Office-based surgery is changing where and how eye procedures happen, moving them out of hospitals and into the comfort of the ophthalmologist's own office. Beach Cities Laser Vision performs procedures in-house, so patients in the South Bay can stay with one trusted team from start to finish.
What Office-Based Surgery Means for Eye Care
For decades, many eye surgeries meant a trip to a hospital or a separate surgery center, often with a different team than the one you met at your consultation. Office-based surgery, or OBS, offers a more streamlined path. At Beach Cities Laser Vision, Dr. Erica Liu performs procedures in the same office where you are evaluated and followed.
What Is Office-Based Surgery (OBS)?
Office-based surgery refers to procedures performed in a dedicated surgical suite within a physician's office, rather than in a hospital or a standalone ambulatory surgery center. In ophthalmology, OBS is used for select refractive and lens procedures that do not require the resources of a hospital operating room.
The model has grown as surgical technology has become more compact and as studies have supported the safety of office-based procedures for appropriately selected patients.
How Is OBS Different From Hospital or Surgery Center Care?
The surgery itself follows the same high medical standards. What changes is the setting and the experience. In a traditional model, your procedure might take place at a facility across town, staffed by people you have not met. With office-based surgery, the location, the team, and the surgeon stay consistent.
This continuity is part of what makes OBS feel simpler and more personal for many patients.
Office-Based Surgery at Beach Cities Laser Vision
Beach Cities Laser Vision is an independently-owned ophthalmology practice with its lasers and technology in-house. That means patients do not need to travel to a separate facility for their procedure. From your first consultation through your SMILE, LASIK, EVO ICL, or lens procedure, everything happens in one place with Dr. Liu and her team. The same in-house model can extend to lens-based procedures such as cataract surgery, keeping your entire course of care under one roof.
What the Office-Based Experience Is Like for Patients
Comfort and convenience are central to the office-based model. Patients return to a familiar office, greeted by the same staff they met at their consultation, which can ease the natural nerves that come with eye surgery.
Office-based procedures are typically efficient. Refractive procedures like SMILE often take only minutes, and patients go home the same day. Because the practice controls its own schedule, appointments tend to be timely, without the delays common at larger facilities.
Benefits of Office-Based Surgery
Office-based surgery brings together several advantages for patients who qualify:
- A single, familiar location from consultation through recovery
- The same surgeon and team at every step
- Often no IV, using numbing drops and light oral medication instead
- Efficient scheduling with fewer delays
- A calmer, more private setting than a large hospital
These benefits make the experience feel less clinical and more personal, which matters when the surgery involves your eyes.
Will I Need an IV for an Office-Based Procedure?
Not always. Many office-based eye procedures are performed using topical anesthesia, meaning numbing eye drops, sometimes with a mild oral medication to help you relax. Depending on the procedure and the anesthesia plan, an IV may not be needed at all.
This is a meaningful difference for patients who feel anxious about needles or sedation. Dr. Liu reviews your anesthesia options during your consultation so you know exactly what to expect.
How Office-Based Surgery Supports Continuity of Care
Continuity of care means staying with one team who knows your eyes at every stage. In the office-based model, the surgeon who evaluates you is the same surgeon who performs your procedure and sees you at every follow-up.
At Beach Cities Laser Vision, Dr. Liu personally handles each consultation, procedure, and post-op visit. Nothing is handed off to a separate facility or an unfamiliar surgeon, which supports clearer communication and more consistent care. This familiarity often means faster answers when a question comes up during your recovery.
Ophthalmology-Owned Care Compared to Other Models
Not all vision correction is delivered the same way. Some care is provided through corporate chains or through optometry-led models that refer patients out for surgery. These options can work well for many patients, and the goal here is simply to explain the differences.
In an ophthalmologist-owned practice like Beach Cities Laser Vision, a surgeon oversees the entire process, from evaluation to procedure to recovery. Decisions are made by the physician performing your surgery, guided by your long-term eye health rather than outside scheduling or referral structures. You can learn more about the practice's approach on its philosophy and policies page.
What to Expect From an Office-Based Procedure
While each procedure is unique, an office-based visit generally follows a simple path:
- A pre-op check with Dr. Liu to confirm your plan and answer questions
- Numbing eye drops and, when appropriate, a mild medication to help you relax
- The procedure itself, often lasting only minutes for refractive surgery
- A short rest before you are driven home the same day
- Follow-up visits at the same office to track your healing
You can read more on the practice's what to expect page.
Why Office-Based Surgery Represents the Future of Eye Care
The shift toward OBS reflects broader changes in medicine. Surgical tools have become smaller and more precise, and patients increasingly value convenience, transparency, and a personal connection with their surgeon.
For eye care, this means more procedures can be performed safely and comfortably in the office, without the cost and complexity of a hospital setting. As more practices adopt the model, office-based surgery is poised to become a standard option for the right candidates, and Beach Cities Laser Vision is embracing that future today.
Office-Based Surgery FAQs
Is office-based eye surgery safe?
For appropriately selected patients, research supports office-based surgery as a safe option that meets the same medical standards as other settings. Dr. Liu evaluates each patient to confirm the office is the right choice for their procedure.
Will I be put to sleep for an office-based procedure?
Usually not. Most office-based eye procedures use numbing drops and, at most, a mild relaxing medication rather than general anesthesia. Dr. Liu discusses your specific anesthesia plan beforehand.
Which eye procedures can be done in the office?
Refractive procedures such as SMILE, LASIK, PRK, and EVO ICL are well suited to the office setting, and certain lens procedures may be as well. Your candidacy is confirmed at your consultation.
Do I have to go to a separate surgery center?
No. At Beach Cities Laser Vision, procedures are performed in-house, so you stay in one familiar office with the same team from consultation through recovery.
Does office-based surgery cost less?
Costs vary by procedure and practice. Office-based care can reduce facility overhead compared with a hospital, and Beach Cities Laser Vision offers transparent, upfront pricing. Your exact quote is provided after your consultation.
How do I know if an office-based procedure is right for me?
The best way is a consultation with Dr. Liu, who will review your eyes, health, and goals to recommend the safest, most effective path.
Find Out If an Office-Based Procedure Is Right for You
Curious whether office-based surgery could fit your needs? Contact Beach Cities Laser Vision to schedule a consultation with Dr. Liu and learn whether an in-house procedure is a good option for your eyes.
