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Brian T. Kim, MD
Medical Retina and Cataract Surgeon

Brian T. Kim, MD

Orange County Eye Doctor

Specializing in Medical Retina & Cataract

Dr. Brian Kim is one of Orange County’s most popular and beloved Ivy League-educated and board-certified Ophthalmologists for over 10 years. He serves as the physician and surgeon to numerous physicians and healthcare professionals in Southern California and has often been called “The Physician’s Physician” and awarded one of Orange County’s “Physicians of Excellence” every year since 2018.  Dr. Brian Kim is a fellowship-trained Medical Retina Specialist from the elite Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Florida who specializes in the diagnosis and clinical treatment of retinal and macular conditions and the surgical treatment of cataracts.  He is dedicated to advancement in medicine and has authored numerous peer-reviewed research publications in Ophthalmology, currently conducts clinical trials for several retinal conditions at Harvard Eye Associates, and teaches as adjunct clinical faculty at a local university.  He has been interviewed on both local and national television for his ocular expertise and holds several US patents on vision aid technology utilizing augmented reality and artificial intelligence to assist those who suffer from vision loss.

At Harvard Eye Associates, Dr. Brian Kim focuses on the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of retinal and macular diseases including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular occlusions (RVO), peripheral retinal degenerations and macular dystrophies, macular edema, and retinal detachments. He also performs retinal screening evaluations in patients taking certain medications such as Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) and tamoxifen.

In addition to being an accomplished retina specialist, he also specializes in the surgical management of cataracts and astigmatism.  He is an experienced premium cataract surgeon and an expert in using femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS), intraoperative aberrometry, and advanced technology intraocular lenses like the Light Adjustable Lens, multifocal lenses, extended depth of field (EDOF) lenses, and astigmatism-correcting toric lenses.

Dr. Brian Kim has always had a penchant for technology, starting well before medical school. His first high school job was assembling robotic dinosaurs for museums and by his first year of college, he was using CAD and finite element modeling to test components for a biomedical engineering company.

After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University in New York, he worked as a database programmer for Accenture in the pharmaceutical and health science division. He then went on to research mechanical cardiac assist devices and participated in heart and lung transplant surgeries with the Columbia University heart and lung transplant team. Realizing then that he wanted to incorporate his engineering background with medicine, he went on to earn his Medical Degree from Pennsylvania State University where he discovered that ophthalmic medicine incorporated advanced technology in much of its care.  He graduated Ophthalmology residency at The Gavin Herbert Eye Institute at the University of California, Irvine and completed a subspecialty fellowship in Medical Retina at the prestigious Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Florida.

He is honored to return home to Orange County and join Harvard Eye Associates with his father, Dr. Edward Kim.  He enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and mischievous pug. When not saving eyesight, he enjoys fly fishing, hiking, sculling, and playing video games (to keep his surgical skills up!).

Surgeon Expertise



Brian T. Kim, MD Significant Research References

Nguyen KH, Smith AK, Kim BT, Browne, AW. A case report of cystoid macular edema, uveitis and vitreomacular traction in a patient taking Anastrazole. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2022 Jan 22:25:101339. PMID: 35128169

Nicholson LB, Kim BT, Jardon J, Townsend-Pico W, Santos C, Moshfeghi AA, Albini TA, Eliott D, Sobrin L. Severe, bilateral ischemic retinal vasculitis following cataract surgery. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. Published online Jun 11, 2014

Foshee CM, Kim BT, Hekelman F. Considerations for open educational resources in ophthalmology. Medical Education. Pending publication.

Thorell MR, Nunes RP, Chen GW, Doshi RR, Dugar J, George MK, Kim BT, Lowrance MD, Modi D, Nahas Z, Gregori G, Yehoshua Z, Feuer W, Rosenfeld PJ. Response to aflibercept after frequent re-treatment with bevacizumab or ranibizumab in eyes with neovascular AMD. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2014 Nov-Dec;45(6):526-33. doi: 10.3928/23258160-20141118-07.PMID: 25423632

Doshi RR, Fortun JA, Kim BT, Dubovy SR, Rosenfeld PH. Pseudocystic foveal cavitation in tamoxifen retinopathy. Am J Ophthalmol 2014 Feb 26. [Epub ahead of print].

Doshi RR, Lowrance MD, Kim BT, Davis JL, Rosenfeld PJ. Epiretinal macular edema associated with thick epiretinal membranes.

Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2013 Sep-Oct; 44(5):508-12

Chafik D, Bear D, Bui P, Patel A, Jones NF, Kim BT, Hung CT, Gupta R. Optimization of Schwann cell adhesion in response to shear stress in an in vitro model for peripheral nerve tissue engineering. Tissue Eng. 2003 Apr; 9(2):233-41.

