Kirk Hou, MD, PhD
Accepting new patients

Kirk Hou, MD, PhD

  • Retina and Vitreous Diseases
Doheny Eye Center UCLA Pasadena | 625 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Suite 280, Pasadena, CA 91105

About

Dr. Hou's office contact in Westwood is (310) 206-5004. 

He is an Assistant Professor in Ophthalmology. His clinical practice specializes in the evaluation and treatment of vitreoretinal diseases including diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and complex retinal detachment.

Dr. Hou has authored over twenty peer-reviewed publications and multiple book chapters. He is an interdisciplinary researcher with expertise in nanomedicine and drug delivery. He holds patents for his work developing nanoparticles for the delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids. For his efforts, Dr. Hou has received multiple awards including the prestigious Heed Fellowship.

 

Specialties:
Dr. Hou's practice is focused on Vitreo-Retinal surgery, including:

  • Macular Surgery
    • Epiretinal membrane/Macular pucker
    • Macular hole and lamellar macular hole
    • Other Maculopathies
  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Retinal detachment
  • Trauma
  • Hypotony
  • Endophthalmitis

And Medical Retina, including:

  • Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Inherited retinal disorders
  • Infectious and Noninfectious Uveitis

Languages

English, Spanish, Chinese - Mandarin

Education

Medical Board Certification

Ophthalmology, American Board of Ophthalmology, 2021

Fellowship

Vitreoretinal Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, 2021

Residency

Ophthalmology, UCLA School of Medicine, 2019

Internship

Internal Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, 2016

Degrees

MD, Washington University School of Medicine, 2015
PhD, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 2015

Recognitions

  • John and Theiline McCone Fellowship, University of California - Los Angeles, 2019-2020
  • Heed Fellowship, The Heed Ophthalmic Foundation, 2019-2020
  • Sigma-Aldrich Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, Washington University in St. Louis, 2011-2013
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Locations

Hospital Affiliations

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Medical Services

Research

Interests

  • Nanoparticles
  • Drug Delivery
  • Retinal Diseases

Insurance

  • Aetna
  • Anthem Blue Cross
  • Blue Shield of California
  • Centivo
  • Cigna
  • First Health
  • Health Net of California
  • Interplan (part of HealthSmart)
  • L.A. Care
  • Medicare Advantage
  • MultiPlan
  • UFCM Health System
  • Prime Health Services
  • Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
  • TRICARE
  • UnitedHealthcare

The list of health care plans above may not be comprehensive and could change. 
Please contact your benefits coordinator or health insurance company directly to verify coverage.

Visit our health insurance information page for more details.

Recognitions

Fellowships:

  • John and Theiline McCone Fellowship, University of California - Los Angeles, 2019-2020
  • Heed Fellowship, The Heed Ophthalmic Foundation, 2019-2020
  • Sigma-Aldrich Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, Washington University in St. Louis, 2011-2013

 

Awards:

  • Fellow Teaching Award, Univsity of California - Los Angeles, 2021
  • Resident Teaching Award, University of California - Los Angeles, 2019
  • Needleman Prize in Pharmacology, Washington University in St. Louis, 2015
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, Washington University in St. Louis, 2015
  • Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society, Princeton University, 2006
  • Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society, Princeton University, 2006
  • Tau Beta Pi Engineering Society, Princeton University, 2006
  • Richard K Toner Prize, Princeton University, Excellence in Thermodynamics, 2006
  • Procter & Gamble Award, Princeton University, Outstanding Design Project, 2006
  • Ticona Senior Thesis Award, Princeton University, Outstanding Senior Thesis, 2006