Macular Degeneration
Describes AMD as the deterioration of the center of the retina, or macula, with a further description of the macula's function.
Since 1948, patients from throughout the greater Los Angeles area have found cutting edge eye care at the Santa Monica Eye Medical Group, located in Santa Monica, California. Currently led by Dr. Sadiqa Stelzner, the doctors at the practice not only offer state of the art eye care ranging from exams for glasses and contact lenses and treatments for cataracts and glaucoma but also a variety of aesthetic treatments to address scars, wrinkles, stretch marks, and melasma using laser treatments with Cynosure technology including Picosure and Pelleve. Patients also can book appointments for Botox treatments and eyelid surgery.
Since its inception, the Santa Monica Eye Medical Group has provided the most advanced ophthalmologic care. The practice’s founder, John E. Gilmore, MD, developed the very first course in cataract intraocular lens surgery. Today, Dr. Stelzner and her colleagues offer state-of-the-art treatments and compassionate patient care. They understand that the gift of sight changes lives, so they take the time to get to know their patients, listening to their concerns and experiences while also providing excellent care and medical treatment.
Since 1948, patients from throughout the greater Los Angeles area have found cutting edge eye care at the Santa Monica Eye Medical Group, located in Santa Monica, California. Currently led by Dr. Sadiqa Stelzner, the doctors at the practice not only offer state of the art eye care ranging from exams for glasses and contact lenses and treatments for cataracts and glaucoma but also a variety of aesthetic treatments to address scars, wrinkles, stretch marks, and melasma using laser treatments with Cynosure technology including Picosure and Pelleve. Patients also can book appointments for Botox treatments and eyelid surgery.
Since its inception, the Santa Monica Eye Medical Group has provided the most advanced ophthalmologic care. The practice’s founder, John E. Gilmore, MD, developed the very first course in cataract intraocular lens surgery. Today, Dr. Stelzner and her colleagues offer state-of-the-art treatments and compassionate patient care. They understand that the gift of sight changes lives, so they take the time to get to know their patients, listening to their concerns and experiences while also providing excellent care and medical treatment.
We are proud to welcome Dr D. Rex Hamilton, MD to our clinical staff
D. Rex Hamilton, MD, is known throughout the United States and internationally as a leader in laser vision correction and premium cataract surgery. As noted above, he pioneered many new surgical techniques during his 15 years as Professor and Director of the UCLA Laser Refractive Center at the Stein Eye Institute in Los Angeles.
Dr. Hamilton was valedictorian of his high school class. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from Dartmouth College with an undergraduate degree in physics and mathematics, Dr. Hamilton earned a Master of Science degree in biomedical engineering at the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia. After working for several years in marketing and product planning for MRI systems at Siemens Medical Systems, Dr. Hamilton decided to pursue a career in medicine. He continued his education at the University of California, Irvine, where he earned a Doctor of Medicine degree and received numerous academic awards and scholarships, culminating in his graduating at the top of his class. He began performing cataract, corneal transplantation and refractive surgery during his residency training at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute. Following the completion of his residency, Dr. Hamilton spent and additional year of training as a fellow in refractive, cornea, anterior segment, cataract and glaucoma surgery at Minnesota Eye Consultants under the directorship of Dr. Richard Lindstrom, uniformly recognized as one of the founding fathers of modern cataract and refractive surgery. He then returned to the Stein Eye Institute, where he became the Medical Director of the UCLA Laser Refractive Center. During his 15 years on faculty at the Stein Eye Institute, Dr. Hamilton trained over 100 residents and fellows from the United States and countries throughout the world on the art and science of premium cataract and refractive surgery.
With his highly technical background, Dr. Hamilton is a true physician-scientist. During his many years conducting clinical research, Dr. Hamilton has become well known in the academic community for his expertise in the areas of premium intraocular lenses (toric, multifocal and extended depth of focus) for cataract surgery, corneal biomechanics and corneal imaging. He has authored 40 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, given more than 50 scientific presentations at national meetings and has delivered more than 150 invited lectures across the country and internationally. He has served on the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Preferred Practice Pattern Committee for Refractive Surgery, a publication that sets the standard of care for refractive surgery in the United States. He currently serves on the Refractive/Cataract Clinical Subcommittee for the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Since 2013, Dr. Hamilton and his colleagues on the Committee have published four articles teaching the finer points of new and emerging technologies for cataract and refractive surgery.
Dr. Hamilton looks forward to meeting you, evaluating your eye health and discussing a customized treatment plan that will offer you the best chance of meeting your individual visual needs.
Education
Memberships
Dr. Sadiqa Stelzner is a leader in comprehensive eye care and innovative eye surgical techniques. Dr. Stelzner’s vast medical training and experience as well as her compassion for her patients have made her one of the top ophthalmologists in the country. As chief physician at the Santa Monica Eye Group, Dr. Stelzner specializes in comprehensive eye care, including cataract, laser and eyelid surgeries.
In addition to serving her patients in private practice, Dr. Stelzner is Chief of Ophthalmology at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopedic Hospital. She is Director of Eye Care at the Greater Los Angeles Veteran’s Hospital. As Assistant Clinical Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine/Jules Stein Eye Institute, Dr. Stelzner attends the UCLA ophthalmology residents. In addition to her work at UCLA, she is also the benefactor of several UCLA undergraduate and graduate scholarships. She is a staff surgeon at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, Santa Monica Surgery Center, and Laser Eye Associates in Beverly Hills.
