UC Irvine’s Gavin Herbert Eye Institute

I was about to post: don’t ever come here for Ophthalmology if you value your own time after being told over an hour into an appointment that the doctor was over two hours behind schedule which meant a four hour total appointment time for a routine check up. Moreover, they didn’t let me know about the situation until after I had already spent an hour there. I therefore elected to reschedule and felt very upset about the time I had to invest for apparently no reason. However, the doctor herself completely made up for all of this when she follows up through her staff with a phone call to let me know about my test results. I really appreciated that.

Another visit with dr mosead, over an hour wait, still no doctor. People next to us were there for 2hrs with no doctor appearance. Awesome. Why even make appointments?

I hate to admit my fear of doctors and hospitals, but I do everything I can to avoid ‘those’ types of visits. It’s only when my eyes got so bad due to the cataracts and I couldn’t read traffic signs anymore that I went in to see Dr. Sam Garg at UCI’s Gavin Herbert Eye Institute. Dr. Garg was referred to my by my optometrist, Dr. John Spaeth over 2 years ago, but as I said I stay away from hospitals as long as possible. Well, I was greeted by a well honed and trained team of specialists including Ruby, Dr. Smith and of course Dr. Garg. Dr. Garg was absolutely wonderful! I went with the Toric lens implants to correct astigmatism and now see 20 – 20! That’s pretty good for a guy who had to wear glasses that looked like the bottom of a Coke bottle. And it was painless! Anyway, thanks to Dr. Garg and the wonderful team of professionals at UCI. I can’t recommend them highly enough!!.

My cataracts had gotten so bad that my optometrist said I would flunk a DMV eye test even with new prescription lenses. Still, so fearful of eye surgery, I put it off another year, as I had for years, until I couldn’t read street signs. I have sensitive eyes and feared I might flinch or something could go wrong and I’d be blind. As a writer and editor, my lifestyle rested on my eyesight.
So my wife, a retired University of California Irvine librarian, researched all the available doctors at UCI’s Gavin Herbert Eye Institute and asked friends on campus what they had heard. She concluded UCI’s best cataract surgeon was Dr. Matthew Wade. My experience supports that.
Dr. Wade’s calm, quiet demeanor and patient explanations addressed all my questions and concerns, eased my fears and gave me the confidence to proceed. The first surgery on my right eye went so well I actually couldn’t wait to get it done on my other eye. Each procedure was painless and barely noticeable, and over in 15 minutes. Afterward I was thrilled with my vision. Dr. Wade had inserted monofocal lenses giving me 20 – 20 distant vision. After a lifetime of extreme near-​sightedness, I could now for the first time in my life see every leaf on the tree and every boulder on the mountain without eyeglasses. As I told Dr. Wade, «The world is a beautiful place when you can see it clearly.»
I highly recommend Dr. Matthew Wade at UCI’s Gavin Herbert Eye Institute to anyone needing cataract surgery. I cannot express how grateful I am for his gentle handling of a skittish patient, his remarkable surgical skills and my deep appreciation for the keen-​eyed vision he gave me.

I arrived at 7:55 for an 8am appointment. I filled out some paperwork and was given a pager. At 8:20, it went off and I was greeted by Anne (didn’t get her last name or title). She was great! Very kind and helpful. I ran thru the issue I’m having with my eyes, she took note and filled out my background.
After dilating my eyes and a meeting with another technician, Dr. Lu came in to see me. She was energetic and kind. She looked over my background, examined my eyes and thoroughly explained my condition.
Excellent Dr and experience. Thanks Dr. Lu!

Dr. Gard spent two minutes examining my swollen, painful red eye and sent me home suggesting I use eye drops daily… it turned out I had a virus in my eye and am now with another Ophthamologist on anti-​viral, and steroid drops. This group is either so busy that won’t spend the time or maybe not that good??? Be careful at UC Irvine…

Beware! My husband went for an eye exam and our insurance was billed over $ 900! This was an eye exam that usually costs around $ 100. One bill was a «facility» fee from UCI (I guess because he sat in a chair??) for over $ 400 and Dr. Mitul Mehta’s bill was over $ 500. My husband specifically asked if they were contracted with Blue Shield so that he didn’t get any surprise bills. No one at the office warned him that they would bill these kind of fees. And guess who gets the bill after your insurance won’t pay these ridiculous fees???

