Dr. Jeffrey E. Lee, Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, earned his medical degree from UC San Diego and his undergraduate degrees in biology and economics from UC Berkeley. After a transitional internship in Internal Medicine, he continued on to complete his ophthalmology training at UC San Diego.

As the Clinical Service Chief of Ophthalmology at UCSD’s Hillcrest Hospital, Dr. Lee maintains a broad and comprehensive clinical practice and sees a diverse patient population. He is highly skilled and expert in a variety of surgical procedures, including complex cataract surgeries and pterygium removal. In particular, his cataract surgery practice utilizes the most modern and innovative techniques available, while maintaining the highest standards of safety and patient care. Many of Dr. Lee’s patients come with multiple medical issues, and with his well-rounded training and experience, he is able to treat their cataract symptoms with full attention to their entire well-being.

Dr. Lee believes strongly in combining his passion for patient care with lifelong learning. His chief academic interests include facial burns, orbital trauma, and ocular manifestations of HIV. Through continual study and research, he keeps up-to-date with new and cutting edge approaches to eye care, and implements only the soundest of techniques in treating his patients. Dr. Lee also believes in utilizing the abundant resources of the UCSD Medical Center for the greatest benefit of his patients, and one of his main research interests is in improving the efficacy of hospital resources. To that end, he often engages in collaborative projects with other departments within the hospital.

During his training years, Dr. Lee spent a significant amount of time caring for elderly and indigent patients at the San Diego VA Hospital and the UCSD Medical Center. Greatly impacted by these experiences, he endeavors to combine training with philanthropy, and is committed to programs that bring quality vision care to underserved patients.

Dr. Lee is passionate about education and greatly enjoys opportunities to teach and mentor undergraduates, medical students, and residents. In recognition of his exceptional commitment to education, Dr. Lee has won several teaching awards. He is also the Program Director of the UC San Diego Department of Ophthalmology Residency Training Program and is honored to play such a vital role in helping shape the future of ophthalmology at UCSD.

Dr. Lee is fluent in Cantonese.