Robert B. Bhisitkul

MD PhD

Ophthalmologist
Vitreoretinal surgeon

Dr. Robert Bhisitkul is an ophthalmologist and retina specialist who provides medical and laser treatment for macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other retinal diseases. He also performs surgery on macular hole and macular pucker (conditions that cause blurred or distorted vision), retinal detachment and complications of diabetic eye disease.

Bhisitkul recruits patients to participate in UCSF clinical trials on novel therapies for macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, and also for studies on long-term outcomes for treatments such as surgically implantable devices that deliver medication. He also conducts research on retinal disease mechanisms and surgical innovations. With the USCF Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, he is collaborating on a project to develop a bioengineered polymer device for ocular drug delivery.

Bhisitkul earned his medical degree at Stanford University School of Medicine and his doctoral degree in neurosciences at Yale University. He completed a residency in ophthalmology and a vitreoretinal fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye and Ear.

Bhisitkul has received the Achievement Award of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He has published more than 60 papers in clinical and scientific journals. He serves on the editorial board of American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports and has served as associate editor of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Bhisitkul is an associate examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology and has served on the exam committee of Kuwait's ophthalmology board.

  • Education

    Yale University, PhD, Neurosciences, 1992

    Stanford University School of Medicine, 1993

  • Fellowships

    Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Vitreoretinal Fellowship, 1998

  • Board Certifications

    Ophthalmology, American Board of Ophthalmology

  • Academic Title

    Professor

Conditions I specialize in

Clinics I work with

View map

Retina and Vitreous Clinic

Wayne and Gladys Valley Center for Vision

See all three of our Bay Area locations.

