Helena Cheng, OD
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Helena Cheng, OD
From cataract surgery and corneal treatments, to vision correction surgeries such as Visian ICL and LASIK, our team of expert eye doctors at San Francisco Eye Institute are committed to providing our patients with top quality eye care. Whether you are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism or presbyopia, we offer customized vision correction surgery to help you reduce or even eliminate your dependence on glasses or contacts.

When you meet with us to discuss your vision correction goals, we'll assess your lifestyle, desires, and eye health to determine the best option for you. Cataracts impact nearly one-half of all Americans by the age of 75, and can cause blurred or distorted vision, the muted appearance of colors, and difficulty seeing at night.
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Welcome to San Francisco Eye Institute, where we are committed to efficiently providing the highest quality of comprehensive, customized eye care that is fully focused on the patient experience.

San Francisco Eye Institute is built on a practice that was established in the 1940s, and over the years it has been brought to the forefront of ophthalmology by incorporating electronic health records and state-of-the-art technology for the diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions.Our founder and CEO, Dr. Margaret Liu, acquired the practice in 2014 and established it as San Francisco Eye Institute in 2016.
Dr. Margaret Liu is a Board-Certified, Fellowship-Trained Ophthalmologist and she provides compassionate and skilled care in comprehensive ophthalmology as well as specialized treatment for cataracts, vision correction, and corneal diseases such as Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy and Keratoconus.

Using the latest technological advancements, Dr. Liu performs customized eye surgery including small-incision cataract surgery with astigmatism and presbyopia correction, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), intraocular lens exchanges, pterygium excision, corneal transplants, and crosslinking.
Dr. Helena Cheng offers comprehensive eye care which includes examination of eye health, diagnosis and treatment of various eye diseases, glasses prescription and contact lens fitting. With many years of experience, Dr. Cheng has had the pleasure of helping hundreds of patients with their vision problems.
Dr. Steven Cohen was educated at Cornell University and is a board-certified ophthalmologist, with over 43 years of experience in medical and surgical evaluation and treatment of the eyes. He offers full-service contact lens care, including gas permeable, soft, multifocal, and toric lenses. Dr. Cohen has extensive experience in diagnosing and managing a wide variety of eye conditions, and he teaches in the CPMC Ophthalmology Clinic.
Dr. Cruciger is a board-certified ophthalmologist who recently joined us in 2019 after having been in practice in San Francisco for over 37 years. He offers comprehensive ophthalmological care. In addition to practicing ophthalmology, Dr. Cruciger has taught residents at both UCSF and CPMC. He has also published articles in ophthalmology and neurology journals.
Reviews (9)
A. L.
A. L.
Jun 15, 2019
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Very nice and clean office. Very friendly and kind office staff. Everyone went out of their way to help me out. Even the doctor herself called back after few days to check in with me. I have never felt such a kind attitude from a doctor's office before and made me feel very welcome. Thank you for helping me get the best out of my insurance and making sure i didn't have to unnecessarily pay out of pocket.

Definitely will go back again. Will give 10 stars if that was an option!!
Shirley C.
Shirley C.
Apr 06, 2019
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Dr Lui was my second opinion. She is brilliant. Kind. She was able to rediagnose my symptoms from another eye doctor. Instead of surgery that was suggested she discovered that my issue was able to be treated with self care. I highly recommend her and her staff at the San Francisco Eye Institute.
Liz S.
Liz S.
Jun 27, 2018
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I came to Dr. Liu for care as she is the only ophthalmologist in San Francisco that offers ICL surgery. I was severely myopic, with a glasses prescription in the -20s that precluded me from Lasik.

It has only been a week since my surgery, but the change to my vision has been life-changing. It has been a great experience thus far, from the initial consultation and workup, to surgery day and post operative visits.

Drs. Liu and Chang provide top-notch, compassionate care and their staff are very welcoming and professional.

I also work in the healthcare industry and am so grateful to have a provider
Grover W.
Grover W.
Jun 07, 2018
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I have been seeing Dr. Liu and Dr. Chang for many years. They have both been amazing. What prompted this review now are the two cataract surgeries I had recently. Dr. Lui did the surgeries and all I can is that she is FANTASTIC. In addition to being very caring and kind she is a GREAT surgeon. The surgeries were actually pleasant and the results beyond expectations. Both Drs. Liu and Chang are very patient and will answer any questions with excellent explanations. They are also both always available. I completely DISAGREE with the criticisms of the reception staff given in another review
Simmi S.
Simmi S.
Nov 25, 2017
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First off, I don't think the receptionist should be a determining factor for a 1 star review (as listed below). Reviews on this page should reflect Dr. Liu as an ophthalmologist; not the facility in which the receptionists work. I've been a patient of Dr. Liu's for years; she practices at several different medical offices in SF and I've seen her at just about all of them. So trust me when I say the admin staff have nothing to do with her quality of care as a medical professional.

I first came to Dr. Liu after learning that my initial corneal transplant had failed from a surgery
Alia B.
Alia B.
Oct 26, 2017
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Dr Liu is very professional and caring !
She has been treating my eye problem for 3 years and I never had to wait long to make an appointment or wait longer than usual in her office !
She diagnosed my rare eye desease right away and found a great non invasive solution!
Rachel D.
Rachel D.
Feb 02, 2017
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Your "receptionists" are a representation of who you are as a business, company, and/or person. They are the first and last impression.They are the primary reason of why I will never be back. I thought showing up early for my appointment would be acceptable, instead I was looked at like I shouldn't be standing in the office to check in. I clearly interrupted your staff lunch period, my apologies. Please enjoy your lunch, but when a paying customer or patient walks in, start off by greeting them. I can think of many different responses other then "have a seat, we are still eating
A. W.
A. W.
Jan 23, 2017
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After the ophthalmologist I was seeing for almost a decade left the city, I began searching for a new eye doctor. After unsuccessful trial periods with two male physicians, I was quite relieved to begin seeing Dr. Cheng and Dr. Liu. Both have excellent communication skills -- they explain treatment modifications clearly, and they are kind and compassionate practitioners. All of the staff I've encountered are delightful and friendly.
Paul M.
Paul M.
Mar 26, 2016
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I have had my eyes monitored and cared for by Dr. Cheng for several years now, starting with her during the practice of Dr. Turan and continuing with Dr. Liu. She is one of the best in her profession....bar none!. She is thorough and focused. She provides clear guidance and superb explanation of what your eyesight condition and its ongoing care. If you ask for any information to improve your eye care, you will receive the best in the business.