Cataract Surgery in San Francisco
Cataract surgery in San Francisco at LaserVue Eye Center
Clear, vibrant vision is closer than you think.
If blurry vision, glare, or faded colors are keeping you from enjoying life, cataract surgery can help restore your sight and your independence.
LaserVue Eye Center offers advanced robotic laser cataract surgery with multiple lifestyle lens options available. We are located in San Francisco at 711 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 320, in the Civic Center and Van Ness corridor. Drs. Stephanie Wangyu, MD and Jay Bansal, MD have treated more than thousands of patients in the San Francisco Bay Area.
If you suspect you may have cataracts, your first step is to schedule an eye examination from an experienced cataract specialist. Your evaluation begins with a comprehensive consultation, involving a detailed examination of your eyes. Our expert eye care specialists will take precise measurements and review every lens option available to you.
Choose Our San Francisco Cataract Specialists
- Lifestyle Lens options: Wide suite of lens options including standard monofocal, multifocal, astigmatism-correcting (toric), extended depth of focus (EDOF), and light-adjustable lenses. Learn more
- Minimal Wait: You don’t have to wait ages for your cataract surgery. We have a dedicated ambulatory surgery center available to us.
- Financing: Affordable payment plans and financing options available. Cataract surgery is covered under many insurance plans.
- Conveniently Located: Our office is in the heart of Downtown San Francisco at 711 Van Ness Ave, Ste 320, San Francisco, CA 94102
- Call Us to Schedule or Learn More: (415) 346-5500
To learn more about cataracts and cataract surgery, see our main cataract surgery page.
“LaserVue Eye Center are my first choice for LASIK and cataract surgery both for myself and for my patients. My patients appreciate the friendly and caring approach and the excellent care LaserVue provides. That is why I chose LaserVue for my own cataract surgery.”
— Dr. Ian Middleton, Optometrist
What is a cataract, and why does it cloud my vision?
Cataracts are a gradual clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which interferes with light reaching the retina. As cataracts develop, vision may become blurry, dim, or hazy. This is often described as looking through a foggy or dusty window.
Colors may appear duller. Glare and halos around lights can become more noticeable. Everyday activities like reading or driving at night may feel more challenging.
The lens is mostly water and protein, and as the proteins break down and clump together with age, the lens turns cloudy and yellowed. Light scatters instead of focusing cleanly, so vision becomes blurry, dull, and harder to use at night.
Cataracts usually develop slowly over years, which is why many people do not notice the change until it interferes with daily life.
Cataracts come in a few common types, and a single eye can have more than one type of cataract:
- Nuclear cataract: Forms in the center of the lens. This is the most common age-related type. It can cause yellowing and, early on, a temporary shift toward nearsightedness.
- Cortical cataract: Forms in the lens shell as wedge-shaped opacities. The cortical cataract tends to cause glare and scattered light.
- Posterior subcapsular cataract: Forms at the back of the lens. This cataract often progresses faster, and commonly affects reading and night vision with halos around lights.
Cataracts cannot be reversed with eyedrops, glasses, or diet. When cataracts interfere with the things you want to do, surgery is the only proven way to restore clarity. Fortunately, cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures in modern medicine with great rates of safety and outcomes.
Signs you may be ready for a cataract evaluation
Cataracts develop gradually, so the symptoms can be easy to dismiss until they add up.
Cataracts are a natural part of aging, but they do not have to limit your lifestyle. You might notice cataracts are affecting you if you experience:
- Blurry, cloudy, or dim vision that makes reading street signs difficult.
- Colors that look faded, washed out, or yellowed
- Intense glare from lights during night drives.
- Frequent changes in your glasses or contact lens prescription.
- Glasses no longer fix your vision challenges.
- Brighter lighting needed to read or do up-close work.
- Trouble with daily tasks such as driving, reading, watching television, or recognizing faces.
The only way to know for certain whether a cataract is the cause of your poor vision is by getting an eye exam. A consultation at LaserVue Eye Center allows you to speak with an expert doctor, evaluate your eyes, confirm whether you are a candidate, and review your options. All with no obligation or pressure.
Robotic Laser Cataract Surgery
The Next Generation in Vision Correction for Cataract Patients
LaserVue offers two proven approaches to removing a cataract. When you visit our San Francisco office for your cataract consultation, our doctors will recommend the right procedure for your eyes. We take a personalized approach instead of applying a single procedure to every patient.
