General Info

Robert W. Higginbotham, M.D., is a talented and empathetic ophthalmologist who treats patients at Pacific Eye, with offices in San Luis Obispo, Lompoc, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, and Santa Maria, California, as well as Optical Concepts in Santa Maria. Dr. Higginbotham sees patients at the offices in San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach. In Dr. Higginbotham’s own words, “as a doctor in Vietnam, I saw what the ravages of war can do to people’s lives. That experience led me to form a nonprofit corporation to build free eye care clinics in Vietnam. It’s incredibly gratifying to help these people see a new world.” After graduating from the University of Arizona in Tucson with a Bachelor of Science in zoology, Dr. Higginbotham earned his medical degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco and his internship at Brooke Army Medical Center in Houston. Dr. Higginbotham is currently a diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology. Dr. Higginbotham served as a surgeon in war-torn Vietnam, which inspired him to help the underprivileged through eye care. He formed a nonprofit corporation to build free eye care clinics in Vietnam to help the men, woman, and children of that country through improved vision. This enthusiasm for improving people’s vision continues today with his patients from San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. At Pacific Eye, Dr. Higginbotham specializes in cataract surgery, refractive surgery, oculoplastics, and general ophthalmology. His experience as a clinical instructor in eye surgery has allowed him to develop a particularly communicative and compassionate bedside manner, which goes a long way in helping his patients to understand and be at ease about their care, even when surgery is necessary.