About Dr. Bonakdar
Board-Certified Optometrist · Keratoconus & Corneal Specialist
Dr. Alexander Bonakdar is one of Southern California's most sought-after optometrists for complex corneal conditions, particularly keratoconus. He has personally treated more than 2,000 patients with keratoconus — many of whom were referred to him by UCLA, UCI, CHOC, and Hoag Hospital ophthalmologists when those patients needed a specialty contact lens expert.
Education & Training
- Doctor of Optometry (OD) — Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO), Fullerton, CA
- Specialty Contact Lens Residency — Advanced training in scleral and specialty lens fitting
- Ongoing CE — Annual coursework in keratoconus management, cross-linking protocols, and dry eye therapeutics
Professional Memberships
- American Optometric Association (AOA)
- California Optometric Association (COA)
- Contact Lens Society of America (CLSA)
- Scleral Lens Education Society (SLS)
Areas of Clinical Focus
Dr. Bonakdar's practice is deliberately focused on conditions that require deep expertise in specialty contact lenses and corneal disease management:
- Keratoconus & Corneal Ectasia — from mild to severe stages, including post-surgical
- Scleral Contact Lenses — custom-fitted for irregular corneas, dry eye, and post-LASIK complications
- Corneal Cross-Linking (CXL) — halting disease progression
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) — myopia control for children and adults
- Dry Eye Disease — IPL, LipiFlow, Neurolens, meibomian gland treatment
- Corneal Transplant Avoidance — many patients avoid surgery with the right specialty lens care
Philosophy of Care
Dr. Bonakdar believes that most keratoconus patients deserve a genuine trial with the best available non-surgical options before any surgery is considered. Too often, patients are told that a cornea transplant is inevitable — when in reality, the right scleral lens or cross-linking protocol could restore functional vision without surgery.
He welcomes second opinions, takes time to explain diagnoses clearly, and works with each patient's insurance coverage to make care accessible.