John Hovanesian MD FACS - LASIK Cataract Surgery Pterygium

John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS

Specialist in Refractive Surgery, Cataracts, Cornea and External Disease
Clinical Assistant Professor, UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute

Dr. John Hovanesian is a clinical instructor at the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute and is in private practice in Laguna Hills, California with Harvard Eye Associates. His specialties and research interests are in cataract and lens implant surgery, LASIK and refractive surgery, cornea and external disease, and the use of biologic adhesives and amnionic membrane transplantation in ocular surgery.

Dr. Hovanesian graduated Summa Cum Laude in three years from the honors chemistry program at the University of Michigan. He went on to attend the University of Michigan Medical School and completed his ophthalmology residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, where he was elected Resident of the Year and was selected by his faculty to serve for a year as Chief Resident. He completed two years of fellowship training in cornea, external disease and refractive surgery at the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute before entering private practice in 1999.

Dr. Hovanesian is a recognized authority on cataract surgery, advanced-technology lens implants, and on corneal and pterygium surgery. He is regularly invited to teach courses at surgical meetings around the world. He has been featured numerous times on PBS and national television discussing new developments in lens implants, corneal transplantation, and pterygium surgery. He is an editorial board member of Ocular Surgery News, the world's most widely read eye journal, where he also edits two columns. One, called "Ophthalmic Outreach", showcases the volunteer work of eye care professionals. The other column, titled "State of the Art" reviews new eye surgery technologies for their merits in treating patients.

An active researcher, Dr. Hovanesian serves as a consultant or scientific advisory board member for more than ten biotech and medical device companies. He has been a Principal Investigator on several landmark FDA studies and has been lead author on many peer-reviewed research papers. He is also lead instructor on two ongoing courses on surgical technique at meetings of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Volunteer work is extremely important to Dr. Hovanesian. For over ten years he has traveled twice yearly to the developing nation of Armenia to teach and perform surgery. Since 2003 he has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and served as Vice President of Program for the Armenian Eye Care Project, a California nonprofit organization providing medical training and supplies to this developing country. He also teaches Sunday School to high schoolers at his church in Costa Mesa, California.

Dr. Hovanesian is also an Eagle Scout and has served as a volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America on local, regional, and national levels. The National Council of the Boy Scouts of America has awarded him their highest volunteer honor, the Silver Beaver Award.

Dr. Hovanesian lives in Laguna Beach, California with his wife and three children. His hobbies include magic, piano, photography, swimming, and food.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

Undergraduate: Bachelor of Science in Honors Chemistry
Summa Cum Laude, graduated in three years
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
1985-1988

Medical School: Doctor of Medicine
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
1988-1992

Internship: Department of Medicine, Transitional Internship
William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan
1992-1993

Residency: Department of Ophthalmology
Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
1993-1996

Chief Resident: Department of Ophthalmology
Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
1996-1997

Fellowship: Refractive Surgery, Cornea, and External Disease
Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles
1997-1999

Honors and Awards

James B. Angell Scholar,
University of Michigan,
1985-1988

Phi Beta Kappa as college junior,
University of Michigan,
1987

CIBA/Geigy Award for Outstanding Community Service,
University of Michigan Medical School,
1990

Silver Beaver Award, highest volunteer honor given by the National Court of Honor,
Boy Scouts of America,
1994

Resident of the Year,
Henry Ford Hospital,
1996

David May II Fellowship,
Jules Stein Eye Institute, Los Angeles, California,
1997

David May II Fellowship,
Jules Stein Eye Institute, Los Angeles, California,
1998

Best Paper of Session,
International Society of Refractive Surgery Symposium, New Orleans, Louisiana,
1998

National Telly Award for PBS Television
"American Health Journal" program on new technology intraocular implants, 2004

Best Paper of Session,
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Symposium, San Francisco,
2009

Achievement Award,
American Academy of Ophthalmology,
2009

Professional Societies

American Academy of Ophthalmology

American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery

International Society of Refractive Surgery

Orange County Ophthalmology Society

Journal & Other Professional Activities

House Staff Council, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan,
1995-1996

Reviewer, Ophthalmology journal,
1997-present

Column Editor, "Ophthalmic Outreach", Ocular Surgery News,
recurring column sharing information and inspiring volunteerism among ophthalmologists,
2006-present

Column Editor, "State of the Art", Ocular Surgery News recurring column evaluating new ophthalmic technologies,
2007-present

Continuing Medical Education Reviewer, Vindico Medical Education,
2007-present

Editorial Board, Ocular Surgery News,
2007-present

Charitable Activities

Vice President-Program, Armenian Eye Care Project, international organization raising $11 million for eye care in developing Republic of Armenia,
1997-present.

Chairman, St. Mary Church "Mr. and Mrs. Club",
2006-2008.

Teacher, St. Mary Church Sunday School high school forum, 2008-present

Medical Missions to Armenia every six months providing training programs for Armenian surgeons,
1998-present.

Chairman, Orange County Armenian Young Professionals organization,
2001-2004.

Boy Scouts of America volunteer at regional and national levels,
1985-1997.

District Commissioner, Scouting for the Handicapped

Author of two nationally distributed publications

National Scout Jamboree Health and Safety Committee

FDA Studies

Principal Investigator, Phase III Study of an Eye Drop to Treat Meibomian Gland Disease, 2005

Subinvestigator, A Study of a Trabecular Bypass Micro Stent in Combination with Cataract Surgery in Subjects with Open-Angle Glaucoma, 2005-2008

Subinvestigator, Phase III Study of the Visiogen Synchrony Accommodating Intraocular Lens, 2007-2008

Principal Investigator, Phase III Study of the Crystalens HD-100 Accommodating Intraocular Lens, 2007-2008

Principal Investigator, Phase III Study of the I-Zip Ocular Bandage, 2008-2009.

Abstracts/Scientific Presentations

Hovanesian JA, Higginbotham EJ, Lichter PR. Long Term Visual Outcome of
Ocular Hypotension After Thermosclerostomy. Poster at Association for
Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Sarasota, Florida, 1991.

Hovanesian JA, Hovanesian JD, Byrd TJ. Change in Corneal Stress
Birefringence after Radial Keratotomy. Poster at American Society of
Cataract and Refractive Surgery Symposium, Seattle, Washington, 1996.

Hovanesian JA, Shah SS, Maloney RK. Effect of Anti-island Treatment on
Visual Acuity and Corneal Topography. Paper at American Society of
Cataract and Refractive Surgery Symposium, San Diego, California, 1998.

Shah SS, Hovanesian JA, Maloney RK. Effect of Laser Tuning on the Outcome
of Refractive Surgery. Paper at American Society of Cataract and
Refractive Surgery Symposium, San Diego, California, 1998.

Shah SS, Hovanesian JA, Maloney RK. Effect of Astigmatic Keratotomy on
Visual Outcome after Myopic Photorefractive Keratectomy. Paper at
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Symposium, San
Diego, California, 1998.

Hovanesian JA, Shah SS, Maloney RK. Effect of Mild Central Islands on Visual
Performance. Paper at Association for Research in Vision and
Ophthalmology, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 1998.

Hovanesian JA, Shah SS, Maloney RK. Quantitative Topographic Irregularity
and its Correlation with Best Corrected Visual Acuity after Refractive
Surgery, Paper at International Society of Refractive Surgery, Orlando,
Florida, 1998.

Hovanesian JA, Eghbali F, Shah SS, Maloney RK. Treating Astigmatism After a
Free Lasik Cap by Rotating the Cap. Paper at International Society of
Refractive Surgery, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1998.

Hovanesian JA, Faktorovich EG, Shah SS, Maloney RK. Bilateral Bacterial
Keratitis after Lasik in a Patient with HIV Infection. Paper at International
Society of Refractive Surgery, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1998 —
voted best paper of session.

Van Horn S, Hovanesian JA, Shah SS, Maloney RK. Effect of Volatile
Substances on Excimer Laser Energy Delivery. Paper at International
Society of Refractive Surgery, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1998.

Hovanesian JA, Shah SS, Maloney RK. Quantitative Topographic Irregularity as
a Predictor of Best Corrected Visual Acuity after Refractive Surgery.
Poster at American Academy of Ophthalmology, New Orleans, Louisiana,
1998.

Najman J, Hovanesian JA, Maloney RK. Effect of Lifting and Repositioning
LASIK Flaps to Treat Folds. Poster at Association for Research in Vision
and Ophthalmology, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 1999.

