Some eye problems announce themselves. Others don’t. Glaucoma can take side vision so gradually that people don’t notice until the damage is done. Cataracts dim the world a little at a time. Dry eye starts as a nuisance and can end up affecting how well you see, how comfortable your contacts feel, and even how accurately a surgeon can plan cataract surgery.
These three conditions are the focus of East West Eye Institute’s office in Gardena. If you’re looking for ophthalmology in Gardena, this guide explains what each condition looks like, how it’s diagnosed and treated, how the three are connected, and what to expect when you visit the office on West 190th Street.
A Practice That Started in Gardena
East West Eye Institute’s roots in this community run deep. The practice traces its history to 1947, when Dr. George Kambara founded Kambara Medical Group, then serving patients in Gardena and Little Tokyo. It officially became East West Eye Institute in 1990 and has since grown across the South Bay and beyond, with offices in Gardena, Torrance, San Pedro, and Covina.
That history shapes how the practice cares for patients: a board-certified team, advanced diagnostic and surgical technology, and a family-centered approach. Across the practice, team members speak English, Spanish, Japanese, Tagalog, Portuguese, French, and Chinese, which helps many patients and their families understand every step of their care.
Glaucoma: The Condition You Usually Can’t Feel
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve, the cable that carries visual information from your eye to your brain. It’s often, though not always, linked to pressure building up inside the eye when fluid can’t drain properly.
The most common form, open-angle glaucoma, typically has no pain and no early warning signs. Vision loss starts at the edges and creeps inward. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 3 million Americans have glaucoma, and roughly half of them don’t know it. The only reliable way to find it early is a thorough eye exam.
Who is at higher risk
Risk increases with age, particularly after 50. Other risk factors include:
- A family history of glaucoma, which can raise risk up to six times compared with the general population
- Being highly nearsighted
- Being African American
- Diabetes and certain other health conditions
Some people develop normal-tension glaucoma, where the optic nerve is damaged even though eye pressure measures within the normal range. That’s one reason a glaucoma evaluation looks at much more than pressure alone.
How glaucoma is evaluated
A glaucoma evaluation typically includes measuring your eye pressure, examining the optic nerve, checking the drainage angle of the eye, testing your side vision, and imaging the optic nerve and retinal nerve fiber layer. These tests create a baseline, and repeating them over time shows whether anything is changing.
How it’s treated
Glaucoma can’t be cured, but its progression can often be slowed or stopped by lowering eye pressure. Depending on the type and severity, glaucoma treatment may include prescription eye drops, laser procedures, or surgery. East West Eye Institute has physicians with subspecialty expertise in the medical and surgical management of glaucoma.
Because glaucoma requires ongoing monitoring, having care close to home matters. Regular visits are easier to keep when your ophthalmologist is a short drive away, and the Gardena office’s Saturday morning hours can help if weekday appointments are hard to fit in.
Living with glaucoma day to day
For most patients, glaucoma treatment is a long-term routine rather than a single fix. If your ophthalmologist prescribes eye drops, a few habits make them work better:
- Tie drops to something you already do, like brushing your teeth or your morning coffee, so doses aren’t missed.
- Close your eyes gently for a minute after each drop, and press lightly on the inner corner of the eye. This helps keep the medication in the eye rather than draining away.
- Wait a few minutes between different drops so the second one doesn’t wash out the first.
- Speak up about side effects. Redness, stinging, or dry, irritated eyes are worth mentioning. There are often alternatives.
- Keep every follow-up visit, even when your eyes feel fine. Glaucoma is monitored through measurements, not symptoms.
If drops are difficult for you or aren’t controlling pressure well enough, laser or surgical options may be discussed.
A different kind of glaucoma: narrow angles
Some people have narrow drainage angles, where the iris sits very close to the eye’s drain. In these eyes, the angle can suddenly close, causing a rapid spike in pressure. Symptoms include severe eye pain, redness, blurred vision with halos around lights, headache, nausea, and vomiting. This is a medical emergency. People known to have narrow angles are often advised to avoid certain decongestants, antihistamines, and overactive bladder medications that can trigger an attack, so always tell your ophthalmologist about the medications you take.
Cataracts: When Cloudy Vision Needs a Surgeon
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens. It develops slowly, usually with age, and can make vision blurry, dull, or yellowed. Glare from headlights on the 405 or the 110 at night, trouble reading, and frequent changes to your glasses prescription are common signs.
When surgery makes sense
Early cataracts may only need updated glasses. Surgery is typically considered when the cataract starts interfering with daily activities like driving, reading, or watching TV. Cataract surgery removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with a clear artificial intraocular lens (IOL). For an otherwise healthy eye, the procedure is usually quick, with a relatively short recovery.
Choosing your surgery and lens
East West Eye Institute offers both traditional and laser-assisted cataract surgery. The laser-assisted approach uses a femtosecond laser to perform certain steps with added precision, can reduce the energy needed to remove the cataract, and can help treat low levels of astigmatism. Traditional cataract surgery is covered by most private medical insurance and Medicare, while the laser-assisted portion involves an out-of-pocket cost that your surgical counselor will review with you.
Lens choice matters just as much. A standard monofocal lens focuses at one distance, so most people still need glasses for some tasks. Premium intraocular lenses, including multifocal and toric lenses, are designed to improve vision at more than one distance and correct astigmatism. Your ophthalmologist will help you decide which approach fits your eyes and lifestyle.
Cataract procedures are performed at affiliated surgery centers, including Skypark Surgery Center in Torrance, a short drive from Gardena. Evaluations and follow-up visits can take place closer to home. That matters more than people expect: cataract surgery usually involves several appointments, including measurements beforehand and checkups in the days and weeks afterward. For patients who rely on family members for rides, a nearby office makes the whole process easier to manage.
Dry Eye and LipiFlow
Dry eye is one of the most common reasons people see an eye doctor, and it’s more than an inconvenience. Symptoms can include burning, grittiness, redness, light sensitivity, fluctuating vision, and, surprisingly, excess tearing. Many people notice symptoms get worse by late afternoon, after long stretches on a screen, or during Southern California’s dry, windy stretches.
Most dry eye is evaporative, caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). The meibomian glands along the eyelids produce the oily layer that keeps tears from evaporating too quickly. When those glands become blocked, tears evaporate too fast, and eyes feel dry even if they’re producing plenty of water.
Treatment starts with understanding which type of dry eye you have. For evaporative dry eye caused by blocked glands, East West Eye Institute offers LipiFlow, an in-office treatment that applies gentle, controlled heat and pulsating pressure to the eyelids to clear the glands. After numbing drops, treatment takes about 12 minutes per eye and is performed under continuous monitoring. Many patients find it comfortable.
How These Three Conditions Connect
Glaucoma, cataracts, and dry eye often show up in the same patient, especially after age 60. They also affect one another, which is one of the best reasons to have them managed by the same ophthalmology team.
Dry eye can affect cataract surgery planning. An unstable tear film can distort the measurements used to choose your lens implant. Treating dry eye before those measurements are taken can make your lens calculation more accurate and your recovery more comfortable.
Glaucoma drops can irritate the eye’s surface. Some patients who use glaucoma drops for years develop or worsen dry eye. Your ophthalmologist can adjust your treatment plan if the surface of your eye is suffering.
Cataracts and glaucoma influence each other. A large cataract can crowd the drainage angle in some eyes, which is one reason cataracts are listed among the risk factors for angle closure. Glaucoma can also influence which lens implant is the best choice. When both conditions are present, your surgeon will plan cataract surgery with your glaucoma in mind.
Having one team track all three conditions means fewer gaps, fewer repeated tests, and treatment decisions that account for the whole eye.
What to Expect at the Gardena Office
East West Eye Institute’s Gardena location is at 879 W. 190th Street, Suite 100, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., plus Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. It’s a convenient option for patients in and around Gardena, including nearby Torrance, Harbor Gateway, Carson, and Hawthorne.
To make your first visit go smoothly:
- Complete your forms ahead of time. New patient registration is available online, and patient information packets are available in English and Spanish on the patient resources page.
- Bring a list of medications, including eye drops, supplements, and anything you take for allergies, sleep, or bladder control.
- Bring your glasses, contact lens information, and insurance cards.
- Plan for dilation. Many eye exams include dilating drops, which can blur your vision and make you light-sensitive for a few hours. Bring sunglasses, and consider having someone drive you.
When to Call Right Away
Don’t wait for a routine appointment if you notice:
- Sudden vision loss or a curtain over part of your vision
- Severe eye pain, especially with redness, halos, headache, or nausea
- A sudden shower of floaters or flashes of light
- An eye injury or chemical exposure
Call the office promptly, or seek emergency care after hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a referral to see an ophthalmologist in Gardena?
It depends on your insurance. Many PPO plans allow you to schedule directly, while HMO plans often require a referral from your primary care physician. Check with your plan or call the office before your visit.
How often should I be checked for glaucoma?
That depends on your age, risk factors, and exam results. People with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma are typically seen more frequently. Your ophthalmologist will recommend a schedule based on your baseline testing.
Is laser-assisted cataract surgery covered by insurance?
Traditional cataract surgery is covered by most private insurance and Medicare. The laser-assisted portion of the procedure is an out-of-pocket cost, which your surgical counselor will review with you before surgery.
Can LipiFlow cure dry eye?
LipiFlow treats blocked meibomian glands, which are behind most evaporative dry eye. Many patients experience meaningful relief, but dry eye is often chronic, and your ophthalmologist may recommend ongoing care alongside the treatment.
Should I stop wearing contact lenses before a cataract evaluation?
Often, yes. Contact lenses can temporarily change the shape of the cornea, which can affect the measurements used to plan cataract surgery. Your care team will tell you whether and how long to leave them out before your measurement visit.
Can I be treated for glaucoma, cataracts, and dry eye at the same practice?
Yes. East West Eye Institute diagnoses and treats all three, and coordinating that care in one practice helps ensure each treatment plan accounts for the others.
Schedule Your Visit to East West Eye Institute in Gardena
Whether you’re due for a glaucoma check, noticing cloudier vision, or tired of eyes that feel dry and gritty, the ophthalmology team at East West Eye Institute can help. Meet our doctors, then book an appointment or call the Gardena office at (310) 329-9975.
