Julie L. Gasperini, MD

"Dr. Gasperini is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in the medical and surgical treatment of diseases of the retina and vitreous. She grew up in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology, Summa Cum Laude, from Michigan State University Honors College. She attended Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan, where she was awarded her medical degree and completed an internship in Internal Medicine. Thereafter, Dr. Gasperini went on to complete residency training in ophthalmology at the Kresge Eye Institute at Wayne State University, where she was elected co-chief resident. She completed a two year vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at the prestigious Doheny Eye Institute/ University of Southern California. After completing her fellowship training, Dr. Gasperini joined South Coast Retina Center and is the first and only female retina surgeon in the practice. She is the principal investigator for clinical trials in the research department. Dr. Gasperini appreciates her patients and their families’ concerns and dedicates her time to properly educate them about ocular conditions and treatment options. Such emphasis on patient care has reflected in a Health Care Partners Group Patient Satisfaction Award for outstanding performance and exceptional commitment in 2011. Currently, Dr. Gasperini presents on various subjects awarding continuous education to the doctors of optometry and ophthalmology in our community. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists."

"Founded in 1972, South Coast Retina Center has been preserving and preventing visual loss in Southern California for more than 45 years. Starting with only one office in Long Beach, the practice has expanded to additionally serve the Torrance and Huntington Beach communities. South Coast Retina Center consists of five highly skilled retina surgeons, including Drs. Randall L. Nguyen, Michael L. Roh, Julie L. Gasperini, Roberto Roizenblatt and Cindy Ung. All of our physicians are Board Certified and have completed highly renowned medical retina fellowships across the country. We offer various treatment options, including possible inclusion into clinical trial research programs. Our patients have found that these research programs have offered them access to treatments otherwise not available. In addition, our highly trained ancillary staff is equipped to assist with all facets of treatment, as a majority of them are looking toward obtaining a medical degree of their own in the near future. Over the years, South Coast Retina Center has been able to adopt a highly efficient means of assisting patients in obtaining coverage for expensive medication needed to treat the complications caused by macular degeneration and diabetes. It is our continued dedication to our community that has resulted in less than 1% of our patients paying anything out-of-pocket in order to receive their medication. (Please see our Copay Assistance page to learn more about copay assistance.) Our physicians currently operate in 25 hospitals and surgery centers in the Los Angeles and Orange Counties."