Kim BT, Schwartz SG, Smiddy WE, Doshi RR, Kovach JL, Berrocal AM, Moshfeghi AA, Fortun JA. Initial outcomes following intravitreal ocriplasmin for treatment of symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2013 Jul-Aug; 44(4):334-43.

Tao JP, Hirabayashi KE, Kim BT, Zhu FA, Joseph JM, Nunery W. The efficacy of a midfacial seal drape in reducing oculofacial surgical fire risk. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 2013 Mar-Apr; 29(2):109-12.

Sonmez B, Kim BT, Aldave AJ. Amniotic Membrane Transplantation with Anterior Stromal Micropuncture for Treatment of Bullous Keratopathy in Eyes with Poor Visual Potential. Cornea. 2007 Feb;26(2):227-9.

Aldave AJ, Rayner SA, Salem AK, Yoo GL, Kim BT, Saeedian M, Sonmez B, Yellore VS. No pathogenic mutations identified in the COL8A1 and COL8A2 genes in familial Fuchs corneal dystrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006 Sep; 47(9):3787-90.

Aldave AJ, King JA, Kim BT, Hopp L. Corneal copper deposition associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Am J Ophthalmol. 2006 Jul; 142(1):174-6.

Aldave AJ, Rayner SA, Kim BT, Prechanond A, Yellore VS. Unilateral lattice corneal dystrophy associated with the novel His572del mutation in the TGFBI gene. Mol Vis. 2006 Feb 27; 12:142-6.

Dang NC, Topkara VK, Kim BT, Mercando ML, Kay J, Naka Y. Clinical outcomes in patients with chronic congestive heart failure who undergo left ventricular assist device implantation. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005 Nov; 130(5):1302-9. Epub 2005 Oct 13.

Dang NC, Topkara VK, Kim BT, Lee BJ, Remoli R, Naka Y. Nutritional status in patients on left ventricular assist device support. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005 Nov; 130(5):e3-4.

Mehta MC; Kim BT; Kammer R; Watola D. Evaluation of the Eye-01 Augmented Reality Visual Aid for Subjects with Moderate Vision Loss due to Age-Related Macular Degeneration. American Society of Retina Specialists 2019 Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL. July 26, 2019.

Mehta MC; Kim BT; Kammer R; Watola D. Eyedaptic Augmented Reality Visual Aid Leads to Improved Reading Speed and Accuracy in Individuals with AMD. The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthlamology 2018 Annual Meeting, Honolulu, HI. April 29, 2018.

Kim BT; Zhu F; Tao JT. The Efficacy of Midfacial Seal Surgical Drape Technique in Reducing Oculofacial Surgical Field Oxygen Concentration: Operating Room Fire Risk Reduction. ASOPRS 42nd Annual Symposium. Oct 22, 2011.

Shortridge E, Kim BT, White W, Little A, Balis M, Knecht L. Red Desaturation and Visual Field Deficits in Detecting Chiasmopathy in Patients with Nonfunctioning Pituitary Macroadenoma. Endocrine Society Meeting, Boston, MA. June 5, 2011.

DeLange J; Kim BT; Pati S; Statton M; Blinkhorn RJ. Acyclovir-Induced Interstitial Pneumonitis; St. Joseph’s Hospital Academic Excellence Day, Phoenix, AZ. May 2009.

Adaptive system for autonomous machine learning and control in wearable augmented reality and virtual reality visual aids — US Patent #12132984 (Oct 29, 2024)

Systems for augmented reality visual aids and tools — US Patent #12033291 (Jul 9, 2024)

Artificial intelligence enhanced system for adaptive control driven AR/VR visual aids — US Patent #11935204 (Mar 19, 2024)

Hybrid see-through augmented reality systems and methods for low-vision users — US Patent #11803061 (Oct 31, 2023)

Demonstration devices and methods for enhancement for low-vision users and systems improvements — US Patent #11756168 (Sept 12, 2023)

Enhanced autonomous hands-free control in electronic visual aids — US Patent #11726561 (Aug 15, 2023)

Systems for augmented reality visual aids and tools — US Patent #11676352 (Jun 13, 2023)

Adaptive system for autonomous machine learning and control in wearable AR/VR visual aids — US Patent #11563885 (Jan 24, 2023)

Artificial intelligence enhanced system for adaptive control driven AR/VR visual aids — US Patent #11521360 (Dec 6, 2022)

Hybrid see-through augmented reality systems and methods for low-vision users — US Patent #11385468 (Jul 12, 2022)

Systems for augmented reality visual aids and tools — US Patent #11282284 (Mar 22, 2022)

