Eye Care Services in Baldwin Park, CA
San Gabriel Valley Eye Institute offers medical and surgical eye care in Baldwin Park, CA: cataract and premium lens surgery, glaucoma treatment including MIGS, LASIK, PRK and EVO ICL, cornea and dry eye care, and complete eye exams. Find each service below, or call (626) 960-3741 to schedule.
Treatments: Cataract surgery · LASIK and vision correction · Glaucoma care · Cornea and dry eye care · Medical and primary eye care
Eye problems we treat: Blurry vision and focusing problems · Red, irritated or uncomfortable eyes · Long term eye diseases · Urgent eye problems
Cataract surgery
Cataract surgery
Cataract surgery replaces the cloudy natural lens with a clear lens implant to restore sharp, bright vision. Dr. Philip Ngai and Dr. Thomas Vo perform small incision, sutureless cataract surgery at nearby outpatient surgery centers, and Medicare and most insurance plans cover it. Learn about cataract surgery.
Premium lens implants
Premium lens implants reduce your need for glasses after cataract surgery. Options include toric lenses that correct astigmatism and multifocal or extended depth of focus lenses for distance, computer and reading vision. Premium lenses add an out of pocket fee, and we give you a written quote first. Learn about premium lens implants.
Laser assisted cataract surgery
Laser assisted cataract surgery uses a femtosecond laser to make precise incisions, soften the cataract and help correct astigmatism. It is an optional upgrade that is not covered by insurance.
Limbal relaxing incisions (LRI)
Limbal relaxing incisions are tiny incisions made at the edge of the cornea during cataract surgery to reduce mild astigmatism, for sharper vision without glasses.
LASIK and vision correction
LASIK
Bladeless LASIK reshapes the cornea with a laser to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, with most patients seeing clearly within a day. Dr. Thomas Vo, our fellowship trained cornea and refractive surgeon, performs LASIK, and consultations are free. Learn about LASIK, PRK and EVO ICL.
PRK
PRK is a laser vision correction procedure without a corneal flap. It is often the better choice for thin corneas, certain corneal conditions or contact sports, with a slightly longer recovery than LASIK.
EVO ICL
EVO ICL is an implantable contact lens placed inside the eye to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism without removing corneal tissue. It is often a good choice for high prescriptions, thin corneas or dry eyes. Learn about EVO ICL.
Glaucoma care
Glaucoma diagnosis and treatment
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, usually without symptoms until vision is lost, so early diagnosis matters. We use visual field testing and optic nerve imaging to detect and monitor glaucoma, and treat it with eye drops, in office laser, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery and traditional surgery when needed. Learn about glaucoma care.
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS)
MIGS lowers eye pressure through tiny incisions with faster recovery and fewer risks than traditional glaucoma surgery, and it can often be combined with cataract surgery. Dr. Philip Ngai, a fellowship trained glaucoma specialist, performs a range of MIGS procedures and drug delivery implants and chooses the right one for each patient. Learn about MIGS.
Glaucoma laser treatment
In office laser treatment can lower eye pressure in open angle glaucoma and may reduce or replace daily eye drops. Other lasers prevent and treat angle closure glaucoma, a type that can cause a sudden emergency.
Cornea and dry eye care
Cornea care
Dr. Thomas Vo, a fellowship trained cornea specialist, diagnoses and treats diseases of the cornea, the clear front window of the eye, including infections, scarring and irregular corneas.
Dry eye treatment
Dry eye has several causes, and the right treatment depends on the cause. We treat it with prescription drops, eyelid and oil gland care, punctal plugs that keep natural tears on the eye longer, and amniotic membrane treatment to help the eye surface heal. Dr. Atalie Liu sees many of our dry eye patients. Learn about dry eye treatment.
Medical and primary eye care
Comprehensive and medical eye exams
Dr. Atalie Liu, our optometrist, and our ophthalmologists provide complete eye exams, glasses prescriptions, diabetic eye exams and care for macular degeneration, eye infections, inflammation, flashes and floaters. Medical eye problems are billed to your medical insurance, and we accept VSP for routine vision exams.
How often should you get an eye exam? See our guide by age and risk.
Explore the eye conditions we diagnose and follow, including ones with no early symptoms.
Taking Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine)? Learn about screening.
Contact lens exams and specialty fittings
Dr. Atalie Liu fits soft and specialty contact lenses. Contact lens fittings are a separate service from a glasses exam and have their own fee.
Urgent eye care
We hold same day appointments for eye emergencies such as new flashes or floaters, a curtain over your vision, sudden vision loss, eye injuries and problems after surgery. Call (626) 960-3741 right away.
Common eye problems we treat
Our ophthalmologists and optometrists diagnose and treat the full range of everyday and serious eye problems. Find your symptom below to learn what it may be, how it is treated, and when to call.
