Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute

What Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute does

Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute (PCLI) is a physician-owned ophthalmology practice founded in the 1980s by Dr. Robert Ford, who continues to serve as President and Owner. The firm performs cataract surgery, LASIK and alternative laser vision-correction procedures across 17 clinic locations in six western US states (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington), and claims more than 900,000 cumulative micro eye surgeries performed. Service offerings span the full cataract and refractive continuum — blade-free LASIK, PRK and LASIK alternatives, Refractive Lens Exchange, Implantable Collamer Lens (EVO ICL), and a portfolio of intraocular lenses (IOLs) including single-focus, toric astigmatism-correcting, extended range of focus, trifocal, and Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) implants — as well as glaucoma management, diabetic retinopathy treatment, dry-eye care, YAG capsulotomy, Corneal Cross-Linking, and laser floater treatment. Patient experience is a deliberate differentiator, with surgical centers designed in a living-room style (comfortable chairs, calming music) to reduce procedure-day stress.

The underlying technology stack combines computer-guided microsurgical laser platforms with surgeon expertise rather than proprietary software; the third-party IntelliChart patient portal handles records, messaging, and appointment management, while InstaMed and CareCredit are integrated for billing and patient financing. The go-to-market model is sales-led and referral-driven: a network of regional optometrists funnels pre-surgical candidates into PCLI surgeons via a public 'Find a Family Eye Doctor' tool, supplemented by self-referral and direct scheduling. The practice accepts a broad range of insurance plans and uses CareCredit monthly payment plans to support affordability.

Revenue is generated almost entirely from professional-services billing for surgical and medical eye procedures, paid by insurance carriers and patients. PCLI is privately held, founder-owned, and operates without disclosed institutional capital, parent company, or subsidiaries. Headcount sits in the 501–1,000 range, and the company markets to a 40,000+ subscriber base via the 'Pacific Visions' newsletter and a substantial online video education library. Beyond commercial operations, PCLI runs an international eye-surgery mission program spanning Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and other locations, and supports charities such as International Children's Care and Better Vision Better Hope.

Name

Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute

Legal name

Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute

Website

https://pcli.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

PCLI is a physician-owned ophthalmology practice performing cataract surgery, LASIK, and related laser vision-correction procedures across 17 clinic locations in six western US states, serving individual patients referred through an optometrist network or self-referred.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmology and Refractive Surgery Services

akta.pro primary industry

Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK) (HLAKAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cataract Surgery Systems & IOLs (Phaco Systems, IOLs, Intraoperative Aberrometry, Viscoelastics) (HLAHAJAH), Refractive Surgery Systems (Excimer/Femtosecond Lasers, Phakic IOL Systems, Wavefront/Guidance) (HLAHAJAG), Cornea & External Disease Surgical Devices (Keratoplasty Tools, Cross-Linking Systems, Amniotic Membrane Delivery) (HLAHAJAK)

Keywords

• Cataract surgery services
• LASIK vision correction
• Ophthalmology practice
• Refractive eye surgery
• Intraocular lens implants

Headquarters

HQ city

Wausau

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Medical/Surgical Procedures: Revenue generated from performing eye surgeries and medical procedures including cataract surgery, LASIK, lens implants, and treatment for various eye conditions. Services are billed to insurance providers and/or patients directly.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute (PCLI) performs cataract surgery and LASIK laser vision correction at 17 clinic locations across 6 western U.S. states. The practice replaces clouded natural lenses with intraocular lens implants (including Light Adjustable, Trifocal, Extended Depth of Focus, Single Focus, and Toric options) and uses blade-free, computer-guided laser technology to reshape the cornea. It also provides related services such as refractive lens exchange, EVO Implantable Collamer Lens, PRK, YAG laser capsulotomy, corneal cross-linking, laser floater treatment, and treatment for glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and dry eye.

