Find a Top Ophthalmologist Near Me in Santa Monica, CA – Book an Appointment Instantly

David J. Fuerst, MD is an experienced, board-certified ophthalmologist who specializes in cataract, corneal, and refractive surgery at his practice, Fuerst Eye Center, which has two locations in Glendale, California and West Covina, California. He is one of few refractive surgeons specializing in surgery of the cornea — the part of the eye treated by LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) and most other types of refractive surgery. 

Because of his training, experience, and outstanding results, Dr. Fuerst receives many referrals from other eye care specialists for both routine and complex eye surgery, as well as referrals from his satisfied patients.

After completing his ophthalmology residency at the prestigious University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in Chicago, Dr. Fuerst continued his training at the University of California, San Francisco’s (UCSF) Proctor Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology, completing his fellowship in cornea and external disease. 

Dedicated to his profession, Dr. Fuerst is a recognized mentor and educator. He served as the residency program director at White Memorial Medical Center and as an on-staff teacher at the University of Southern California (USC), which are both located in Los Angeles.

Dr. Fuerst provides compassionate care and treats each patient like a member of his family.

Nicole M. Fuerst, MD is a board-certified ophthalmologist at Fuerst Eye Center, which has two locations in Glendale, California and West Covina, California. Dr. Fuerst takes a patient-centered approach to care, treating each patient like a member of the family. She specializes in performing cornea, cataract, and refractive surgery. 

Dr. Fuerst completed medical school at the prestigious Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She then completed her ophthalmology residency at the Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, where she received multiple teaching awards. She continued her training at the renowned Duke Eye Center in Durham, North Carolina. While at the Duke Eye Center, Dr. Fuerst completed a two-year clinical and research fellowship in cornea and external disease, where she learned and performed the latest techniques in corneal, cataract, and refractive surgery.

Committed to her profession, Dr. Fuerst has published many peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. She’s also been awarded for her research presentations on a variety of topics in the field of ophthalmology.

She has been voted to Southern California Super Doctors Rising Stars 2022-2025 and Castle Connolly Top Doctors 2023-2024. Known for her extensive skill and expertise, Dr. Fuerst receives many referrals from other eye doctors for routine and specialty eye procedures. 

Christine Nguyen, MD, is a skilled, board-certified ophthalmologist at Westminster Eye Center in Westminster, California. Dr. Nguyen specializes in diagnosing and treating eye disorders, with a particular expertise in cataract and glaucoma surgery. 

In 2008, Dr. Nguyen graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California, with a bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology. She then went on to attend Georgetown University’s School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. After finishing medical school, Dr. Nguyen moved on to postgraduate training. She completed a fellowship at the Doheny Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in its glaucoma division, as well as residency training at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) in its ophthalmology department. 

In her research career, Dr. Nguyen has had her ophthalmology findings published in many renowned medical journals. As a practicing ophthalmologist, she excels at working with patients. They appreciate her friendly demeanor and dedication to personalized treatments. Dr. Nguyen performs eye exams, diagnoses and treats disease affecting the eyes, prescribes medications, and performs minimally invasive eye surgery, including cataract surgery with special lenses, and laser glaucoma surgery. 

She holds membership in several prestigious professional organizations, including the American Glaucoma Society, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. She is also Board Certified by the American Academy of Ophthamology and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthomology.

Dr. Nguyen speaks both English and Vietnamese. To set up an appointment with Dr. Nguyen, call the office or use the online booking tool today.

As one of the most trusted ophthalmologists in the United States, Michael T. Ragen, MD, FACS, has been serving the eye care needs of patients for more than 20 years as the medical director of Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo, California. Dr. Ragen is a board-certified ophthalmologist and is trained in plastic surgery, so he is able to offer a wider variety of treatments. He performs LASIK surgery, BOTOX® treatments, iStent Inject® surgery, and a variety of other cutting-edge eye treatments.

After graduating from the prestigious University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School in 1985, he moved to southern California to complete his ophthalmology residency at the Doheny Eye Institute through the University of Southern California. He later continued his postgraduate education at Harvard Medical School.

As a highly respected physician, Dr. Ragen strives to offer the most high-tech treatments available in an open and welcoming environment. He teaches cutting-edge surgical methods of treatment to other physicians in the field and has been involved in FDA studies that led to the approval of LASIK, one of the most popular ophthalmological surgical treatments.

