Over the years, many major Bay Area TV news stations, newspapers, and magazines have featured advanced procedures and technologies introduced by Pacific Vision Institute to the Bay Area

Dr. Faktorovich has been listed in the Best Doctors in America and in the Top 100 Health Professionals in the World. She has been selected by Castle Connolly's Top Doctor for more than 15 years in a row as one of the best ophthalmologists in San Francisco Bay Area.

The doctors in the Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors are selected after peer nominations, extensive research and careful review and screening by the doctor-directed research team. Dr. Faktorovich is the only LASIK/PRK surgeon in San Francisco to be included in the annual Best Doctors issue of San Francisco Magazine.

Based on her surgical results in the top 1% nationally, Dr. Faktorovich has been selected by her peers for inclusion in the Trusted LASIK Surgeons.

17th Annual Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Surgery Symposium

17th Annual Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Surgery Symposium Video

16th Annual Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Surgery Symposium

16th Annual Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Surgery Symposium Video

Pacific Vision Institutemeet-dr-faktorovich Reviews

Dr. Faktorovich has authored multiple peer-reviewed research publications, book chapters, and books, including the definitive textbook on the use of femtosecond laser technology in all-laser LASIK or IntraLASIK. The book has been reviewed in the American Journal of Ophthalmology and received praise from fellow surgeons as “a necessary book to read for any refractive surgeon”.

Dr. Faktorovich is the founder and remains the Chair of the Annual San Francisco Cataract, Cornea, and Refractive Surgery Symposium dedicated to continuing education of the Bay Area eye doctors in refractive surgery and other aspects of advanced patient eye care. Since its inception in 2001, more than 100 nationally renowned specialists have taught at the Symposium, including department chairs and faculty in academic centers, leaders of large practices throughout the country, scientists at major pharmaceutical and technology companies, and individuals at the forefront of business communities.

Dr. Faktorovich speaking with her staff about eye graph

The Symposium has been profiled in major optometric and ophthalmic publications, including Ocular Surgery News, Ophthalmology Times, and Primary Care Optometry News Healio The 2019 Symposium was a sold-out event with more than 150 doctors on the wait list. The program included up-to-date topics on the use of the latest diagnostic and treatment strategies for managing ocular disease. For the first time in its 16 year history, the Symposium also included a hands-on skill transfer workshop in techniques of ocular surface disease management. Bay Area.

Over the years, thousands of patients chose Dr. Faktorovich and the team at Pacific Vision Institute for their laser vision correction. The list includes many eye doctors, their family, and their staff, as well as countless leaders of industries, physicians and surgeons both nationally and internationally. Dr. Faktorovich has also been the surgeon chosen by the San Francisco Police Officer’s Association for laser vision correction of its active duty members.

Based on peer recommendations from other nationally and internationally renowned surgeons, Pacific Vision Institute is one of only a few practices in the United States to be included in the Leading Medical Clinics of the World (https://leadingmcw.com/congratulations-pacific-vision-institute/ )

To learn more about Pacific Vision Institute and Dr. Faktorovich, including her awards and recognition, research publications, media coverage, and philantropic/volunteer work, please visit the following pages:

Dr. Faktorovich: A Leader in LASIK Vision Correction.

Dr. Faktorovich is the author of the first textbook on all-laser LASIK procedures, the first to outline the procedures in femtosecond laser applications in medicine and surgery. She is a recognized leader in this groundbreaking vision correction technique, with her definitive textbook used in educating eye surgeons around the world.

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Honors and Awards

Dr. Faktorovich has been honored with awards and accolades from various institutions in the United States and throughout the world. Her accomplishments have led to her reputation as a leading vision correction specialist in California. Some of her honors and awards include:

  • Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, UC Berkeley, 1987
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Research Fellowship, UCSF School of Medicine, 1989
  • Dean’s Prize for Outstanding Research by a Medical Student, UCSF School of Medicine, 1990
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, UCSF School of Medicine, 1991
  • Sadie Berkove Award for the Outstanding Graduate, UCSF School of Medicine, 1992
  • American Medical Women’s Association Award for Scholastic Achievement, UCSF School of Medicine,1992
  • Asbury Award for Outstanding Research by a Resident, UCSF Department of Ophthalmology, 1995
  • Heed Foundation Fellowship Award, 1996-1997
  • Heed / Knapp Foundation Fellowship Award, 1997-1998
  • Clinical Research Award, Jules Stein Eye Institute UCLA School of Medicine, 1998
  • Who's Who in Ophthalmology
  • Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance
  • Patients’ Choice Award
  • San Francisco Physicians and Surgeons Award
  • Guide to America’s Top Ophthalmologists in Corneal and Refractive Surgery
  • Best Doctors in America
  • 415 Top Doctors
  • America's Best Physicians
  • Castle Connolly Top Doctor, since 2007

Current Research

Dr. Faktorovich is dedicated to her field and consistently researching newer techniques. Her current research includes:

  • LASIK in patients with epithelial basement membrane dystrophy
  • Topical MSO4 and Sumatriptan for analgesia after phototherapeutic keratectomy
  • Epithelial Thickness Mapping in screening patients for refractive surgery

LASIK surgery have been performed in San Francisco for decades. The precursor of LASIK surgery was a procedure called ALK. Dr. Faktorovich was at the forefront of this revolutionary procedure, and the first eye surgeon in San Francisco to perform it while she was at UCSF Department of Ophthalmology.

In this early version of what eventually developed into modern LASIK, a surgeon would lift the upper corneal layers with a mechanical device, called the microkeratome. The microkeratome would then be passed over the cornea again, removing tissue of a certain thickness depending on the amount of nearsightedness, and then the superficial layers would be replaced.

