Life dedicated to vision, compassion, and excellence.
Dear Patients, Fellow Team Members, and Our Beloved Community,
It is with great sadness that we share the news that Dr. John Bokosky passed away suddenly on October 22, 2025.
Dr. Bokosky was not only a highly skilled and compassionate physician, but also a guiding leader within the Eye Care of San Diego practice and a stalwart in the San Diego community. His warmth, generosity, and unwavering dedication to his patients and colleagues have left an indelible mark on this practice and all who had the privilege to know him.
Though his absence will be deeply felt, the values he instilled and the example he set will continue to shape this practice for years to come.
Dr. Bokosky was one of the area’s leading cornea specialists, and it was his mission to provide the highest level of ophthalmic care to his patients throughout the San Diego region—a mission that has shaped our practice from its very beginning.
As we honor his legacy, it remains our highest priority to continue that mission and uphold the standards of excellence and compassion that he embodied every day.
Our team is committed to ensuring continuity of care for all of Dr. Bokosky’s patients.
We ask for your patience as we coordinate coverage over the coming days and weeks. We recognize this news may raise many questions, but please know our immediate priority is to address the needs of our most urgent patients while we ensure long-term continuity for everyone under his care. Members of our staff will be reaching out to patients with upcoming appointments beginning today to assist with scheduling and care coordination as soon as possible, and those efforts will persist until all of his patients are transitioned.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Bokosky’s family, friends, colleagues, and the many patients whose lives he touched.
His legacy of compassion and excellence will continue to guide our work and the care we provide.
Sincerely,
The Eye Care of San Diego Team
🕊️ Honoring His Legacy
Our patients, team members, and colleagues are invited to share their memories and messages of condolence below.
Your kind reflections help celebrate Dr. Bokosky’s life and the lasting impact he had on everyone who knew him.
“May his light continue to guide our hands and hearts.”
Dr. Bokosky touched countless lives. To dedicate an entire career to helping others see more clearly is to give a gift like no other. May he be remembered with deep fondness, and may his legacy live on in the beauty he helped others to see.
My deepest condolences for Dr. Bokosky’s family, colleagues and friends.
After working with him many years, I can say he was incredibly intelligent, precisely skilled, thoughtful and gifted as a surgeon. I always knew if I needed someone to care for me with his skills, it would be him. My heart is broken for the loss of a wonderful man our community has been blessed with. Sending my love and prayers to everyone in mourning. Rest in peace John, you were a gift to the world.
I was born with severe astigmatism. My glasses were so thick, looking through them was like looking through the bottom of a soda bottle. I remember going to an appointment with my mother. I can still see her face when the doctor told her that I would be blind before I reached adulthood. I am now 72 years of age, and because of fabulous ophthalmologists such as Dr. Bokosky Dr. Noos, and Dr. Lozier, I am not blind.
Each of these men attempted to assist me with my vision. However, Dr. Bokosky is awarded the gold medal. He was so intelligent, capable, straight to the point, and personable, that I felt totally comfortable allowing him to perform surgery on both my eyes. Because of RK, which resulted in 16 cuts in each eye, Dr. Bokosky admitted to me that my case was difficult. He tried to be encouraging by reassuring me that even though difficult – possible. I told him I trusted him completely. His humble response was that I placed too much trust in his abilities. After successfully operating on both eyes, I wanted to remind him that people generally rise to the standards set for them. Due to his passing, I never got the chance, My vision today is 20/30. Thank you, Dr. Bokosky I will always be grateful to you for the miracle you gave me. I trusted you, and that trust was not misplaced. God placed you right where I, and so many others, needed you to be. I am truly grateful to Him, and to you, for that gift. May you rest in peace.
Fondly,
Therese Jewett
My condolences to his family and eye care team! Started seeing him the beginning of this year every two weeks and every visit he took care of me until we found out what eye problem I was having. Finally getting my eye better and seeing him every 3-4 months.
Saddened by the news as I was looking forward to my next appointment.
Forever thankful he caught this issue before I lost my vision. May he rest in peace .
Dr Bokosky dealt with my cataracts 20 years ago. He was such a delightful doctor and was the only doctor I enjoyed seeing annually.
I was shocked hearing about his death. He was so active with sports. He will truly be missed and can never be replaced.
My caring goes out to his family who must be devastated. .