With more than 50,000 patients traveling from all corners of the world to receive his expertise, he is widely considered one of the most trusted ophthalmologists in the country. His passion is to employ his expertise and care to treat patients from all walks of life.

Dr. Shelly Bagai Lapsi, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist and Medical Director for Omni Eye Care, with convenient locations in Covina and El Monte, California. With her extensive training, Dr. Lapsi is committed to providing the highest quality of ophthalmic care to her patients, utilizing the most recent medical and surgical advances. Her philosophy is to be actively engaged and dedicated to delivering this mission to her patients.

She attended the University of Washington School of Medicine, nationally recognized for its excellent training programs. Subsequently, she completed her residency at the University of Washington Department of Ophthalmology, a rigorous, top-tier program emphasizing a strong foundation in medical and surgical ophthalmology. At the University of Washington, she trained with many of the world’s most renowned ophthalmologists considered to be pioneers in the field.

Dr. Lapsi’s areas of interest include cataract surgery and glaucoma. Additionally, diabetic screening and macular degeneration care are central to her patient-centric approach. First and foremost, the goal of Omni Eye Care is to assist patients in maintaining excellent vision and eye health.  

When she is not practicing ophthalmology, Dr. Lapsi spends time with her husband and three children. She also enjoys reading, cooking, and photography, as well as traveling with her family. If you’re interested in ophthalmology services in the San Gabriel Valley, Dr. Lapsi is an exceptional eye physician and surgeon. She looks forward to meeting you and helping you achieve optimal eye health.

Dr. Lin is a board-certified ophthalmologist, located in Fountain Valley, California, with advanced training in corneal disorders and LASIK surgery. Her clinical interests include corneal transplantation, cataract surgery, and management of LASIK complication. A member of the prestigious Corneal Society, Dr. Lin is one of a few corneal surgeons who performs small incision, disease-specific corneal transplants in the United States. In addition to LASIK eye surgery, Dr. Lin is skilled in ICL (implantable contact lens) procedures. Dr. Lin received her medical degree with honors from Northwestern University. She completed her internship at MacNeal Hospital, an affiliate of the University of Chicago. She then continued her intensive training with residency at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, where she mastered the latest ophthalmic surgical techniques.

“I love what I do as an ophthalmologist. I enjoy doing things right, and embrace the challenge to continually improve my technique, reduce the risk to patients, and obtain the best results. It brightens my day to see the joy and excitement in my patients’ eyes after their vision is properly restored.” –Dr. Lin

She furthered her training with a fellowship in corneal and refractive surgery at the University of Colorado. Dr. Lin then joined the faculty at the University of Colorado, instructing and proctoring resident physicians. Dr. Lin is adamant about staying ahead of the curve by adding cutting-edge procedures to her surgical repertoire. As a member of the renowned Corneal Society, Dr. Lin is passionate about bringing the newest corneal transplant techniques into the private practice setting. She is one of a few ophthalmic surgeons who performs Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK) – a sutureless, small incision corneal transplant that treats Fuch’s dystrophy, as well as Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK) – a partial thickness corneal transplant that treats keratoconus and corneal scars. Outside of work, Dr. Lin enjoys classical music, cooking, and loves the outdoors. Even with her demanding schedule, she still makes time to travel abroad, go hiking, camping, skiing, and scuba diving.

About Us

At Orange County Cataract and Glaucoma, cataract and glaucoma surgeon Anand Bhatt, MD, provides comprehensive vision care to adults living in Orange County, California.

Dr. Anand Bhatt is a leading expert in Orange County in the fields of cataract and glaucoma surgery. Prior to his decision to enter private practice, Dr. Bhatt was full-time ophthalmology faculty at the UC Irvine Gavin Herbert Eye Institute and the Veteran’s Hospital in Long Beach, CA. While at UC Irvine, Dr. Bhatt was involved in the cataract and glaucoma surgery training of more than 30 fellow ophthalmologists, including 7 other glaucoma specialists, many of whom practice locally and was recognized by his trainees for his excellence in surgical education with a teaching award.

During his career, Dr. Bhatt has been awarded by Southern California Super Doctors and has been selected as one of the Orange County Physicians of Excellence by Orange Coast Magazine for 4 consecutive years. Dr. Bhatt has also published many peer-reviewed scientific papers in the field of cataract and glaucoma surgery and served as a member of the American Glaucoma Society’s Patient Care Committee.

Dr. Bhatt graduated as valedictorian of his International Baccalaureate High School in Palm Harbor, FL, and was then admitted into a direct 6-year BS/MD program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. During his time in medical school, he discovered his passion to save and restore vision, so he pursued a residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, TX. While in residency he was amongst the first surgeons in the U.S. to use astigmatic and multifocal lenses for vision correction with cataract surgery.

Dr. Bhatt subsequently completed a fellowship in the medical and surgical management of glaucoma at UC Irvine. After his fellowship training, he was recruited to remain on faculty at UC Irvine where he helped to preserve and restore vision in some of the most difficult surgical cataract and glaucoma cases and gained extensive experience in all varieties of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.

Dr. Bhatt treats each individual with the same care he would want to be provided to his own family. He uses the most advanced technology and surgical techniques to ensure the best treatment outcomes for various eye-related health problems, including cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, blurred vision, dry eyes, macular degeneration, and floaters. Orange County Cataract and Glaucoma can provide care to patients for general ophthalmology needs, including general eye exams or diabetic eye screenings. 

Dr. Bhatt performs femtosecond laser refractive cataract surgery with Symfony®, Vivity™, PanOptix®, and toric lenses to optimize vision and reduce dependence on glasses. Orange County Cataract and Glaucoma also specialize in all types of glaucoma surgery and lasers, including iridotomy, trabeculoplasty (SLT), trabeculectomy, Ahmed and Baerveldt glaucoma implants, Xen shunt implantation, canaloplasty and vasodilation with the OMNI® surgical system, goniotomy with the Kahook Dual Blade®, and iStent® inject. 

Orange County Cataract and Glaucoma does not charge any facility fee to patients, and our office has ample free parking on the ground level outside of our office building for your convenience. Dr. Bhatt is on staff at the St. Joseph Hospital Orange and performs outpatient surgery at the Pavilion Surgery Center. To receive comprehensive vision care, call Dr. Bhatt and the team at Orange County Cataract and Glaucoma. Book online to schedule an appointment or call the office today.

Shivani Gupta, MD, MPH, is an oculoplastic surgeon with over 10 years of experience in the field. She has a private practice in Beverly Hills, California.

As an oculoplastic surgeon, Dr. Gupta focuses on refreshing the face, performing blepharoplasty for the upper and lower eyelids, brow lifts, and treating ptosis (droopy eyelids). She also offers non-surgical treatments such as Botox® and fillers.

Dr. Gupta also specializes in autoimmune conditions that affect the eye area, including thyroid eye disease (TED). She participated in the early international clinical trials for Tepezza®, which is currently the only FDA-approved prescription medication for TED. 

After earning her Doctor of Medicine degree at The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Medicine Dr. Gupta went on to complete her Ophthalmology residency training at the prestigious Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in Chicago, where she served as co-chief resident. 

At the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Dr. Gupta went on to complete a distinguished two-year fellowship program in oculoplastics accredited by the American Society of Ophthalmologic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Oculofacial Plastic Surgery® (ASOPRS). 

Dr. Gupta also has a Master of Public Health (MPH) in epidemiology and is board-certified in ophthalmology. She’s also been inducted into the ASOPRS society and published numerous articles and book chapters related to oculoplastics.

With an interest in promoting health and well-being, Dr. Gupta takes a holistic approach to care, focusing on more than just surgery. She also helps her patients make lifestyle changes that lead to better health and wellness.

For attentive, personalized care, call the office of Shivani Gupta, MD, MPH, or schedule an appointment online today.

I have been practicing in Reseda since 1981 and I have seen so many changes. But what hasn't changed, eyeballs! Although I enjoy using the latest technology to help view, diagnosis, and treat my patient's eyeballs, they are still just my patient's eyeballs. I love educating my patients as much as I love educating myself. I believe it is important to understand what is going on with your eyes, how it happened or got to this point and what our part is. I believe if we are educated then we will be better equipped to make better decisions.

After many years of dedicated service, Jeannine W. Scheinhorn, MD has decided to embark on a new chapter in life: retirement. We extend our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude for the years of trust and care you've placed in Dr. Scheinhorn.

Dr. Scheinhorn received her Doctor of Medicine from Tulane University in New Orleans, where she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She was also cited by the American Medical Women’s Association for scholastic achievement. She completed her residency in ophthalmology at Louisiana State University Eye Center in New Orleans.

Dr. Scheinhorn has served the community of Glendale and La Canada, California for over 30 years. She was voted Best Ophthalmologist, Glendale in 2017 and 2018. She has also been honored for her dedication and support of Glendale Healthy Kids.

Scott W. Beeve is a board-certified ophthalmologist practicing at Beeve Vision Care Center in Glendale, California. He specializes in laser vision correction and holds multiple certifications in laser and refractive surgeries, including iDesign iLASIK and multifocal intraocular lens implantation. Dr. Beeve has been performing LASIK procedures since 1999 and is a leading provider of cataract surgery. He also offers comprehensive eye care services, including diagnostics and treatment of conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, emergencies and dry eyes. 

Since 2000, Dr. Beeve has been voted Glendale’s Best and Foothills’ Best Ophthalmologist by the Los Angeles Times-Glendale News-Press Readers Poll. He also received the Pasadena Best Doctors Award, the KCAL Best of LA, the Patients Choice Award for Best Ophthalmologists, and the Consumers Research Council of America Top Ophthalmologists awards year after year. 

Dr. Beeve also remains active as part of the medical staff of the Eye Surgical Center, Verdugo Hills Hospital, and Glendale Adventist Hospital. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. 

Graduating cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Loma Linda University, Dr. Beeve later earned his medical degree at Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He went on to complete his internship in internal medicine and pursued his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. 

When not working with his patients, Dr. Beeve focuses on his work as a board member and volunteer eye physician and surgeon as part of his family’s Beeve Foundation for World Eye and Health.

Dr. Ling Bei MD is a fellowship -trained glaucoma and cataract surgeon with a particular interest in minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. She provides the most advanced medical, laser, and surgical techniques personalizing care for the individual's needs and lifestyle. She also performs laser-assisted cataract surgery with specialty intraocular lenses to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses.

Dr. Bei graduated magna cum laude from Duke University with a double major in Biomedical Engineering and English. She completed her medical school training at the University of Pittsburgh and her ophthalmology residency at Washington University in St. Louis where she was honored to receive the Resident Research Award. She further received dedicated glaucoma surgical training at the University of California - San Diego with world-renowned leaders in the glaucoma field and was chosen to receive the Fellow Teaching Award for her contributions to mentorship of other ophthalmologists. She has published numerous papers in peer-reviewed ophthalmology journals and is a member of the American Board of Ophthalmology and the American Glaucoma Society.

In her free time she enjoys fitness, travel, and water-sports with her two children and husband.

Dr. Irene Fong Sasaki is a caring and highly skilled, board-certified surgeon who specializes in Cataract and Glaucoma Surgery. She has practiced in Long Beach since 1995 and has built her practice through word of mouth referrals from satisfied patients and referring physicians.

Dr. Sasaki loves to care for people and is dedicated to providing her patients with the highest quality eye care.

Dr. Sasaki is a native Angelino and received her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley. She earned her medical degree at the Medical College of Pennsylvania and then completed her internship at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco and a residency in ophthalmology at King Drew Medical Center. Dr. Sasaki wanted to increase her ability to diagnose and treat glaucoma and went on to pursue more extensive training by completing a fellowship in glaucoma at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA.

She is Board Certified and is current with new advances in sutureless, microincisional, laser cataract surgery and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. She has expertise with premium lens implants including toric, multifocal and accommodating intraocular lens implants for patients who want to reduce their dependence on glasses after cataract surgery.

Dr. Sasaki is dedicated to investing in our communities. She volunteers and supports numerous organizations that promote women’s issues, youth sports and public education. Dr. Sasaki, her husband Ned, and their two sons, Matt and Will, are all baseball fans. Their home team is the Los Angeles Dodgers. She enjoys cooking, exploring new cuisines, traveling and sharing time with her family.

