Apex Retina Institute

At Apex Retina Institute, board-certified ophthalmologist and retina specialist Darren Knight, MD, provides complete eye care to adults in Long Beach, California, and throughout Los Angeles County. 

Dr. Darren Knight is a proud South Bay native. He graduated with honors from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and went on to complete medical school at the prestigious Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. After an internal medicine internship at Mount Sinai in New York City, he returned to Southern California to complete his ophthalmology residency at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Knight later pursued a vigorous two-year fellowship focused on medical and surgical vitreoretinal disease at the University of California, San Diego. 

Dr. Knight is passionate about caring for his patients and equipping them with the knowledge they need to understand their diagnosis and achieve their best vision. He strives to guide his patients to a complete understanding of their illness and best practices through a philosophy rooted in compassion, kindness, and dignity. Every patient who walks in the door is treated with the same attention and care that would be given to his own family. 

Dr. Knight takes pride in his ability to share his knowledge of retinal disease with others. During his residency, he was selected by his fellow residents as the teacher of the year. Dr. Knight stays current on the latest developments in retinal disease and surgery so that his patients can achieve the best outcomes. Through cutting-edge technology and medications, he ensures that his patients receive quality care that enables them to improve their quality of life.

He has a particular interest in diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal vascular disease, macular holes, epiretinal membranes (macular puckers), and retinal detachments. 

Dr. Knight has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, including Retina, Ophthalmology, and JAMA Ophthalmology. He has participated in various clinical trials as both a sub-investigator and principal investigator. Dr. Knight has presented his research at the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Retinal Specialists, and the Association of Research for Vision and Ophthalmology. He was also an Ophthalmology Times research scholar finalist for his research on “Retinal Morphology and its Influence on Operative Outcomes in Refractive Lens Exchange Patients.”

Dr. Knight is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is also a member of both the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists.

In his free time, Dr. Knight enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, cheering on the Los Angeles Lakers and USC Trojans, and streaming the latest movies/shows. Don’t forget to ask him about his favorites.