Dr. Richard Thatcher attended Brigham Young University and received his medical degree from George Washington University. He completed his internship at the University of California, Irvine, Medical Center; and his residency at UCLA Medical Center. He received advanced training in infectious diseases of the eye while completing his fellowship training at the University of London Institute of Ophthalmology. Currently, he serves as Assistant Clinical Professor in Ophthalmology at the University of California at Irvine.

Dr. Thatcher is Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, and is a Fellow of both the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American College of Surgeons. He joined the Shepherd Eye Center in 1998, limiting his practice to medical ophthalmology.