(415) 353-2020

My reviews

4.5

Overall Experience
521 Ratings
About our process
Nov 28, 2023
Excellent experience felt I got the best possible treatment from everyone involved.
Nov 23, 2023
Dr. Bhisitkul may have saved me from going blind making aware of the extent of retinal bleeding which I was not aware of until my examination at the eye clinic for that I am very grateful and shall not forget.
Nov 23, 2023
Dr. Robert Bhisitkul is excellent and very professional. I am very pleased with the eye surgery he did for me.
Nov 21, 2023
All the way outstanding
Nov 16, 2023
Doctor B is the ultimate professional: kind attentive and very knowledgeable. His bed side manners are impeccable and the openness to listen to the patient amazing. His advice and honesty are unparalleled.
Nov 05, 2023
Excellent care. Very satisfied with.
Oct 24, 2023
As I already stated earlier.
Oct 19, 2023
Dr. BHISITKUL is outstanding
Oct 12, 2023
Excellent experience great doctor and staff
Sep 29, 2023
I don't seem to have enough information WRITTEN about all that is going on with my eyes. I have Not seen the results of the tests ?
Sep 28, 2023
Resident who treated me was outstanding!!
Sep 24, 2023
He is very rushed. I still don't know what to expect in the way of follow-up treatment beyond the next appointment this week.
Sep 21, 2023
I have every confidence in Dr BHISITKUL
Sep 21, 2023
Excellent care and highly skilled professional doctors.
Sep 19, 2023
Exceptional service and care by all the staff from reception to nurses to doctor
Aug 25, 2023
Always leave satisfied
Aug 22, 2023
I have never met anybody at UCSF like this. He was rude would not listen to our concerns. Should be fired immediately
Aug 17, 2023
Dr. Is a very good surgeon but the face to face visits are fast without a lot if discussion.
Aug 15, 2023
Never any issues but any questions are answered quickly.
Jul 27, 2023
Very happy
Jul 27, 2023
The visit was a bit rushed!
Jul 25, 2023
Dr. Bhisitkul is fantastic
Jul 24, 2023
Thanks all UCSF staff for you for your excellent care.
Jul 23, 2023
Didn't listen to me at all and completely ignored what I was saying. Rushed in an out and didn't answer any questions.
Jul 18, 2023
Excellent visit
Jul 13, 2023
Very good
Jul 07, 2023
Never asked do you have any questions or concerns or do you understand. Feel like a guinea pig that two doctors talk about outside of a guinea pig cage.Just a quick/brief statement on the way out the door before you can reply or say anything or ask anything. Better service at McDonald's. : o
Jul 05, 2023
Care provider did not listen to me was very impatient and imperious in his approach did not explain my condition or the benefits or risks of any intervention.
Jun 30, 2023
I didn't like the attitude of doctor I would like to change doctor
Jun 29, 2023
Good doctor
Jun 15, 2023
I know I'm in the best hands with Dr Bhisitkul.
Jun 12, 2023
Never shows scan results doesn't explain anything. In general this is the first time I encounter such a doctor.
Jun 08, 2023
Dr. B has what seems to be a very busy schedule. At checkin nearly every patient was there to see Dr. B. Despite the number of patients Dr. B. And his team appear calm and collected and available to answer my questions.
May 30, 2023
I did feel like the doctor was racing out of the room once he looked at my test results and I had to keep asking questions as he has one foot out the door but he is an excellent doctor so I don't want to anywhere else.
May 27, 2023
A perfect experience
May 27, 2023
The Chinese lady Dr purposely bleed the blood vessel in my eye very disappointed
May 22, 2023
Great visit / experience. I felt like I had an opinion on what treatment we would proceed with.
May 18, 2023
Everyone including PA was professional and yet treated me like a human with a major medical occurrence in my life. Compassionate!!
May 16, 2023
My experience at Opthalmology are always excellent.
May 16, 2023
Very appreciative that MD squeezed me into the schedule without an appt
May 11, 2023
This was my second visit so the Dr. Did not have to go over everything again as he did a thorough job the first time. I had one question this time which he answered.
Apr 20, 2023
He was very busy to take time to listen patient's concern and future posibility
Apr 15, 2023
Dr. Totally understood my situation and clearly made me understand his situation and what I need to do going forward.
Apr 14, 2023
Excellent care highly competent and caring.
Apr 02, 2023
Courteous professional instructive reassuring excellent appointment!
Mar 30, 2023
I would say my Dr was more than just very good. Add about 5 more to that one. Even my daughters thought he was awesome.
Mar 23, 2023
The doctor was extremely busy but seemed very confident
Mar 21, 2023
No problem with the dr. It's the system of return call after 3 days to get an appt .
Mar 16, 2023
Dr.Bhisitkul was running late so to keep me from having to wait a long time he had another doctor see me. Unfortuntely the doctor said his name so quickly that I didn't catch it & I forgot to ask him to repeat it. Any way that doctor was excellent and VERY professional.
Feb 09, 2023
UCSF and all their staff is excellent
Jan 31, 2023
Their protocol for patients are excellent
Jan 31, 2023
The end result of the consultation was that nothing needed to be done.
Jan 26, 2023
Dr. Was so busy talking to another intern he barely spoke to me. Did not explain things clearly Dismissed me without even saying goodby.
Jan 21, 2023
The shot in my left eye was given almost immediately after the numbing was administered and the shot was very painful.
Jan 16, 2023
Provider explained what to expect before and after the procedure
Jan 14, 2023
Near painless eye shot best I've ever had; real skill.
Jan 05, 2023
They are good sometimes
Dec 26, 2022
Not once was I asked or advised with only my right eye working Do you drive a car or other vehcile? Or advised not to operate a vehicleIn my condition or for how to get about or for how long. I guess that's okay if you have a self-driving Tesla car or a chauffeur. : o There's a world outside of the doctor's exam room to deal with even if it's transportation on public transportation or how to get groceries.
Dec 09, 2022
I am very satisfied with my care.
Dec 01, 2022
He showed no interest in my questions or historywas only concerned about computer results. He had no time for me no suggestions or advice and no diagnosis.
Dec 01, 2022
Dr Bhisitkul is terrific - super knowledgeable cares and truly listens to his patients. Thank you Doctor!
Dec 01, 2022