Jeslyn Wynkoop
Our prayers and condolences to the whole Eye Care of San Diego family and also to the Bokosky family. He was an amazing man who will be greatly missed
I had the privilege of working for Dr. Bokosky for nearly 10 years, and much of what I know today is the result of learning from the remarkable and skilled physicians in Eye care of San Diego. Dr. Bokosky was an exceptionally talented and knowledgeable physician whose surgical skills were truly outstanding. I greatly valued the opportunity to observe his procedures, during which he thoughtfully explained each step to ensure we understood the techniques and reasoning behind his work. He demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his patients and possessed what we fondly referred as “An elephant memory” as he could recall each of his patients with remarkable detail. No case was ever too complex for him; he always found a way to provide the best possible care.
Dr. Bokosky will be profoundly missed. My deepest condolences go out to his family and colleagues.
I think I was in the running for the Patient With the Biggest File, having a complicated case that has been treated by this talented physician and his staff for many years. They have kept me seeing and living a normal life which at times before going there seemed like an impossible thing for me. I regret that he never got to retire and enjoy pursuing other interests–but perhaps that is the way he might have chosen for himself. He will certainly be missed by many.
My vision had been restored by Dr. Bokosky. All the other eye doctors called him “The Master” for a reason. Although I needed corneal transplants, he performed them with expertise and was not satisfied unless he delivered perfection. His meticulous attention to detail left a positive impact. When I moved from downtown San Diego to north county, I switched from his Hillcrest office to the Escondido site. When he shut down that site I followed him to his La Jolla site. I’d follow him anywhere. He was indeed the absolute best at what he did. He changed lives. He changed mine. The last bit of advice I received from him was to see a low vision specialist for special eyewear. I followed his advice and can now watch TV and see the small print. I never hit to share the success if that with him. His sudden passing still has me dumbfounded, I cannot believe he’s just gone. But he will never be forgotten. He changed lives. He improved lives. Knowing how I feel, I cannot possibly know how his family feels. My condolences are with them now and always. You had the privilege to call him family. We are all now missing a great man. There will never be another like him.
I was a member of the Team and worked as the Medical Records Clerk. Dr. Bokosky and Team were extremely kind and dedicated. My condolences to his family .
Dr. Bokosky saved my husband’s eye from blindness after an injury and I will be forever grateful. Eternal rest grant unto Dr. Bokosky, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him, and may he rest in peace 🙏. My condolences to his colleagues and loved ones.
My vision had been restored by Dr. Bokosky. All the other eye doctors called him “The Master” for a reason, he was my angel and Master . Although I needed corneal transplants, he performed them with expertise and was not satisfied unless he delivered perfection. His meticulous attention to detail left a positive impact. I’d follow him anywhere. He was indeed the absolute best at what he did. He changed lives. He changed lives. My condolences are with them now and always. You had the privilege to know him my angel. There will never be another like him.
I am heartbroken! I must have been one of Doctor Bokosky’s last patients. He replaced both of my lenses this year to get rid of my severe cataracts. Dr. Bokosky was an incredible man with a passion for reading; we used to compare what we were both reading in each appointment. Dr Bokosky gave me my vision back. Pure, crystal clear vision. He was an amazing surgeon and a good man. He will be sorely missed
I can still remember, vividly, the care that John Bokosky gave to a frightened 13-year-old, who’d never had surgery before. Congenital cataracts are a rare thing, and without Dr. Bokosky, I likely would not be seeing the world the same way I am today. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
DR BOKOSKY WAS MY EYE DOCTOR FOR MANY YEARS I WILL MISS HIS SENSE OF HUMOR AND EXPERT ABILITY IN EYE CARE. HE WAS A MASTER OF HIS SKILLS BLESS HIM
I was deeply saddened to hear of Dr. Bokosky’s passing. He was not only an exceptional ophthalmologist but also a kind and compassionate person. His skill and dedication quite literally saved my vision, and I will always be grateful for the care he provided over the years. Please accept my sincere condolences—his impact will be remembered by all whose lives he touched.
Dr. Bokosky was a Doctors Doctor, he embodied the finest qualities and skills of a physician that we aspire to icaring for patients. He could fix or help a patient when few others could. I know because he saved my eye and brought me back to 20/20 vision when I am certain no one else could.. A few minutes in his busy waiting room showed how many lives he touched from every walk of life. For his family and staff that worked with him tirelessly each busy day I express my deepest condolences .
After having been Dr. John Bokosky’s patient for over 38 years and following his recent very tragic passing,, I have come to the very sad realization that he will be very difficult perhaps impossible to replace. For me, I have not only lost my corneal surgeon but also a very dear friend.. I read in one of the comments below that other physicians have often referred to John as “the master”. If I may add this. He was not just the master. Rather, he was “the master of the masters” when it came to corneal procedures and anterior segment diseases/disorders. He was also an amazing human being full of compassion, caring and dedication to all of his patients. When I would see John over the years I always felt like I was going in to see family. He was no stranger. He was not just another doctor. He was truly special. He treated me like family in return. Amazing amazing human being.