Hovanesian JA, Hovanesian JD, Maloney RK. Detection of Microkeratome Flap
Abnormalities with Corneal Birefringence. Paper at International Society
of Refractive Surgery, Orlando, Florida, 1999.

Hovanesian JA, Shah SS, Maloney RK. Recurrent corneal erosion syndrome
after PRK and LASIK. Paper at International Society of Refractive
Surgery, Orlando, Florida, 1999.

Shamie N, Hovanesian JA, Chuck RA, Ohanesian RV. Keratopigmentation: A
Surgical Technique with Improved Cosmetic Results for the Removal of
Limbal Dermoids. Paper at American Society of Cataract and Refractive
Surgery Symposium, San Francisco, California, 2003.

Hovanesian JA. Comparison of Outcomes using Fibrin Tissue Adhesive vs
Suture to Secure Conjunctival Limbal Autografts in Pterygium Surgery.
Paper at American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
Symposium, San Diego, California, 2004.

Hovanesian JA. Follow-up of 98 Cases of Pterygium Surgery with Conjunctival
Limbal Autograft Using Fibrin Tissue Adhesive Instead of Suture. Paper
at American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Symposium.
Washington, DC, 2005.

Hovanesian JA, Maloney RK. Treating Astigmatism After a Free Lasik Cap by
Rotating the Cap. Paper at American Society of Cataract and Refractive
Surgery Symposium. Washington, DC, 2005.

Hovanesian JA. Follow-up of 98 Cases of Pterygium Surgery with Conjunctival
Limbal Autograft Using Fibrin Tissue Adhesive Instead of Suture. Paper
at World Cornea Congress V. Washington, DC, 2005.

Hovanesian JA. Karageozian VH. Simple Method for Watertight Cataract
Wound Closure Using Fibrin Tissue Adhesive. Poster at American
Academy of Ophthalmolgy Symposium. Las Vegas, Nevada, 2006.

Hovanesian JA. Fibrin Tissue Adhesive: It's Not Just For Breakfast Anymore!
Research Symposium, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California
2006.

Hovanesian JA. Does "Slow Set" Dilution of Fibrin Tissue Adhesive Reduce Its
Strength in Ocular Surgery? Poster at American Academy of
Ophthalmolgy Symposium. Las Vegas, Nevada, 2006.

Hovanesian JA. Karageozian VH. Simple Method for Watertight Cataract
Wound Closure Using Fibrin Tissue Adhesive. Paper at Cornea
Society Symposium. Las Vegas, Nevada, 2006.

Hovanesian JA. Does "Slow Set" Dilution of Fibrin Tissue Adhesive Reduce Its
Strength in Ocular Surgery? Paper at American Society of
Cataract and Refractive Surgery Symposium, San Diego,
California, 2007.

Hovanesian JA. Does "Slow Set" Dilution of Fibrin Tissue Adhesive Reduce Its
Strength in Ocular Surgery? Paper at American Society of
Cataract and Refractive Surgery Symposium, San Diego,
California, 2007.

Hovanesian JA. FDA Multicenter Study of the Fourth-Generation Eyeonics HD-
100 Accommodating IOL. Paper at American Academy of Ophthalmolgy
Symposium. New Orleans, Louisiana, 2008.

Hovanesian JA. Conjunctival Chalasis: Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of
Ocular Pain Masquerading as Dry Eye. Film at American Society
of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Symposium, Chicago, Illinois,
2008.

Hovanesian JA. FDA Multicenter Study of the Fourth-Generation Eyeonics HD-
100 Accommodating IOL. Paper at American Society of Cataract
and Refractive Surgery Symposium, Chicago, Illinois, 2008.

Hovanesian JA. Results of Pterygium Excision Using Amnionic Membrane
Beneath the Healthy Conjunctiva Surrounding a Conjunctival
Autograft. Poster at American Society of Cataract and Refractive
Surgery Symposium, Chicago, Illinois, 2008.

Hovanesian JA. Small Wound Leaks Are Associated With Myopic Surprises in
Cataract Surgery. Poster at American Academy of Ophthalmology
Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, 2008.

