Kerry B. Hagen, MD

Cornea and External Disease
Dry Eye Specialist and Director EyeHealth Dry Eye Center of Excellence
Laser Vision Correction: LASIK, Advanced Epi-PRK
Advanced Cataract Surgery
Comprehensive Ophthalmology
Board Certified, American Board of Ophthalmology

Click here to read about Dr. Hagen's Education

“I believe in respecting and valuing all of our patients. I want to provide the best ophthalmic care that Eye Health Northwest can provide and offer this consistently.”

Dr. Hagen joined the staff of Eye Health Northwest in 1993. He is a comprehensive ophthalmologist with a specialty in cornea, external disease and refractive surgery. “I was drawn to this practice area because I like people, science and working with my hands.” He combines his natural talents with a straightforward and thoughtful approach to bring his patients the best care possible.

Dr. Hagen appreciates how ophthalmology combines technological advances, micro-surgery and high patient satisfaction in one area of medicine. “There is so much innovation technologically and clinically in ophthalmology that there are always new and interesting things to learn and adapt into practice that are helpful for patient outcomes and care.”

July 2010—Dr. Kerry Hagen was among an international faculty of volunteers that recently traveled to Hue, Vietnam to lecture and instruct eye surgical techniques to Vietnamese ophthalmologists.

Over 400 Vietnamese eye surgeons from Ho Chi Minh City (saigon), Hanoi, Da Nang, and other parts of the country came to learn from 30 leading specialist from around the world. The international humanitarian eye care and training expeditiions are sponsored by the non-profit Hawaiin Eye Foundation, providing eye health care, surgery and instruction for over 25 years.

Dr. Hagen and his fellow faculty members traveled to Vietnam at their own expense to donate their time. "We are really doing this for the patients of our Vietnamese colleagues. They are the ones who benefit from the enhanced skills we impart to their surgeons." Overall, training was provided in modern treatment of cataracts and intraocular lenses, laser, corneal, retinal and ocular reconstructive surgery, as well as, glaucoma diagnonsis and treatment.

To learn more about our Community and Charitable Eye Care click here or for more information about the non-profit sight saving work of the Hawaiin Eye Foundation, see www.hawaiianeyefoundation.org

The patient’s best interest is always at the forefront of Dr. Hagen’s mind, and he understands that an empathic nature is critical in helping people. “I have been at EHNW for quite some time, and I have grown very fond of my patients.” In his pursuit of the best service for his patients, he demands excellence from himself and his staff. “Competence is essential. It means that you have a mastery of your particular field and you perform the duties of that field at a very high level through skill and hard work.”

In 2006, Dr. Hagen was one of several doctors invited to Mongolia by Health for Humanity to teach local doctors new techniques. Mongolia has a shortage of trained ophthalmologists. Because of the apprentice model for training doctors, the ophthalmologists that do exist there are often trained by the same doctor. Therefore, there is limited exposure to different techniques and training. Dr. Hagen found this trip very rewarding and looks forward to more opportunities to help on this level.

Dr. Hagen works with tremendous focus and dedication, but he values his down time too. He and his wife, Kelly, share many interests, including the same profession. When they are not working, they love to stay active and travel. Often, their trips combine these two passions. Part of what he enjoys most about his trips is the ability to heighten his senses in a new environment–every moment feels memorable because of its unfamiliarity. “When I travel, I do a fair amount of street photography. It’s creative, and it gets me in close touch with the country or area that I’m in and helps me focus my mind in the environment around me.”

The Northwest is an ideal place for Dr. Hagen since he prefers a little rain to endless days of sun. This reflects the part of him that appreciates nuanced beauty and variety. His taste in literature favors the poetic and succinct style of Hemingway. For him, less is often more. This may explain his attraction to fly fishing as well.“Fly fishing puts me on a river with the water rushing. These rivers are some of the most beautiful places in the world. For me, being there is reason enough.”

DR. HAGEN'S EDUCATION: