Ophthalmology | Gavin Herbert Eye Institute

Why choose us

You can count on receiving the highest quality eye care at the UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute. From our highly trained specialists who are involved in cutting-edge research and development of treatments for every eye condition.

• Our team includes pioneers in the development and use of ophthalmic lasers and refractive surgery techniques. Their work has formed the foundations of LASIK surgery, the development of the blade-less IntraLase™ laser and the most advanced techniques for corneal transplants and intraocular lens implants.
• Our team has made critical advances in treating age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people over age 55. 
• Our surgeons, stem cell researchers, geneticists, infectious disease specialists and engineers are working on technologies and treatments for diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, corneal disease and cataracts, as well as a vaccine to prevent eye and genital herpes infections.
• We also are international leaders in glaucoma implant surgery, having developed many of the techniques and technologies used around the world today.

Our institute's ophthalmologists bring this expertise and vision to the care they provide daily to patients with eye conditions that range from mild myopia to rare retinal and ocular disorders. Many of them appear regularly on the "Best Doctors in America®" list, a peer-review survey that represents the top 5 percent of specialists in the nation.

We see patients at the UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute on the university campus in Irvine and at UCI Medical Center's Pavilion 2 in Orange.

We also offer optometry services at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Optical Shop ›

Conditions & treatments

The range and depth of clinical and scientific expertise of our ophthalmologists enables us to deliver high-quality care for the full range of eye conditions, including:

Conditions

Treatments

We provide comprehensive eye exams and perform leading-edge procedures with the most advanced equipment available today, including:

• Femtosecond laser keratoplasty
• Implantable mini telescope for age-related macular degeneration
• Boston keratoprosthesis (artificial cornea)
• Navilas® laser system for retinal disease
• RxSight Light Adjustable Lens for cataract surgery
• Lipiflow & Tearcare for dry eyes
• Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)
• Corneal cross-linking
• Intralase (bladeless) LASIK
• Limbal stem cell transplant for ocular surface disease

Learn more about our LASIK services

Learn more about the conditions we treat

Research

Gavin Herbert Eye Institute has assembled a unique, world-class group of scientists, engineers and physicians who conduct patient-oriented basic science and applied research on the next generation of sight-saving devices, drugs and procedures.

This internationally recognized team of investigators includes basic and clinical scientists who have placed UCI's School of Medicine in the top echelon of U.S. institutions receiving National Institutes of Health grants for vision research. Many are pioneers in the development of ophthalmic lasers and refractive surgical technologies. Others are at the forefront of stem cell treatments for such conditions as macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and corneal disease. All are focused on developing the treatments of the future that will prevent vision loss.

Basic research studies currently include:

• Stem cells for retinal regeneration in macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa
• Regenerative medicine for retinal and corneal diseases
• Genetics of macular degeneration to improve treatment outcomes
• Safety testing of medications used in treating retinal disorders
• The role of environmental factors in retinal degeneration
• Imaging the optic nerve in glaucoma patients
• Development new therapies for glaucoma
• Understanding and preventing corneal scarring
• Understanding and preventing vision loss from herpes infections

Clinical research studies currently include:

• Clinical trials for diabetic macular edema, diabetic retinopathy and vitreous hemorrhage
• Clinical trials for both "wet" and "dry" age-related macular degeneration
• Clinical trials for retinal vein occlusion
• Clinical trials for vitreomacular traction
• Clinical trials for retinal detachment
• Clinical trials for imaging the optic nerve in patients with glaucoma and macular degeneration
• Clinical trials for imaging the retina and choroidal vasculature in retinal vein occlusion, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration
• Evaluation of the Trabectome instrument in glaucoma treatment
• Development and testing of new corneal transplant techniques