Product overview

Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute (PCLI) is an eye care facility providing a unified surgical platform centered on cataract correction and LASIK vision correction. The core offerings include LASIK Vision Correction, Cataract Correction Surgery with various lens implant options, and LASIK Alternatives. PCLI offers premium lens implant add-ons including Light Adjustable Lens, Trifocal, Extended Range of Focus, Single Focus, and Toric lenses for astigmatism. Additional services encompass Refractive Lens Exchange, Implantable Contact Lens (EVO ICL), YAG Laser Capsulotomy, Corneal Cross Linking, and Laser Floater Treatment. The practice also provides patient-facing digital tools including a Video Eye Library for education, an IntelliChart-powered Patient Portal, and integrated payment systems via InstaMed and CareCredit for financing and bill payment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LASIK Vision Correction

Quantifiable outcome

• 900,000+ micro eye surgeries performed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Canvasback MissionsminorOthers · 1 January 2019Dr. Kerri Norris participated in a two-week surgical mission to the Marshall Islands through Canvasback Missions, providing cataracts and diabetic laser procedures for patients. PCLI staff volunteer their time on eye surgery missions throughout the USA and worldwide as part of their giving back initiative.
• International Children's Care (ICC)minorOthersPCLI staff and Dr. Robert Ford, PCLI president and owner, have sponsored and supported International Children's Care, an organization headquartered in Vancouver, Washington that provides homes, food, love, family, and education to orphaned or abandoned children in 12 locations worldwide including Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Mexico, and others. PCLI participates in fundraising and charitable initiatives for ICC.
• Better Vision Better HopeminorOthersDr. Oswald Rondón volunteers with Better Vision Better Hope, an outreach program that brings vision care to people who might not have resources to pay for it. The program provides free vision screening, free prescription glasses, and free eye care education through temporary clinics set up at local churches, with follow-up visits.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• American Vision Partners: PE-backed consolidator of ophthalmology practices operating across multiple states. Directly comparable service mix (cataract, LASIK, retina, glaucoma) but driven by M&A roll-up strategy rather than organic single-brand growth.
• EyeCare Partners: Large PE-backed ophthalmology and optometry platform with hundreds of locations across the US. Comparable in core service offering (cataract, LASIK, premium IOLs, glaucoma) but operates at national scale and as a portfolio rather than a single specialty brand.

Direct peers

• LasikPlus: National LASIK-focused refractive surgery chain offering blade-free and custom laser vision correction. Comparable on the refractive side of PCLI's service portfolio and on multi-site self-pay delivery model.
• TLC Laser Eye Centers: Multi-location LASIK-focused refractive surgery brand with clinics across the US and Canada. Comparable in laser vision correction service line, multi-site operations, and patient-pay revenue model, though narrower than PCLI's cataract offering.
• Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center: Multi-location ophthalmology and LASIK practice in the Southwest (Arizona and surrounding states) offering cataract surgery, LASIK, and premium lens implants. Highly comparable in service mix, multi-site model, and patient segments to PCLI's western US footprint.
• Kleiman|Evangelista Eye Center: Multi-specialty ophthalmology practice offering LASIK, cataract surgery with premium IOLs, glaucoma, and cornea services across several Texas locations. Closely comparable service mix, multi-site model, and patient-pay/insurance revenue split to PCLI.
• ICON Eyecare: Multi-location ophthalmology group in the Rocky Mountain/Front Range region offering cataract, LASIK, glaucoma, and corneal care. Comparable service line and multi-site specialty practice model to PCLI.
• The LASIK Vision Institute: National LASIK-focused refractive surgery provider with high-volume, multi-location laser vision correction centers. Comparable on laser vision correction service line and patient-pay, multi-site delivery.

Regional players

• Cascade Eye Center: Multi-location Pacific Northwest ophthalmology practice offering cataract, LASIK, glaucoma, and oculoplastics. Comparable service portfolio to PCLI and operating in overlapping Washington/Oregon markets, though smaller in scale.
• LASIK MD: Canada's largest LASIK provider with clinics across multiple Canadian provinces. Comparable refractive surgery service line and multi-site operating model to PCLI, but operates in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/YakimaPCLI/reviews
• Xx.com/PCLIvision

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute