Find a Top Ophthalmologist Near Me in Fountain Valley, CA – Book an Appointment Instantly

David J. Fuerst, MD is an experienced, board-certified ophthalmologist who specializes in cataract, corneal, and refractive surgery at his practice, Fuerst Eye Center, which has two locations in Glendale, California and West Covina, California. He is one of few refractive surgeons specializing in surgery of the cornea — the part of the eye treated by LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) and most other types of refractive surgery. 

Because of his training, experience, and outstanding results, Dr. Fuerst receives many referrals from other eye care specialists for both routine and complex eye surgery, as well as referrals from his satisfied patients.

After completing his ophthalmology residency at the prestigious University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in Chicago, Dr. Fuerst continued his training at the University of California, San Francisco’s (UCSF) Proctor Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology, completing his fellowship in cornea and external disease. 

Dedicated to his profession, Dr. Fuerst is a recognized mentor and educator. He served as the residency program director at White Memorial Medical Center and as an on-staff teacher at the University of Southern California (USC), which are both located in Los Angeles.

Dr. Fuerst provides compassionate care and treats each patient like a member of his family.

Nicole M. Fuerst, MD is a board-certified ophthalmologist at Fuerst Eye Center, which has two locations in Glendale, California and West Covina, California. Dr. Fuerst takes a patient-centered approach to care, treating each patient like a member of the family. She specializes in performing cornea, cataract, and refractive surgery. 

Dr. Fuerst completed medical school at the prestigious Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She then completed her ophthalmology residency at the Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, where she received multiple teaching awards. She continued her training at the renowned Duke Eye Center in Durham, North Carolina. While at the Duke Eye Center, Dr. Fuerst completed a two-year clinical and research fellowship in cornea and external disease, where she learned and performed the latest techniques in corneal, cataract, and refractive surgery.

Committed to her profession, Dr. Fuerst has published many peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. She’s also been awarded for her research presentations on a variety of topics in the field of ophthalmology.

She has been voted to Southern California Super Doctors Rising Stars 2022-2025 and Castle Connolly Top Doctors 2023-2024. Known for her extensive skill and expertise, Dr. Fuerst receives many referrals from other eye doctors for routine and specialty eye procedures. 

Dr. Nadji is a fellowship-trained, board-certified ophthalmologist. He takes pride in giving each patient individual attention and always allows them the chance to ask any and all of their questions. He specializes in sutureless cataract surgery and is one of the few surgeons in Santa Monica performing the newest laser cataract surgery. He is available for ophthalmic consultation and can screen for glaucoma, dry eyes, macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetes.


Dr. Nadji graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern. He then moved to New York to complete his residency at Nassau University Medical Center and his cornea fellowship at Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island under the mentorship of Dr. Henry Perry and Dr. Eric Donennfeld, two leaders in the field. In fellowship, Dr. Nadji specialized in advanced cataract surgery, advanced dry eye management, premium intraocular lenses, and the latest techniques in laser and refractive surgery.


In his free time, Dr. Nadji can be found playing sports and enjoying the weather with his wife and two daughters. Dr. Nadji knows your time is valuable and aims for each patient to leave informed and satisfied.

Dr. Alex Onishi is a skilled ophthalmologist serving patients throughout Santa Monica and the greater Los Angeles area at the practice of E. Joseph Nadji, MD.

About Natalia Tilki, DO

Natalia Tilki, DO, is one of the most prominent ophthalmologists in Los Angeles, California. She combines her unique European experience with advances in modern American ophthalmology. Dr. Tilki sees patients at her private practice, Emerald Eye Center Inc., located in Encino, California.

Beginning her medical training at the most prestigious universities in Moscow, she completed a master's degree in biology and anthropology at Moscow State University. She then received her medical degree at the Moscow Academy of Medicine in Moscow, Russia. Eventually, she gained invaluable experience while working with the modern-day pioneer in refractive and cataract surgery, Dr. Svyatoslav Fyodorov.

