An eye for aesthetics: Oculoplastics specialist Dr. Seanna Grob

Dr. Seanna Grob joined the UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute’s oculoplasticsteam on July 1, 2024. Grob studied and trained at UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego and UC Irvine. She completed her ophthalmology residency and served as director of ocular trauma services at Harvard Medical School, where she co-authored a book on managing eye trauma. Most recently, she served as the academic director of Oculofacial Plastic and Orbital Surgery Services at UC San Francisco and medical director of the UCSF Berkeley Outpatient Ophthalmology Clinic. We recently sat down with Grob to learn more about her.

Q. As an oculoplastics specialist, what conditions do you treat most often?
Many of the conditions we treat in oculoplastics fall into four broad categories. First are eyelid conditions, such as droopy lids or skin cancer of the eyelids or periocular area. Next are orbital problems, such as trauma to the eye socket, an orbital tumor or anophthalmic socket surgery. Third is lacrimal surgery, which involves the tear drainage system. Finally, we also perform aesthetic rejuvenation of the face and periocular area.

Q. What other medical teams do you often work with?
Oculoplastic surgeons often collaborate or co-manage patients with our fellow specialists in cornea conditions, neuro-ophthalmology, pediatrics, uveitis, ocular oncology and ocular pathology. We also work closely with neurosurgeons, surgical oncologists, head and neck surgeons, rhinologists and dermatologists who perform Mohs surgeries to treat various conditions that overlap our respective specialties. We collaborate a lot with other UCI Health physicians, which I really enjoy.

Q. What do you enjoy most about oculoplastics?
Oculoplastics is a mix of some of my favorite medical specialties — ophthalmology, dermatology and head and neck surgery. I especially enjoy the variety of conditions and surgeries and caring for patients of all ages. On any given day, I may do a cosmetic surgery, a fracture repair, an eyelid
lift, an orbital tumor removal and a tear drainage surgery. I also appreciate the artistic aspect of eyelid and periocular surgery. There is definitely an art to what we do, whether it’s cosmetic surgery or reconstructing an eyelid after a skin cancer is removed. All surgeries we do as oculoplastic surgeons, even if they are functional, are still cosmetic because they involve a patient’s face. An aesthetically pleasing result is always our goal.

Q. What attracted you to ophthalmology?
From the time I was in kindergarten, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I still have a drawing I made in kindergarten of myself as a doctor. I was just always drawn to medicine. My mother had a big impact on my connection to ophthalmology, though. She lost vision in one eye from a car accident as a very young child, so she always made me very aware of the importance of vision and eye safety. During college, I shadowed some ophthalmologists and after college, I worked for a glaucoma specialist. By the time I started medical school, I already had a very strong interest in ophthalmology. In my fourth year of medical school, I did an oculoplastics rotation and I have been hooked ever since!

Q. In addition to your clinical work, what interests you academically?
My academic interests include research, educational and leadership pursuits. Research topics of interest include eye and orbital trauma, periocular cancers and
the use of artificial intelligence in oculoplastic surgery and ophthalmology generally. I also enjoy improving processes in medical training. I have made “Applying to
Ophthalmology” handbooks for most of the institutions I have been a part of, and most are still used by medical students. I have served on admission interview committees and residency program committees at different institutions, as well an academic senate committee at UCSF. I also serve as chair of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery’s young professionals committee.

Q. How do you feel about returning to UC Irvine?

I did my oculoplastics fellowship at UC Irvine, so I spent two years training here. Dr. Jeremiah Tao, the chief of Oculofacial Plastic & Orbital Surgery, was one of my preceptors. I feel very fortunate to be joining him and Dr. Lilangi Ediriwickrema on the oculoplastics service here at UCI Health and I am excited to be part of the faculty of this excellent Department of Ophthalmology.