The scope of Dr. Stelzner’s experience also includes conducting research, teaching, and publishing many peer-reviewed articles in respected scientific journals. She was invited to Milan, Italy, to perform scientific research on a grant from the Italian Council of Science. Later, she completed a research fellowship at The National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the Harvard Medical School/Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She is a sought-after speaker at national ophthalmology conventions and around the world, including a recent trip to speak at several hospitals in Japan. Twice every year she is one of the teaching faculty for the cataract surgery courses for ophthalmology residents from UCLA, USC, UCI, UCSD and Loma Linda.
A very important part of Dr. Stelzner’s work is giving back to the community, both locally and globally. She is a regular volunteer at local high schools, providing eye care to students and their families. She recently traveled as part of a humanitarian team to Mexico and El Salvador, where she performed sight-restoring surgeries and taught local eye physicians her safe and innovative eye surgery techniques. She has also traveled to Japan to share her world-renowned surgical techniques.
Dr. Stelzner earned her undergraduate degree in biochemistry, and graduate degree in cellular and molecular biology at UCLA. She received her medical doctorate from Boston University. She completed her ophthalmology residency at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she went on to work with Dr. David McIntyre at an internationally known private practice. In addition, Dr. Stelzner completed executive management training at the Yale School of Management.
Dr. Stelzner lives on the Westside with her two children.
Dr. Maria Braun has been providing the Westside with outstanding eye care for more than six years, first in her own private practice in Beverly Hills and now as a member of the Santa Monica Eye Group. Dr. Braun earned her undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology from Princeton University and received her medical doctorate from the University of Virginia. She went on to do her ophthalmology residency at Stanford University.
A respected medical scholar, as well as notable physician, Dr. Braun has published numerous articles in several peer-review journals and is the co-author of chapters in two ophthalmologic textbooks. In addition, she is a frequent speaker at national ophthalmology conferences.
A native of the Washington D.C. area, Dr. Braun lives with her husband and three children in Brentwood.
Dr. Roya Ghafouri is an oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon with extensive training in eyelid, lacrimal and orbital surgery. She brings to Santa Monica Eye Group tremendous expertise and experience as a physician, researcher, educator and scholar.
Dr. Ghafouri’s distinguished career includes being the Director of Oculoplastics and Orbital Surgery at Boston Medical Center/Boston University Eye Associates. She was a clinical fellow in Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Tufts Medical Center, as well as Assistant Professor in Ophthalmology and Director of Medical Student Education at Boston University School of Medicine. She is the author of many articles in peer-reviewed medical journals, as well as a book chapter on age-related macular degeneration. She is a frequent speaker at national medical conferences.
Dr. Ghafouri graduated Cum Laude from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science in Neurosciences. She received a Master of Science degree in Physiology and then a medical doctorate from Chicago Medical School, graduating with high distinction. She interned at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles and was Chief Resident at Boston Medical Center at Boston University Medical School. She went on to be an Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellow at Tufts University School of Medicine. She later returned to Boston Medical Center where she served as Director of Oculoplastic and Orbital Surgery Service. Throughout her academic career, Dr. Ghafouri was the recipient of numerous awards and honors.
She returned home to Southern California and lives with her husband and two children. She speaks English, Farsi, and Spanish.
Jason Tran, O.D. was born and raised in San Jose, CA where he received his Bachelor of Science in Physiology from San Jose State University and Doctorate of Optometry from Midwestern Arizona College of Optometry. Dr. Tran also completed a residency in Primary Care at the San Diego Veteran's Affair System. This residency has provided Dr. Tran with additional expertise in managing Ocular Disease, specialty contact lenses as well as the co-management of cataract and other refractive surgeries. In his free time he enjoys running, outdoor sports, spending time with his Fiancé and dog."
Skin Rejuvenation
Skin Tightening
Describes AMD as the deterioration of the center of the retina, or macula, with a further description of the macula's function.
Are you a candidate for Lasik?
Describes conjunctivitis (pink eye) as an inflamation or infection to the conjunctiva. Common causes and symptoms are detailed, though the possibility that conjunctivitis is a sign of more serious diseases is also noted.
We accept most Major PPO plans. If you don't see yours feel free to call our office and we can answer any questions you may have.
"I am very impressed with Dr. Stelzner's professionalism and demeanor and highly recommend her and her team for anyone needing to deal with any sort of vision problem."
"Dr. Stelzner helped me through each stage of the process setting me up by telling me what I could expect"
"Dr. Stelzner is great, very professional and kind. I am glad that I choose Santa Monica Eye Group."
"I have visited Dr. Stelzner a few times in the last few years, she is a great doctor and I will highly recommend her"
"Dr. Stelzner is an exceptionally talented surgeon. She is incredibly bright and knowledgeable, yet caring, compassionate and humble. I recommend her without reservation"
"My visit to Dr. Stelzner's office and the care I received was outstanding. She is extremely knowledgable and kind"
"I have been fortunate enought to have this personable and caring person as my doctor...I feel in safe hands with her."
