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Dr. Benson Chen, MD

Accepting New Patients
Specializes in: General Ophthalmology
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School (2001)
Professional interests include: foreign bodies, glaucoma, diplopia (double vision), and more.
12600 Southeast 38th Street
Bellevue, WA 98006

Dr. Benson Chen, MD is an ophthalmologist in Bellevue, WA specializing in general ophthalmology. He graduated from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School in 2001 and has 25 years of experience. Dr. Benson Chen, MD is affiliated with Providence, Swedish Medical Center, Swedish Issaquah Campus, Swedish Cherry Hill Campus and Swedish First Hill Campus.

View Doctor's Full Profile (425) 644-2020

Office Locations

Swedish First Hill Campus

12600 Southeast 38th Street
Bellevue, WA 98006
(425) 644-2020
open_in_new

Some issues Dr. Benson Chen, MD can help you with:

Eye Problems

Millions of people every year have problems with their eyes. Some of the most common eye problems are refractive disorders, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and cataracts.

Refractive disorders happen when the shape of the eye doesn't let allow someone focus very precisely. They might be myopic (nearsighted), hyperopic (farsighted), or have an astigmatism, which is a focus problem caused by the cornea. Refractive disorders can be corrected by glasses or contacts.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the United States. It happens when fluid pressure builds up within the eye and damages the optic nerve. It is treated with medications and surgery.

Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes. The retina is tissue at the back of the eye that is filled with numerous, tiny blood vessels. When diabetes damages these delicate blood vessels, they burst or leak, leading to blind spots and blurred vision. Diabetic retinopathy can be treated with laser therapy and surgery, but often vision cannot be restored.

Macular degeneration is common in older adults. The macula is the central part of the retina and is responsible for crisp center vision. Over time, the cells in the macula begin to die, making central vision blurry. An early symptom of macular degeneration is that straight lines appear wavy.

Cataracts happen when the clear lens in the front of the eye becomes cloudy, making things look blurry or faded. They are extremely common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans will have had a cataract. In early stages, prescription glasses and magnifying lenses can help. As the cataracts get worse, surgery to replace the lens may be the best option.

More than just one of the five senses, the eyes are heavily relied upon to communicate, work, and get around every day. It's important to have regular eye exams for vision stays in good shape for years to come.

LASIK

LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a surgical procedure that improves vision by permanently correcting refractive vision errors. Refractive vision errors are sight problems (such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism) that typically require patients to wear contact lenses or glasses. Nearsightedness (myopia) causes blurred vision at a distance, while farsightedness (hyperopia) makes objects that are up close appear blurry. Astigmatism results in blurred vision at both near and far distances. Each eye is either nearsighted or farsighted, and can additionally have astigmatism. These refractive vision errors develop from imperfections in the curvature of the eye, which LASIK fixes through the use of a laser. The laser changes the shape of the eye by cutting away tissue from the cornea (clear outer layer of the eye).

LASIK is generally considered an elective procedure (not medically necessary) since patients can wear glasses or contact lenses instead of undergoing LASIK. Nevertheless, many people still elect to undergo LASIK to have better vision without having to wear corrective lenses. Certain professionals, such as pilots, military members, firefighters, and athletes, might particularly benefit from LASIK.

Ophthalmologists (eye doctors) evaluate patients before surgery, measuring the cornea and checking for any eye irregularities that would disqualify patients from LASIK. A special eye scanner is used to create a map of the cornea. This map guides the surgeon in developing an individualized LASIK treatment plan. Once approved for LASIK, contact-wearers are advised to switch to glasses for the three weeks leading up to their surgery.

LASIK is a brief procedure, lasting for about half an hour, depending on the state of a patient's eyes and the corneal reshaping required. Patients lie down on a reclining chair and have numbing eye drops applied to one or both eyes to eliminate pain and discomfort during the procedure. While the eyes are held open by a device, the eye surgeon raises a fixation light where patients direct their eyes. The surgeon uses a femtosecond laser to cut a precise circular incision in the cornea's surface. The surgeon then manually folds back the corneal flap to access the stroma (inner cornea).

