Thomas Vo, MD
Cornea and Refractive Specialist
Dr. Thomas Vo is a highly esteemed board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained specialist in cataract, cornea, and refractive surgery. Serving patients in West Covina and Baldwin Park, and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley and Greater Los Angeles Area, Dr. Vo is renowned for his advanced expertise and compassionate care.
Dr. Vo completed his undergraduate studies at UC Irvine, graduating magna cum laude and earning induction into the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society. He pursued his medical degree at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, where he was awarded the Research to Prevent Blindness Fellowship Grant for his research on age-related macular degeneration.
Furthering his training, Dr. Vo undertook a residency in ophthalmology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. He then completed a prestigious fellowship in cornea, cataract, and refractive surgery at Weill Cornell Presbyterian.
Dr. Vo is dedicated to advancing ophthalmic care, with numerous publications in leading medical journals. His commitment to global medicine is evident through his medical missions to countries including Ghana and Mauritius.
When not practicing, Dr. Vo enjoys fishing, exploring new restaurants, and spending quality time with his family. An enthusiastic traveler, he has explored over 30 countries, with Japan, Vietnam, and Croatia among his top destinations.
For expert care in cataract, cornea, and refractive surgery, Dr. Thomas Vo is your trusted ophthalmologist in the San Gabriel Valley and Greater Los Angeles Area.
CORNEA, REFRACTIVE, and Complex Cataract Specialist
Dr. Vo, an expert in eye care, gained extensive experience in complex cataract surgery, presbyopia correction, astigmatism correction, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery during his ophthalmology residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Cornea Fellowship at Weill Cornell Medicine. He specializes in advanced techniques such as femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery and multifocal lens implantation for optimal vision correction.
Additionally, Dr. Vo received state-of-the-art training in refractive surgeries, including LASIK, PRK, and ICL, offering patients the latest options for vision improvement.
Comprehensive Eye Care Specialist
Dr. Vo offers comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of eye diseases, including dry eye syndrome, corneal disease, thyroid eye disease, eyelid lesions, eyelid malposition, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular disease, macular degeneration, glaucoma, uveitis, and optic nerve/neuro-ophthalmic disorders.
In addition to providing medical therapies, Dr. Vo is highly skilled in performing laser glaucoma treatments, eyelid procedures, and retinal injections, ensuring patients receive advanced care for their eye health.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
Dr. Vo takes a multidisciplinary approach to eye care, collaborating with ophthalmologists, optometrists, neurologists, rheumatologists, primary care physicians, and other specialists to diagnose and treat complex eye conditions. By integrating expertise from various medical fields, he ensures comprehensive, personalized care that addresses both ocular health and overall well-being.
Our mission is to provide holistic eye care, focusing on the whole person to help patients achieve their best possible vision and long-term eye health.
Education & Training
Cornea Fellowship
Following residency, Dr. Vo pursued a fellowship in cornea, cataract, and refractive surgery at Weill Cornell in New York City where he trained under world renown ophthalmologists such as Christopher Starr. There he developed proficiency in corneal transplantation techniques, complex cataract surgery, and advanced refractive surgery techniques such as LASIK, PRK, and implantable collamer lenses (ICL). Beyond surgical skills, Dr. Vo learned to diagnose and manage corneal diseases, including keratoconus, corneal dystrophies, and ocular surface disorders, utilizing advanced diagnostic tools and therapeutic modalities.
Ophthalmology Residency
Dr. Vo completed his residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York where he acquired a diverse skill set essential for comprehensive eye care. Caring for and providing services to a very diverse patient population, Dr. Vo developed proficiency in diagnosing and managing a wide breadth of ocular conditions, performing surgical procedures, interpreting diagnostic tests, and communicating effectively with patients.
INTERNSHIP
Dr. Vo completed a transitional year internship at Mount Sinai – BronxCare where he gained experience in family medicine, surgery, pediatrics, emergency medicine, and other disciplines. This helped him develop clinical reasoning, patient management, and procedural competency essential for diverse medical settings. The transitional year internship served as a bridge between medical school and ophthalmology residency.
Medical School
Undergraduate Studies
Peer-reviewed Scientific Publications
Mbekeani JN, Raval NK, Vo TA, et al. Purtscher-like retinopathy in a patient with COVID-19-associated coagulopathy. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2022;85(5):513-516. doi:10.5935/0004-2749.2020-0328.