John and I first met in the mid 1980s in a medical building elevator of the building. where both he and I had separate offices and practiced in our professional fields. As we were riding the elevator and getting to know each other., I soon discovered that he was a University of Michigan fellowship trained cornea specialist. Although I was seeing another ophthalmologist, I was very unhappy with him. When I spoke to John about this (in the elevator and the building lobby) John’s comment was something like “come on over and give me a try”. I figured alright, what do I have to lose? Making that decision to see John and to transfer my medical care over to him was truly one of the best decisions I made in my life.
Over the 38 years that I knew John, I managed to undergo multiple corneal and other anterior segment surgical procedures all aimed at saving my eyesight following ocular trauma and ocular disease. You name it I had it. When I would go see John I would tease him about “which procedure are we doing next”? He would go over all of the procedures (pros and cons) in detail with me. He never left anything out. He always answered all of my questions. I had many questions because I would go research these procedures on my own and come back to him with even more questions. I recall his falling behind schedule on many occasions because of the time that he would take discussing things with me. He never said sorry I do not have time. It was always “any other questions? Go ahead and ask”. My case was a very complex one and John told me this on many occasions. He would say something like “no matter how complex your case is I can handle it. I’ll get you to see better”. He never gave up. There were times when I felt like giving up. He refused to. He always gave me hope. At one point John gave me his private mobile phone number and told me to contact him directly via SMS if I needed anything. I did contact him over his mobile phone on several occasions with concerns. .When I would contact him over his mobile phone I recall thinking to myself he is not going to answer because its the weekend after all. Boy was I wrong. He not only answered but he took time to compose a cogent and well thought out reply to my concern. To me this exemplifies who he really was. Super compassionate, super caring, and super kind..
In sum, I think that ECSD, the San Diego community and humankind has lost one of its finest sons whom God put on this earth. I will miss John tremendously. I will always be grateful for everything that he did for me. For me, I was blessed to have had the opportunity of meeting and knowing him. I never would have thought that a simple meeting on an elevator in the mid 1980s would have had such a profound effect on my life. Again, I will never forget John’s words to me on that day: “come on over and give me a try”. Best decision I made in my life.
Rest in peace dear friend. God bless you, protect you and watch over you. I hope that you are busy enjoying doing PKs, DMEKs and DSAEKs on all those people in heaven who need opthalmological services.
Till we meet again.
Respectfully and affectionately,
Your friend,
Shaul
John Bokosky was my eye doctor for about 8 years. He did a really nice job on my bilateral cataract surgery. I knew from the moment I met him that small talk was not of much interest to him. He devoted his life to what he loved, helping people. I too was shocked when I recently called to confirm my upcoming annual appointment only to learn that he had recently passed away. He died still doing what he loved best up until the day before he passed. That is a good death-no lingering suffering with illness. & pain. It is unfortunately the type of death that is very hard on the survivors who loved & appreciated him-no time to prepare. When the initial shock dissipates, I hope those folks will take comfort in the fact that they had him for as long as they did in their lives.
John Bokosky and I started our professions together in San Diego many decades ago.. He started as an eye surgeon.with a very small office in Hillcrest. And I started as a trial lawyer with a very small office in Hillcrest. from the start, he and I became friends, and fortunately that friendship has lasted until his death. We tried many cases together in court, and John was terrific. Juries enjoyed his expert presentation, and they knew that he was honest, determined, and only interested in conveying the full extent of the severe injury; the good work that could be done; and the tragic restrictions of a severe eye injury as a final consequence. John was a. master in the courtroom. He brought sincere self-confidence in his work, and everyone knew that he truly cared about his patient and my client. We were always successful in our verdicts. But, more importantly, John was my friend and my eye doctor. If I had an eye problem, disease, or infection, John had a cure. I’m sure he treated me as well as he treated all of his patients, with precision, with intense care, and with determination to find a cure. We are all saddened by our loss, John cannot be replaced as an eye surgeon, nor as a friend. He devoted his life to being his best at both. May he rest in peace. Dwight Ritter
My heart is broken. I just heard that John passed away. John and I started out together, young and full of energy. I was his manager at the practice in Hillcrest. We moved a few years later to the building on Third, setting up his practice there, where he made a name for himself as the best Cornea Surgeon in San Diego, the kind of surgeon that other doctors sent their own family to knowing his excellent skills. I was just thinking of him yesterday remembering that his birthday is in February. Every year on that day we exchanged emails remembering how young and full of energy we both were. He will always be in my heart, I will never forget him or his family. Jennifer Einbinder