Robotic Laser Cataract Surgery
Robotic Laser Cataract Surgery, also referred to as Laser-Assisted Catract Surgery, uses a computer-guided femtosecond laser to assist key steps in the cataract surgery process, including the corneal incision, the circular opening in the lens capsule, and softening of the cataract before it is removed. The aim is to add precision to steps a surgeon would otherwise perform entirely by hand. It is often a good fit for candidates choosing a premium or astigmatism-correcting lens.
Robotic Laser Cataract Surgery
Contrary to popular belief, traditional manual cataract surgery is not usually performed with a laser. Cataract surgery uses a long-established, highly refined technique called phacoemulsification. In this process, the surgeon uses ultrasound energy to break up and remove the cloudy lens through a tiny incision. Cataract surgery is effective, widely used, and typically covered by insurance and Medicare when surgery is medically indicated.
Pioneers in Modern Cataract Surgery
LaserVue Eye Center proudly introduces advanced Robotic Laser Cataract Surgery to Northern California using ALLY Robotic Cataract Laser System™
We are thrilled to be able to offer the most advanced cataract surgery technology to our patients. LaserVue Eye Center is the very first ophthalmic surgery centers to offer Robotic Laser Cataract Surgery to patients in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Designed to complete the entire cataract surgery procedure in a single, sterile setting, ALLY’s new Robotic Cataract Laser System™ reduces surgery time, empowering surgeons to provide premium patient experiences along with optimal visual results.
By leveraging the power of robotics, we have the ability to further elevate our patients’ experience, procedural precision, and surgical outcome.
Lens options for San Francisco cataract patients
During cataract surgery, the clouded natural lens is removed and replaced with a clear artificial intraocular lens, or IOL, that stays in your eye permanently. The lens you choose shapes how you experience your vision afterward. Therefore, it is one of the most important decisions we help you to make when you choose LaserVue Eye Center for your vision correction.
| Lens type | What it does | Typical coverage path |
|---|---|---|
| Monofocal (standard) | Restores clear vision at one set distance. Glasses are usually still needed for some tasks, such as reading. | Often covered by Medicare or insurance when surgery is medically indicated |
| Toric (Astigmatism) | Corrects astigmatism for sharper, more even focus | Out-of-pocket upgrade, financing available |
| Multifocal and Extended Depth Of Field (EDOF) | Widen the range of clear vision across distances to reduce dependence on glasses for everyday tasks | Out-of-pocket upgrade, financing available |
| Light-Adjustable Lens (LAL & LAL+) | Allows the surgeon to fine-tune the lens power with light treatments after surgery, once the eye has healed | Out-of-pocket upgrade, financing available |
Premium lenses are designed to reduce how often glasses get in the way of the things you care about, whether that is reading a menu in a North Beach restaurant, recognizing faces across a room, or driving comfortably at night. Results vary from person to person, and no lens is right for every eye. Your board-certified surgeon walks you through which lens fits your eyes and your goals during your free consultation.
What to expect on the day of surgery
Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure, which means you go home the same day. It is performed one eye at a time, using numbing drops or local anesthesia along with light sedation to keep you comfortable, so most patients report little to no discomfort during the procedure itself. You stay awake but relaxed.
Here is the general flow for San Francisco patients:
- Measurements first: before surgery, your eye is measured precisely to select the power of your new lens. These measurements help your surgeon match the lens to your eye.
- The day of surgery: plan to be at the surgical facility for roughly two to three hours, which covers check-in, dilation, anesthesia, the procedure, and a short recovery period before you leave.
- The procedure itself: the surgery is brief, often around 10 to 20 minutes for an uncomplicated case. The surgeon removes the clouded lens through a tiny incision and places your clear intraocular lens.
- Going home: arrange a ride. You should not drive yourself home on surgery day.
The exact timing and details for your eyes are reviewed during your consultation, once your candidacy and lens choice are confirmed.
Recovery after cataract surgery
Recovery varies from person to person, but most cataract patients heal quickly. Many notice clearer vision within a day or two, and vision typically continues to sharpen over the following days and weeks as the eye settles. Full healing generally takes about four to six weeks.