An excimer laser is then used to remove certain amounts of corneal tissue. For patients with farsightedness, the laser cuts tissue on the outer regions of the cornea, making the central cornea more prominent. For patients with nearsightedness, the opposite is done; central corneal tissue is removed while the outer tissue is left alone, flattening the eye. In patients with astigmatism, the laser is used to even out the surface of the corneal tissue, making the eye more spherical. When the lasering process is complete, the ophthalmologist folds the corneal flap to its regular position. The flap quickly begins to heal and naturally reattach itself to the eye.

LASIK patients need someone to drive them home from the procedure and cannot drive for the following 24 hours. Recovery from LASIK lasts about five days. Patients typically notice improved vision within a day or two of surgery. Prescription eye drops are given to patients to alleviate discomfort and promote eye healing. During this recovery time, patients must be incredibly careful not to touch or rub their eyes. Ophthalmologists often instruct patients to wear protective glasses during the day and night to prevent potential damage from eye rubbing.

LASIK can improve the experience of certain activities such as swimming or reading, and in some cases, LASIK can be a life-changing procedure for those with severe refractive vision errors. LASIK may also save patients money by eliminating the recurring need for updated corrective lenses.

Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. Benson Chen, MD in 2023

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 25%

By Affordability:

ultrasound corneal pachymetry

In 2012, Dr. Benson Chen, MD had a list price for ultrasound corneal pachymetry that was lower than the list prices billed to Medicare by 75% of providers in related specialties within Washington. Actual amounts paid by patients can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including insurance coverage. A lower list price, however, might mean lower fees when paying without insurance.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Benson Chen, MD treated as an ophthalmologist in Bellevue, WA during 2012 were eye procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Benson Chen, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 55
eye procedures 33

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Benson Chen, MD treated as an ophthalmologist in Bellevue, WA during 2013 were eye procedures and ultrasound (sonogram).

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Benson Chen, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 104
eye procedures 476
ultrasound (sonogram) 43

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD.

Gender
Male 75
Female 121
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 98
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 73
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 86
From 75 to 84 78
85 and over 20
Less than 65 12

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD in 2013

Hypertension 57
High Cholesterol 54
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 17
Depression 14
Chronic Kidney Disease 17
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 9
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 7
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 27
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Benson Chen, MD treated as an ophthalmologist in Bellevue, WA during 2014 were eye procedures and ultrasound (sonogram).

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Benson Chen, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 318
eye procedures 506
ultrasound (sonogram) 48

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD.

Gender
Male 104
Female 160
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 139
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 99
Other 14
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 116
From 75 to 84 114
85 and over 21
Less than 65 13

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD in 2014

Hypertension 54
High Cholesterol 47
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 17
Depression 15
Chronic Kidney Disease 20
Asthma 6
Osteoperosis 12
Atrial Fibrilation 7
Heart Failure 8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 6
Diabetes 29
Dementia 5
Cancer 8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Benson Chen, MD treated as an ophthalmologist in Bellevue, WA during 2015 were eye procedures and ultrasound (sonogram).

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Benson Chen, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 391
eye procedures 721
ultrasound (sonogram) 77

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD.

Gender
Male 224
Female 364
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 290
Black 28
Hispanic 0
Asian 222
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 284
From 75 to 84 216
85 and over 60
Less than 65 28

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD in 2015

Hypertension 49
High Cholesterol 48
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 16
Depression 14
Chronic Kidney Disease 20
Asthma 4
Osteoperosis 9
Atrial Fibrilation 5
Heart Failure 5
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 4
Diabetes 30
Dementia 4
Cancer 7

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Benson Chen, MD treated as an ophthalmologist in Bellevue, WA during 2016 were eye procedures, ultrasound (sonogram), laser treatment and excision.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Benson Chen, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 486
excision 22
eye procedures 855
laser treatment 22
ultrasound (sonogram) 62

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD.

