Dr. Rakhi Ammar, MD
Board-Certified Cornea & Cataract and Refractive Surgeon

Education & Training

Medical School

Dr. Ammar earned her Doctor of Medicine from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, Virginia, graduating Summa Cum Laude in May 2018. During medical school, she was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha, the nation’s most prestigious medical honor society for the top 5% of the class, and received the distinguished A.D. Williams Award for the medical school graduate with the highest GPA of their class. 

Undergraduate Education

Dr. Ammar completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology and Minor in Chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA. She earned this degree on a full scholarship and was recognized as the top student in cellular and molecular biology.

Clinical Training

Following medical school, Dr. Ammar completed her Internship at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego where she developed a deep appreciation for San Diego and its community.

She then completed her Ophthalmology Residency at Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania —one of the nation’s most renowned ophthalmology training programs, and only one of two Eye Hospitals in the United States. During her residency, Dr. Ammar served as Resident Editor for the Review of Ophthalmology journal and mentored junior residents. Her final year of surgical training included an international clinical and surgical experience in Bomet, Kenya, through the Wills Eye Center for Academic Global Ophthalmology, further enriching her surgical expertise and commitment to global eye care. She has continued her outreach work, now volunteering with Project Access here in San Diego to bring vision preserving surgeries to patients who cannot afford care or are uninsured. 

Fellowship Training

Dr. Ammar completed a specialized Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Surgery Fellowship at the University of California, Irvine, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute where she developed advanced expertise in corneal transplantation, complex cataract procedures, and anterior segment reconstruction.

Board Certification & Credentials

Dr. Ammar is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, demonstrating her commitment to maintaining the highest standards of clinical knowledge, surgical competency, and ethical practice.

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Dr. Ammar maintains active membership in leading professional organizations dedicated to advancing ophthalmology:

• American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO): The world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons
• American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS): A premier organization focused on anterior segment surgery innovation and education
• Cornea Society: A specialized organization dedicated to advancing corneal disease diagnosis, treatment, and research

These memberships reflect Dr. Ammar’s dedication to staying current with the latest advances in ophthalmology and maintaining the highest standards of clinical practice. She has given numerous case presentations for both AAO and ASCRS, and actively strives to attend meetings and stay up to date on the latest clinical advances. 

Clinical Experience & Areas of Expertise

Dr. Ammar specializes in the full spectrum of anterior segment surgery and disease management, with particular expertise in:

Corneal Surgery & Disease

• Corneal transplantation techniques (PKP, DSAEK, DMEK)
• Corneal disease diagnosis and management
• Complex anterior segment reconstruction
• Ocular surface disease
• Dry eye, Meibomian gland dysfunction 
• Pterygia
• Conjunctival tumors

Cataract Surgery

• Standard and complex cataract procedures
• Laser assisted cataract surgery
• Refractive cataract surgery with advanced intraocular lens (IOL) technology
• Intraocular lens exchanges
• Premium IOL options for optimal visual outcomes

Refractive Surgery

• Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) for presbyopia and refractive error correction
• EVO ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens)
• LASIK
• PRK

Innovation, Leadership & Clinical Focus

Academic Contributions

Dr. Ammar has contributed to the advancement of ophthalmology through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at major medical conferences:

• Published Research: “The Evidence of Implanting a Different IOL in Each Eye,” Current Opinion in Ophthalmology (2023)
• Book Contributions: Authored chapters on glaucoma management in the Wills Eye Manual, 8th Edition (2021)
• Conference Presentations: Grand Rounds presentations at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) annual meetings, OIS Corneal Innovations Podcast