Didn't spend too much time explaining!Referring Me to discuss my situation to my ophthalmologist
Nov 29, 2022
Dr Bhisitkul is the best
Nov 24, 2022
The care provider was very friendly and caring
Nov 24, 2022
They were all very friendly and knowledgeable
Nov 14, 2022
Hope next time I'll get more time to discuss my problem.
Nov 08, 2022
If there were an even higher rating for Dr Bhistikul I would rate him even higher
Oct 27, 2022
Always very good
Oct 18, 2022
As a person receiving AMD shots for the first time I expected to be given after-care instructions and information about dangerous side effects to watch out for. I was given the shot the doctor left the room after telling me when to schedule my next shot. His after visit summary indicated that he had discussed possible infection etc. He did not.
Oct 12, 2022
He is amazing
Oct 06, 2022
Excellent care by care providers. However problems with phone scheduling and previous instances of over-booking (which isn't the responsibility of the care provider) makes me unlikely to refer this practice to others.
Sep 29, 2022
I mentioned the injection eye types and their cost. The provider said he doesn't know anything about insurance. One inject tore costs about the other over . A doc should be aware of this.
Sep 27, 2022
Examined wrong eye! Clearly did not look at my chart Did not know what I was referring to regarding my last visits. Kept cutting me off and not letting me finish a sentence when I was trying to convey a very serious concern. Rude condensing and arrogant.
Sep 24, 2022
The resident is very knowledgeable.
Sep 22, 2022
This Doctor was so careful about making sure I was not in pain before the procedure I appreciate it very much
Sep 21, 2022
Dr. Bhisitkul is the consummate excellently-trained medical professional plus friendly kind helpful sincere and gracious.
Aug 25, 2022
In prior visits he applauded the Mexican doctor saying I was getting the right care. We had Such good service from him we were surprised that this time he left me with the opinion that we should quit bothering him. He says information is better if only one provider. He heard that Medicare doesn't cover Mexico and sometimes I'm in the US but that didn't change his opinion (which he repeated three times).
Aug 23, 2022
I was just a number to Dr. I am a stroke victim. I got more attention from one of his students than him!!!
Aug 18, 2022
So happy I came to UCSF.
Aug 16, 2022
Created a very supportive knowledgeable environment
Aug 13, 2022
He is an asset to UCSF
Aug 02, 2022
Would not address my questions just told me to go back to person I saw before....I came to UCSF hoping someone would answer my questions and very disappointed did not even want to hear my questions....wished I had not come...wast of my time money and energy....left more confused then ever....Resident and others treated me better then the MD obvious he was friends with my previous MD and just wanted me to go back to him....almost felt go away you are waiting my time...I tried to ask my question and he replied it will never never happen any questions go back to other MD....left me feeling like he just wanted me to leave...left feeling rejected and not valued as a person let alone patient
Jul 28, 2022
Physican was rude arrogant and abusive. He cut off any conversation or information about care. His treatment of my eye inflamed it and caused great pain.
Jul 23, 2022
Feel like I was rushed at the physician evalution stage.
Jul 21, 2022
Dr. Bhisitkul you the very best!
Jul 21, 2022
Thank you Dr. Bhisitkul & team! I feel so lucky to be a patient here at UCSF Ophthalmology!
Jul 19, 2022
Overall I have a pleasant experience on my visit to clinic.
Jul 14, 2022
The after visit notes are hard to understand due to undefined terms and acronyms.
Jun 09, 2022
Dr. Robert Bhisitkul is amazing!
Jun 02, 2022
Excellent provider.
Jun 02, 2022
Very satisfied
May 26, 2022
The Dr is always in a rush He said there are two options I could have but never said I could make an appointment to discuss themDoes he have someone who does this for him? Who knows its been wham bam thank you mam Don't let the door hit you on the way out for months. Not enough people to take time for the people they take care of.
Apr 26, 2022
I wanted to explain something to the doctor but when I said the sentence "my insurance" he interrupted me saying "leave me out of your insurance". What I wanted to explain the doctor why I was there I needed to mention that my insurance changed. Very likely the doctor thought that I was went to UCSF for a second opinion but I was not I explained that I would not go back to see my previous ophthalmologist.
Apr 26, 2022
This doc rocks!
Apr 21, 2022
Dr. Bhisitkul is excellent! He diagnosed & fixed my problem!
Apr 13, 2022
All great
Apr 13, 2022
This was a big improvement. I am aware the situation with my eye has been challenging. But this time. Im finally beginning to feel my concerns and frustrations are being intently listened to
Apr 12, 2022
Insightful clearly a voice of experience listened to my questions and addressed all of them. Exceptional ophthalmologist.
Apr 01, 2022
Bad
Mar 25, 2022
UCSF Ophthalmology is top notch & I am so grateful to receive my care there.Thanks again Dr. Bhisitkul you are the best!
Mar 17, 2022
Bad experience.
Mar 10, 2022
Dr Bhisitkul was very cautious about my condition on a medical level. But as an employee of UCSF I needed more long term information about when/if I can return to work. I did not get clear answers until I had to send emails to all my surgeons post visit pressing them to answer my questions so I could forward the info to HR
Mar 04, 2022
Dr Robert Bhisitkul is the most outstanding care provider I have ever had. He sets the gold standard that other clinicians should be judged by.
Mar 03, 2022
He spoke with his intern used acronyms I don't understand and never really addressed me or my husband. He didn't answer my questions.
Mar 03, 2022
Dr Bhisitkul has been amazing! I first saw him in October 2019 when I had developed a blinding infection in one eye. He and his team were wonderful and I am so appreciative.
Feb 16, 2022
The MD was abrupt. It's OK that there is no treatment for my condition but an extra minute or so of empathy would have cost him nothing.
Feb 15, 2022
Excellent

Selected research

Decorative Caduceus

Pivotal 1 Study of RGX-314 Gene Therapy in Participants With nAMD

BCVA measured by Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS)

Recruiting

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