Meet Dr. Zein
Born in Southern California, Dr. Zein spent his childhood and adolescence living between Kuwait and Syria before moving to Ireland to attend medical school at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin. After graduating, he returned to Kuwait to fulfill a service commitment with the Ministry of Health, where he also participated in medical outreach trips to underserved communities in Jordan and Panama. These experiences reinforced his passion for ophthalmology and inspired him to pursue advanced training in the United States.
Dr. Zein earned a Master's degree in Vision Science and Investigative Ophthalmology from the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute before completing his ophthalmology residency at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County Health in Chicago. His international upbringing and training give him a broad perspective that he brings to the care of every patient.
Dr. Zein is completing a Surgical Retina Fellowship at Austin Retina Associates. His wife, Nevin, is an endocrinologist, and together they recently welcomed their miniature Bernedoodle, Basha, whose name means "boss" in Arabic—a fitting description of his personality.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Zein enjoys running, traveling, watching and playing soccer, and exploring new restaurants. He completed the Chicago Marathon in 2025 and has visited more than 40 countries. He and his family are excited to call Austin home and look forward to becoming part of the Austin community.
Dr. Zein serves the following locations:
Education and Training
- University of Miami, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute | Miami, FL | M.S. | 2019 - 2021
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland | Dublin, Ireland | M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., L.R.C.P., S.I. | 2011 - 2017
- American International School of Kuwait | Medan Hawally, Kuwait | M.D. | 1999 - 2011
