Kickback-Free Guarantee
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Protect Your Vision
Ethical Cataract Surgery
We Do Not Accept or Offer Referral Incentives—Ever
At Desert Vision Center, we believe every recommendation should be based on what’s best for you—not financial incentives. Our Kickback-Free Guarantee ensures complete transparency, ethical decision-making, and patient-first care at every step of your cataract surgery journey.
- No Hidden Incentives: Lens and treatment recommendations are free from manufacturer kickbacks or referral fees.
- Purely Patient-Focused: Decisions are guided solely by your vision goals and medical needs.
- Built on Trust: We uphold the highest ethical standards to protect your long-term eye health.
At Desert Vision Center, we never accept or offer referral incentives. Your care is guided solely by clinical excellence, advanced technology, and Dr. Tokuhara’s commitment to putting your vision and long-term health above profit-driven referral networks.
Not all cataract referrals are based on quality of care. Some are tied to illegal financial incentives, putting patients at risk. We provide transparent, patient-first treatment, so you know every recommendation is made with your best interest in mind.
Dr. Tokuhara built Desert Vision Center on integrity. As an independent, physician-led practice, we reject corporate influence and prioritize thoughtful, individualized care. When you choose us, you choose ethical medicine, advanced solutions, and a lifelong partner in protecting your vision.
Learn About Kickbacks
Are You Being Referred for the
Right Reasons?
Many cataract surgery referrals are driven by illegal kickbacks, not what’s best for your vision.
How to Spot a Kickback-Free
Cataract Surgeon
Learn the key questions to ask, spot red flags, and ensure your cataract care is ethical, transparent, and patient-focused.
5 Questions to AskWhy Choose Us
Why Desert Vision Center?
No Kickbacks, Ever
Zero Incentives: We do not offer or accept referral fees, kickbacks, or financial arrangements, ever.
Patient-Focused: Every recommendation is based on what’s best for your vision and health.
Transparent Care: You’ll always know why a procedure or lens option is recommended.
Ethical Leadership & Patient Advocacy
Physician-Led Practice: Guided by Dr. Keith Tokuhara, a board-certified ophthalmologist dedicated to integrity in care.
Education First: We empower patients to ask questions and make fully informed decisions.
Standing Against Kickbacks: Actively raising awareness and advocating for ethical standards across the eye care community.
Trusted by the Coachella Valley
Regional Reputation: Patients travel from Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, and beyond for our trusted surgical expertise.
Recognized Excellence: Consecutively named a Palm Springs Life Top Doctor since 2019.
Life-Long Partnerships: Patients return year after year for follow-up care and ongoing eye health management.
100%
Patient-Focused Care
Medical Ethics in the News
Concerns About Cataract
Surgery Kickbacks Are Growing.
Since 2024, leading voices in Optometry and Ophthalmology have raised serious concerns about illegal kickbacks tied to cataract surgery referrals. Recent federal settlements have revealed that some practices put profit ahead of patient care. It’s an alarming trend that threatens transparency and trust.
These cases underscore the importance of asking questions about who is referring you, and why.
- Tennessee Settlement – $17 Million Anti-Kickback Penalty
- Texas Settlement – $29 Million Kickback Case
- Rhode Island Settlement – $11 Million Fine
- Review of Ophthalmology: Steering Clear of Kickbacks
- Ophthalmology Management: Avoiding Kickback Charges
- AAO EyeNet: Referrals and Risk
- Ophthalmology Management ASC Guide: Lawsuit Protection
- OIG: Report Healthcare Kickbacks
- Medicare Anti-Kickback Statute Information
Whistleblower Resource Center
Protecting Patients.
Promoting Ethical Care.
At Desert Vision Center, we believe your vision care should always be guided by medical ethics, not money. Unfortunately, some providers engage in illegal kickbacks, self-referrals, or deceptive billing practices that can harm patients. If you’ve witnessed unethical or illegal behavior, you have the right and power to report it.
How to Report Suspected Fraud or Kickbacks
We encourage patients, providers, and community members to report any suspected unethical activity. Here are trusted resources.
You Are Protected
Whistleblower laws protect individuals who report fraud or unethical practices from retaliation. By coming forward, you help protect patients and uphold the integrity of healthcare.
Federal Resources
- Medicare Fraud Hotline:
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
- Office of Inspector General (OIG) Hotline:
- 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477)
Department of Justice Health Care Fraud Unit:
California Resources:
- California Department of Insurance Fraud Division:
- 1-800-927-HELP (1-800-927-4357)
- California Medical Board Complaint Hotline:
- 1-800-633-2322
- California Board of Optometry:
- (916) 575-7170
We’re Here to Support You
Have questions? Need guidance? We stand with those who protect patients
from harm and are happy to point you to the right resources.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Ethical Cataract Surgery
A referral kickback is an illegal payment made to a doctor, optometrist, or other provider in exchange for referring patients to a specific surgeon or surgery center. These hidden financial incentives can influence referrals based on profit, not patient care.
Kickbacks can steer you to a surgeon or facility based on financial arrangements—not necessarily because it’s the best choice for your care. This can compromise quality, trust, and your outcomes.
At Desert Vision Center, we have a strict Kickback-Free Guarantee. We never offer or accept referral incentives. Every recommendation is based solely on what’s best for your vision and health—not someone else’s profit.
No. Cataract surgery is typically covered by Medicare and private insurance when medically necessary. We focus on ethical, expert care without hidden agendas. Any premium convenience options (like same-day bilateral cataract surgery) are transparently self-pay and always optional.
Ask your referring provider: “Do you receive any incentives for referring me?” “Why are you recommending this surgeon or center?” (Download 5 Questions to ask Before Cataract Surgery). Then choose a surgeon who chooses you.
Choosing a kickback-free surgeon ensures your treatment plan is based on clinical excellence, ethics, and your personal needs. It’s the right way to practice medicine and the best way to protect your vision.
Attention Patients
Dear Valued Patients of Desert Vision Center,
Dr. Tokuhara is a highly skilled cataract surgeon, specializing in advanced anterior segment surgeries, including complex glaucoma and cataract procedures. He focuses on patients who need surgical intervention or are at risk of severe vision loss.
While Dr. Tokuhara offers comprehensive eye care for his own surgical patients, he does not provide general eye care or post-operative care for patients of other surgeons. When you choose Dr. Tokuhara, he becomes your trusted eye doctor for life. A Note About Ethical Care
In our community, some providers engage in illegal financial kickbacks accepting payments for cataract surgery referrals. Desert Vision Center firmly rejects this unethical practice. We follow the highest ethical standards, complying with the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law, ensuring that your care in never influenced by financial incentives.
We believe referrals should always be based on what’s best for the patient—not financial gain. If you’re being evaluated for cataract surgery, we encourage you to ask questions and be mindful of these referral arrangements.
Choose the surgeon who prioritizes your vision and your well-being—not one chosen for someone else’s profit.
Sincerely,
Desert Vision Center