California's Academic Eye Centers: Locations, Referrals and Access

Two details from the centers' own pages show how central referrals are. UC Davis Health describes its Eye Center as Northern California's leading academic tertiary referral eye center, and Stanford publishes a referral form for doctors outside Stanford Health Care. A referral from another doctor is a normal route in.

At a glance

How referral to an academic center works

1. Talk with your current doctorAsk whether a referral to an academic center makes sense for your situation, and which center and service they have in mind.
2. Check your planAsk your health plan whether the center and its physicians are in network, and whether you need a referral or prior approval before the first visit.
3. Send the referralSome centers publish their process. Stanford Byers, for example, takes referrals on its own form from doctors outside Stanford Health Care. The referring office usually sends this, not the patient.
4. Confirm the detailsWhen the center calls, ask which location you'll be seen at, what to bring and where to park or get dropped off.

For the coverage side, including HMO, PPO, Medi-Cal and Covered California questions, see our referrals and insurance guide.

Northern California

UCSF Department of Ophthalmology (San Francisco and Berkeley)

UCSF's Department of Ophthalmology is housed in the UCSF Wayne and Gladys Valley Center for Vision on the Mission Bay campus, which also houses the Francis I. Proctor Foundation.

The department's contact page also lists the Crede Ambulatory Care Center (ACC 6th Floor, 400 Parnassus) and the Berkeley Outpatient Center – Ophthalmology at 3100 San Pablo Ave, Suite 420, Berkeley, phone (510) 985-5200. Ask which site you'll be seen at when you book.

Stanford Byers Eye Institute (Palo Alto, Livermore, Portola Valley)

Stanford's ophthalmology patient care page lists three locations: 2452 Watson Court, Palo Alto 94303; 1133 E. Stanley Blvd, Livermore 94550; and 3250 Alpine Rd, Portola Valley 94028. Clinic details are also on Stanford Health Care's Byers page.

Doctors outside Stanford Health Care refer patients with a Byers referral form, sent by fax to 650-320-9443 or by email to referralcenter@stanfordhealthcare.org. The form is for referring physicians, so your doctor's office sends it.

UC Davis Health Eye Center – Ernest E. Tschannen Eye Institute (Sacramento)

The UC Davis Health Eye Center is at 4860 Y Street, Suite 1E, Sacramento, CA 95817. The appointment line is 916-734-6602, and the center also has locations in Roseville, Folsom and Davis. Its services page describes it as Northern California's leading academic tertiary referral eye center.

Los Angeles and Orange County

UCLA Stein Eye Institute (Westwood)

The UCLA Stein Eye Institute is at 100 Stein Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, phone +1-310-825-5000. It was founded in 1966. UCLA Health lists Eye Immediate Care at Stein, offering same-day evaluation for urgent eye problems.

According to UCLA Health's eye department page, the Doheny Eye Institute is a nonprofit affiliated with UCLA Stein. Patients can be seen at Doheny Eye Center UCLA in Arcadia, Orange County and Pasadena, and a Doheny campus in Pasadena was due to start seeing patients in January 2025. Check its current status with UCLA Health.

USC Roski Eye Institute, Keck Medicine of USC

The main clinic is at 1450 San Pablo St., 4th Floor (Suite 4400), Los Angeles, CA 90033, phone (323) 442-6335, open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. Other locations include Arcadia (65 N. First Ave., Suite 101), Pasadena (625 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Suite 400), Glendale and USC Village. See also the Keck School of Medicine patient care page.

Parking: Keck Medicine says there is no parking validation. The KMC Parking Structure on Alcazar charges an $8 flat rate, or $12 after 11 hours. The Arcadia clinic has free parking.

UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute (Irvine)

The Gavin Herbert Eye Institute is at 850 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA 92617. It opened in 2013, and at the time UCI said its clinic at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange would stay open. Confirm current clinic sites with UCI Health when you book.

San Diego

UC San Diego Health Shiley Eye Institute (La Jolla)

The Shiley Eye Institute is at 9415 Campus Point Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093. It says it is the only academic eye institution in the San Diego area.

Getting there: UC San Diego's contact page says to take the MTS Trolley Blue Line to the UC San Diego Health La Jolla stop and walk about 4 minutes. A weekday Campus Connector shuttle, running from 6:30 a.m., goes from the trolley station to Shiley's main entrance.

Questions to ask when you book

• Which location will I be seen at, and is it covered by my plan?
• Have you received my referral and records?
• What are the clinic hours, and where should I park or be dropped off?
• Will trainees be part of my care team?
• How do I reach the clinic after hours?

We haven't yet found official transit details for UCSF, Stanford, UCLA, UC Davis or UCI, so ask about parking and drop-off when you schedule.

Frequently asked questions