Once in the US, Dr. Natalia Tilki completed her second medical training at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York, New York, and her residency at Midwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, and Stanford, California. In addition, she completed a cornea research fellowship at Louisiana State University, where she conducted numerous research projects and was published in various major American journals.

Since opening her private practice, Emerald Eye Center Inc., in Los Angeles, California, in 2006, Dr. Tilki has been specializing in anterior segment surgery and management of diabetic retinopathy.

Some of her specialties include:

•  - Cataract surgery, including premium intraocular lenses, allowing patients to see without glasses
•  - Glaucoma management, such as various laser surgeries and Ahmed valve placement.
•  - Pterygium removal with graft
•  - Lasik, PRK, clear lens exchange

Dr. Tilki has been very successful in the diagnosis and management of diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, including laser surgeries and intravitreal injections. Dr. Tilki’s very special and personal approach to each patient allows her to reach better visual outcomes and significantly improve her patients’ quality of life.

Dr. Mark Baskin is a board certified ophthalmologist and ophthalmic plastic surgeon treating patients from throughout Los Angeles from his practice located in Encino, California. His patients benefit from his expertise in blepharitis and dry eye treatment.  He performs many ophthalmic surgical procedures that include eyelid lifts, eyelid ptosis repair, chalazion excision and eyelid reconstruction after cancer removal. He is an expert in the administration of Botox, Dysport and Xeomin and the injection of dermal fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane and Radiesse. He and his staff pride themselves on providing individualized, compassionate care in an intimate, warm setting not commonly seen today. 

Dr. Baskin completed his undergraduate training at Princeton University and received his medical degree from the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine, where he was an Edmund James Scholar. He completed an internal medicine internship at UCLA and a residency in ophthalmology at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary at the University of Illinois in Chicago He served three fellowships: in neurology at the King's College Medical School in London, England; in uveitis at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in Chicago; and in oculoplastic surgery with Dr. Pierre Guibor in New York City.

He is the founding director of the Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery Clinic at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of California in San Francisco. As an Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), he teaches physicians in practice, residents, and fellows. He is the ophthalmic consultant to the world famous Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles. The Center has been featured on Oprah and the Discovery Channel and provides care to individuals from all over the world.

Dr. Baskin believes that eyelid surgery can enhance your appearance and reconstruct anatomical defects required for maintenance of ocular health. For example, he performed reconstructive surgeries on a Ugandan woman severely disfigured by battery acid who came to the Grossman Burn Foundation for treatment. Dr. Baskin reconstructed her damaged lower eyelid allowing a prosthetic eye to be made and successfully worn. The surgery was performed at West Hills Hospital and Medical Center in West Hills, California. To learn more about the ocular surgery Dr. Baskin performed on this patient, click here.

Known for dedication to perfection in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, Dr. Baskin is a trusted provider, with area physicians who regularly referring patients. He strives to combine the skill of surgery with an artistic, delicate touch enabling achieving results for his patients which surpass their expectations.

In his spare time, he plays trombone in a jazz band that regularly performs throughout Southern California. He has lived with his family in Los Angeles since 1989.

A Message from Dr. Paikal

Dear Friend,

I welcome you to our website, and hopefully, at some point, to our office located in Encino, California. The purpose of this website is to give potential patients some basic information about my office and myself, David Paikal, MD. My practice specializes in comprehensive ophthalmology, where I favor conservative approaches, striving to be true to the bioethical tenet of “first do no harm.”

My staff and I will do everything possible to take the best care of you. The reason we can do so is because we love what we do: helping people to see better. Sometimes, that means admitting that we don’t have all the answers and referring you elsewhere. No one physician knows it all, and my staff and I are fortunate to have strong relationships with various sub-specialists, including academicians at universities, should the need arise.

In the great city of Los Angeles, we are blessed to have many world-class ophthalmologists, and therefore, your eyes will more than likely be in the best of hands with the majority of eye-care providers. Ultimately, your decision as a patient on whom to choose will really rest on who you feel most comfortable with, and where you can achieve the kind of patient-doctor relationship you are looking for.

My educational background is attached for those of you who are interested. I wish you health and happiness.

