Robert Chooljian Gunzenhauser, MD

Dr. Gunzenhauser earned his Bachelor of Arts in Human Evolutionary Biology from Harvard College, graduating cum laude. His undergraduate studies instilled in him a deep appreciation for human physiology and scientific inquiry, forming the foundation for his later work in ophthalmology.

He obtained his Doctor of Medicine from the Wake Forest School of Medicine, where he graduated in the top 10% of his class. During medical school, he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society as a junior student—an honor recognizing academic excellence, leadership, and professionalism. He was also awarded the David Bryan Sloan Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology for his outstanding clinical performance and scholarly achievement in the field.

Dr. Gunzenhauser completed his ophthalmology residency at UCLA’s world-renowned Jules Stein Eye Institute (2020–2024), one of the nation’s premier ophthalmic training programs. He then pursued an advanced fellowship in glaucoma at UCLA (2024–2025), where he trained under internationally recognized glaucoma specialists including Dr. Kourous Nourimahdavi, Dr. Anne Coleman, Dr. Simon Law, Dr. Jo Ann Giaconi, Dr. Victoria Tseng, and Dr. Reza Alizadeh.

Dr. Gunzenhauser holds a Physician and Surgeon License in the state of California and is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

He has also completed specialized training in Interventional Glaucoma, equipping him with expertise in both traditional and minimally invasive surgical techniques. His advanced training allows him to provide a full spectrum of glaucoma care—from early detection and medical management to complex surgical intervention.

With over five years of clinical experience, Dr. Gunzenhauser’s practice encompasses the diagnosis and management of all adult forms of glaucoma, including primary open-angle, angle-closure, pigmentary, pseudoexfoliative, uveitic, and secondary glaucomas.

He is highly skilled in a range of glaucoma and cataract procedures, including:

• Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery
• Premium intraocular lens implantation
• Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS)
• Laser-based glaucoma therapies
• Trabeculectomy and tube shunt procedures

His clinical interests include early glaucoma detection, surgical innovation, and optimizing visual outcomes for patients undergoing combined cataract and glaucoma surgery.

Dr. Gunzenhauser has published extensively in peer-reviewed medical journals, including the Journal of Glaucoma, and has presented his research at major national and international ophthalmology conferences. His academic work focuses on improving early glaucoma diagnostics and refining surgical outcomes through evidence-based innovation.

He continues to collaborate on projects that advance the understanding of glaucoma progression and the role of laser and interventional therapies in long-term disease management.

Born into a family of physicians, Dr. Gunzenhauser was inspired from an early age by his parents—both military doctors—who instilled in him the values of discipline, compassion, and service to others. These lessons shaped his lifelong dedication to patient-centered medicine and his desire to serve his community by preserving vision and preventing blindness.

He chose ophthalmology after discovering during medical school how profoundly vision impacts quality of life, independence, and human connection. He considers it an honor to help patients safeguard one of their most vital senses, the ability to see.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Gunzenhauser enjoys spending time with his wife and family, staying active through exercise, and reading both fiction and non-fiction. He believes in maintaining balance and lifelong curiosity, values he brings to both his personal life and professional practice.

Dr. Gunzenhauser is fluent in English and Spanish and is currently learning Armenian, allowing him to communicate more closely with his diverse patient community throughout Southern California.