Robert N Weinreb, MD

After a long eight years of inaccurate and inadequate diagnosis and treatment by other well-​known doctors in Los Angeles area that had led to worsening of my eyes’ condition, I saw Dr. Weinreb late last year and since then I have been his patient. It was only by a coincidence, that I realized the necessity to get a second and possibly third opinion about the condition of my eyes and the required treatment. I started my search on the web and tried to find the best doctors in this field in California and possibly Western US. I first saw other well-​known doctors in Los Angeles who confirmed my fear that I needed a surgery as soon as possible. Then I saw Dr. Weinreb and I found him to be straight forward, sincere and extremely caring. In my first visit, I could feel his sadness and frustration at my acting so late in getting the correct diagnosis and the appropriate treatment. Everything that he told me in that visit convinced me that I could trust him completely with my eyes. Throughout the past few months that he performed the two surgeries, one on each eye. I was amazed by the care and the personal attention that every patient was receiving at Shiley institute from Dr. Weinreb, his staff and his team of fellow doctors. My two sisters and my niece who had accompanied me to the surgery room and also to the office visits with Dr. Weinreb were so profoundly impressed by his expertise, his caring, and his bedside manner that have not stopped talking to others about their observations at Shiley institute. I am convinced that I owe my vision to Dr. Weinreb and his world recognized expertise. I just hope that other people doubting their current doctors would get a second opinion from Dr. Weinreb. I believe that this will be a visit that will have a significant impact on their lives.

Dr. Weinreb literally saved both of my eyes.
In 2007, I got a botched right eye cataract surgery from a Board certified ophthalmologist who broke my natural lens. I was rushed to UCLA for an emergency surgery. The chief retina surgeon saved my eye. A year and half later, the same eye suffered from retina detachment. The same retina surgeon installed a Scleral Buckle with resulting vision of ²⁰⁄₄₀. My left eye received an excellent cataract surgery from an ophthalmologist who received many patents. He also did simple tube glaucoma surgery.
My right eye deteriorated quickly to a vision of ²⁰⁄₅₀ with pronounced visual field defects to such an extent that 3 glaucoma specialists diagnosed that it had a maximum of 12 months unless a more complicated glaucoma be performed. After seeing 3 top rated glaucoma surgeons all the way from the San Francisco to San Diego (La Jolla) where Dr. Weinreb is located, I decided to ask Dr. W. to take on my right eye. He accepted the challenge with some reluctance because of the extensive scar tissue left by 3 prior surgeries. He managed to insert a tube to be hooked onto the Buckle left by the Scleral Buckle surgery by the retina surgeon on 4÷14÷2014. This eye on my most recent visit on 6÷25÷2015 had a reliable vision of ²⁰⁄₄₀ with a prescription eye glasses by his optometrist.
My left eye had an excellent cataract surgery by an ophthalmologist who held many patents in 2009. This surgeon also did a tube glaucoma surgery (trabeculectomy) without charging me or MEDICARE at the same time. However, my left eye deteriorated quite rapidly from glaucoma to a vision of ²⁰⁄₅₀. Dr. W. operated in Feb 2015. He carefully treated the eye with mild steroid (normally contra indicated for glaucoma) by successive decrease in dosage or frequency. On my most recent visit on 6÷23÷2015, my left eye was tested at ²⁰⁄₂₀. Even Dr. Weinreb was very pleasantly surprised. The Maestro told me «there is no guarantee that your vision will remain so good.» I replied «I know. With my own very rough estimate on my right eye, it should last for about 3 more years according to Visual Field Test data.» He said «I will try to make it last longer than that!»
He has very quick mind and obviously skilled and well coordinated hands to execute the delicate surgeries. He is very impatient and he will walk away if you ask the same question more than once. He is not rude but wants to move on to the next patient. Obviously this man is overloaded with patients waiting for him for 1.5 hours minimum. IMHO, it is worthwhile the wait and long drive I make to retain my vision.
Many well known glaucoma surgeons may be more patient or well bedside mannered. One famous doctor wants to do 2 surgeries for each of my two eyes. Then I overheard the conversation on a call received by his cell phone, discussing incorporation, which is obviously unrealted to glaucoma. For me, skilled surgery for best chance of maintaining vision for this incurable disease, glaucoma, honesty trumps all other imperfections.

Dr. Weinreb is an awesome doctor who saved my vision.
Dr. Weinreb’s knowledge of how the eye works is vast, and his surgery techniques worked for me where other eye surgeries had gone awry. He truly cares about his patients, and works hard to help them keep as much of their vision as possible for as long as possible. Plus, when he’s not helping people’s eyes get better in the clinic, he is doing scientific research on new cures for glaucoma, and ways to restore sight in people who have already gone blind. As an added benefit of seeing Dr. Weinreb, you get the support and expertise of his fellows, all of whom are very friendly, funny, and kind. Shout-​out to Juan, Dr. Spitzi, Dr. Vasile, Dr. Huang, and all the other amazing people at Shiley Eye Center.
Let me be clear: if you want a doctor who will give you a teddy bear while empathetically listening to you cry about all the the ways in which your visual impairment has wrecked your life, Dr. Weinreb is not the doctor for you. That’s just not his style. But if you want a no-​nonsense world-​class surgeon who works miracles, and who is constantly working on new innovations in this field, then he’s a great doctor to see. I fly from another state to see him.
I’m off all my glaucoma meds for the first time since my diagnosis — and I was taking a lot of drops, lots of times a day, guys. My pressure is finally nice and low in both eyes. I am happy, and it’s all thanks to Dr. Weinreb and his incredible team. Unfortunately due to the nature of my eye condition, my eyes can get worse again at any time again, but I am confident in that I have a great team at Dr. Weinreb’s eye center.
FYI, the food at the Moores Cancer Center café next door to Shiley Eye Center is amazing. I always go there after eye appointments and it’s the most delicious comfort food ever.

What an unpleasant man. Rude to his staff, yelled at them in front of us, don’t think he knows the definition of bedside manner. Left the room before we could even ask my questions.