We are here for all your eye care needs, from routine eye exams to diagnosing and treating complex ocular diseases. We perform tests with the most up to date equipment and machines to detect problems early while it is easier to manage. Floaters are most commonly seen against a bright background. They develop as part of the normal aging process but could be a sign of something more serious.
High eye pressure and progressive thinning of the optic nerve can lead to blindness if not treated. Cataracts can cause dull blurry vision that makes it hard to see clearly even with glasses. It can be easily corrected with a simple surgery. Many conditions can irritate your eyes and cause discomfort, including dry eyes and allergies.
High eye pressure and progressive thinning of the optic nerve can lead to blindness if not treated. Cataracts can cause dull blurry vision that makes it hard to see clearly even with glasses. It can be easily corrected with a simple surgery. Many conditions can irritate your eyes and cause discomfort, including dry eyes and allergies.
Services
For the last 20 years, Bay EyeCare Institute has been servicing the Bay Area community. At Bay EyeCare Institute, we are committed to providing quality care with patience and compassion. From taking care of your eye health to choosing a new pair of glasses, our staff of highly trained doctors and technicians will diligently work with you to ensure your needs are met.
Dr. Winnie Chao, our optometrist, received her Bachelor of Art degrees in Molecular and Cell Biology, and Practice of Art from the University of California, Berkely in 2008. She completed her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 2014.
Dr. Chao also completed her post-doctoral residency training with focus on primary eye care, ocular diseases, and low vision at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System in Palo Alto, CA.Experienced in the full scope of optometry practice, from routine eye exams and contact lens fittings to management of ocular diseases, Dr. Chao will work with you in help you achieve better vision and health.
Dr. Chao also completed her post-doctoral residency training with focus on primary eye care, ocular diseases, and low vision at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System in Palo Alto, CA.Experienced in the full scope of optometry practice, from routine eye exams and contact lens fittings to management of ocular diseases, Dr. Chao will work with you in help you achieve better vision and health.
Sandra is an experienced ophthalmic technician and optical eye wear specialist. She works together with our optometrists to customize a solution for your visual needs. Sandra is dedicated to the science and art of frame selection. With her love of fashion, she helps patients choose glasses that not only fit their face, but also complement their features so they can always put their best face forward.
Using the latest in optical sensing technology, we are able to take a cross sectional image of your retina, which will aid your doctor in diagnosing retinal diseases. Using industry standard optical sensing technology, the machine is able to measure the axial dimensions of the eye. Additionally, the built-in Keratometer can also determine corneal curvature and size of your pupil.
LASIK is a type of refractive surgery that corrects vision problems that are caused by refractive errors. These are types of errors that occur when light does not bend properly and does not line up with your retina. This procedure is done by creating a small incision on your eye, exposing the area of your cornea that needs to be corrected.
Reviews (20)
Sharon Lin
Aug 29, 2021
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Brianna P.
May 18, 2021
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Dr. Song is an excellent ophthalmologist. He is very caring and attentive to patients. My mom did a cataract procedure with him, and he checked in often to make sure her recovery was ok. He also called the night before the procedure to make sure she was fully prepared. And he also called the night after the procedure with detailed instructions on how to care for the eye and to check in how she was feeling. The procedure was a success, and her eyes are both fully fixed now because he was very accurate and detailed in his procedure. We highly recommend Dr Song.
Christina Mirzaaghaeian
Feb 14, 2021
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James Chang
Dec 18, 2020
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Look no further!
Dr. Song is a fantastic doctor to handle your eye care needs. He is remarkably skilled and has that warm human touch rarely found today. You can tell he genuinely cares for all of his patients.
Sadly, I am an unlucky person who was diagnosed with severe Normal Tension Glaucoma on both eyes many years ago.
Since then, I have been researching & circling along many reputable clinics throughout the bay area with no noticeable help until I received the well-planned Diagnosis/Treatments/procedures provided by Dr. Song.
A brain MRI was initially prescribed to isolate the root cause
Dr. Song is a fantastic doctor to handle your eye care needs. He is remarkably skilled and has that warm human touch rarely found today. You can tell he genuinely cares for all of his patients.
Sadly, I am an unlucky person who was diagnosed with severe Normal Tension Glaucoma on both eyes many years ago.
Since then, I have been researching & circling along many reputable clinics throughout the bay area with no noticeable help until I received the well-planned Diagnosis/Treatments/procedures provided by Dr. Song.
A brain MRI was initially prescribed to isolate the root cause
Irma R.
Dec 03, 2020
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My husband and I were referred to Dr Song. Our experiences have nothing but pleasant. During this Covid-19 pandemic, one would expect waiting room to enforce social distancing; every time we went, there at least 4 patients, at times 6 in their small waiting room. My husband had laser procedure to remove film surrounding his lens implant from cataract procedure; and drops to his eyes were done right there in the waiting room. Rinsing of his eyes after the laser procedure to remove gel used was hurried, I believe, coz my husband complained about feeling there was plastic in his eyes. Prescription
Norman L.
Nov 01, 2020
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Melchor B.
Oct 22, 2020
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Michael Chen
Jul 02, 2020
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Dr james soung is a very professional doctor. I used to wear reading glasses, but my eyes became more and more unclear. My friend recommended to see Dr. Song. After a series of diagnosis, it was found that it was a cataract. After Dr. Song’s precise operation , Removed the cataract and installed a multifocal lens. Now I don’t need to wear glasses anymore, and I can read small characters without any problem.