Hovanesian JA. Amnionic Membrane as an Antifibrotic Implant in the
Subconjunctival Space Surrounding a Conjunctival Autograft in
Pterygium Surgery. Poster at American Academy of
Ophthalmology Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, 2008.

Hovanesian JA. Surgical Adhesive Techniques in Conjunctival, Corneal, and
Cataract Surgery. Film at American Society of Cataract and
Refractive Surgery Symposium, San Francisco, California, 2009.

Hovanesian JA. Cataract Wound Closure with a Hydrogel Adherent Ocular
Bandage. Paper at American Society of Cataract and Refractive
Surgery Symposium, San Francisco, California, 2009.

Ongoing Instruction Courses at American Academy of Ophthalmology and
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Symposia

Hovanesian JA, Agarwal A, Hardten DA, Kaufman SC. Use of Fibrin Tissue
Adhesive in Conjunctival, Corneal, and Refractive Surgery. 2007-present.

Hovanesian JA, Tseng SC, Hardten DA, Kaufman SC. Use of Fibrin Tissue
Adhesive in Conjunctival, Corneal, and Refractive Surgery. American
Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Annual Symposium. 2005-2007.

Hovanesian JA, Hardten DH, Corcoran KJ. Secrets to Growing the Use of
Multifocal/Accommodative Lens Implants in Your Cataract Practice.
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Annual Meeting,
2007-present.

Invited Lectures

Hovanesian JA. Physiologic Optics. National Science Foundation Short Course
in Applied Optics, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, 1994.

Hovanesian JA. Optics of Keratorefractive Surgery. National Science
Foundation Short Course in Applied Optics, Oakland University,
Rochester, Michigan, 1996.

Shah SS, Hovanesian JA, Maloney RK. Phakic Intraocular Lenses-Options for
Extreme Myopia. Eye Advance 98, Bombay, India, September, 1998.

Shah SS, Hovanesian JA, Maloney RK. Visual Performance after Refractive
Surgery. Eye Advance 98, Bombay, India, September, 1998.

Shah SS, Hovanesian JA, Maloney RK. Phakic Intraocular Lenses-Options for
Extreme Myopia. South Asian Association of Regional Countries
Ophthalmological Society, Ahmedabad, September, 1998.

Shah SS, Hovanesian JA, Maloney RK. Visual Performance after Refractive
Surgery. South Asian Association of Regional Countries
Ophthalmological Society, Ahmedabad, September, 1998.

Hovanesian JA. Optics of Keratorefractive Surgery. National Science
Foundation Short Course in Applied Optics, Oakland University,
Rochester, Michigan, 1998.

Hovanesian JA. Episcleritis and Scleritis, Concepts and Advances. University
of California Berkeley Continuing Education Meeting. Pomona, California, 1999.

Hovanesian JA. Moderate and Severe Ocular Allergy. University of California
Berkeley Continuing Education Meeting. Pomona, California, 1999.

Hovanesian JA. Use of Fibrin Tissue Adhesive and Amnionic Membrane in
Anterior Segment Surgery. Royal Hawaiian Eye Meeting. Maui, Hawaii, 2006.

Hovanesian JA. Use of Fibrin Tissue Adhesive and Amnionic Membrane in
Anterior Segment Surgery. Royal Hawaiian Eye Meeting. Kauai, Hawaii, 2007.

Hovanesian JA. Medical Education From Cyberspace. Tenth International
Armenian American Ophthalmology Conference. Yerevan, Armenia, 2007.

Hovanesian JA. Intraoperative Clinical Pearls for Presbyopia-Correcting IOLs.
Royal Hawaiian Eye Meeting. Kona, Hawaii, 2008.

Hovanesian JA. What's New in Corneal Transplantation. Royal Hawaiian Eye
Meeting. Kona, Hawaii, 2008.

Hovanesian JA. Keratoprosthesis: Current Results and Techniques for High-Risk
Corneal Transplants. Royal Hawaiian Eye Meeting. Kona, Hawaii, 2008.

Hovanesian JA. Use of Amnionic Membrane in Ocular Surgery. Hellenic Society
of Intraocular Implant and Refractive Surgery Meeting, Athens,
Greece, 2008.

Hovanesian JA. Achieving Success with Modern Pterygium Surgery Using
Fibrin Tissue Adhesive and Amnionic Membrane. Paper at 13th
Annual International Joint Meeting of Ocular Surgery News,
Italian Society of Ophthalmology and the Italian Association of
Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Naples, Italy, 2008.

