Another World-Class Surgeon Joins The Colvard-Kandavel Eye Center
Join us in welcoming Dr. Ash Kashanchi, M.D., back to Encino this Summer
For more than 40 years, our practice has served the San Fernando Valley with one purpose: delivering exceptional ophthalmic care with integrity, innovation, and compassion. Dr. Colvard laid the foundation, and we have continued to build that legacy through surgical excellence, thoughtful patient care, and continued investment in advanced technology so patients can receive outstanding vision care right here in Encino.
The Colvard-Kandavel Eye Center has earned national recognition for compassionate, personalized care, advanced technology, and physicians who lead in ophthalmic surgery, teaching, and research. Today, we are proud to continue that tradition by welcoming an exceptional new surgeon to our team.
This August, our Encino practice will welcome Dr. Ashkan Kashanchi—known to many patients simply as Dr. Ash. A Los Angeles native with deep roots in the San Fernando Valley, Dr. Ash is a fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist and cataract surgeon dedicated to preserving vision, reducing treatment burden, and helping patients achieve long-term eye health.
Dr. Ash began his academic journey at The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, then graduated with high honors from Brandeis University, where he studied Philosophy and Biology. He earned his medical degree from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of Texas at Houston, and pursued advanced glaucoma fellowship training at UC San Diego under internationally recognized glaucoma expert Dr. Robert Weinreb.
Just as important, Dr. Ash shares the culture of care that defines The Colvard-Kandavel Eye Center. He combines modern surgical techniques with highly personalized treatment, treating each patient with the same thoughtfulness he would want for his own family.
A Valley Story, A Forward-Looking Vision
Dr. Ash’s story feels especially meaningful in Encino. He is not simply joining a practice—he is returning home to serve the community that helped shape him. That connection, combined with his advanced subspecialty training, brings something rare to patient care: world-class expertise grounded in genuine community roots.
Our physicians trained at many of the world’s most prestigious institutions, including UCLA, USC, Johns Hopkins, UC San Diego, Columbia, and NYU, and we hold academic appointments at UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute and Doheny Eye Institute. Dr. Ash will expand that culture of excellence this August.
A More Modern Approach to Glaucoma Care
For many patients, glaucoma treatment once meant daily eye drops. Today, modern care offers more options. For the right patient, newer laser treatments and minimally invasive procedures can lower eye pressure while reducing dependence on medication. Dr. Ash emphasizes this approach: preserve vision while easing treatment burden with even better efficacy whenever possible.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that selective laser trabeculoplasty, or SLT, should serve as an effective first-line treatment for some patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. In the landmark LiGHT trial, many patients treated with SLT remained drop-free for years, with minimal risk and fewer needing additional surgery. As SLT and other minimally invasive procedures continue to advance, glaucoma care is becoming more convenient, more comfortable, and safer.
Dr. Ash offers a full range of modern glaucoma procedures, including minimally invasive glaucoma surgery and traditional glaucoma surgery when needed. He tailors treatment to each individual, choosing the safest and most effective option based on the stage of disease, the eye itself, and the patient’s goals.
Advanced Cataract Surgery, Personalized for Real Life
Dr. Ash also specializes in advanced cataract surgery, with a strong emphasis on precision, customization, and visual quality. His expertise in refractive cataract surgery, including laser-assisted cataract surgery and premium lens technology, helps improve visual performance and reduce dependence on glasses.
For patients, cataract surgery no longer means simply removing a cloudy lens. It now offers an opportunity to match vision more closely to everyday life—whether that means sharper distance vision, greater freedom from glasses, or a more customized visual outcome.
These decisions depend on both the individual and the health of the eye. Cataract surgery is not one-size-fits-all, and Dr. Ash guides patients through modern options with care and clarity to achieve results that support daily life.
Innovation with Heart
In addition to his surgical work, Dr. Ash has contributed to research on the global burden of blindness and remains actively engaged in ophthalmic innovation. He also helps develop technology that supports people living with visual impairment.
That commitment led him to create Pheelio, a project focused on empowering independence for people with visual impairment. Its mission is to reduce the burden of vision loss through research-backed solutions that support visually impaired and underserved communities. Dr. Ash developed this technology to help patients use their drops more effectively and improve glaucoma drop compliance, especially for vulnerable populations.
A Warm Welcome to a Remarkable New Physician
As our practice continues its longstanding commitment to the San Fernando Valley, we are proud to welcome a physician who reflects the best of where ophthalmology is headed: advanced training, thoughtful innovation, and deeply personal care. As glaucoma care enters a new procedural era, Dr. Ash will join Dr. Justin Dredge as our second glaucoma specialist at The Colvard-Kandavel Eye Center.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Ash Kashanchi, M.D., to Encino this August. We are honored to have him join our team and excited for our patients to experience his exceptional care. Ask him about his latest innovation for the visually impaired at Pheelio.com