UCI Health Physician Network adds SoCal Eye as a new affiliate

Addition strengthens academic health system’s ability to provide comprehensive, high-quality ophthalmology care

Orange, Calif. — UCI Health is pleased to announce the expansion of its UCI Health Physician Network with the addition of SoCal Eye as a founding affiliate. This milestone follows the recent inclusion of Orange County Urology Associates, United Medical Doctors and Associated Gastroenterology Medical Group, reinforcing the commitment of the academic health system to transforming healthcare delivery through innovative, patient-centered partnerships across Southern California.

The addition of SoCal Eye as a network affiliate strengthens the health system’s ability to provide comprehensive, high-quality ophthalmology care, addressing the growing vision health needs in Orange County. The UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, a premier center for eye care research and treatment, plays a pivotal role in this collaboration, bringing advanced diagnostics, surgical expertise and leading-edge research to the network.

UCI Health Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Vice President Tatyana Popkova emphasized the network’s focus on accessibility.

“Expanding our UCI Health Physician Network with SoCal Eye significantly improves access to specialized ophthalmology care for Orange County residents,” she said. “By integrating our resources with SoCal Eye’s expertise, we are ensuring that patients can receive timely, high-quality vision care closer to home, addressing critical needs in our growing community.”

“By welcoming SoCal Eye into our UCI Health Physician Network, we are combining UCI Health’s academic innovation with SoCal Eye’s exceptional clinical expertise,” said Dr. Baruch D. Kuppermann, director of the eye institute and chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the UC Irvine School of Medicine.

“This alignment ensures that patients receive state-of-the-art vision care tailored to their needs, right here in our community.”

The Gavin Herbert Eye Institute’s faculty of internationally recognized physicians, surgeons and scientists provides specialized training and access to leading-edge clinical trials, ensuring that patients benefit from the latest advancements in vision care.

“Joining the UCI Health Physician Network is an exciting opportunity to enhance patient care through collaboration with a leading academic health system,” said Dr. Carl Hartman, one of the senior partners at SoCal Eye. "Our team at SoCal Eye is dedicated to preserving and restoring vision, and this collaboration allows us to deliver the most advanced treatments with greater coordination, efficiency, and access to tertiary-quaternary level care for complex comorbidities.”

Ophthalmology care demands in an aging region

The demand for specialized ophthalmology care in Southern California is significant and growing, driven by an aging population and rising rates of vision-threatening conditions. According to the National Eye Institute, more than 2.2 million Americans age 40 and older are affected by glaucoma, with prevalence increasing with age.

In Orange County, where the 65 and older population is projected to grow by 30% by 2030, the need for accessible cataract surgery (more than 240,000 procedures annually in California) and treatments for diabetic retinopathy (affecting 7.7% of adults with diabetes) is critical. Additionally, age-related macular degeneration impacts approximately 11% of older adults, underscoring the urgency for coordinated, high-quality eye care.

The UCI Health Physician Network, with SoCal Eye’s expertise and the support of the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, aims to meet these needs through integrated services and advanced technologies like minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS) and laser vision correction.

The UCI Health Physician Network leverages shared clinical protocols, data-driven quality metrics and advanced technology to ensure seamless care coordination with leading community practices like SoCal Eye. Patients benefit from the synergy between the research-driven resources of UCI Health, including those from the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, and SoCal Eye’s comprehensive services. The institute’s involvement in advanced research, such as treatments for macular degeneration and glaucoma, and its state-of-the-art facilities, including 9,900 square feet dedicated to ambulatory surgery, enhance the network’s ability to deliver innovative care.

About the UCI Health Physician Network

The UCI Health Physician Network is a collaborative effort between UCI Health and select community providers, clinics, and hospitals. As a clinically integrated network (CIN), the UCI Health Physician Network is designed to deliver evidence-based patient care that is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. All affiliates in this network work to meet or improve targeted patient health outcomes for an expanding range of diseases and conditions, working to reduce the total cost of care. Learn more at https://care.ucihealth.org/uci-health-physician-network/.

About the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute

The UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute is home to internationally respected ophthalmologists who provide the highest quality eye care for conditions that range from mild myopia to rare retinal ocular disorders. Our team includes pioneers in the development and use of ophthalmic lasers and refractive surgery techniques. Their work formed the foundations of LASIK surgery, the development of the bladeless IntraLase™ laser and the most advanced techniques for corneal transplants and intraocular lens implants, as well as groundbreaking innovations in minimal invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). Many of our experts are listed as Best Doctors in America®, a peer-reviewed survey that represents the top five percent of specialists in the nation.

About SoCal Eye

SoCal Eye is a leading ophthalmology practice serving Orange County and surrounding areas since 1964. With offices in Long Beach and Los Alamitos, SoCal Eye provides comprehensive eye care, including cataract surgery, LASIK, glaucoma treatment, and management of corneal and retinal disorders. Their team of experienced ophthalmologists and optometrists is dedicated to preserving vision through advanced technology and personalized care. Learn more at www.socaleye.com.