Dr. Margaret Liu, MD: Ophthalmologist San Francisco

Meet Dr. Margaret Liu

Dr. Margaret Liu is a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist and the founder and CEO of the San Francisco Eye Institute. With over 15 years of clinical and surgical experience, Dr. Liu provides compassionate and highly skilled care in comprehensive ophthalmology, specializing in advanced cataract surgery, vision correction, and the treatment of complex corneal diseases.

As a leader in the San Francisco medical community, Dr. Liu serves as the Medical Director of the Pacific Vision Surgery Center and Co-Chief of the Cornea Service at California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC). She is dedicated to utilizing the latest technological advancements to provide life-changing results for her patients across Northern California.

Education and Training

Medical Education

Dr. Liu earned her Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania. She went on to earn her Doctor of Medicine from the SUNY Downstate College of Medicine in 2007.

Residency and Fellowship Training

Following medical school, Dr. Liu completed a Transitional Year Internship at Flushing Hospital Medical Center (2007–2008). She then performed her comprehensive Ophthalmology Residency at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (2008–2011).

To further specialize her skills, Dr. Liu completed an elite Fellowship in Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery at the world-renowned Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University.

Board Certification and Credentials

Dr. Margaret Liu is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. This certification demonstrates that she has met rigorous standards of knowledge, clinical competency, and ethical practice, maintaining an ongoing commitment to professional excellence.

Professional Affiliations

Dr. Liu holds several prominent leadership and academic positions:

Chief Executive Officer and Founder: San Francisco Eye Institute
Medical Director: Pacific Vision Surgery Center
Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology: California Pacific Medical Center
Co-Chief of Cornea and External Disease Service: California Pacific Medical Center

Professional Memberships

Dr. Liu maintains active membership in leading professional organizations dedicated to advancing ophthalmology:

American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives (AAOE)
International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS)
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS)
The Cornea Society

Clinical Experience and Expertise

Dr. Liu utilizes the latest technological advancements to provide life-changing results. She performs customized eye surgery and manages complex conditions using a patient-centered approach. Her clinical experience encompasses:

Advanced Cataract Surgery: Small-incision cataract surgery techniques featuring astigmatism and presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses (IOLs).
Vision Correction Surgery: Expert evaluation and surgery for LASIK, PRK, EVO ICL™ (Implantable Collamer Lens), and Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE).
Corneal Specialization: Specialized treatment for corneal diseases such as Fuchs’ Corneal Dystrophy and Keratoconus, including corneal transplants and corneal cross linking.
Glaucoma and Anterior Segment:Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS), intraocular lens (IOL) exchanges, and pterygium excision.

Innovation Leadership

Dr. Liu is at the forefront of ophthalmic innovation, frequently incorporating the latest surgical tools and diagnostic technologies into her practice. Her expertise is recognized by the national media; she is frequently featured as an expert for articles in publications such as ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, and People.

Research and Publications

Dr. Liu’s training and surgical precision have led to national lecture invitations and paper presentations at prestigious institutions and conferences, including:

The Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins
The Byers Eye Institute at Stanford
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)

Leadership, Teaching, and Philanthropy

A cornerstone of Dr. Liu’s career is her dedication to the next generation of surgeons and the local community. As a Clinical Professor at CPMC, she volunteers her time teaching residents complex cataract and corneal surgery. She is equally committed to philanthropy, regularly caring for the underserved population in the surrounding San Francisco community.

Honors and Awards

Dr. Liu’s commitment to surgical excellence and patient care has been recognized by both her peers and the community:

Castle Connolly Top Doctor: Awarded annually from 2019 through 2025.
Best of the Bay Area: Under her leadership, the San Francisco Eye Institute was named “Best Optometry Center” in 2024.

Practice Philosophy and Patient Approach

Dr. Liu believes that the best clinical outcomes are achieved through a partnership between the doctor and the patient. She takes a highly personalized approach to every case, ensuring that treatment plans are custom-tailored to the individual’s lifestyle and visual goals.

“I enjoy providing personalized care for each patient, custom-tailoring a treatment plan to suit individual needs,” Dr. Liu explains. This philosophy of compassionate, skilled care is the cornerstone of her practice.

Why Patients Choose Dr. Liu

Elite Training: Fellowship-trained at the world-renowned Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute.
Leadership: Founder and CEO of a premier San Francisco eye care center.
Personalized Care: A commitment to custom-tailored treatment plans for every patient.
Community Impact: Dedicated to teaching and serving the underserved population.

Patient Perspective and Reviews
Dr. Liu is highly regarded by her patients for her thoroughness, surgical skill, and bedside manner.
4.9/5 Average Rating based on over 800 reviews
I had vision correction surgery with Dr. Liu (ICL placement). Dr. Liu and the staff of San Francisco Eye Institute were amazing from start to finish! She was extremely thorough, took the time to explain things, and guided me through the process and decision making of having this life changing surgery step by step. Her office staff was friendly and also took excellent care of me. The surgery went perfectly and my results couldn’t be better. I am a surgeon myself, so my vision is absolutely critical for my livelihood and career, so going through with this surgery was no small undertaking. I’ve worn coke bottle thick glasses since I was a child, but after surgery I don’t need glasses or contacts anymore to work, operate, and also do the fun active things I love to do like working out, snowboarding, playing basketball etc. It has been about 2 years since my surgery and my results have still been excellent. Dr. Liu literally changed my life and I couldn’t be more grateful!
C. M.
This review is in regards to services provided by Dr. Liu. My brother did not qualify for LASIK and as a result was referred to Dr. Liu for contact lens implants also known as ICL. From beginning to end Dr. Liu’s professionalism and kindness exceeded our expectations. She truly has a passion for what she does and we cannot thank her enough for the amazing job she did on brother’s eyes. My brother was born with poor vision and had worn glasses up until the day of the surgery. After the ICL surgery, he was able to see 20/20; for the first couple of days I noticed that he took a bit longer in viewing things around him but it was simply him adjusting to admiring everything around him with his new eyes. This touched my heart greatly, he even happily told me that he had never seen my face without his glasses. Till this day his surgery has been life changing. He has more confidence in himself and is able to carry on with his usual activities without having to worry about his glasses. I highly recommend Dr. Liu to anyone struggling with their vision as her talent is a blessing to so many people!
J. R.

The results of any medical procedure vary and are not guaranteed. A consultation is required to determine the best treatment plan for your specific needs.

Personal Life

Born in Taiwan and fluent in Mandarin, Dr. Liu grew up on the East Coast before establishing her practice in the Bay Area. She is the proud mother of a young son and daughter and loves seeing and exploring the world through their eyes. In her free moments, she enjoys hiking, biking, snowboarding, and spending quality time eating with family and friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What conditions does Dr. Liu treat?

Dr. Liu treats a wide range of conditions, including cataracts, refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism), glaucoma, and corneal diseases like Keratoconus and Fuchs’ Dystrophy.

Does she speak languages other than English?

Yes, Dr. Liu is fluent in Mandarin.

Is Dr. Liu involved in medical research?

Yes, she has presented research at national conferences and is frequently featured as an expert in media publications regarding the latest advancements in vision correction.

San Francisco Eye Institue

About the Practice

San Francisco Eye Institute is a comprehensive eye care center founded by Dr. Margaret Liu. The institute is dedicated to providing world-class eye care using the latest technological advancements in a compassionate and patient-centered environment.

Page Updated: April 23, 2026

The doctors at San Francisco Eye Institute have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.

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