Sandra Belmont, MD, FACS, is a board-certified ophthalmologist and cornea specialist. For her contributions to the development and advancement of laser vision correction, Dr. Belmont received the distinguished Richard C. Troutman MD Master Teacher Award in Ophthalmology and the Academy’s Award for Distinguished Services. She is a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and has studied under world-renowned Dr. Richard C. Troutman at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. She is considered an expert in refractive surgery and has been featured on the Today Show, ABC News, NBC, CBS, FOX, NY1 and The Discovery Channel, and in publications such as the New York Times, Time and Parade.

Dr. Belmont has been performing ophthalmic surgery since 1983 and is one of the select surgeons who conducted the first FDA trials to evaluate laser vision correction in the United States. Dr. Belmont has performed more than 15,000 procedures to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia on a variety of patients, including athletes, pilots, military personnel and entertainment personalities, including Regis Philbin.

Dr. Belmont also treated screen and stage star Mandy Patinkin. Mr. Patinkin suffered from keratoconus, a degenerative disorder of the cornea that jeopardizes vision as well as the eye’s structural integrity. Keratoconus afflicts about one out of every thousand individuals and is the most common dystrophy of the cornea. To restore Mr. Patinkin’s vision, Dr. Belmont performed two sight-saving cornea transplants. Since undergoing these procedures, Mr. Patinkin has become a leading proponent for eye and organ donation as a spokesman for the Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration.

A highly coveted speaker, Dr. Belmont is acknowledged by her peers as a preeminent specialist on the leading edge of laser refractive surgery. She regularly lectures to doctors across the country and continues to serve as an investigator in FDA clinical trials. Dr. Belmont strives to bring the newest and best refractive surgery techniques to each and every patient she treats.