Meet Dr. Eva Kim at ICON Eyecare

Meet Dr. Eva Kim, a cataract and refractive surgeon at ICON Eyecare. Dr. Kim is medical director and vice president of operations for ICON Eyecare in the Front Range and specializes in uveitis treatment. Dr. Kim has been with ICON for three years.

1. Where did you go to school and complete your training?

I went to Stanford University for my undergraduate work and the University of California at San Francisco for medical school. I did an internship in internal medicine at Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco and my Harvard Medical School residency in ophthalmology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. I also did my fellowship in cornea and uveitis with the Proctor Foundation at the University of California at San Francisco.

2. What inspired you to become a surgeon/doctor?

I’ve always had a desire to help others in a direct medical/health manner — I’ve always been drawn to it. When I was 10, my father was having chest pain and we had to call for an ambulance. There was nothing I could do to help him as I was a child and did not have the knowledge to help him. I decided right there that I would become a doctor so I could know how to help others with their health issues in the future.

I became a surgeon because I love the precision and efficiency of surgery. I love the innovations which occur so one must stay abreast of new techniques and technologies. I love to be a constant learner.

3. What is a top question you get from patients?

Back in the day, I use to be asked if I was old enough to be a doctor. those days are long gone. But seriously, a common question when I am counseling patients about cataract surgery and lens choice is what would you recommend for your own parents?

4. What is one of your favorite procedures to perform?

I love cataract surgery and ICL implantation surgery.

5. Can you tell us about a memorable patient experience that you had?

I have so many I don’t know where to start! My most memorable patients are those whom I’ve built a long relationship with due to chronic eye disease. I have a patient who I met when she was age 4 at my practice in California. She had chronic uveitis and I treated her for over a decade. One day, about a year after I moved to Colorado, her mother reached out to me to let me know they had moved to Boulder and I again started to treat her for her eye disease, which thankfully is in remission. I get to see her every 6 months to check in on her eye condition. Our families are now friends, and the patient has even babysat my 3 children!

6. What is your favorite part about working for ICON?

I love the variety in what I do at icon. I love being a doctor and surgeon and I am grateful to be able to practice at the highest and most sophisticated level of my occupation. I love being able to bring the joy of sight to my patients. On the other hand, I love running the clinical operations at ICON Eyecare. I cherish the relationships that I have built through this responsibility, the knowledge I have gained, and the colleagues and teammates whom I have grown to know so well.

7. What do you think is the coolest piece of technology that you use at ICON?

Well, that’s easy! I love the Insight100 which is made by Arcscan. This high-frequency ultrasound unit allows me to make super precise measurements of the hidden parts of the front of the eye so I can safely and accurately size the implantable collamer lens (ICL) into a patient’s eye, which is the most difficult part of the process of ICL implantation.

8. What do you like to do on the weekends when you’re not working?

I love to ski with my family, listen to music and dance, Lagree fitness, and catch up with my busy family. I have 3 children ages 7, 10 and 13, and a loving best friend and husband!

9. What is something you think everyone should know about eye health?

Dry eyes are super common and can lead to blurry and frustrating vision. Do not be afraid to use lubricating drops to moisten the eyes. You will see better, feel less irritated, and tear less. You cannot grow dependent on lubricating drops; they are just a helpful habit to form. Also, cataracts are basically inevitable as they are a normal aging of the lens inside the eye.