- First days: mild scratchiness, light sensitivity, or watering can be normal and usually fade quickly. You will use prescription eye drops to support healing and prevent infection.
- Activity: many people return to light daily activities within a day or two. Avoid heavy lifting, bending at the waist, swimming, and rubbing the eye during early recovery, and follow your care team’s specific guidance.
- Driving: do not resume driving until your surgeon clears you.
- Second eye: when both eyes have cataracts, surgery is scheduled one eye at a time, commonly a few weeks apart, so the first eye can heal before the second is treated.
Your LaserVue care team gives you a recovery plan and follow-up schedule tailored to your eyes, and you can call the San Francisco office at (415) 346-5500 with any questions during healing.
Treating cataracts can also improve depth perception and balance. Research links cataract surgery to a lower risk of falls in older adults.
Will the cataract come back? Secondary cataract and YAG
A cataract that has been removed does not grow back. The clouded natural lens is gone for good, and your intraocular lens is designed to last for the rest of your life.
Some patients do notice their vision becoming hazy again months or years later. This is usually a common, treatable condition called posterior capsule opacification, sometimes called a secondary cataract. The thin membrane that holds your new lens can become cloudy over time. It is not a new cataract, and it is corrected with a quick, painless in-office laser treatment called a YAG capsulotomy that creates a small clear opening in the membrane. Vision typically improves within hours to a day, and most people return to normal activity right away. Your surgeon will explain whether this applies to you if it ever comes up.
Why San Francisco patients choose LaserVue
San Francisco has no shortage of cataract providers, from hospital-affiliated groups near Civic Center to high-volume practices downtown. LaserVue is built around continuity with a board-certified surgeon and a full refractive menu under one roof.
- Central San Francisco location. The Van Ness Avenue office is steps from the Van Ness corridor, reachable from Civic Center BART and Muni, with paid parking garages nearby. It serves the Richmond, the Sunset, Pacific Heights, the Mission, SoMa, and Marin without a hospital-campus detour.
- Founded here and independently owned. Dr. Jay Bansal founded LaserVue and has cared for Bay Area eyes since 1996, so the surgeon who evaluates you is the surgeon who follows your care.
- Board-certified surgical care. Your evaluation, surgery, and lens selection are handled by board-certified surgeons.
- Whole-eye expertise. Because the practice also performs LASIK, SMILE, EVO ICL, PRK, and refractive lens exchange, your cataract surgeon can tell you when a different procedure fits your eyes better.
- Full lens range. Patients who want to reduce their dependence on glasses can compare toric, multifocal, EDOF, and light-adjustable lenses in one consultation.
Cost, Medicare, and financing
The cost of cataract surgery in San Francisco depends on whether you choose a standard or a premium lens and on your coverage. Because a cataract is a medical condition, standard cataract surgery with a monofocal lens is often covered by Medicare or commercial insurance for patients who meet medical criteria. Premium lens upgrades go beyond basic medical need, so they are typically an out-of-pocket investment.
- Standard cataract surgery: often covered by Medicare or insurance when medically indicated
- Premium lens upgrades: toric, multifocal, EDOF, and light-adjustable lenses are out-of-pocket, and you can spread the cost with CareCredit or LaserVue in-house financing
- Your most accurate quote: a free consultation at the Van Ness Avenue office, where we review your specific coverage, your candidacy, and your lens choice together
Every eye and every insurance plan is different, so the consultation is where you get a real number for your situation.
Visiting the Van Ness Avenue office
LaserVue’s San Francisco office is easy to reach from across the city and the North Bay.
- Address: 711 Van Ness Ave, Suite 320, San Francisco, CA 94102
- Phone: (415) 346-5500
- Transit: near Civic Center BART and Muni, with several Van Ness Muni lines close by
- Parking: paid garages nearby on Van Ness Avenue and in the Civic Center area
- Second location: LaserVue also has an office in Santa Rosa at 3540 Mendocino Ave, Suite 200, (707) 522-6200, for patients in Sonoma County and the North Bay
- On surgery day: arrange a ride home and follow your surgeon’s clearance before you resume driving
Book a free cataract consultation in San Francisco: call (415) 346-5500 or request your visit online. The visit evaluates your candidacy, compares standard and premium lens options, and reviews your insurance with no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does LaserVue perform cataract surgery in San Francisco?
