Meet Dr. Brown

Eye Doctor in San Diego, California

Dr. Brown is originally from Dayton, Ohio, graduating from Trotwood-Madison High School in 1979, and from the Ohio State University College of Optometry in 1986.  He accepted a direct commission as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy and attended Officer Indoctrination School, Newport, Rhode Island in October 1986.

He reported to Naval Hospital San Diego, CA in November 1986, where he was a staff optometrist and clinical instructor.  In August of 1991, he was assigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines as the Head of the Optometry Department.  In November 1992 he reported to the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute (NAMI), Pensacola, FL.  He completed six months of training and received a secondary designation as a Naval Aerospace Physiologist.  He remained at NAMI for three more years as a staff optometrist and instructor to more than 300 Student Naval Flight Surgeons.  During that time, he co-developed an aeromedical training program for optometrists that is now a formally recognized designation of “Aerospace Optometrist”.  In 1996 he was assigned to the Branch Medical Clinic, Naval Air Station Miramar, CA.  In 1998 he deployed aboard the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN CVN 72 for six months.  In 1999, he was assigned as Clinical Director of the Navy Refractive Surgery Center, Naval Medical Center San Diego, where he was an integral part of the team that developed and implemented the laser vision correction program for the Armed Services. 

In 2000, Commander Brown was selected “Armed Forces Optometrist of the Year”.  In 2001, he was selected for the Aeromedical Dual Designator Program, and reported to Training Squadron TWO, NAS Whiting Field, FL.  He finished first in his primary flight training class and made the “Commodore’s List with Distinction”.  While in Florida, he also served as Head of Optometry, Naval Hospital Pensacola. 

In 2003, he was re-assigned to the Refractive Surgery Center in San Diego.  In 2006 he was appointed Deputy Director of the Navy Refractive Surgery program, which included oversight of seven Navy centers that collectively perform more than 17,000 surgical procedures annually.  The refractive surgery program has now evolved into a DoD Tri-service program that has 21 surgical centers worldwide and has provided laser vision correction to more than 150,000 service members.  It has been called one of the most significant and operationally relevant programs in the history of Navy medicine.  While assigned to the Navy’s refractive surgery program, Dr. Brown participated as an investigator in more than 36 clinical trials, including landmark studies that led to the approval of laser vision correction in Navy pilots and in Navy S.E.A.L.S. 

Dr. Brown’s military decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and multiple unit awards.

He now resides in Coronado, CA with his wife, Deann (Radowick) and their three sons, Ryan, Dylan and Jake.

Dr. Brown's Curriculum Vitae