Dr. Kandavel grew up in the San Fernando Valley. He graduated from the renowned Harvard-Westlake high school. He then attended UCLA, where he received his degree in Biology and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. Dr. Kandavel received his medical degree from UC Davis Medical School where he graduated at the top of his class with AOA honors on a full academic scholarship.
His ophthalmology training was completed at the prestigious Gavin Herbert Eye Institute at UC Irvine where Dr. Kandavel worked alongside the leaders in cataract, refractive surgery, and glaucoma surgery. Dr. Kandavel was invited to stay on as a specialty instructor in cataract surgery; where he trained the next generation of eye surgeons for the next seven years. Dr. Kandavel then was asked to join the cataract surgery teaching faculty at the Jules Stein Eye Institute where he goes each month to attend the residents in their surgical training.
He also went on to receive post-graduate training specifically in the field of refractive surgery using the most advanced laser technologies. He was one of the first doctors to introduce laser cataract surgery to Los Angeles and continues to innovate and lead efforts to make cataract surgery even more precise and safe for all patients.
Dr. Kandavel met his wife, Monica, at UCLA. She is also a physician, in pediatrics, here in the Valley.
In 2013, Dr. Kandavel was chosen as the Team Ophthalmologist for the L.A. Galaxy soccer team, and he also provided eye care for the U.S. Men’s National Team competing in the 2014 World Cup games in Brazil. https://www.lagalaxy.com/club/sportsscience
In 2018, Dr. Kandavel was chosen as the team ophthalmologist for the inaugural season of the Los Angeles Football Club(LAFC). Again in 2022, he was chosen as the team ophthalmologist for Angel City FC.
Dr. Kandavel is widely published in the field of ophthalmic surgery. With millions of LASIK surgeries now performed worldwide, Dr. Kandavel published one of the first papers discussing the calculation of intraocular powers after LASIK surgery. This paper has now been used to direct further research on the subject and has been cited by other leaders in the field.
Some of the newest techniques in eye surgery involve the use of amniotic tissue grafting to reconstruct the ocular surface after trauma or ocular surgery. Dr. Kandavel has published numerous articles on the topic, and his most recent publication in the medical journal, Cornea, is the first publication to describe the use of specialized staining to make these difficult surgeries more facile for all ophthalmologists.
Dr. Kandavel collaborated with researchers at the prestigious Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University to publish papers detailing the newest operative techniques in treating the ocular surface damaged by pterygia, a common occurrence here in Southern California.
Dr. Kandavel also held an appointment as a teacher and instructor at the prestigious UC Irvine Eye Institute and now at Jules Stein Eye Institute where, each month, he gives lectures and teaches ophthalmic surgery to the next generation of eye surgeons
In August of 2020, Dr. Kandavel became one of the first doctors in California to implant the newest extended depth of focus IOL for cataract surgery, the Vivity IOL. He went on to complete clinical research on the lens prior to its widespread release and therefore has the most experience with these types of specialty lenses in the Los Angeles area.
“Continuing to innovate and teach keeps me on the forefront of technology, but also allows me to provide opportunities for my patients to see more clearly not available anywhere else.”
-Dr Kandavel
The need for ophthalmic surgery in other countries is great, and Dr. Kandavel also travels to bring these essential services to the underprivileged. Dr. Kandavel participates in missions to Gujrat, India where he helps to perform hundreds of cataract surgeries. In addition, strabismus or eye misalignment can cause blindness in children but can be prevented with eye muscle surgery early in life. Such essential surgeries were also performed in the villages of Gujrat for over twenty young children during his last eye mission there in 2004.
Since 2006, Dr. Kandavel has participated in medical missions to Nuevo Progreso, in the state of San Marcos, in southwestern Guatemala. It is accessible by an 8-hour bus ride over bumpy, rutted roads from Guatemala City, after a 7-hour flight from the U.S. The hilltop village is home to about 2,500 people with 25,000 more in the surrounding villages. Unemployment is around 50% with some finding work on the coffee plantations and the rest marginally self-supporting, living on the land. Even so, the people are warm, friendly, and most appreciative of the medical care they receive – often walking days to get to the hospital. Dr. Kandavel along with other eye surgeons from around the United States will perform eye surgeries at no cost to the local inhabitants, and in 2013 Dr. Kandavel was appointed as the eye surgery team leader and organizes future mission trips and supplies with the help of an incredible collection of physicians, nurses, and volunteers.
Since 2019, Dr. Kandavel travels annually to Sinaloa, Mexico to provide eye surgery to the impoverished local population. He travels by small plane across the border with the “Flying Doctors of Mercy”.
In 2020, Dr. Kandavel was honored as the Humanitarian of the Year by UC Davis Medical School and received recognition for his continued efforts in underserved communities throughout the world.
Read: UC Davis School of Medicine Alumni Association Awards Humanitarian Award
Dr. Rom Kandavel performs cataract and laser eye surgery using the most advanced technology at the Colvard-Kandavel Eye Center. He was recognized as one of the leading eye specialists in Los Angeles and lectures internationally to advance the field of ophthalmic surgery. He believes personal attention and care are an essential part of treating every patient.
“The meaning of life for me is to live in the service of others.” -Dr. Rom Kandavel
“Before deciding to move forward with cataract surgery, there are a variety of factors that surgeons must consider. Several physicians discussed the timing of the surgery and how they counsel patients about this.”
Read: EyeWorld Feature “Considerations for proceeding with cataract surgery”
The need for ophthalmic surgery in other countries is great, and Dr. Kandavel also travels to bring these essential services to the underprivileged. Dr. Kandavel participates in missions to Gujrat, India where he helps to perform hundreds of cataract surgeries. In addition, strabismus or eye misalignment can cause blindness in children but can be prevented with eye muscle surgery early in life. Such essential surgeries were also performed in the villages of Gujrat for over twenty young children during his last eye mission.
Since 2006, Dr. Kandavel has participated in medical missions to Nuevo Progreso, in the state of San Marcos, in southwestern Guatemala. It is accessible by an 8-hour bus ride over bumpy, rutted roads from Guatemala City, after a 7-hour flight from the U.S. The hilltop village is home to about 2,500 people with 25,000 more in the surrounding villages. Unemployment is around 50% with some finding work on the coffee plantations and the rest marginally self-supporting, living on the land. Even so, the people are warm, friendly, and most appreciative of the medical care they receive – often walking days to get to the hospital. Dr. Kandavel along with other eye surgeons from around the United States will perform eye surgeries at no cost to the local inhabitants, and in 2013 Dr. Kandavel was appointed as the eye surgery team leader and organizes future mission trips and supplies with the help of an incredible collection of physicians, nurses, and volunteers.
Dr. Rom Kandavel performs cataract and laser eye surgery using the most advanced technology at the Colvard-Kandavel Eye Center. He recognized as one of the leading eye specialists in Los Angeles and lectures internationally to advance the field of ophthalmic surgery. He believes personal attention and care are an essential part of treating every patient.
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