Ronald N. Gaster, MD, FACS

Serving patients seeking cataract surgery in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and throughout the South Bay area

Ronald N. Gaster, MD, FACS, was voted by other eye doctors as one of the "Best Doctors in America." He has been chosen by his peers for inclusion in the prestigious 2011 Best Doctors in America (an honor he has received yearly since 1996), the Orange County Medical Association's 2011-2012 Physicians of Excellence, 2011-2012 Top Doctors of Orange County, and Los Angeles Magazine's 2008 Southern California SuperDoctors. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist, a fellowship-trained corneal, refractive and cataract surgeon, and a nationally recognized authority in the field of cataract surgery and intraocular lenses. Dr. Gaster is currently a Professor of Ophthalmology at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute at the University of California, Irvine, and has private practices in Beverly Hills, the Long Beach and Los Alamitos area, Irvine and Orange County. He won the Outstanding Teacher of the Year award in 1999, 2002 and 2008 for his work in ophthalmology teaching other doctors his microsurgical techniques. He frequently lectures on the latest innovations in refractive, corneal and cataract microsurgery, both nationally and internationally, and has authored more than 60 publications on topics pertaining to advances in refractive, corneal and cataract surgery.

Dr. Gaster uses the most advanced, sophisticated techniques for cataract surgery with premium intraocular lens implants (IOLs). He closely evaluates his patients to determine which technology best fits their lifestyle preferences and which intraocular lens will restore their vision at multiple distances. This may include Tecnis Multifocal, AcrySof ReSTOR, Crystalens AO or Toric (for correcting astigmatism) lens implants, all of which are FDA approved. He was among the first eye surgeons in the U.S. to implant some of these lenses.

Dr. Gaster performs cataract surgery on an outpatient basis and uses topical eye drop anesthesia (and relaxing medication, if needed), which is the safest for cataract surgery. He begins the procedure by creating a small incision in the eye and carefully uses ultrasound energy to break up and remove the clouded lens. He then implants either a monofocal (non-premium) lens, which is covered by insurance, or a premium lens, which requires an extra charge. Many patients request premium intraocular lenses because they allow for substantially improved vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses for reading or distance. The surgery takes approximately 30 minutes and is virtually painless, with improved results often noticeable soon after surgery.

As a Professor of Ophthalmology at one of the leading medical school's new eye institutes, the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute at the University of California Irvine, Dr. Gaster is on the leading edge of innovation in small-incision cataract surgery, teaching his microsurgical techniques to other doctors, including residents and fellows. There has been much discussion about "no-stitch" cataract surgery. Several research papers have shown that placing one stitch is safer for cataract patients because it reduces the risk of infection and does not increase postoperative astigmatism, and Dr. Gaster subscribes to this approach. Therefore, even though Dr. Gaster uses a 3-planed, self-sealing incision, he also uses one stitch (which is removed at one week postop) to ensure the integrity of the wound closure at the conclusion of the surgery. In Dr. Gaster's opinion, using one stitch improves the overall outcome of the surgery. There is no advantage (in fact, there are disadvantages) to using the "no stitch" procedure, and this is what he teaches his residents and fellows daily at UCI, as well as other ophthalmologists at the yearly American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.

A happy patient in
post-op with Dr. Gaster

Dr. Gaster also specializes in the latest treatments for keratoconus and post-LASIK ectasia, including Intacs and corneal cross-linking (CXL); he is a principal investigator for a clinical trial with an IDE under the FDA, which is currently enrolling new patients.

In addition, Dr. Gaster uses the latest and most advanced "bladeless" all-laser LASIK eye surgery technologies to correct a range of refractive errors, including nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. These technologies achieve the best possible results, usually 20/20 or better. Most LASIK patients who undergo laser vision correction under the care of Dr. Gaster and his surgical team are able to achieve perfect or near-perfect vision, without the use of glasses or contact lenses. Dr. Gaster also offers PRK for patients who are not good candidates for LASIK. Dr. Gaster will not perform laser vision correction surgery on a patient if he feels that the results will not be outstanding.

Dr. Gaster serves the vision correction needs of LASIK, cataract and corneal surgery patients in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Orange, Irvine, Orange County and throughout the South Bay area.

We will be happy to speak with you and answer any questions about your vision correction options and the state-of-the-art technology in our surgery center prior to your scheduling a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Gaster. Call toll free at (800) 772-8651.

More About Vision Correction with Dr. Gaster

Dr. Gaster's involvement with cataract surgery, corneal transplantation, LASIK and refractive surgery reaches back many years. He served as a principal investigator in the development of excimer laser technology for PRK and LASIK eye surgeries and has taught courses on the surgical treatment of astigmatism at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meetings for more than 20 years. In addition, in 1996 Dr. Gaster helped bring LASIK to China and in 2004 and 2005 he introduced small-incision cataract microsurgery to Ecuador, where he has taught other ophthalmologists the latest techniques in laser vision correction, corneal transplantation and cataract surgery.

Dr. Gaster was named one of the
top doctors of 2012.

Dr. Gaster personally performs all cataract surgeries and LASIK treatments on his patients. He meticulously screens and evaluates each patient to determine which procedure and which laser is best suited to each patient's individual needs. When performing all-laser LASIK, he does not use a bladed microkeratome on any patient since he believes that "bladeless" LASIK is more accurate and results in a better and safer outcome.

More About Ronald N. Gaster, MD, FACS

Ronald N. Gaster, MD, FACS, obtained his undergraduate degree at Cornell University and his medical degree at the UCLA School of Medicine. He completed his surgical internship at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and his ophthalmology residency at the University of Chicago, where he was Chief Resident. Dr. Gaster continued his training with a fellowship in microsurgery of the anterior segment and corneal and refractive surgery at the prestigious Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, where he was the recipient of the Heed Foundation Fellowship. He also worked with the father of modern refractive surgery, Dr. Jose I. Barraquer, at the Instituto Barraquer de America in Bogota, Colombia. He is a recipient of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Honor Award and the American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award, among other accomplishments. Dr. Gaster regularly participates in the most cutting-edge technologies in microsurgery of the eye and presents his research at national and international meetings.

Dr. Gaster has been awarded with many top honors and plaques by various publications.

Dr. Gaster enjoys giving back to the community and has participated in medical missions and taught cataract and corneal transplant surgery techniques to eye surgeons in South America, Africa and Asia. He was invited to perform surgeries on the flying eye hospital with Project Orbis in China. In Ecuador, he was recruited by the International Medical Alliance to volunteer his time teaching and performing small incision cataract microsurgeries. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. In addition, he is associated with several professional organizations, including the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the International Society of Refractive Surgery, and the California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, where he serves on the Board of Directors. He is a past president of the Orange County Society of Ophthalmology, former Acting Chair of Ophthalmology at the University of California, Irvine, and currently is co-Medical Director of the Doheny Eye and Tissue Bank.

Dr. Gaster and his friendly staff welcome a visit to their modern offices where you will be treated with respect, courtesy and personal attention during your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Gaster. Call toll free at (800) 772-8651.

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