Gender
Male 128
Female 205
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 156
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 140
Other 14
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 156
From 75 to 84 130
85 and over 32
Less than 65 15

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD in 2016

Hypertension 59
High Cholesterol 44
Stroke 4
Ischemic Heart Disease 19
Depression 14
Chronic Kidney Disease 23
Asthma 6
Osteoperosis 11
Atrial Fibrilation 7
Heart Failure 5
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 5
Diabetes 31
Dementia 6
Cancer 7

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Benson Chen, MD treated as an ophthalmologist in Bellevue, WA during 2017 were eye procedures, ultrasound (sonogram), laser treatment and excision.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Benson Chen, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 546
excision 21
eye procedures 1079
laser treatment 21
ultrasound (sonogram) 64

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD.

Gender
Male 142
Female 211
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 172
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 137
Other 23
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 164
From 75 to 84 131
85 and over 44
Less than 65 14

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD in 2017

Hypertension 54
High Cholesterol 40
Stroke 3
Ischemic Heart Disease 19
Depression 14
Chronic Kidney Disease 25
Asthma 4
Osteoperosis 12
Atrial Fibrilation 8
Heart Failure 7
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 7
Diabetes 31
Dementia 6
Cancer 7

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Benson Chen, MD treated as an ophthalmologist in Bellevue, WA during 2018 were eye procedures and ultrasound (sonogram).

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Benson Chen, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 183
eye procedures 1473
ultrasound (sonogram) 57

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD.

Gender
Male 142
Female 240
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 192
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 160
Other 16
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 172
From 75 to 84 154
85 and over 45
Less than 65 11

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD in 2018

Hypertension 57
High Cholesterol 53
Stroke 4
Ischemic Heart Disease 21
Depression 16
Chronic Kidney Disease 23
Asthma 5
Osteoperosis 10
Atrial Fibrilation 10
Heart Failure 9
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 4
Diabetes 29
Dementia 5
Cancer 8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Benson Chen, MD treated as an ophthalmologist in Bellevue, WA during 2019 were eye procedures, ultrasound (sonogram), capsulotomy and laser treatment.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Benson Chen, MD for Medicare patients.

capsulotomy 18
doctor visit 79
eye procedures 1535
laser treatment 18
ultrasound (sonogram) 47

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD.

Gender
Male 146
Female 243
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 203
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 156
Other 17
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 179
From 75 to 84 153
85 and over 45
Less than 65 12

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD in 2019

Hypertension 53
High Cholesterol 53
Stroke 3
Ischemic Heart Disease 21
Depression 14
Chronic Kidney Disease 24
Asthma 5
Osteoperosis 12
Atrial Fibrilation 8
Heart Failure 9
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 5
Diabetes 31
Dementia 7
Cancer 10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Benson Chen, MD treated as an ophthalmologist in Bellevue, WA during 2020 were eye procedures, ultrasound (sonogram), capsulotomy and laser treatment.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Benson Chen, MD for Medicare patients.

capsulotomy 16
doctor visit 91
eye procedures 1148
laser treatment 16
ultrasound (sonogram) 36

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD.

Gender
Male 124
Female 180
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 170
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 100
Other 19
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 135
From 75 to 84 126
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD in 2020

Hypertension 54
High Cholesterol 51
Stroke 4
Ischemic Heart Disease 21
Depression 12
Chronic Kidney Disease 26
Asthma 5
Osteoperosis 8
Atrial Fibrilation 8
Heart Failure 10
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 5
Diabetes 33
Dementia 6
Cancer 10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Benson Chen, MD treated as an ophthalmologist in Bellevue, WA during 2021 were eye procedures, ultrasound (sonogram), capsulotomy and laser treatment.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Benson Chen, MD for Medicare patients.

capsulotomy 19
doctor visit 558
eye procedures 1044
laser treatment 19
ultrasound (sonogram) 35

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD.