Blurry vision and focusing problems
Nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism
These common focusing problems happen when the eye does not bend light sharply onto the retina, causing blurry vision far away, up close, or at all distances. We measure your prescription precisely and correct it with glasses or contact lenses, or discuss LASIK, PRK, EVO ICL or lens surgery if you want less dependence on glasses.
Presbyopia (trouble reading up close)
After about age 40 the natural lens stiffens, making small print, menus and phone screens harder to read. Reading glasses, progressive lenses, multifocal contact lenses and, at the time of cataract surgery, premium lens implants can all help.
Digital eye strain
Long hours on screens can cause tired, dry, burning eyes, headaches and blurry vision. An exam checks for an uncorrected prescription or dry eye, and simple habits like the 20 20 20 rule (every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds) help a lot.
Red, irritated or uncomfortable eyes
Dry eye disease
Dry eye causes burning, grittiness, redness, watering and vision that blurs and clears with blinking. It is often caused by blocked oil glands or inflammation. Dr. Atalie Liu finds the cause and treats it with drops, eyelid care and in office treatments.
Blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction
Inflamed eyelid margins and clogged oil glands cause crusty, itchy, red lids and dry eye symptoms. Treatment includes warm compresses, lid hygiene, prescription drops and in office gland treatments.
Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
Pink eye can be viral, bacterial or allergic, and each needs different care. We confirm the cause and treat it, and we check for more serious problems that can look like pink eye, such as corneal infections and iritis.
Eye allergies
Itchy, watery, red eyes during allergy season or around pets are usually allergic conjunctivitis. Prescription antihistamine and anti inflammatory drops give faster, longer relief than over the counter products.
Styes and chalazia
A stye is a painful, red bump at the lid edge from a blocked or infected gland; a chalazion is a firmer, usually painless lump. Most improve with warm compresses, and ones that do not can be treated in the office.
Contact lens problems and corneal infections
Pain, redness, light sensitivity or blurry vision while wearing contacts can signal a corneal ulcer, which needs same day care. Remove your lenses and call us right away.
Pterygium and pinguecula
These are growths on the white of the eye caused mostly by sun exposure. Lubricating and anti inflammatory drops calm irritation, and a pterygium that grows toward the center of the cornea can be removed surgically.
Broken blood vessel on the eye
A bright red patch on the white of the eye is usually a harmless subconjunctival hemorrhage that clears in one to two weeks. See us if it is painful, affects your vision, follows an injury or keeps coming back.
Uveitis and iritis
Inflammation inside the eye causes a painful red eye, light sensitivity and blurry vision. It needs prompt treatment with prescription drops to prevent complications such as glaucoma and cataract.
Long term eye diseases
Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens that causes blurry or dim vision, glare and halos at night, and faded colors. When it interferes with daily life, cataract surgery restores clear vision. See cataract surgery.
Glaucoma and high eye pressure
Glaucoma slowly damages the optic nerve, often with no symptoms until side vision is lost. High eye pressure (ocular hypertension) raises the risk. Regular testing finds it early, and treatment with drops, laser or MIGS protects your sight. See glaucoma care.
Macular degeneration
Age related macular degeneration affects central vision, making faces and print blurry or distorted. We diagnose and monitor it with retinal imaging, recommend eye vitamins when appropriate, and work with retina specialists when injection treatment is needed.
Diabetic eye disease
Diabetes can damage the blood vessels of the retina long before vision changes. A dilated diabetic eye exam every year catches problems early, and we send a report to your primary care doctor or endocrinologist.
Keratoconus and corneal disease
Keratoconus thins and bulges the cornea, causing distorted vision that glasses cannot fully correct. Dr. Thomas Vo, our fellowship trained cornea specialist, diagnoses and manages corneal conditions, and specialty contact lenses such as scleral lenses often restore clear vision.
Urgent eye problems
New flashes and floaters
A sudden increase in floaters, flashes of light or a curtain over your vision can mean a retinal tear or detachment, which needs a dilated exam the same day. Call (626) 960-3741 right away.
Sudden vision loss or double vision
Sudden vision loss or new double vision is an emergency. Call (626) 960-3741 right away, and call 911 if you also have face drooping, arm weakness or trouble speaking.
Eye injuries and chemical splashes
For a chemical splash, rinse the eye with clean water for at least 15 minutes, then call (626) 960-3741. Scratches and objects in the eye should be seen the same day; for a serious injury, go to the emergency room.
Sudden eye pain with headache and nausea
A painful red eye with blurred vision, halos, headache and nausea can be acute angle closure glaucoma, which can cause permanent vision loss within hours. Call us immediately or go to the emergency room.
This information is for general education and does not replace an eye exam. If you have a sudden change in vision, eye pain or an eye injury, call us right away or seek emergency care.