Dr. Garg literally saved my eyes! After a horrible experience where my cornea ruptured on the 22 freeway, I was delivered to Dr. Garg. I was incredibly lucky he was available. After an emergency «mend» on a rainy Monday night, I put «my eye in his hands» for a Wednesday emergency surgery. (A cornea was flown in on Tuesday). The worthless doctor I saw before Dr. Garg was horrific and I truly dodged a bullet, as we like to say.
Everyone at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute is of the highest quality of professionalism. Patients are quickly checked in, assessed and treated with kindness and respect. (Diana is just one of my favorite nurses.)
I can’t say enough about Dr. Garg. He’s a genius, he’s funny and understands «issues of the eye» better than any other doctor I’ve encountered and… He SAVED my eyes. I would be in a very different place (disability) right now if I hadn’t met Dr. Garg. I thank my lucky stars everyday.

I recently had cataract eye surgery at the Gavin Herbert eye institute at UC Irvine in the city of Irvine, Ca. I had right eye done on April 9^th and the left on May 8^th. Surgery was done by DR Sam Garg M.D., he was very professional and explained the procedure every step of the way, I am very comfortable recommending DR. Garg to anyone who is looking to have their cataracts removed. The facilities are new and modern, it has a very comfortable and professional environment. Highly recommend.
Kenny P.
Corona, Ca.

I had cataract surgery done on both eyes by Dr. Garg at the Gavin Herbert Eye Center in Irvine, CA. Every aspect of my experience exceeded my expectations: from the pre-​surgery exams and consultation, the surgery, the post surgery follow-​up, and most of all, the results, I couldn’t imagine a better experience. The surgery went perfectly, and Dr. Garg followed up later the same day, and again the following day to be sure all was well. The Gavin Herbert eye center is new, very well equipped and all of the staff working there were kind, professional, and a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend this eye center for anyone needing eye surgery!

I am writing to commend Dr. Sumit Garg and the other professionals at UC Irvine’s Gavin Herbert Eye Institute. I am an «older» lawyer who was diagnosed with cataracts in each eye. Several of my colleagues and friends work with ophthalmology companies. Based on recommendations from them, as well as from other physicians at UC Irvine, I sought an evaluation by and recommendation from Dr. Garg. I had the cataract removed from each eye with «toric» lens inserted. The process takes less than an hour (including «prep» and surgery) and was done on successive Thursdays. I was fine by Saturday. One of my friends (a former leading executive in the replacement lens industry) told me «I’d love’ the outcome. He was right. I found the facilities at the Institute to be «cutting edge», the staff courteous and knowledge, Dr. Garg and the physicians thoughtful and well versed in the most recent treatments, and the process respectful of my time. Top of class marks and thanks to all.

I am a 58 year old woman, recently feeling I was going blind, and now I have eyesight I haven’t had since I was 7 years old. ²⁰⁄₂₀ vision, no glasses or contacts, thanks to Dr. Sumit Garg and team. His comfort level with cutting edge technology really shines through and is combined with a warm personal interest in you as a individual. The surgery is a breeze, and the result, stupendous. However, in my own case, I had issues beyond cataracts that required patience and an approach that makes me think of the best of alternative medicine that we sometimes wish our doctors would include. He felt I would have the best surgical results if I coaxed my eyes back «into shape» (my unscientific term!) and it took about a year of low tech «homework» on my part to get this to happen. He got a little push back from me, but he held the course. I believe another doctor would have done a quick surgery, pocketed the fee, and been done with me. I appreciate him so much, and I want others to renew their faith in doctors by experiencing the work of this exceptional man! Vicki H.

I had never been to a university run medical center so I was a bit unsure about what to expect. To my relief and pleasure, I found the UC Irvine Gavin Herbert Eye Center a step above anything I have experienced previously. The equipment is the latest so you get the best testing and measurements. I have found that all the techs working at the Center are very personable and professional.
I went there for cataract issues and the whole team, starting with Dr. Sumit (Sam) Garg, was wonderful.
There is also a optometry shop there that will adjust your glasses or make minor repairs for free.
I give the Eye Institute my highest rating.

I got referral to here for regular check up since I’m highly nearsighted. I did get taken in quick but like Gatshalk medical center. I sat in to wait for the dr to come see me. It’s totally wasting time. The dr may have two patients at the same time so it caused the longer waiting period. Sounded saved dr time since patients do lots of tests but in a mean time patients have to wait longer if the patients have questions to ask drs. I’m not really a fan of waiting long since I need to back to work. While typing the review, I saw the dr walked pass the rm and went to another rm. He prob discussed something with another dr. I get it. This is research institute but plz save our time too. We have works to go. errr… Excuse me. My appt was at 820 n I am still here, which is 10:10. I don’t think I will be able to get out until 10:30.