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 2011-2013 Physicians of Excellence, 2011-2012 Top Doctors of Orange County, and Los Angeles Magazine’s 2012 Southern California Super Doctors. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist, a fellowship-trained corneal and refractive surgeon, and a nationally recognized authority in the field of refractive eye surgery. 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, Long Beach/Los Alamitos, 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 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. To perform LASIK eye surgery, Dr. Gaster first uses the leading-edge IntraLase femtosecond laser (blade-free) to create the corneal flap, a thin piece of tissue that is lifted from the surface of the eye to expose the underlying cornea. Next, he uses state-of-the-art excimer laser technology to carefully reshape the cornea, thereby correcting most vision flaws. He uses the Allegretto wavefront-optimized excimer laser or the iLASIK platform with the IntraLase femtosecond laser and VISX Star S4 wavefront-guided excimer laser. Finally, Dr. Gaster places the corneal flap in its original position, where it acts as a bandage for the eye for a faster and virtually pain-free recovery. 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, Irvine, Orange County and throughout the South Bay area.

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.