Chao Vision Institute

I underwent PRK surgery in June 2025, and my experience with Dr. Chao and his team was nothing short of exceptional. From the very beginning, Dr. Chao demonstrated outstanding bedside manner--he took the time to answer all my questions thoroughly and made sure I felt informed and comfortable throughout the process. Terry was also incredibly helpful, always available to address my concerns and keeping me well-informed in the lead-up to the procedure. Although I was nervous, Dr. Chao guided me through each step with calm reassurance, consistently checking in to make sure I was ready to move forward. His clear communication, genuine kindness, and expert care made a world of difference. He provided everything I needed for post-op recovery, and I experienced zero complications. Just as he had explained, everything went smoothly. At my one-month follow-up, my vision had improved to 20/20 in each eye and an impressive 20/15 with both eyes open. Traveling from Bakersfield, CA for the surgery and follow-up appointments was a commitment--but I wanted the best, and Dr. Chao came highly recommended. I have absolutely no regrets and would enthusiastically recommend Dr. Chao and his team to anyone considering PRK.

CONGRATULATIONS! You just hit the jackpot of Eye Surgeons. Dr. Chao is seriously top shelf. I have worn glasses my entire life and at 67 with cataracts starting to affect my daily life I started my search for a solution. I first went to UCI and had no complaints with the facility or the Dr.'s there. A close friend of my wife's told us about her experience with two different surgeons. One who screwed up one eye and the other (Dr. Chao) who was amazing. Making my appointment: I called his office and received nothing but the best treatment from his office staff. Upon my initial visit the offices are very nice and conveniently located in Irvine. Meeting Dr. Chao was great. He is Knowledgeable and kind. Spent enough time with me and explained everything I needed to know about the surgery I was going to have. After thorough exams on my eyes, decisions were made on the type of lenses I wanted. We scheduled surgery within 10 days of my visit. Surgeries went extremely well. I couldn't believe how great my vision was in my weak eye that was really only used for peripheral vision and the colors......WOW! I felt like I crawled out of a cave. The second eye went just as well and now 4 days after the second eye I am laying it all out for the world to read. If you are looking into seeing Dr. Chao your search has ended. Don't waste another second; you will never regret letting him help you have an whole new outlook on life. It did for me. Thank you very much Dr. Chao Sincerely, Tim O'Key Orange, CA.

Dr Chao and his staff provide incredible service and quality of care! Dr Chao saved my sight by identifying the need for an emergency laser procedure to reduce eye pressure. Subsequently, he performed cataract surgery on both eyes, further reducing eye pressure and greatly improving my vision. The admin staff is very efficient. The technicians are knowledgeable and attentive. I recommend Chao Vision Institute to anyone seeking the highest quality of vision care.

I recently had PRK laser surgery with Dr. Chao and I couldn't be happier with the results! I am a surgeon and I widely researched the corrective vision surgery options in the Southern California area. Dr. Chao was the only physician who personally examined me and answered my questions during the consultation appointment. He subspecializes in corneal eye care, and cautioned me about the risks of performing LASIK surgery vs. the more conservative PRK approach. After being evaluated as a "perfect candidate" for different LASIK and ICL procedures, it was refreshing to meet a provider willing to tell me the truth about my thin corneas! Dr. Chao and his team took excellent care of me. He provided his personal contact info and came into the office over the weekend to ensure my eyes were healing appropriately after the procedure. My vision is better than ever!

My experience with Dr. Chao and his staff for cataract surgery was suburb. I needed correction to continue working as a pilot. He directed me to the best lenses for my objective, which happened to be the least expensive. It is clear to me that he puts patient outcomes first. He is professional, competent and a great guy.

Dr Chao is an amazing person and great eye surgeon. Everybody at the institute (Irvine) is super friendly and professional. I had Lasik surgery and they all made me feel very comfortable from the start. I shopped around before going to Dr Chao and everywhere i went, i felt pressured to make a quick decision and schedule the surgery right away. It was not the case here, and this was the only place where i actually met the surgeon on the 1st visit. No sales pitch, just an open conversation to figure out the best solution for me. I never felt obliged to do anything and was very comfortable the entire time. I met with Dr Chao in person every time through the entire process and he always took the time to address my concerns, before and after the procedure. I love this place, and would recommend you give it a try before picking your surgeon, i'm confident you will see the difference too.

I am so impressed with Dr. Chao and all of his staff in the office and at the surgery center. He explained everything to me about cataracts and what my options were for correcting them. He let me choose without any kind of pressure. The nurses were very helpful and everyone made me feel so at ease every time I went into the office. Everyone at the surgery center made me feel so comfortable. I was not the least bit anxious or nervous. He was fantastic! I just felt like I was in very good hands. I am so delighted with the results and it has only been a couple of weeks for one eye and just a few days for the other. I expect things to continue to get better as the healing continues. I would highly recommend him for all of eye care. He is wonderful.

This has been one of the most scary yet wonderful procedures. To have cataracts removed and new lenses put in was amazing. The first surgery was textbook. Second eye, I had a rarely seen issue and Dr. Chao just moved like a blur, picked up another gizmo to hold my lens in place and wham! Wonderful vision already. Dr. Chao has obviously set the tone as all his team have been professional, kind and understanding. To find all this in one medical facility is amazing. Thank you for my new vision!!!!