Qing D. L.
Nov 02, 2018
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Be honest,Dr. Song is highly recommended doctors who is professional in the field. Last year I replaced my both Len due to innate cataract. Even though I spent half years on the entire project , It is worthy to wait. Each eye need several times to exam before surgery. Yes!100% perfect performance is the final outcome.
Angel F.
Jan 22, 2018
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Let me state, I am a medical professional with knowledge of ophthalmic practices and a very minimal prescription. I was referred to this provider by my insurance plan. I called to inquire about their price for a contact lens exam because I have an allowance benefit. To maximize the amount, its better that I find the lowest cost exam and use the remaining funds for contact lens. The woman told me several times the exam cost "depends on how much your insurance will pay". I explained that my insurer said I will receive 15% off their scheduled rate. The woman kept asking how much my benefits
Christopher Cantaloube
Dec 31, 2017
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Ola G.
Dec 30, 2017
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If there are zero stars here, I would give this doctor one. Very bad bedside manners. He prefers talking to his assistant who takes notes instead of talking to the patient so you feel like you are a laboratory rat being a subject of a conversation you can fully hear but not participate in. He comes across as rude and will not explain his diagnosis to you. But he will explain it to his apprentice/assistant!! That's so demeaning and not to mention rude!! He comes across as grumpy, abrupt and arrogant as well. This is after you spent hours waiting for him since he piles his patients in his
Bob M.
Dec 21, 2017
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Dr. Song performed cataract surgery on both my wife and myself several years back. Yes, waiting times are long but all exams and checks and re-checks are very thorough. He is probably, without doubt, the best eye surgeon in the area. I would much rather have a surgeon spend the extra time to re-check eye measurements many times before surgery and to get it right than to have less than optimal outcomes. Both my wife and I now have 20-20 vision in both eyes and require no glasses for near or far after he implanted our multi-focal lenses after removing the cataracted lenses. We are very pleased
Anjuna Manel
Aug 10, 2017
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I agree with first review I have been going their numerous times and have spent up to 4 hours at the office. I love Dr.Song and the change is very hard to make now. I think the office staff is not able to manage his office and they are not able to communicate properly. I have to make arrangements to drop and pick and I cannot afford to sit there for 3 hours. no one can. they should have a better times expectation for their patients. At one point they refused to see my child because they wanted the co payment first and I had my insurance on the phone explaining I don't need to pay the large copay
Susan J.
Jul 24, 2017
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Like the other reviews, AVOID this place unless you want to spend your whole day for an appointment. For a 10:30am appointment time, I arrived at 10:25am which is 5 minutes early. After waiting for 30 minutes, I complained to the front desk that it's been 30 minutes past my appointment time. The front desk told me that there was nothing she could do and that Dr. Song takes long time with his patients. When I told her maybe then, he shouldn't schedule his patients like this, she replied, and I quote "Dr. Song likes to schedule this way. He likes his patients packed in here."
Arlene Fujikawa
Jul 09, 2017
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Had an appointment at 10:50 am and still waiting. is it really the doctor's fault or his staff who can't manage his appointments? the doctor doesn't make the appointments, they do. Most of the time is spent with the office admins whether you're waiting or calling in for an appointment or more information. If they can't give you a good reason for a 2-hour delay and they say it's the doctor's fault and they can't get him to move any faster, then shame on them. They should at least let you know how long you're going to have to wait and give you the choice to either reschedule or wait. I've switched
J. O.
Aug 26, 2016
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Don't waste your time with Dr. Song. His only goal is for you to spend more money on services. Like others, I have had to wait 3 -4 hours for simple eye check or even dilation. He overbooks his calendar and makes everyone wait. I wasted 5 years seeing him. I even speak some Chinese, but that didn't matter. Finally I wised up and went to Steve Andersen and Ken Low.
Aravind Gopalan
Aug 13, 2016
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Lyn L.
Oct 21, 2015
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I really doubt about the honesty of their service. Just like the other person's reviews, this place is horrible. Totally waste of time and they just trick to make your pay out of pocket! I think they are around mainly cause the new immigrants and seniors who are easy to fool and don't use yelp! I would give zero star if I could! Shame on you! Ripping off seniors! I wish your will never getting old. If that day comes wish u get the same treatment as your provided to others.
Serena S.
Mar 31, 2009
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List of Problems:
1. Every appointment takes a minimum of 3 to 4 hours from a yearly eye exam to a follow up.
2. They check your vision EVERY time you visit whether it is a yearly exam, a three month, two week etc. follow up?!
3. The office does not go through the normal channels of submitting a claim to your insurance office and then billing you for the remainder afterwards. Instead they phone up your insurance office and ask what your coverage is and then want their payment at the time of service. So you have to keep track of your family's deductible balance or you may end up paying
1. Every appointment takes a minimum of 3 to 4 hours from a yearly eye exam to a follow up.
2. They check your vision EVERY time you visit whether it is a yearly exam, a three month, two week etc. follow up?!
3. The office does not go through the normal channels of submitting a claim to your insurance office and then billing you for the remainder afterwards. Instead they phone up your insurance office and ask what your coverage is and then want their payment at the time of service. So you have to keep track of your family's deductible balance or you may end up paying
