TriCounty Eye Doctors

Dr. Mark Schneider, MD

Chief surgeon and Medical Director, Mark Schneider, MD is a board-certified ophthalmologist who has been in practice since 1988. He has helped set the standard of eye care in the Inland Empire for 20 years, has over 15 years LASIK experience, and has gained a reputation for unsurpassed quality patient care.

His tradition of eye care excellence includes the following awards and recognition:

“Physician Recognition Award” 1990 and 1996-1999 by the American Medical Association.
“Businessman of the Year” 2002 by the Wall Street Journal.
“America’s Top Ophthalmologist’s ” 2002-2003, 2007,2008 and 2009 by Consumer's Research Council.
IntraLase “Pioneer Award” for bladeless technology development 2003.
“Luminaries Award” of IntraLase technology 2005.

Dr. Schneider participated in the FDA clinical trials for the Excimer laser and was on the teaching staff for INTACS corneal rings in 1999. He has had numerous publications and trained hundreds of eye doctors in the field of refractive surgery. He is an active Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a Member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, International Society of Refractive Surgeons, American College of Eye Surgeons, California Association of Ophthalmology and California Medical Association.

Dr. Lawrence Chong, M.D.

Dr. Lawrence Chong has joined TriCounty Eye Institute to bring his expertise in treating diseases of the retina and vitreous to the Inland Empire.

Dr. Chong was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from USC in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, where he was the Valedictorian of his class. He received his medical degree at Harvard Medical School in 1981. After an internship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in 1982, Dr. Chong did an ophthalmology residency at the Doheny Eye Institute of USC. After completed his residency in 1985, Dr. Chong went to Duke University where he trained in vitreo-retinal surgery. He returned to Doheny/USC to be the Chief Resident in 1986. He joined the faculty at USC in 1989 and remained until 2009. During this time he rose to the rank of Professor of Ophthalmology and director of the retina service where he trained over 30 fellows in vitreous surgery of which a third remain in academic positions around the world.

During his tenure at Doheny/USC, Dr. Chong’s research interests included the treatment of opportunistic eye infections in AIDS, the clinical application of intraocular drug delivery systems, micro-pulse diode laser systems, clinical applications of 25 gauge vitrectomy systems, and quantitative analysis of mechanisms of vitreous cutting.

Dr. Chong has been privileged to receive research fellows from all over the world, especially Brazil where there is an annual meeting held in his honor, called ‘Chong’s Brazilian Friends’. He has authored over 65 peer reviewed publications, 11 book chapters, and 2 books.

Currently Dr. Chong is in private practice in Huntington Beach, California. He remains affiliated with USC as Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology. His current research interest is the role of combination anti-VEGF /photodynamic therapy for rescue therapy of wet age related macular degeneration.

Dr. Jason Darlington, M.D.

Dr. Jason Darlington has joined TriCounty Eye Institute to bring his expertise in cataract surgery to our patients.

Raised in Southern California, Dr. Darlington graduated with highest honors from the University of California Davis. He then attended UC Davis Medical School where he conducted research in corneal disease. Following an internship at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego, he completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of California-Davis where he conducted research on laser vision correction and wavefront technology.

Dr. Darlington then performed a fellowship in advanced anterior segment surgery including corneal and refractive surgery at the prestigious Phillips Eye Institute in Minneapolis.

Dr. Darlington has performed thousands of cataract surgeries and has used his refractive experience to excel in the implantation of premium lenses including toric and multifocal intraocular lenses.

Dr. Aaron Savar, MD.

Dr. Savar's area of expertise is in Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. This includes surgery on the eyelids, the orbit (the tissues and bones around the eye), and the tear drainage system.

Dr. Aaron Savar grew up in Southern California where he attended Beverly Hills High School. Dr. Savar received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley where he majored in biochemistry. He attended Boston University School of Medicine, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honors society and graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors.

After a surgical internship at UCLA, Dr. Savar returned to Boston where he completed his residency in Ophthalmology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. He then moved to Texas for a fellowship in Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery where he worked at the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and with the Texas Oculoplastic Consultants in Austin.

Dr. Savar has been an active researcher and has been involved in a number of laboratory and clinical studies. He has given lectures at national meetings including the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery's annual meeting. He has authored book chapters and published many manuscripts in peer reviewed journals in the areas of periocular tumors, trauma and cosmetic surgery. He has served as an expert reviewer for a number of medical journals and serves as an Associate Editor for the Digital Journal of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Savar has served as a volunteer physician with the Lions Eye Club in Boston and at the Volunteer Healthcare clinic in Austin. In 2007, he spent a month at the Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai, India. Dr. Savar is a member of the medical staff at Cedars-Sinai medical center, Olympia medical center and Harbor-UCLA medical center.

In his spare time, he enjoys traveling. He is a PADI certified scuba diver and a dedicated Dodger fan.

Dr. Jenny Le, O.D.

Dr. Jenny Le received her Bachelor of Science degree from UCLA and her doctor of optometry degree from the Southern California College of Optometry, graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors. She demonstrated exceptional clinical and academic skills, winning various awards, including the Dr. Frank A. Brazelton Scholarship for excellence in Family Practice and the Blake Family Scholarship for academic achievement.

Dr. Le has a wide range of clinical experience that she gained during her internships at the Veterans Ambulatory Care Clinic, the Optometric Center of Los Angeles, the San Diego Naval Hospital, and the Eye Care Center in Fullerton. These clinics provided her with experience in primary care, ocular disease, contact lenses, pediatrics, vision therapy, as well as management of patients with low vision.

She is certified to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents (TPA) for the treatment and management of ocular diseases and is also licensed to diagnose and treat glaucoma.

Dr. Le was born in Provo, Utah and currently resides in Orange County. She stays active by playing tennis and kickboxing.

Dr. Le is happy to be joining the TriCounty Eye Institute family. She strives to provide the best care possible and strongly believes in educating all her patients on ways of maintaining or achieving good eye health.

Dr. Kenneth M. McKenzie, O.D.

September 25, 2012 Dr. Kenneth M. McKenzie Becomes Board Certified by American Boardof Optometry.
One of 730 ODs to Achieve ABO Board Certification!

Kenneth M McKenzie, O.D. is a Doctor of Optometry licensed by the California State Board of Optometry. Dr. McKenzie specializes in general family practice eye care, both refractive and medical. He was raised in Southern California and has been in practice at TriCounty Eye Institute for over 10 years.

Dr. McKenzie graduated from high school in Redondo Beach, California. He served five years as a hospital corpsman in the United States Navy. Following an honorable discharge he enrolled at El Camino College, then California State University Long Beach where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in visual science and graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors.

While enrolled at Southern California College of Optometry, he completed internships at Nellis Air Force Base and the Veteran’s Administration in Las Vegas, Nevada while completing his Doctor of Optometry degree.

Dr. McKenzie’s goal is to continue to stay in the forefront of the optometric and ophthalmology fields. He has practiced in the Corona community for over twenty years and enjoys providing the highest quality of care to all his patients.

Dr. McKenzie was recently awarded The MES Vision Certificate of Excellence