July 2026
Registration Now Open: 8th Annual Doheny-UCLA Glaucoma Symposium
Join us on Saturday, September 26, 2026, for the 8th Annual Doheny-UCLA Glaucoma Symposium and Hands-on Wet Lab, a full day of practical, evidence-based education designed to keep eye care professionals at the forefront of glaucoma care.
Led by Course Directors Vikas Chopra, MD, and Brian Francis, MD, MS, this CME-accredited program brings together nationally recognized glaucoma specialists to explore the latest advances in diagnosis, medical management, laser therapy, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), and complex glaucoma surgery through expert presentations and interactive case discussions.
A highlight of this year’s program is the Donald Minckler Doheny Glaucoma Lecture, presented by Darrell WuDunn, MD, PhD, a Doheny alum, an internationally recognized glaucoma specialist, and a respected leader in ophthalmology. His presentation will offer attendees valuable clinical insights from decades of experience caring for patients with glaucoma and advancing the field.
Participants may benefit from the Hands-on Wet Lab, which provides an opportunity to gain experience with the latest glaucoma surgical technologies under the guidance of expert faculty.
Attendees can earn up to 5 CME credits while learning from leaders in the field and networking with colleagues from across Southern California and beyond.
Registration is now open. Click below to visit the symposium webpage, view the agenda, and register.
Showing Appreciation for the Doheny Circle of Caring
On June 18, we were thrilled to welcome friends, supporters, and members of the Doheny Circle of Caring to the Valley Hunt Club for the annual Planned Giving Luncheon. The luncheon provides an opportunity for guests to explore the possibility of making a legacy gift while allowing Doheny leadership to express sincere appreciation to the generous supporters who have already chosen to establish a planned gift.
During the afternoon, our Chief Scientific Officer, Deborah Ferrington, PhD, shared updates on the transformative research taking place at Doheny and gave insights into where the field is heading next. Guests also heard from wealth advisor Jeff Ruderman of Capital Group about tax changes affecting philanthropic planning and strategies that can help donors make a lasting impact with a gift today or in the future while, in some cases, preserving their family’s wealth.
To learn more about becoming part of the Doheny Circle of Caring, please contact us at . Your legacy gift helps transform today’s generosity into tomorrow’s breakthroughs, advancing research that preserves and restores sight.
Doheny Welcomes New Clinical Fellows and Celebrates Our Graduating Class
Each July marks an exciting transition at Doheny Eye Institute as we congratulate our graduating clinical fellows and welcome a new class of physicians who will spend the coming year advancing their clinical expertise and contributing to Doheny’s longstanding tradition of excellence in patient care, education, and research.
We extend our sincere appreciation to our outgoing fellows for their dedication and wish them continued success as they begin the next chapter of their careers.
Congratulations to our graduating fellows:
- Hyelin You, MD (Cornea) – Joining Kaiser Permanente, Sacramento
- Alex Haueisen, MD (Glaucoma) – Sabbatical
- Saghar Bagheri, MD, PhD (Retina) – Career plans forthcoming
- Ketaki Panse, MD (Retina) – Career plans forthcoming
Pictured From Left to Right: Tyler Dowd-Schoeman, MD (Medical Retina), Sonia Anchouche, MD (Oculoplastics), Saam Mojtahed, MD (Cornea and External Diseases), Jenny Ma, MD (Glaucoma), Saman Nassiri, MD (Medical Retina)
We are excited to welcome our incoming clinical fellows for Fiscal Year 2026-2027:
- Saam Mojtahed, MD – Cornea Fellow
Residency: Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute - Jenny Ma, MD – Glaucoma Fellow
Residency: University of Toronto - Tyler Dowd-Schoeman, MD – Retina Fellow
Residency: Loma Linda University - Saman Nassiri, MD – Retina Fellow
Residency: St. John’s Episcopal Hospital - Sonia Anchouche, MD – Oculoplastic Fellow
Residency: University of Toronto
These talented physicians join Doheny from outstanding residency programs and will train alongside our internationally recognized faculty while caring for patients, participating in research, and preparing to become the next generation of leaders in ophthalmology.
We look forward to all they will accomplish during the coming year and wish our incoming and outgoing fellows continued success.
July is UV Safety Awareness Month – Tips to Protect & Support Your Eyes
July is UV Safety Awareness Month, making this the perfect time to take a fresh look at how you protect your eyes when spending time outdoors.
Most people assume sunglasses are enough to protect their eyes in the summer. According to eye specialists at Doheny, however, they are only part of the equation. UV exposure accumulates over a lifetime, contributing to cataracts, growths on the surface of the eye, corneal damage, and other vision problems that may not become apparent until years later.
Benjamin Bert, MD, FACS, a cornea and external disease specialist and assistant professor at Doheny Eye Center UCLA and Medical Director of Continuing Medical Education at Doheny Eye Institute, recommends adopting a few simple habits to help protect your vision and avoid some of the most common eye health risks people overlook.
Wear UV Protection
Choose sunglasses that block 99–100% of both UVA and UVB rays every time you head outdoors. Wraparound styles offer the best protection because they prevent UV rays from entering around the side of the lenses.
For added protection, wear a wide-brim hat to help significantly reduce UV exposure to your eyes. Combined with UV-blocking sunglasses, this simple step provides even greater protection against harmful rays.
Wear Protective Eyewear
Summer is a popular time for gardening, landscaping, and home improvement projects, which are among the most common causes of preventable eye injuries. Protect your vision by wearing appropriate safety glasses or protective eyewear whenever you use power tools, mow the lawn, trim hedges, or perform other outdoor chores.
Manage Your Stress
Manage your stress by getting outside and enjoying the fresh air! Cortisol (the “stress hormone”) has been associated with elevated eye pressure, and spending even a few minutes outdoors with proper eye protection, of course, can help you relax.
Practice Good Hygiene
Be mindful of eyelid hygiene. After a long day, especially after spending time outdoors, use an eyelid scrub to gently clean any debris that may have accumulated on your eyelids and eyelashes.
Eat a Diet Rich in Vitamins
Summer is a wonderful time to incorporate an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables that support eye health.
- Vitamin A helps photoreceptors and the cornea. Foods to eat include apricots, cantaloupe, carrots, mangos, red bell peppers, spinach, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and squash.
- Vitamin C supports the eye’s lens. Foods to eat include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, grapefruit, kiwis, oranges, lemons, peaches, red bell peppers, strawberries, and tomatoes.
- Vitamin E supports the eye’s lens. Foods to eat include almonds, avocados, broccoli, peanuts, spinach, and sunflower seeds.
- Lutein and zeaxanthin support the lens and the retina. Foods to eat include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, corn, egg yolks, kale, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peas, romaine lettuce, spinach, and squash.
- Omega-3 fatty acids support the retina and cornea. Foods to eat include flaxseed, fatty fish (such as salmon, tuna, sardines, halibut, and trout), and walnuts.
- Zinc supports the retina. Foods to eat include beans (kidney beans, lima beans, black-eyed peas, chickpeas), oysters, lean red meat, poultry, fortified cereals, whole grains, milk, and nuts.
In addition to caring for patients with corneal disease, dry eye, ocular surface disorders, and acute eye injuries, Dr. Bert conducts research focused on refractive surgery, external eye disease, and wound healing, bringing both clinical and research perspectives to patient care. If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment with Dr. Bert, we encourage you to call .
Philanthropy helps fund essential equipment, recruit and retain world-class scientists, and create the kind of environment where innovation thrives. A gift to Doheny Eye Institute is a shared commitment in the fight against vision loss.