Hovanesian JA. Evolution of Accommodative Lens Design: The Fourth
Generation Crystalens and Visiogen Synchrony. Thirteenth Annual
International Joint Meeting of Ocular Surgery News, Italian
Society of Ophthalmology and the Italian Association of Cataract
and Refractive Surgery. Naples, Italy, 2008.

Hovanesian JA. Presbyopic Lens Implants in Patients with Suboptimal Macular
Function: Do We Dare? OSN New York Symposium, New York, 2008.

Hovanesian JA. The Zero Constant Aspheric Lens. Advances in
Ophthalmology meeting. University of Toronto, Canada, 2008.

Hovanesian JA. Excimer Laser and Intracorneal Inlay Treatment of Presbyopia.
Advances in Ophthalmology meeting. University of Toronto,
Canada, 2008.

Hovanesian JA. What's New in Corneal Transplantation? Royal Hawaiian Eye
Meeting, Maui, Hawaii, 2009.

Hovanesian JA. Successful Pterygium Surgery Using Fibrin Adhesive and
Amnionic Membrane. Royal Hawaiian Eye Meeting, Maui,
Hawaii, 2009.

Hovanesian JA. The Next Frontier in Microsurgery. Royal Hawaiian Eye
Meeting, Maui, Hawaii, 2009.

Hovanesian JA. Surgical Innovations: Presbyopia Correction and Beyond.
System Wide Grand Rounds, Henry Ford Health Systems, Detroit,
Michigan 2009.

Hovanesian JA. Management of Pterygium. Meeting of Joint Commission on
Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology, San Francisco,
California, 2009.

Hovanesian JA. Secrets to Growing the Use of Multifocal and Accommodative
Lens Implants in Your Cataract Practice.
Kiawah Eye Meeting, Kiawah Island, South Carolina, 2009.

Peer-reviewed Publications

Hovanesian JA, Higginbotham EJ, Lichter PR. Long Term Visual Outcome of
Ocular Hypotension after Thermosclerostomy. Am J Ophth, 115: 603-7,
May, 1993.

Witte MM, Hovanesian JD, Hovanesian JA. A Tomographic Technique for
Determining Contact Stress. Exp Technique, July/August, 1995.

Hovanesian JA, Faktorovich EG, Hoffbauer JD, Shah SS, Maloney RK.
Bilateral Bacterial Keratitis After Laser In Situ Keratomileusis in a Patient
With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection. Arch Ophth 1999; 117: 968-70.

Mondino BJ, Hovanesian JA, Pleyer U. Bullous Diseases of the Skin and
Mucous Membranes. Duane's Clinical Ophthalmology, External Disease
Section, 1999.

Hovanesian JA, Shah SS, Onclinx T, Maloney RK. Quantitative Topographic
Irregularity as a Predictor of Spectacle Corrected Visual Acuity after
Refractive Surgery. Am J Ophthalmol 2000; 129(6): 752-8.

Hovanesian JA, Shah SS, Maloney RK. Symptoms of Dry Eye and Recurrent
Erosion Syndrome After Refractive Surgery. J Cataract Refract Surg
2001; 27: 577-84.

Van Horn SD, Hovanesian JA, Maloney RK. Effect of volatile compounds on
excimer laser power delivery. J Refract Surg (United States) Sep-Oct
2002, 18(5) p524-8.

Hovanesian JA. New Technology: The Next Wave in Vision Correction. Ophth
Mgmt Suppl. 2001.

Hovanesian JA. Wavefront Technology for Lasik: A Good Thing is Getting
Better. Ophth Mgmt Suppl. 2002.

Hovanesian, JA. Maloney RK. Treating Astigmatism after a Free Lasik Cap by
Rotating the Cap. J Cataract Refract Surg 2005; 31:1870-6.

Hovanesian, JA. Karageozian VH. Watertight Cataract Incision Closure Using
Fibrin Tissue Adhesive. J Cataract Refract Surg 2007; 33:1461-3.

Hovanesian, JA. Cataract Wound Closure with a Polymerizing Liquid Hydrogel
Ocular Bandage. J Cataract Refract Surg 2009; 35:912-6.