Sincerely,

David Paikal, M.D.
Diplomate American Board of Ophthalmology
Assistant Clinical Professor, UCLA Stein Eye Institute

Educational Background

Arthur Astorino, Jr., MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist who has been practicing since 1988. He provides exceptional eye care to his patients at Astorino & Associates Eye Center in Newport Beach, California, in areas like general ophthalmology, advanced cataract care, and refractive surgery.

Dr. Astorino earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completed his ophthalmology residency at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He’s currently an associate clinical professor of ophthalmology at UCLA. Dr. Astorino is also a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and a fellow of the American Board of Ophthalmology.

In his practice, Dr. Astorino believes in treating his patients as collaborators in their care. He always takes the time to educate them on their conditions and treatment options while bringing warmth, compassion, and professionalism to his services.

His friendly demeanor and medical expertise have made him a highly sought-after provider in his community and has earned him numerous awards, including the Patient Choice Award, the Compassionate Doctor Award, and America’s Most Honored Professionals Award.

Dr. Astorino is excited to meet new patients and to continue his care of returning clients at Astorino & Associates Eye Center.

Judd M. Cahoon, MD, PhD joins Astorino and Associates Eye Center from UCLA where he trained as an ophthalmology resident at the prestigious Stein Eye Institute. He is excited to build his practice in Newport Beach and brings new techniques to the clinic, such as minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) and extensive experience treating medical retinal disease.

Prior to training at UCLA, Dr. Cahoon obtained his undergraduate degree at the University of Utah on a Presidential Scholarship, honoring in Exercise and Sports Science and minoring in Chinese. 

Dr. Cahoon completed the combined MD/PhD program at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He earned his PhD in Neuroscience studying the underlying mechanisms of and developing a novel treatment for diabetic eye disease. Dr. Cahoon has published multiple scientific papers and presented at both national and international meetings for which he has received numerous awards, including the Outstanding Young Investigator Award and the MIT Outstanding Poster Award. In addition to his basic science work on diabetic retinopathy, he has also published a series of papers on the dynamics of the machines used for cataract surgery.

During his time as a resident at UCLA, Dr. Cahoon was awarded the Medical Student Teaching Award and the Beast Bowler Award. He is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin and is proficient in Spanish. Dr. Cahoon played rugby in high school and college and now enjoys playing the guitar for his wife and three children.

Dr. Cahoon is happy to see you for any eye condition, urgent or chronic, and considers his practice truly comprehensive.  

Dr. Barsegian is a board-certified ophthalmologist who is passionate about providing personalized, detail-oriented care for general ophthalmology and glaucoma patients. She is excited to work alongside her outstanding colleagues at Astorino & Associates Eye Center. In addition to providing comprehensive medical and surgical ophthalmological care including pterygium removal and cataract surgery, she specializes in the complete medical and surgical treatment of glaucoma including minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), trabeculectomy, and glaucoma tube implant surgery.

Interested in medicine from a young age, Dr. Barsegian was accepted into the prestigious Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, an accelerated 7 year BS/MD program in New York City that selects the top students in NYC who exhibit academic excellence. She received her medical degree from State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center. During medical school, she was inducted into the selective Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honors Society and was awarded the prestigious Mack Lipkin Broader Horizons Fellowship, a research fellowship and grant that allowed her to pursue cardiac stem cell research in the world-renowned Hôpital Saint Louis in Paris, France. After graduating as one of the youngest doctors in the country, she stayed at SUNY Downstate Medical Center for her ophthalmology residency training. She then went on to complete two subspecialty fellowships at UCLA: cornea & external disease fellowship at the esteemed Doheny Eye Institute-UCLA and glaucoma fellowship at the world-famous Stein Eye Institute-UCLA. She has co-authored 4 book chapters, has numerous publications in peer-reviewed academic journals, and has presented at over 20 medical society meetings and conferences.

She is currently an active member of the American Glaucoma Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Orange County Society of Ophthalmology, and the Armenian American Medical Society. She speaks fluent Armenian, Russian, and Spanish as foreign languages.  In her free time, she enjoys traveling, exercising, and hiking with her husband.