Dr. Robert Arnold has been a leading figure in pediatric ophthalmology in Alaska since joining Ophthalmic Associates in Anchorage in 1989. Originally from Bellingham, Washington, he moved to Alaska in 1976 to commercial fish and study at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. Following medical school at Yale, residency at the Mayo Clinic, and fellowship training at Indiana University under renowned mentors Drs. Helveston, Ellis, and Plager, he began his career dedicated to improving children’s vision outcomes. Dr. Arnold maintains surgical privileges at Providence, Alaska Regional, and Alaska Native Hospitals, and continues to extend his expertise to satellite clinics in Wasilla, Kodiak, and Fairbanks.

Dr. Arnold is deeply committed to advancing pediatric vision screening and care. He pioneered the use of the Enhanced Bruckner Test for early detection of serious vision issues in children and launched the Alaska Blind Child Discovery program, bringing screening and parental notification to urban and rural communities. A former Chairman of the Vision Screening Committee for AAPOS and an investigator for PEDIG, he has developed user-friendly cloud-based ROP-Check EMRs and co-founded PDI Check LLC, which created a vision screening game for the Nintendo 3DS. Recognized among “Best Doctors” for 2015-2016, Dr. Arnold also dedicates time to international medical missions, bringing eye care to oppressed ethnic groups in Burma. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys life in Alaska with his wife Koni and their grown children and grandchildren.