Dr. Audrey Mok is a board-certified ophthalmologist whose clinical and surgical expertise is focused on Cataract Surgery, Oculoplastics and Neuro-ophthalmology. She strives to bring her patients excellent and compassionate care.

Dr. Mok’s initial exposure to eye care started when she was a young child, when she realized that she could “actually see the leaves on the trees” after obtaining her first pair of glasses. She grew up locally in Southern California, attending St. Joseph High School in Lakewood. She began to think about a career in medicine during this time and during her undergraduate studies at UCLA, where she graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Psychobiology. Dr. Mok attended medical school at Georgetown University, and then decided to return to California to complete an internship in Internal Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

She then moved to Chicago to train at the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary for her ophthalmology residency. During that time, she realized that she wished to specialize even further, and continued training at the University of California, Irvine, to complete a fellowship in Oculoplastics and Neuro-ophthalmology. During her fellowship, she gained additional experience in medical and surgical treatments for patients with eyelid disorders, eyelid reconstruction, thyroid disease, strokes, and other neurological conditions which can affect eyesight. Dr. Mok also performs cosmetic procedures such as upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), and is skilled in the use of Botox and Xeomin for both cosmetic and medical (i.e. for eyelid and facial spasms). She has extensive experience in injecting soft-tissue fillers such as Belotero, Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse, and Sculptra. She has presented posters and papers at international ophthalmological meetings, and since joining Eye Treatment Center in 2005 she has served as a primary or sub-investigator in multiple cutting-edge clinical research trials.

Dr. Mok was eager to return to the Southern California community that she grew up in, and is committed to her patients and to the area. In her current practice, she is also a skilled cataract surgeon well-versed in small-incision and laser cataract surgery and premium intraocular lens technology. Dr. Mok has been named by her peers to the Super Doctors® Rising Stars list in the past, and to Los Angeles Magazine’s Top Doctors list for 2018. In the past, she has served as Chair for the Department of Ophthalmology at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their two sons, traveling, running, and reading.

At Apex Retina Institute, board-certified ophthalmologist and retina specialist Darren Knight, MD, provides complete eye care to adults in Long Beach, California, and throughout Los Angeles County. 

Dr. Darren Knight is a proud South Bay native. He graduated with honors from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and went on to complete medical school at the prestigious Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. After an internal medicine internship at Mount Sinai in New York City, he returned to Southern California to complete his ophthalmology residency at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Knight later pursued a vigorous two-year fellowship focused on medical and surgical vitreoretinal disease at the University of California, San Diego. 

Dr. Knight is passionate about caring for his patients and equipping them with the knowledge they need to understand their diagnosis and achieve their best vision. He strives to guide his patients to a complete understanding of their illness and best practices through a philosophy rooted in compassion, kindness, and dignity. Every patient who walks in the door is treated with the same attention and care that would be given to his own family. 

Dr. Knight takes pride in his ability to share his knowledge of retinal disease with others. During his residency, he was selected by his fellow residents as the teacher of the year. Dr. Knight stays current on the latest developments in retinal disease and surgery so that his patients can achieve the best outcomes. Through cutting-edge technology and medications, he ensures that his patients receive quality care that enables them to improve their quality of life.

He has a particular interest in diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal vascular disease, macular holes, epiretinal membranes (macular puckers), and retinal detachments. 

Dr. Knight has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, including Retina, Ophthalmology, and JAMA Ophthalmology. He has participated in various clinical trials as both a sub-investigator and principal investigator. Dr. Knight has presented his research at the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Retinal Specialists, and the Association of Research for Vision and Ophthalmology. He was also an Ophthalmology Times research scholar finalist for his research on “Retinal Morphology and its Influence on Operative Outcomes in Refractive Lens Exchange Patients.”

Dr. Knight is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is also a member of both the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists.

In his free time, Dr. Knight enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, cheering on the Los Angeles Lakers and USC Trojans, and streaming the latest movies/shows. Don’t forget to ask him about his favorites. 

Apex Retina Institute is conveniently located and features cutting-edge diagnostics onsite, including optical coherence tomography (OCT), widefield fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, and fluorescein angiography. We specialize in diagnosing and treating macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular disease, and retinal detachments.

Call Apex Retina Institute today to request an eye exam or make your appointment online.