Gender
Male 169
Female 218
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 198
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 133
Other 36
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 177
From 75 to 84 161
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD in 2021

Hypertension 55
High Cholesterol 53
Stroke 3
Ischemic Heart Disease 23
Depression 13
Chronic Kidney Disease 24
Asthma 5
Osteoperosis 11
Atrial Fibrilation 8
Heart Failure 8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 5
Diabetes 33
Dementia 7
Cancer 12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Benson Chen, MD treated as an ophthalmologist in Bellevue, WA during 2022 were eye procedures, ultrasound (sonogram), capsulotomy and laser treatment.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Benson Chen, MD for Medicare patients.

capsulotomy 21
doctor visit 793
eye procedures 1103
laser treatment 21
ultrasound (sonogram) 70

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD.

Gender
Male 169
Female 226
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 215
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 135
Other 31
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 176
From 75 to 84 164
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD in 2022

Hypertension 62
High Cholesterol 73
Stroke 6
Ischemic Heart Disease 19
Depression 15
Chronic Kidney Disease 22
Asthma 6
Osteoperosis 14
Atrial Fibrilation 12
Heart Failure 8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 5
Diabetes 32
Dementia 4
Cancer 14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Benson Chen, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Benson Chen, MD treated as an ophthalmologist in Bellevue, WA were eye procedures, ultrasound (sonogram), excision and laser treatment.

capsulotomy 18
doctor visit 327
excision 21
eye procedures 906
laser treatment 19
ultrasound (sonogram) 53

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD.

Gender
Male 129
Female 197
Ethnicity
Black / African American 2
Asian / Pacific Islander 123
Non-Hispanic White 166
Native American / Alaskan Native 0
Hispanic 0
Other 15
Age
75 to 84 129
85 and over 24
Less than 65 9
65 to 74 149

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Benson Chen, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Benson Chen, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension 50
High Cholesterol 46
Stroke 2
Ischemic Heart Disease 17
Depression 12
Chronic Kidney Disease 20
Asthma 4
Osteoporosis 9
Heart Failure 6
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 4
Diabetes 27
Atrial Fibrillation 6
Dementia 4
Cancer 7

Education & Training

Dr. Benson Chen, MD graduated from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School in 2001. He completed residency at LSUOchsner. He is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology and has a state license in Washington.

Medical School: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School (2001)

Residency: LSUOchsner (2004)

Board Certification: American Board of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology

Licensed In: Washington

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Benson Chen, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Providence
Swedish Medical Center
Swedish Issaquah Campus
Swedish Cherry Hill Campus
Swedish First Hill Campus

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Benson Chen, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Aetna PPO and CIGNA PPO.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Benson Chen, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

Aetna PPO
CIGNA PPO

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Benson Chen, MD has a good overall rating with an average of 2.8 out of 5 stars based on 5 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Benson Chen, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Bellevue, WA. 

2.8
Overall Rating
Leave a Review

General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Benson Chen, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

Payments by Company
Allergan, Inc. $299 DURYSTA
$169 		RESTASIS MULTIDOSE
$64 		LUMIGAN
$30 		RESTASIS
$19 		ALPHAGAN P
$17
Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. $247 Rhopressa
$124 		Rocklatan
$123
Allergan Inc. $194 RESTASIS
$60 		BOTOX
$15
$119
GLAUKOS CORPORATION $159
$159
Ivantis, Inc $150 Hydrus Microstent
$150
Other $438 Rhopressa
$129 		VYZULTA
$62 		XIIDRA
$43 		TYRVAYA
$34 		TEPEZZA
$31 		Other
$139
Types of Payments
Food and Beverage $1,441
Gift $45

Biography

Dr. Benson Chen practices general ophthalmology in Bellevue, WA. In addition to English, he speaks Cantonese. Clinical interests for Dr. Chen include surgical repair, eye floater, and endophthalmitis. Dr. Chen is professionally affiliated with Providence, Swedish Cherry Hill Campus, and Swedish Issaquah Campus. After completing medical school at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School, he performed his residency at Cleveland Clinic and Ohio State University Medical Center. Patients gave him an average rating of 3.0 stars (out of 5). Cigna, Aetna, and CIGNA Plans are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Chen honors. According to Swedish Medical Center, new patients are welcome to contact his office in Bellevue, WA.

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