About Dr. Dastgheib
Founder and Medical Director, DVI Eye Institute
Dr. Dastgheib is a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmic surgeon specializing in complex cataract and vision-restoring surgery. Trained at Duke University Eye Center, Johns Hopkins, and the National Institutes of Health, he brings a foundation of scientific discovery and academic rigor to patient care at DVI Eye Institute.
Education & Training
Dr. Dastgheib was raised in London, England, and earned his undergraduate medical degree from the University of Paris. He completed his internship at Graduate Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, followed by residency training in ophthalmology at the Duke University Eye Center.
He pursued advanced fellowship training at several leading institutions, including the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital, the National Institutes of Health (National Eye Institute), the Dubroff Eye Center, and the John Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah. This training provided a foundation in ophthalmic pathology, retinal disease, corneal and anterior segment surgery, and translational research.
Scientific Contribution
During his research training at the Wilmer Eye Institute and the National Institutes of Health in the early 1990s, Dr. Dastgheib made a histopathologic discovery identifying vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in early neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization on whole human eye sections, his work provided early mechanistic insight into the pathogenesis of wet AMD and anticipated the later development of anti-VEGF therapies.
Anti-VEGF treatment has since become the global standard of care for neovascular macular degeneration and has transformed the management of the disease worldwide.
Additional details and primary references related to this work are documented on the Research page.
Clinical Focus and Vision Restoration
As an anterior segment and cataract surgeon, Dr. Dastgheib focuses on advanced and complex cataract surgery, including cases of long-standing cataract blindness. By combining refined surgical technique with modern technologies such as light-adjustable intraocular lenses, his approach emphasizes safety, precision, and functional visual outcomes tailored to each patient.
Since 2010, Dr. Dastgheib has performed thousands of cataract and vision-restoring procedures. Through his work serving underserved communities in Southern California, he has treated numerous patients with severe cataracts that had gone untreated for many years. More than 325 patients have been restored from cataract blindness under his care.
In 2022, this work was presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), describing a large consecutive case series of successful surgical restoration of vision in patients with advanced cataract blindness.
Academic Recognition and Awards
Duke University Eye Center established the K. Alexander Dastgheib, MD Surgical Excellence Award in 2000 to recognize senior residents demonstrating outstanding ophthalmic surgical skill and judgment.
In 2014, Duke University established the Dastgheib Pioneer Award in Ocular Innovation, awarded annually to recognize innovative contributions that have meaningfully influenced the practice of ophthalmology.
Dr. Dastgheib has also received the Orange County Circle of Care Award, recognizing physicians for providing extraordinary healthcare services, as acknowledged by the California State Legislature and Senate.
He was a recipient of a two-year National Institutes of Health Intramural Research Training Award at the National Eye Institute from 1992 to 1994.
Professional Affiliations
Dr. Dastgheib is a member of:
- American Academy of Ophthalmology
- American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
Languages and Practice
Dr. Dastgheib is fluent in English, French, and Farsi, and is conversational in Spanish and German. He currently practices in Southern California, where he provides advanced cataract and vision-restoring care through DVI Eye Institute.
Dr. Dastgheib’s work reflects a career that bridges scientific discovery and patient-centered surgical care, with a continuing focus on restoring and preserving vision through thoughtful application of innovation and experience.