Dr. Philip Ngai (pronounced “Nye”) is a fellowship-trained cataract and glaucoma specialist in West Covina, CA. He is also a comprehensive ophthalmologist who treats most common diseases of the eyes.

Dr. Ngai was born and raised in San Francisco, CA, and is one of two sons of immigrant parents. He is the first in his family to become a physician (his brother is a pediatric dentist).

Since Dr. Ngai was a child, his lifelong dream has always been to dedicate his scientific interests, his work ethic, and his positive personality in order to create a lasting legacy and improve the lives of others.

He first discovered ophthalmology and eye surgery when his father suddenly became struck with glaucoma, and required emergency vision saving surgery. The high precision, and more importantly, the high human impact and inherent value of saving someone’s vision, made becoming an ophthalmologist the one and only career choice for Dr. Ngai.

Among Dr. Ngai’s many outside interests are his desire to understand human behavior and what motivates people. Not only does he loves to experience different cultures and backgrounds everyday though his job working with patients as an ophthalmologist, but also though world travel.

Dr. Ngai combines his career and personal interests through volunteering in free clinics in Mexico, Santa Ana, CA, and downtown San Diego. He also spends time as a clinical instructor, and enjoys teaching new eye surgeons the art of medicine and surgery. When he is not travelling abroad, he is experiencing different cultures locally through food.

In order to keep his food interests physically sustainable, Dr. Ngai is also interested in fitness. He ran cross country and was a volleyball outside hitter in high school. He also rowed crew competitively both in high school and in college. These days, however, Dr. Ngai spends more time with resistance training in the gym than on the waters rowing a boat.

Dr. Ngai is a tinkerer, creator, and “lifehacker” by nature. He is also an Eagle Scout (ask him about his knot tying ability!). He loves spending time in his workshop building and upgrading things. He has built dozens of custom computers for himself and his family and friends. One of his recent projects has been to automate his entire house with voice-controlled lighting and security. He has an ultimate goal of one day powering his future home entirely though solar power.

Board eligible

Arcadia Surgery Center

Concourse Diagnostic And Surgery Center

San Gabriel Valley Surgery Center

Queen Of The Valley Hospital