Won I. Kim, M.D.

Won I. Kim, M.D. is a board-certified Ophthalmologist with many years of experience. He is an advanced cataract surgeon, and a fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist. Prior to joining Eye Doctors of Washington, Dr. Kim served 21 years as an active-duty Army officer. He was as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and the Program Director for the Ophthalmology residency program of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). He was awarded the “Master Clinician Award” from WRNMMC and was voted teacher of the year by residents numerous times. Dr. Kim was a prior president of the Society of Military Ophthalmologists and served as a senior leader helping to shape and guide Ophthalmology within the Department of Defense. He was inducted into the Order of Military Medical Merit and received the “A” designator reserved for only the most accomplished Army Medical Corps officers. Dr. Kim has lectured and taught at the internationally attended meetings of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Glaucoma Society and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.

Dr. Kim is an expert in cataract surgery with experience in complex cases requiring synechialysis, pupil expansion, and zonular stabilization techniques. He utilizes the most advanced equipment and has experience with the latest intraocular lens technologies including toric lenses for astigmatism correction as well as multifocal and extended depth of focus lenses.

Dr. Kim is an extremely progressive glaucoma surgeon and offers the latest medical, laser, and surgical options for glaucoma patients. He has expertise in selective laser trabeculoplasty, laser iridectomy, and laser iridoplasty. He has extensive experience with trabeculectomy with traditional techniques as well as ExPress shunts, Fugo blade, and Ologen collagen matrix. He has experience with all forms of glaucoma drainage implants including Ahmed Glaucoma Valve, Baerveldt Glaucoma Implants, Molteno, and Ahmed ClearPath.

Dr. Kim also has expertise with more exotic techniques such as deep sclerectomy and viscocanalostomy and has extensive experience with Pediatric glaucoma surgeries such as goniotomy and ab externo trabeculotomy both with trabeculotomes and circumferential suture techniques. He was an early adopter of Trabectome and techniques utilizing the iScience lighted microcatheter including ab externo canaloplasty with tensioning suture, gonioscopy assisted transluminal trabeculotomy, and ab interno canaloplasty. He was one of the first in the DC area to implant iStent trabecular microbypass stent, Hydrus microstent, and the Xen 45 gel stent. He has extensive experience with the Trab 360, Visco 360, Omni Surgical System, Kahook Dual Blade, Micropulse Transcleral Laser Therapy, and Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation. Dr. Kim is well known for creative approaches to glaucoma surgery including combining multiple MIGS techniques and as a pioneer with off label approaches to Xen 45 gel stent implantation.

Dr. Kim was a Regents scholar of the University of California and graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Los Angeles, where he was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. He did his medical school training at the George Washington University School of Medicine.  After graduating from medical school Dr. Kim came on active-duty service and did his Ophthalmology residency training at the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium where he graduated as the Major David S. Berry award winner given to the single most outstanding graduating Army resident amongst all the residency programs in the Consortium. Dr. Kim did his glaucoma fellowship training at the prestigious Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

After his glaucoma fellowship, Dr. Kim joined the faculty at the USUHS and served as the glaucoma specialist for Brooke Army Medical Center, Wilford Hall Air Force Medical Center, and the University of Texas in San Antonio, Texas. He was then transferred to the WRNMMC where he served the Ophthalmology residency program in various capacities until eventually becoming the Program Director. During his academic career, Dr. Kim published numerous book chapters and original research papers, presented dozens of poster presentations, and has been an invited lecturer at numerous regional and national meetings.

Dr. Kim lives in Virginia with his wife and two children. He enjoys spending time with his family, digital drawing on his tablet, playing video games on his Xbox, weight training, and singing and playing guitar.