John S. Berestka, M.D., is a comprehensive ophthalmologist and partner at Northwest Eye, specializing in corneal, glaucoma, cataract and LASIK surgery. He has been a member of Northwest Eye’s respected team of doctors since 1996.
Dr. Berestka received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Johns Hopkins University. After an internship at Hennepin County Medical Center, he completed an ophthalmology residency at the Harvard Medical School’s Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. He also traveled to India for an externship at the Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai. Following his residency, Dr. Berestka completed a fellowship in cornea, glaucoma, and refractive surgery at the Phillips Eye Institute in Minneapolis.
Dr. Berestka was a US Presidential Scholar, a Rhodes Scholar Finalist, and has received an Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He received the Baldinger Award from Notre Dame and the Hewlett-Packard Medical Graduate Award from Johns Hopkins Medical School. He has been honored as a “Top Doc” twenty times by Mpls-St Paul Magazine. Minnesota Monthly magazine has named him both a Top Doctor and a Top Doctor for Women.
Dr. Berestka has served on the faculties of both Harvard and Northwestern Universities. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota. He taught cataract surgery at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center for over a decade. He has also served on the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Education Committee where he helped to write the curriculum taught to ophthalmology residents. Dr. Berestka was chosen by the American Board of Ophthalmology to help create written and oral board examination questions for board certification. He is a member of the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Glaucoma Society, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and Minnesota Medical Association. Dr. Berestka is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Berestka is the founder of Lightfield Medical, a medical imaging company that uses computational optics to completely change the way that ophthalmologists examine eyes, especially in underserved areas. His invention took second place out of 40 international submissions at the ASCRS Winning Pitch Competition. He holds several US and UK patents, with other US and EU patents pending.
Dr. Berestka serves on the Medical Advisory Board of the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Eye Foundation. He has also served as the Chair of the Cornea Advisory Committee for Recombinetics, Inc, researching ways to use gene-editing to cure corneal blindness throughout the developing world.
Dr. Berestka felt his calling to ophthalmology when he first witnessed a corneal transplant. The most rewarding part of his career is restoring vision to patients with complex eye problems.
Dr. Berestka shares his life with his wife, Lynette, who is also an ophthalmologist, and their three sons, ages 17, 22, and 24. He is an accomplished skier and taught skiing in Switzerland for a winter. He also enjoys sailing, tennis, jazz and classical piano, and photography.
Dr. Berestka sees patients at our Golden Valley and Wayzata Northwest Eye locations.