Enhanced autonomous hands-free control in electronic visual aids — US Patent #20210373656 (Dec 2, 2021)

Hybrid see-through augmented reality systems and methods for low-vision users — US Patent #11187906 (Nov 30, 2021)

Artificial intelligence enhanced system for adaptive control driven AR/VR visual aids — US Patent #11043036 (Jun 22, 2021)

Demonstration devices and methods for enhancement for low-vision users and systems improvements — US Patent #10984508 (Apr 20, 2021)

Systems for augmented reality visual aids and tools — US Patent #10872472 (Feb 12, 2020)

  1. Kammer R; Mehta MC; Kim BT; Watola D. Real World Use of the Eye-01 Augmented Reality Visual Aid. Envision Conference West 2019. Pomona, CA. October 5, 2019.
  2. NC Dang; VK Topkara; BJ Lee; BT Kim; MC OZ; Y Naka. Preoperative Hepatic Insufficiency Correlates with Longer Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Stays and Lower Bridge to Transplant Rates Following Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Insertion. ASAIO, Washington D.C., June 2004.
  3. Nicholas C. Dang, MD, Veli K. Topkara, MD, Brian T. Kim, BS, Michelle L. Mercando, BS, Joy Kay, BS, Yoshifumi Naka, MD, PhD. Preoperative Malnutrition is Associated with Poor Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Implantation. ASAIO, Washington D.C., June 2004.
  4. Nicholas C. Dang, Jeffrey A. Morgan, Brian J. Lee, Veli K. Topkara, Brian T. Kim, Mehmet C. Oz, Yoshifumi Naka. Effect of Race on Outcomes in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs). ASAIO, Washington D.C., June 2004.
  5. Deon W. Vigilance, Faisal H. Cheema, Mathew Williams, Brian Kim, Joy Peacock, Timothy Martens, Steve Xydas, Nicholas Dang, Satish Kesava, Mathias Szabolcs, Mehmet C. Oz, Michael Argenziano. A Comparison of Stapling Techniques for Removal of the Left Atrial Appendage During Atrial Fibrillation Surgery. ISMICS, London, England, June 2004.
  6. Deon W. Vigilance, Mauricio Garrido, Mathew Williams, Brian Kim, Joy Peacock, Ann Zeidner, Aftab R. Kherani, Jeffrey A. Morgan, Satish Kesava, Mehmet C. Oz, and Michael Argenziano. The Success of Surgical Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Atrial Fibrillation is Not Influenced by Omission of the Mitral Annular Connecting Lesion. The American College of Cardiology, New Orleans, LA, March 2004.
  1. Be prepared for inflammation after cataract surgery.
    • Ocular Surgery News, Healio, Nov 25, 2024, Contributing author
  2. Ultra-widefield retinal imaging facilitates integrated eye care. Brian Kim, Kenneth Fukuda, Karen Skvarna. . Advanced Ocular Care. March 2017
  3. Minimally invasive techniques, advanced technologies enhance safety of cataract surgery in diabetic patients. Ocular Surgery News, Healio, July 10, 2015. Contributing author.
  4. Diabetes and Your Vision. Author. Dana Point Times. May 22, 2015
  1. Advances in diabetic macular edema treatment. American Health Journal. Public Broadcasting Service. Expected to air Nationally syndicated in Nov, 2015

HARVARD EYE ASSOCIATES, Laguna Hills, CA (Aug 25, 2021 – Present)

Princibal-Investigator Opthea OPT-302-1004 ShORe Phase 3 Clinical Trial for the treatment of exudative macular degeneration

HARVARD EYE ASSOCIATES, Laguna Hills, CA (Jun 7, 2021 – Present)

Sub-Investigator OnPoint Vision Inc. Early Feasibility Study to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of the IOPCL AMD MAG for Secondary Implantation in the Capsular Bag to Improve Near Vision in Subjects with Age-Related Macular Degeneration after Cataract Surgery

HARVARD EYE ASSOCIATES, Laguna Hills, CA (Oct 13, 2020 – Present)

Sub-investigator Alimera Sciences. New Day Clinical Trial investigating early treatment of Iluvien fluocinolone acetonide implant versus aflibercept intravitreal injections for the treatment of diabetic macular edema in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Locations

Our Doctors

Laguna Hills
Laguna Hills
23961 Calle de la Magdalena,
Suite 300
Laguna Hills, California 92653
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San Clemente
San Clemente
665 Camino de los Mares (at Hospital Drive),
Suites 102-103,
San Clemente, California 92673
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Orange
Orange
1010 W. La Veta Ave.,
Suite 175,
Orange, California 92868
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