John A. Hovanesian, MD

Dr. John Hovanesian is a board certified ophthalmologist, a faculty member at the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute, and an internationally recognized leader in the fields of corneal, cataract, refractive and laser surgery. He has published two eye surgery textbooks — one on the subject of refractive cataract surgery and one on pterygium surgery.

Dr. Hovanesian received his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School and completed his residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, where he was selected to serve as chief resident. He also completed a two-year fellowship in refractive and corneal surgery at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA. He joined Harvard Eye Associates in 1999.

Dr. Hovanesian has been invited to lecture to surgeons on six continents, authored dozens of peer-reviewed articles, and produced surgical teaching videos that have won the “Best Teaching” award at the prestigious ASCRS Film Festival. He is the cataract surgery section editor for the world’s most widely read eye care trade journal and serves on several other editorial boards. He is a recipient of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Senior Achievement Award for his service as chairman of the Academy’s cataract education committee, and he has been named a Distinguished Eagle Scout by the Boy Scouts of America for internationally recognized contributions to his professional field.

Dr. Hovanesian has made dozens of volunteer surgical trips to third world countries, including Armenia, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, and Fiji. He has spent over 20 years volunteering as a board member, board chairman, and as an adult leader for the Boy Scouts of America, which has presented him with numerous service awards.

Dr. Hovanesian lives in Laguna Beach with his wife, Tanya, and their three children. He enjoys spending the weekends with his family, teaching Sunday school at his church in Costa Mesa and enjoying his hobbies of swimming, food, playing piano, and performing magic.

“I’m so lucky to have the privilege of helping people improve their vision with amazing technology that’s continuously getting even better. This is a very exciting time in our field because of advances that weren’t available just a few years ago that genuinely improve the lives of our patients.”