Byers Eye Institute

About the Byers Eye Institute

The Byers Eye Institute at Stanford is the eye care center of Stanford Health Care, the health system tied to Stanford Medicine. Its Palo Alto building is at 2452 Watson Court, in the 94303 ZIP code. Stanford describes the institute as dedicated to combating blindness and preserving sight.

Stanford says it delivers "an integrated collection of comprehensive vision care specialties" from patient-centered facilities. Besides Palo Alto, Stanford Health Care lists two more Byers Eye Institute sites. One is in Livermore at 1133 East Stanley Boulevard. The other is in Portola Valley at 3240 Alpine Road. This page covers the Palo Alto building.

The institute is a medical center rather than a walk-in optical shop. Patients book by phone. Outside physicians can also refer patients through Stanford's referral center. For anything sudden, such as an eye injury or a sudden loss of vision, call 911 or go to an emergency department.

Care centers and specialties

Stanford Health Care says the institute is made up of multiple care centers, including an advanced Diagnostic Imaging Center, an Eye Laser Center and comprehensive ophthalmology and optometry services. It lists these care centers at Byers:

• Adult Strabismus Clinic
• Cataracts and Intraocular Lenses
• Comprehensive Ophthalmology and Optometry
• Corneal and External Eye Diseases
• Eye Laser Center
• Glaucoma Clinic
• Neuro-Ophthalmology
• Ocular and Orbital Oncology
• Oculoplastic and Orbital Surgery
• Ophthalmic Pathology
• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Retinal and Macular Diseases

Stanford's ophthalmology department also highlights that the institute offers the first FDA-approved treatment for macular telangiectasia type 2, a rare retinal condition known as MacTel. Each subspecialty has its own page on the Stanford Health Care website describing the conditions it treats. This listing does not give medical advice. Your own eye doctor is the right person to say which clinic you need.

Appointments and referrals

Patients request appointments by calling 650-723-6995. Stanford's ophthalmology page lists that line as staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time. The Refractive Eye Laser Center, which handles laser vision correction, has its own number: 650-498-7020.

Referring physicians outside Stanford Health Care can use the Byers Eye Institute referral form. The ophthalmology page says to fax it to 650-320-9443 or email it to the Stanford Referral Center. Referral specialists work Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time. Stanford also offers online referrals through its MedLink system. The referral status line is 877-254-3762.

Before your first visit, set up Stanford's MyHealth patient portal if you have not already. Stanford Health Care says MyHealth lets you message your clinic, view results, schedule appointments and pay bills.

Video visits

Byers providers offer live video eye visits. Stanford Health Care says a video visit can substitute for an in-person appointment in some cases. It can also help decide whether an in-person visit is needed and how soon. The service is available to patients in California. The clinic's web page includes example videos showing how parts of an eye exam, such as visual acuity and eye movement checks, work over video.

Tips for visiting

Watson Court is away from downtown and the main Stanford medical campus. Do not confuse the Byers Eye Institute with Stanford Hospital on Pasteur Drive. If you are visiting family at the hospital as well, our Stanford Hospital visitor guide covers parking and shuttles there.

• Confirm which building your appointment is in. Stanford eye specialists also see patients at the Livermore and Portola Valley sites.
• Bring your insurance card, a photo ID and a list of your medications and eye drops. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, bring them too, along with any recent eye records from another doctor.
• Ask when you book whether your visit includes dilating eye drops and whether you should arrange a driver.
• Use the Getting Here link on Stanford Health Care's clinic page for directions and parking details.
• The nearest train stop is some distance away, so most patients drive or use a rideshare. Our getting around Palo Alto page explains local transit.

International patients can contact Stanford Health Care's International Medical Services at +1 650-723-8561.

Location and getting there

Byers Eye Institute is at 2452 Watson Court, Palo Alto, CA 94303, in the Midtown area of Palo Alto. Our Midtown guide covers what else is around.

The nearest train stop is the California Avenue Caltrain station, about 1.8 miles away. That is roughly a 45 minute walk or a short bike ride.

Parking: street spaces or a small lot nearby; check posted limits.

Hours

Hours from the business's own website, checked October 29, 2026.

What is nearby

• Mercedes-Benz of Palo Alto, service business, under 0.1 mi
• Lakin Spears, firm, 0.1 mi
• Audi Palo Alto, service business, 0.1 mi
• Anderson Honda, service business, 0.2 mi
• Jones Day, firm, 0.2 mi
• Greer Park, 0.5 mi
• Palo Alto Airport, 0.7 mi
• Byxbee Park, 0.7 mi

Other health and medical nearby: CVS Pharmacy Middlefield Road (1.1 mi); Walgreens Middlefield Road (1.1 mi); Palo Alto Dental Wellness (1.2 mi); Uber Eyes Optometry of Palo Alto (1.2 mi). Browse the full health and medical list.

Before you go

• Call ahead to confirm the practice accepts your insurance and is taking new patients.
• Bring a photo ID, your insurance card and a list of current medications to a first visit.
• For emergencies call 911. Stanford Hospital's emergency department is the closest major emergency room for most of Palo Alto.

About this listing

Checked October 29, 2026 against Stanford Health Care: Byers Eye Institute; Stanford Health Care location page; Stanford Medicine Ophthalmology: patient care. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Frequently asked questions