LaserVue’s San Francisco office is at 711 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 320, in the Civic Center and Van Ness corridor, reachable by Civic Center BART, Muni, and nearby paid parking garages. You can reach the office at (415) 346-5500.
Does LaserVue offer laser or robotic cataract surgery in San Francisco?
Yes. LaserVue offers laser-assisted cataract surgery, sometimes called robotic cataract surgery, at the San Francisco office, alongside traditional manual surgery. A computer-guided femtosecond laser assists key steps to add precision, and your surgeon recommends which approach fits your eyes during your consultation.
Is cataract surgery covered by Medicare or insurance in San Francisco?
Standard cataract surgery with a monofocal lens is often covered by Medicare or insurance for patients who meet medical criteria, since a cataract is a medical condition. Premium lens upgrades are usually an out-of-pocket investment. We review your specific coverage during your free consultation.
What lens options are available at the San Francisco office?
You can choose a standard monofocal lens or upgrade to a toric, multifocal, extended-depth-of-focus (EDOF), or light-adjustable lens. Premium lenses are designed to widen your range of clear vision and reduce dependence on glasses. Results vary by person, and your surgeon helps you choose the lens that fits your eyes and goals.
How much does cataract surgery cost in San Francisco?
The cost depends on whether you choose a standard or premium lens and on your coverage. Standard surgery is often covered by Medicare or insurance, while premium lens upgrades are out-of-pocket with CareCredit and in-house financing available. A free consultation gives you an accurate quote for your eyes.
How long does cataract surgery take?
The surgery itself is brief, often around 10 to 20 minutes for an uncomplicated case, and is performed on an outpatient basis one eye at a time. Plan to be at the surgical facility for roughly two to three hours on the day, which covers check-in, dilation, anesthesia, the procedure, and a short recovery period before you go home.
Does cataract surgery hurt?
Cataract surgery is performed with numbing drops or local anesthesia and light sedation, so most patients report little to no discomfort during the procedure. You stay awake but relaxed, and your care team reviews comfort and recovery with you beforehand.
How long does it take to recover from cataract surgery?
Recovery varies by person, but most patients notice clearer vision within a day or two, with continued improvement over the following weeks. Full healing generally takes about four to six weeks. Your surgeon gives you specific guidance and a follow-up schedule for your eyes.
When can I drive after cataract surgery?
Arrange a ride home on surgery day, since you should not drive yourself home. Many people resume driving within a few days, but do not resume driving until your surgeon clears you based on how your eyes are healing.
Will my cataract come back after surgery?
No. Once a cataract is removed, it does not grow back. Some patients notice cloudiness return months or years later from a common, treatable condition called posterior capsule opacification, or secondary cataract, which is corrected with a quick in-office laser treatment called a YAG capsulotomy.
Can both eyes have cataract surgery at the same time?
Cataract surgery is performed one eye at a time. When both eyes have cataracts, the second surgery is commonly scheduled a few weeks after the first so the first eye can heal before the second is treated. Your surgeon recommends the timing for your eyes.
How do I know if I am a candidate for cataract surgery?
The only way to know is an eye exam. A free consultation at LaserVue in San Francisco evaluates your candidacy, takes precise measurements of your eyes, reviews your lens options, and answers your questions with no obligation.
How do I book a free cataract consultation in San Francisco?
Call LaserVue’s San Francisco office at (415) 346-5500 or request a consultation online. The free, no-obligation visit evaluates your candidacy, compares standard and premium lens options, and reviews your insurance.
Related services and locations at LaserVue
- Cataract surgery overview: how cataract surgery works at LaserVue.
- Laser and robotic cataract surgery: computer-guided precision for the right candidate.
- Refractive lens exchange: a lens-based vision correction option.
- Cataract surgery in Santa Rosa: for Sonoma County patients.
- LaserVue San Francisco office: on Van Ness Avenue near Civic Center.
- Meet Dr. Jay Bansal: the board-certified surgeon and founder of LaserVue.
- Book a free consultation: review your lens options with no obligation.
Ready to SEE a Change?
Helping you to achieve your personal best vision is our mission at LaserVue Eye Center. Wondering where to start?
Please complete the fields on the right to schedule a free consultation and discuss your options with our eye doctors! You can also Call 1-800-527-3745 to speak with our staff.