Hawn VS, Vo TA, Flomenbaum D, Gibralter RP. Hydralazine-induced vasculitis presenting with ocular manifestations. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2022 Apr 10;26:1015. doi: 10.1016/j.ajoc.2022.101515.
Garcia GA, Charlson ES, Vo TA, Yonkers MA, Minckler DS, Tao JP. Lateral Orbital Rim Fixated Porcine Acellular Dermal Matrix Splint for Refractory Lower Eyelid Retraction and Poor Eye Prosthesis Retention. J of Ophthalmic Prosthetics. July 2020. Volume 25. p26-32.
Vo TA, Ngai P, Tao JT. A Randomized Trial of Multimedia-Facilitated Informed Consent for Cataract Surgery. Clin Ophthalmol. 2018 Aug 10;12:1427-1432. eCollection 2018. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S150670.
Vo TA, Abedi S, Schneider K, Chwa M, Kenney MK. Effects of bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept on phagocytic properties in human RPE cybrids with AMD versus normal mitochondria. Exp Eye Res. 2018 Jul 30;177:112-116. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2018.07.025.
Vo TA, Oakey Z, Khan YA, Minckler DS. A Novel Method of Demonstrating Cold Agglutinin Disease. J Med Case Rep. 2018 Apr 18;12(1):99. doi: 10.1186/s13256-018-1573-7.
Vo TA, Oakey Z, Garg S. Characterization of Corneal Endothelial Injury During Penetrating Keratoplasty. Cornea. 2018 March;37(3):296-300. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000001482.
Vo TA, Patel A, Boisvert CJ. Case Series of Unilateral Transient Vision Loss Associated with an Opacified Onodi Cell. Can J Ophthalmol. 2018 Jun;53(3):e117-e120. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2017.09.015.
Garcia GA, Nguyen CV, Vo TA, Yonkers MA, Minckler DS, Tao JP. Lazy Pentagonal Wedge Resection of Eyelid Margin Tumors. JAMA Facial Plast Surg. 2018 May 1;20(3):251-252. doi: 10.1001/jamafacial.2017.1902.
Nguyen A, Vo T, Nguyen XM, Smith B, Reavis K. Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication: Initial Experience in Patients Referred to a Single Academic Institution. Am Surg. 2011 Oct; 77(10):1386-9. PMID: 22127095.
Presentations and Abstracts
Vo TA, Vu PQ, Ifegwu I, Minckler DS. Comparison of cyst numbers and distribution in acanthamoeba keratitis by light and UV microscopy. Abstract accepted for poster presentation at The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, May 2018, Honolulu, HI.
Vo TA, Yonkers M, Tao JP. A Case of Unilateral Enophthalmos Associated with Morphea. Abstract accepted for podium talk at The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2017 Spring Scientific Symposium, June 2017, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Vo T, Abedi S, Chwa M, Kenney MC. Phagocytosis Assay to Measure Function of Human RPE Cells with AMD vs Normal Mitochondria. Abstract accepted for poster presentation at The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, May 2017, Baltimore, MD.
Vo T, Oakey Z, Garg S. Effects of Suture Tension on Corneal Endothelial Cell Vitality during Penetrating Keratoplasty. Abstract accepted for electronic poster presentation at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Annual Meeting, May 2017, Los Angeles, CA.
Vo T, Patel A, Boisvert CJ. Case Series of Unilateral Transient Vision Loss Associated with an Opacified Onodi Cell. Abstract accepted for poster presentation at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, October 2016, Chicago, IL.
Vo T, Chwa M, Atilano SR, Malik D, Ramirez CA, Caceres del Carpio J, Tarek M, Fataloonzadeh P, Jazwinski SM, Miceli MV, Kuppermann BD, Kenney MC. Comparison Study of IL-33 Gene Expression in Haplogroup H, J, L, and K Cybrids. Abstract accepted for poster presentation at The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, May 2013, Seattle, WA.
Vo T, Nguyen A, Nguyen XM, Smith B, Nguyen NT, Reavis KM. Absorbable Synthetic Mesh for Reinforcement of Laparoscopic Paraesophageal Hernia Repair. Abstract accepted for podium talk at the American College of Surgeons Annual Meeting, January 2011, Santa Barbara, CA.