How to Check an Eye Surgeon in San Diego: License, Board Certification and Questions to Ask

We don't rank, review or recommend individual doctors, and that's deliberate. The checks below take an evening and give you facts you can rely on, whether you're comparing LASIK practices, choosing a cataract surgeon for a parent or vetting an eyelid surgeon.

Three credentials, three different questions

These overlap, but they aren't the same. A license is permission to practice. Board certification and affiliation tell you more about specialty training and standing. Check all three.

Seven checks before you book

1. Match the surgeon to the surgeryEye surgery has subspecialties. Scripps lists oculoplastic surgery for the area around the eyes and pediatric ophthalmology from birth to 18. UC San Diego runs the Hamilton Glaucoma Center. Rady Children's treats strabismus in children. Start with surgeons who focus on your problem.
2. Confirm the licenseLook up the surgeon on the state licensing board's official site. Check that the license is current and read anything listed about the doctor.
3. Confirm board certificationAsk the practice which board certified the surgeon and when, then verify it on that board's own site rather than trusting a badge on a website.
4. Check affiliationsSharp says doctors in its referral service are in good standing with a Sharp hospital or medical group and pay no fee to be listed. Scripps physician profiles show where ophthalmologists practice, such as Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines.
5. Test the screeningA good consultation explains why you might not be a candidate. For LASIK, compare what you hear with the FDA's list of reasons to pause.
6. Get the money in writingAsk for an itemized, per-eye estimate that shows what's included and what's extra.
7. Read the consent form earlyThe FTC notes you'll sign informed consent after a discussion of risks. Ask for the form before surgery day.

Questions to ask at the consultation

About the surgeon

• Will you personally perform my surgery, and will I meet you before the day?
• How often do you perform this specific procedure?
• Which hospitals or surgery centers do you operate at?
• Who covers for you if there's a problem after hours or while you're away?

About your eyes

• Why is this procedure right for me, and what are the alternatives?
• What would make me a poor candidate, and did you check for it?
• Do my measurements need to be repeated? The FDA says LASIK measurements may need repeating at least a week later, especially for people who wear hard lenses.
• If I'm considering monovision, can I try it with contact lenses first, as the FDA suggests?

About risks and the unexpected

• What side effects do your patients most often have, and how are they treated?
• What happens if the procedure has to be stopped partway? The FDA lists device malfunction or error as a LASIK risk.
• If I need another procedure later, who pays for it?

About cost and logistics

• What exactly does the quote include, per eye?
• Is there a charge if I'm found not to be a candidate?
• How many follow-up visits are included?
• Will I need someone to drive me home?

Reading reviews and ads with care

Online reviews can tell you about scheduling, wait times and how staff treat people. They can't tell you whether a surgeon's credentials are current or whether you're a good candidate. Be cautious with ads built around a single low price. The FDA notes that LASIK results are generally not as good when a prescription is very large, so an advertised price says nothing about the result you'll get. The published national figures we found put typical LASIK prices at $1,500–$3,500 per eye; see our LASIK guide for details.

Red flags

• You meet only a salesperson or coordinator, never the surgeon, before booking.
• Pressure to decide or pay a deposit on the day of the consultation.
• No discussion of why you might not be a good candidate, even though the FDA lists several reasons.
• A guarantee of perfect vision. The FDA says you may still need glasses or contacts after LASIK.
• Reluctance to give the surgeon's full name, license details or board certification.
• A consent form you only see on surgery day.

Local directories to start from

Hospital systems publish their own doctor listings, which show affiliations at a glance. On their websites (checked November 2026), Scripps Health lists ophthalmology, oculoplastic and pediatric eye services. Sharp HealthCare describes optometrists and ophthalmologists at several locations. UC San Diego's Shiley Eye Institute describes itself as the only academic eye center in the region, and Rady Children's covers infants, children and teens. Veterans can start with their VA care team.

Then read the procedure guides: LASIK, SMILE, PRK and ICL, cataract surgery and eyelid surgery.