After more than three decades of caring for patients in Orange County, we are honored to celebrate the retirement of Dr. John Lean, whose career and contributions are deeply woven into the history of Retina Associates of Orange County.
Dr. Lean began his academic career at USC in the early 1980s, following his training at the internationally respected Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. At USC, he practiced, taught, and helped train future retina specialists, while also bringing surgical advances from his experience in England—including the emerging use of silicone oil in the treatment of complex retinal detachments—to the United States. After a brief period practicing alongside distinguished retinal surgeon Dr. Paul Tornambe in San Diego, he joined Dr. Jack Fiore in Santa Ana in 1991.
At the time, retinal care looked very different from what it does today. The practice consisted of a single Santa Ana office, and many of the treatments and technologies we now use routinely had not yet been developed. As the field of retina advanced and Orange County grew, so did the practice. Dr. Lean helped establish our presence in Laguna Hills and, together with the physicians who followed him, helped lay the foundation for what would ultimately become Retina Associates of Orange County.
Dr. Desmond McGuire joined the practice in 2003, beginning the next chapter in its growth. Dr. Charles Eifrig joined in 2008, followed by Dr. John Hwang in 2011 and Dr. Mrinali Gupta in 2020. Together, each generation of physicians has continued to build upon the foundation established by Dr. Lean and the retinal specialists who came before him.
Through all of that growth and change, Dr. Lean remained a constant—a gifted retinal surgeon, thoughtful physician, mentor, colleague, and friend. Most importantly, he cared for generations of patients with the skill, judgment, and compassion that became hallmarks of our practice.
We are extraordinarily grateful for everything Dr. Lean has contributed to RAOC and to the retinal community of Orange County. The practice we have today stands on a foundation that he helped build.
Dr. Lean, congratulations on a remarkable career and a very well-earned retirement. Thank you for your friendship, your mentorship, and for more than three decades of service to our patients. Your legacy will always be part of Retina Associates of Orange County.
Read Dr. Lean’s account of the history of silicone oil in retinal surgery.
