John McConnaughey, O.D.
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McConnaughey grew up in Billings, Montana and joined the US Air Force for four years. He went to the University of California, Berkeley and then received his Optometry degree from the U.C. School of Optometry, Berkeley and a Master's of Optometry from Berkeley.
Post Graduate programs include Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease Certificate from the Pennsylvania School of Optometry and Diagnostic Drug Certification from UC Berkeley. Personal interests include individual and spiritual development. He enjoys skiing, hiking, physical fitness and travel. He and his wife have four sons and thirteen grandchildren. He has practiced at the Los Angeles Eye Center and clinic for seventeen years and enjoys the privilege and challenge of providing excellent vision to our patients. |
Dennis Kawabe, O.D.
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After attending Los Angeles High School, and the University of Southern California. Kawabe received his optometric degree at the Southern California School of Optometry. Following his academic training he served in the U.S. Army as an Optometric Officer.
After a number of years in private practice in Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley, Kawabe has been practicing Optometry at the Los Angeles Eye Center for five years. His background in Spanish and Japanese have proven very valuable in serving the patients of this community. |
Jessica Ho, O.D.
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Jessica Ho was born and raised in Houston, TX, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Ho received her Doctorate of Optometry from the University of California at Berkeley in 2012. She completed her clinical externships at the Portland VA Medical Center, Southern Oregon VA & Rehabilitation Center, and the Vandenberg Air Force Base. Dr. Ho is glaucoma certified, experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of ocular disease, and enjoys providing good patient education of eye health and care. She has previous experience working in private practice and in refractive/anterior segment surgery.
Dr. Ho enjoys hiking, kickboxing, and spending time at the dog park with her Boston Terrier Sammy. |
Samaneh Omidghaemi, O.D.
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Samaneh Omidghaemi got her bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering from University of California, San Diego. She then worked with a team of researchers at Jissan Research Institute and led a team in the mathematical olympics of 2007.
Samaneh received her doctorate in Optometry from the Southern California College of Optometry in 2011. She was honored as winner of the first prize for her senior research project. Dr. Omidghaemi is glaucoma certified and experienced in special contact lens fitting, diagnosing and treating ocular pathology. Samaneh enjoys an active life-style of hiking, biking, and creative adventures. Her hobbies include writing and designing. Dr. Ommidghaemi speaks Spanish. |
Lilia Gelfand, O.D.
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Dr. Gelfand knew that she wanted to be an eye doctor since High School. She majored in Biology at the University of Western Ontario in Canada and she graduated from UC Berkeley School of Optometry in 1993. She has been practicing general optometry for over 20 years in both optometry and ophthalmology practices.
Dr. Gelfand places strong emphasis on educating her patients about their eye conditions and about taking an active role in their own care. She is committed to helping her patients with glasses prescriptions, contact lenses, eye muscle problems, cataracts, glaucoma, dry eyes, retinal problems, or other eye conditions. Dr. Gelfand is certified to treat and manage glaucoma and she is a member of the National Glaucoma Society. In addition, Dr. Gelfand is Board Certified by the American Board of Optometry. Dr. Gelfand enjoys exercising, dancing, volunteering, healthy cooking, reading, walks on the beach and time with her family and friends. |
Stephany Ripley, O.D.
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Dr. Ripley received her bachelor's degree in biology at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and University. After graduation, she continued her education at the Southern California College optometry and she received her Optometry degree. She is licensed to practice optometry in the states of California, Maryland and Texas and completed an internship at the Optometric Center in LA and the Las Vegas Veterans Administration. During this time, she completed research in the area of vision therapy and its effects in children.
In 1993, Dr. Ripley opened her own private practice in Orange County where she provided comprehensive visual care, pre-and postoperative care, emergency care, vision therapy and contact lenses. Dr. Ripley is certified to treat and manage glaucoma patients and is currently practicing in Riverside. She joined the Los Angeles Eye Center in 2013. Honors and professional affiliations:
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Kenneth Murata, O.D.
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Kenneth Murata completed his undergraduate education at UCLA. After finishing his Optometric training at Southern California College of Optometry, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. Stationed at Edwards A.F.B., California, he feels the two years spent as an Optometry Officer was invaluable, the variety and number of patients, greatly increased his clinical expertise.
Twenty years has elapsed since joining LA Eye Center and Clinic, he feels this association has been very challenging and rewarding and hopes to continue this long relationship. Prior to joining the Los Angeles Eye Center, he was in private practice in Brea, California. |
Susan Miyabe, O.D.
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Susan Miyabe received her Bachelor of Science and Doctorate of Optometry degrees from Southern California College of Optometry. After practicing in a Health Maintenance Organization organization for a number of years, Dr Miyabe decided to work in a private clinic setting. She is certified to diagnose, treat and manage ocular pathology as well as the fitting of all types of contact lenses.
Dr. Miyabe speaks Japanese, Spanish, and American Sign Language.Her personal interest include swimming, mountain biking, NASCAR, Vintage Motocross Racing and reading. |
Harold J. Katzman, M.D.
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Dr. Katzman, a native New Yorker, received his Bachelor's Degree in Biology at Brandeis University. After graduation, he moved west to work at the UCLA Department of Thoracic Surgery while earning a Master's Degree in Genetics in the UCLA Department of Biology. His research involved developing experimental heart-lung machines and examining liver function. During this time his studies on the role of the thymus gland in the immunological system were published.
After graduate school, he received his medical degree Chicago Medical School and served his medical internship at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles. During the Vietnam War he trained as a Flight surgeon in the Air Force and worked at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C. He completed his ophthalmology residency program at the University of Pennsylvania. and American Board of Ophthalmology Certification in 1975. In 1972, he moved to Los Angeles where he opened an ophthalmology practice in Santa Monica. During the subsequent years he has been an instructor at the Foundation of Education at St. John's Medical Center in the Cataract Phacoemulsification and Lens Implant Course. He has served as Chief of Ophthalmology at St. John's, and consultant for The Center For The Partially Sighted. In 1978 he opened the Los Angeles Eye Medical Center and in 2005 obtained ownership of the Los Angeles Eye Center and Clinic. For the past 20 years, he has actively worked on the Executive Board of the Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity and has been president. With continued interest in research, he participated in various clinical trial studies including joint projects with the Diabetes Department at University of Southern California Hospital. Since entry into private practice, he has written articles for, and has acted as, an editor of The International Cataract Journal. Presently he practices Ophthalmology at the American Eye Institute at Cedars-Sinai Hospital. Honors Professional Affiliations and Highlights
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