Dr. Faktorovich fixing a patient's vision

LASIK Technology Moves Forward

Excimer lasers appeared in San Francisco in 1995 after achieving FDA approval. Corneal surgeons in San Francisco found they could achieve a far higher level of precision with this version of laser vision correction.

At first, the laser was applied only to the surface of the cornea. This was called PRK. Although PRK results were excellent, the healing time needed improvement. At the same time San Francisco laser surgeon Dr. Faktorovich began applying the excimer energy to the internal layers of the cornea in a groundbreaking new approach.

LASIK at Pacific Vision Institute – The Technology Improves

The process of laser eye surgery advanced further with the use of a mechanical microkeratome to lift the superficial corneal layers. Then, the excimer laser energy was used on the internal layers of the cornea to correct myopia, hyperopia, and/or astigmatism. The superficial layers were replaced, and healing time was remarkably fast. This procedure was given the name LASIK.

Wavefront-Guided LASIK – A Groundbreaking Advance in LASIK Surgery

he next improvement in LASIK that became available in San Francisco, performed by Dr. Faktorovich, was wavefront-guided or “custom LASIK.” Dr. Faktorovich was the first surgeon in San Francisco to perform wavefront-guided LASIK. With this procedure, a map of the entire eye is digitally generated for each individual patient. This map contains the large imperfections, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It also contains the small imperfections, called higher order aberrations, such as spherical aberrations,coma, trefoil and others.

The digital maps generated are unique to each patient. During a custom LASIK procedure, Dr. Faktorovich uses sophisticated, proprietory software algorithm developed in conjunction with UCLA Department of statistics to analyze the maps. The laser engineer at Pacific Vision Institute downloads the analyzed patient's map into the laser. The laser treatment profile is based on the digital mapping of the eye. Both large and small imperfections can be treated, allowing LASIK patients to enjoy the beauty of San Francisco both day and night.

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CONTOURA® Vision | Custom topography-guided LASIK – the latest FDA- approved LASIK technology

CONTOURA® Vision improves upon the traditional Wavefront-guided LASIK procedure by using today’s most advanced mapping technology to map the unique contours of the surface of the cornea. Dr. Faktorovich is proud to be the first in San Francisco to perform LASIK and PRK with this new technology. The scanning procedure samples up to 22,000 elevation points on each eye (vs. 200 points of standard wavefront-guided LASIK) to create an exquisitely detailed unique vision profile for each patient. A treatment profile is created based on the analysis. With CONTOURA® Vision, the measurements are only focused on the cornea (the clear window of the eye where most vision imperfections are located) and uses up to 22,000 topographical points to map the surface. This creates a highly detailed scan showing microscopic peaks and valleys that can be smoothed out by the advance laser system. Using decades of experience and analyzing patient outcomes, the surgeons at Pacific Vision Institute are proud to have developed our own nomogram to treat our CONTOURA® Vision patients. Nomograms are mathematical calculations and formulas used to create a vision treatment profile for each unique patient.

San Francisco LASIK Surgeon

LASIK has been performed in San Francisco since 1995. In other parts of the world, LASIK has been performed for significantly longer. In the United States, all the technology, including LASIK technology, must go through a very rigorous review process to achieve FDA approval. The San Francisco community of patients is very educated, discerning, and critical. Patients demand only the very best LASIK surgeon, the very best LASIK technology, and the very best in patient care.

Dr. Faktorovich is recognized being among the most qualified, highly-skilled LASIK surgeons practicing in San Francisco and across the globe. When she performs LASIK procedure the results are typically remarkable. In many instances, after undergoing LASIK surgery, the patient enjoys clear, sharp vision, often better than 20/20.

Advanced Vision Correction with All Laser LASIK

An important advance in San Francisco LASIK technology came with IntraLase femtosecond laser, or all-laser LASIK. The first IntraLase laser in San Francisco was installed at Pacific Vision Institute in 2004. With all-laser LASIK, the superficial corneal layers are lifted with a laser, rather than with a mechanical microkeratome, as was the traditional method. The second step is carried out with the standard technique.

Precision LASIK Surgery

All-laser LASIK is far safer for patients, resolving many risks of complications. Our San Francisco LASIK surgeons achieve an unprecedented level of precision and accuracy with this treatment. Over a million all-laser LASIK procedures have been performed worldwide to date. Dr. Faktorovich was at the forefront of this revolutionary approach to vision correction with LASIK.

Discerning Patients Choose Dr. Faktorovich for Advanced LASIK Vision Correction

Dr. Faktorovich showing a patient a picture of the back of her eye

In the city like San Francisco, driven by excellence, powered by technology, and demanding the very best medicine has to offer, the LASIK patients immediately recognized the advances in LASIK procedures and searched for surgeons who could offer these technologies and surgical techniques.

Pre-Screening and Diagnosis: Candidates for Advanced LASIK Surgery

Pre-screening technology for our LASIK patients in San Francisco has elevated the level of accuracy to an unprecedented level, ensuring the LASIK procedures we perform are absolutely the best choice for each patient who comes to Pacific Vision Institute for vision correction. Our surgeons combine the most advanced LASIK screening technology with four different laser platforms and wavefront analyzers to achieve superior LASIK results.

Some patients may not be good LASIK candidates, and may benefit from other techniques to restore vision that can reduce dependence on glasses and contact lenses. PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), Intacs, Phakic IOLs, presbyopic IOLs, ReSTOR, ReZoom, and Crystalens. The entire team at Pacific Vision Institute is dedicated to protecting and improving eyesight with the procedure that is most appropriate for the individual. If you wish to learn more, contact us today and schedule a consultation with Dr. Faktorovich in San Francisco.

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