Choosing where to have eye surgery is one of the most important decisions you can make for your long-term vision. Your surgeon matters, of course, but so does the facility. Complication rates, procedure volume, patient outcomes, and the surgical team’s experience all vary significantly from one center to the next. For patients in the South Sound researching their options, there’s now an objective, data-driven benchmark to help make that decision easier.
Cascade Laser & Surgery Center, the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) affiliated with Cascade Eye & Skin Centers, has earned a High Performing rating in ophthalmology from U.S. News, placing it among a select group of facilities recognized as a Best Ambulatory Surgery Center for 2026.
What the U.S. News Best ASC Rating Really Means
How the Rankings Are Determined
U.S. News evaluated more than 4,400 ambulatory surgery centers across the country for its 2026 ratings. To assess performance, the organization analyzed Medicare Fee-for-Service claims from 2022 through 2024, focusing on outcomes that directly affect patients: complication rates during procedures, unplanned emergency room visits after surgery, and overall patient results. Each metric was risk-adjusted, meaning the analysis accounted for patients’ pre-existing health conditions before drawing any conclusions about a facility’s performance.
Fewer than 22% of evaluated surgery centers earned a High Performing rating in any specialty. For ophthalmology specifically, Cascade Laser & Surgery Center achieved top scores across all three outcome categories, with complication rates lower than expected and procedure volume that ranked Very High compared to both state and national averages.
Why Procedure Volume Matters for Eye Surgery
Volume isn’t just a number. In surgery, it reflects accumulated experience, and in ophthalmology, that experience is particularly valuable. Eye procedures require precision measured in fractions of a millimeter. The surgical team at a high-volume center has performed those same carefully sequenced steps hundreds or thousands of times, which builds the kind of muscle memory and situational awareness that no amount of training alone can replicate.
When a center ranks Very High in procedure volume nationally, it means the surgical team encounters a wider range of cases, develops refined technique, and is better prepared to handle the unexpected. For patients scheduled for cataract or glaucoma surgery, that depth of experience is a meaningful advantage.
Eye Procedures Performed at Cascade Laser & Surgery Center
Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed elective surgical procedure in the United States, and it is one of the primary specialties at Cascade Laser & Surgery Center.
The procedure typically takes less than 30 minutes, and most patients notice meaningful vision improvement within a few days. Cascade’s ophthalmology team offers several IOL options, including monofocal lenses for distance vision, multifocal lenses that reduce the need for reading glasses, and toric lenses that correct astigmatism at the time of surgery.
Glaucoma Surgery
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, usually from elevated pressure inside the eye. It is often called the “silent thief of sight” because it typically causes no pain and no obvious symptoms until significant, irreversible vision loss has already occurred. When prescription eye drops and laser treatment are no longer enough to control that pressure, surgery becomes the next step.
Cascade Laser & Surgery Center performs several types of glaucoma surgery, including trabeculectomy, which creates a new drainage channel in the eye, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), a newer category of procedures that lower eye pressure with smaller incisions and faster recovery times than traditional approaches. The center’s lower-than-expected complication rate in this category reflects the surgical team’s precision and preparation on every case.
Retinal and Other Ophthalmic Procedures
In addition to cataracts and glaucoma, Cascade Laser & Surgery Center also performs surgical management of retinal disorders, which includes conditions that affect the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye. Patients with other urgent corneal conditions, such as a corneal ulcer, can also receive prompt evaluation and treatment at Cascade Eye & Skin Centers before surgical needs are determined.
Expert Ophthalmology Surgery in the South Sound
The U.S. News Best Ambulatory Surgery Center distinction places Cascade Laser & Surgery Center among a small group of facilities that have earned that recognition through documented, risk-adjusted patient outcomes. For patients in Auburn, Bonney Lake, Gig Harbor, Olympia, Puyallup, Sunrise, and University Place, this reflects what many have already experienced: a high-volume surgical team, a low complication rate, and outcomes that consistently meet or exceed national expectations.
If you’ve been told you may need cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, or another eye procedure, the team at Cascade Eye & Skin Centers is ready to help you take the next step. Schedule an appointment online with one of our ophthalmologists today to get the evaluation and care your vision deserves.
