Serving the Valley for 20 Years

The California Eye Institute (CEI) at Saint Agnes doesn’t just keep pace with eye care advances. They set the pace! 

CEI is a medically advanced joint venture between prestigious Fresno area doctors and Saint Agnes Medical Center. The 50,000-square-foot outpatient center is home to the Valley’s largest team of eye MDs and specialists from every field of ophthalmology. Using the nation’s most advanced techniques and equipment, CEI provides a full range of eye care services – from general eye exams to sight-restoring surgeries – with treatments customized to our patients’ individual needs.

And, as our name implies, the California Eye Institute is not only a world renowned eye care center, but also a leading  center for clinical research – one of just a handful in the nation qualified to perform clinical investigative studies and trials for new medicines and surgical procedures. What does that mean to you? World class eye care, from doctors qualified to do more than deliver it…but teach it.

Specialties offered

Additional services and features

• Diagnostic Laboratory with state-of-the-art testing equipment and laser technology*
• Lions Eye Bank of the San Joaquin Valley* (provides corneas for transplants, donor information to the public) 
• Low Vision Services
• Surgery Center – a state-of-the-art facility using the most technologically advanced equipment*
• Optical Department boasting of an inventory of more than 1800 frames*
• Affordable Eye Care (accepts most insurance plans, MasterCard and Visa, 3rd party plans available)
• Convenient Scheduling (weekends, early mornings, lunchtime and evenings)
• Free Patient Education (LASIK seminars and consultations, eye screenings at various locations, literature)

Expert physicians and a dedicated team

The physicians of the California Eye Institute are experts in the field of eye microsurgery and trained at some of the most prestigious ophthalmology programs in the U.S. They are supported by a team of health care professionals in both office and surgical suite who are dedicated to providing the highest quality of competent, compassionate care.  They participate in both national and international research studies.

The California Eye Institute offers a full program of specialized care for patients of all ages - from checking the visual development of children to the maturing eyesight of seniors.

Community outreach

Committed to being part of the Valley's health resource system, California Eye Institute at Saint Agnes also provides public outreach programs:

• public education forums
• health fairs
• speakers bureau
• periodic publications
• shuttle service for our surgery patients when needed

Recommended Frequency of Eye Exams (pdf)

An important part of maintaining healthy vision is a regular schedule of eye examinations. For more information about how often to have your eyes examined, print out the chart from the document link above. (This pdf document requires an Adobe Acrobat reader to open the file. If you have trouble opening this document, use the link in the sidebar to download the latest version of the reader.)

References: The American Academy of Ophthalmology policy statement "Frequency of Ocular Examinations", 2/2000; The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus policy statement "Vision Screening for Infants and Children", 8/01; AAO Patient Education Brochures: "Glaucoma, 8/01, "Diabetic Retinopathy, 2/01

New Technology Helps Cataract Patients See Clearly

Studies show that cataracts, the clouding of the eye's lens, affect more than 20 million Americans age 40 and older. Now, breakthrough technology at The California Eye Institute at Saint Agnes (CEI) is helping cataract patients see more clearly and live free of glasses.

Eye medical professionals at CEI are among a few in the Valley to implant a new artificial lens called AcrySof  ReSTOR®. This lens uses revolutionary optics to improve vision throughout the entire visual spectrum – close up and at a distance.

Goodbye Glasses - Surgery is not a new option for patients with cataracts. Traditional monofocal lens surgery provides focus for either near or distance vision but may mean that patients require glasses for other needs.

The new AcrySof  ReSTOR lens is designed with gradual modification of the optics of the lens from its center to the outside edge, helping the eye to change focus quickly on objects at varying distances. The AcrySof ReSTOR lens offers patients an improved quality of life, free from optical devices such as glasses or contacts.

During clinical trials, 80 percent of ReSTOR patients reported that they never wore glasses after having the lens implanted in both eyes, compared with 8 percent of patients with monofocal lenses.

Experienced Physicians - CEI physicians participated in the clinical trials that were instrumental in gaining approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for this new lens. Approval was granted in April 2005. CEI physicians have performed many AcrySof  ReSTOR lens procedures and have lectured about the lens at numerous scientific symposiums around the world.

Medicare Coverage - In a landmark ruling announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, people insured by these programs now have the choice to receive the AcrySof  ReSTOR lens as a replacement for their cataract surgery.

Before this ruling, limitations on Medicare payments prevented beneficiaries from receiving the lenses. Under the new policy, Medicare will continue existing reimbursement amounts for cataract surgery, and patients may elect to pay additional charges for the advanced technology of AcrySof  ReSTOR lens.

To learn more about the benefits of the AcrySof  ReSTOR lens, call the California Eye Institute at Saint Agnes, (559) 449-5000.

Where to Find Us

For more information, call The California Eye Institute at Saint Agnes at (559) 449-5000.

Address - 1360 E. Herndon Ave. 
(northwest corner of Millbrook and Herndon avenues)