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"The goal of a CME AWAY® conference by Sea Courses is to provide the very best opportunity for health care professionals to not only LEARN but to CONNECT with peers in a stimulating yet RELAXING environment."
Ronald N. Gaster, MD, FACS, is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of California, Irvine (1979 – present). Before this he worked as the President at Cornea Eye Institute (2010 – 2025). He also worked as Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (2018 – 2024).
Dr. Gaster was one of the first 20 corneal surgeons internationally to perform femtosecond laser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty and has continued research in that field. He additionally uses the femtosecond laser for cataract surgery and other advanced corneal techniques. Dr. Gaster was also a pioneer in the field of refractive surgery and a Principal Investigator for the excimer laser. He is now studying and performing corneal cross-linking in adults and adolescents to halt the progression of keratoconus and other ectatic diseases and was a Principal Investigator for that study.
He has over 90 peer-reviewed journal publications, abstracts, and book chapters, including one that was in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, Cornea, and Ophthalmology. He was a Guest Editor for International Ophthalmology Clinics. Dr. Gaster also enjoys going on medical missions and has taught corneal and cataract surgery in Africa, China, and South America. Dr. Gaster appeared as an expert and guest doctor on the national, Emmy award-winning television show “The Doctors.” He performed laser-assisted corneal transplant and corneal cross-linking surgeries for the show and has made additional appearances. Dr. Gaster was also selected by his peers to Best Doctors in America since 1996, US News & World Report’s Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine’s SuperDoctors, and other honors and awards, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement award.
