their groupon deal, lied about availability). They also dismissed PRK as a worse option, and were not nearly as thorough in really every aspect I can think of. While the procedure is fairly simply, none of that will matter if you are a bad candidate, or you don't know how to handle the recovery (which IMO is really quite mild, but you have to wear your goggles / use your drops / understand that you just had surgery and how to maximize healing!) The cost at UC Berkeley was $4800 vs $1800 at Lasik Vision Center with a Groupon. Most people can use the cheaper option and come out "okay", but do you really want a 10% chance that you are mishandled? And good luck trying to get PRK if you want it. Best money I ever spent and so excited for my NEW EYES. Don't buy all the fear mongering online, but DO invest in the great doctors at UC Berkeley. read more

I had an amazing experience with my PRK surgery. Dr. Tran made sure that I was taking care of my eye properly post-op and my eyes healed fantastic and in less than 2 months, it is fully healed with a 20/15 vision. I recommend anyone to come in for a consultation and get lasik/prk. The surgery was very convenient, simple, and just absolutely life-changing. read more

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! read more

It was very difficult to reach them. They rarely pick up their phone and it always goes to voicemail. I went with another lasik provider instead the uses similar equipment. They're schedules are two months out which made it even more difficult to get anything done. read more

I had LASIK done here late January 2014, If I said that I have had a better experience at another institution, well I'd be lying. From Day 1, all the staff were really helpful. From that day up until my very last 6 month post-op, everyone has been extremely professional. I had any and all of my questions answered. I felt extremely safe regardless of if I was having a routine pre/post-op or if I was having a laser shot into my eyes. Not to mention the fact that I'm seeing almost 20/15 6 months later. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE. I CANNOT IMAGINE HAVING THE PROCEDURE DONE ANYWHERE ELSE. read more

I had PRK surgery here and felt very comfortable through the whole process. Every part of process leading up to surgery, during surgery, and post surgical care was explained well and instructions were thorough. I felt confident in abilities of the team that was working with me and their ability to provide me with the greatest chances for a positive outcome. read more

I had PRK surgery with Dr. Mira Lim last month and could not be more pleased with the results and experience. I had astigmatism, which made things blurry at distance and especially for night driving. Dr. Tran carefully tested me a few times before the surgery and made sure I was ready to go. My surgeon Dr. Lim was super nice and very knowledgeable and thorough. Surgery was a breeze, only some discomfort the next couple days, which they prepared me for and gave me instructions on how to recover quickly. My vision kept improving and at the 1 month check, I am now 20/15. The staff is awesome and I felt well-cared for throughout the process. Thank you UC Berkeley, Dr. Lim, Dr. Tran and staff! read more

Great staff, explained everything clearly, and made LASIK as easy a process as it gets.

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. read more

After wearing glasses for over 30 years, I finally decided for a LASIK surgery at this center.. Amazing result right after the surgery.. The whole team was friendly and patience, Dr. Tran even called me on Sat to see how I was doing.. Lastly a special thank you to Stephanie who helped me starting from day 01 till the surgery day, she is the surgical nurse and she pretty much does everything... read more

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

Came here to get my nearsightedness corrected. Did a fairly good job on one eye, but the other one still has significant astigmatism despite having come in to do a correction a year later. Unlikely I'll come back here for a further correction, as they didn't seem to pay too much attention to me when I was trying to explain to them the problems I was having. read more

Hello Yelpers! 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! read more

Dr. Tran, Stephanie, Dr. Sorenson, and everybody at the Refractive Surgery Center are amazing people. They really cared about me as a person. This was my very first surgery ever, and I was a little concerned at the beginning, but they explained everything to me, made me feel comfortable, and everything turned out GREAT in the end. I recommend this place to absolutely anyone who is interested in getting a LASIK eye surgery. Go Bears! read more

Awesome staff, and flawless work. Dr. Sorenson performed my PRK surgery, while Dr. Tran led me through the recovery phase. Dr. Tran really does care for her patients, ensuring as stress-free a recovery as possible. The results far and away exceeded my expectations. Highly recommended. read more

I had a really great experience here. As a student with SHIP, I got 50% off and ended up paying $2500 for both eyes plus the cost of an eye exam and eye drops. I followed their before and after care to the T and they healed really well. I know have 20/15 in both eyes and love it! The surgery only takes like 15 minutes and isn't nearly as scary/painful as I was imagining. I would totally recommend if you have SHIP or a real job :) read more

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. read more

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! read more