Sadiqa K. Stelzner MD

Media Releases

Get to know Ophthalmologist Dr. Sadiqa K. Stelzner, who serves patients in Santa Monica, California.

Dr. Stelzner is a board-certified ophthalmologist who specializes in cataract, refractive, esthetic, and eyelid surgeries. She is currently serving patients at Santa Monica Eye Medical Group in Santa Monica, California. 

Led by Dr. Stelzner, the doctors at the Santa Monica Eye Medical Group offer state-of-the-art eye care ranging from exams for glasses and contact lenses to treatments for cataracts and glaucoma. They also provide a variety of aesthetic treatments to address scars, wrinkles, stretch marks, and melasma using laser treatments with Cynosure technology, including Picosure and Pelleve. Dr. Stelzner and her colleagues 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.

In addition to serving her patients in private practice, Dr. Stelzner is Chief of Ophthalmology at the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopedic Hospital. As Associate Clinical Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine/Jules Stein Eye Institute, she attends the UCLA Ophthalmology residents. As well as 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, Cedars-Sinai Surgery Center of the Pacific, and Specialty Surgical Center of Beverly Hills, California.

Dr. Stelzner is an educator and a leader in innovative eye surgical techniques and laser surgeries. Her vast medical training and experience, as well as her compassion for her patients, have made her one of the top ophthalmologists in the country. 

Dr. Stelzer earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry, and her Master of Arts degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology at UCLA. She then went on to earn her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine in 1993. Staying with her alma mater, she completed her internship in internal medicine at the same university in 1994, followed by her fellowship in the Research Renal Division of Brigham & Women’s Hospital in 1995. Additionally, she also completed her residency in ophthalmology at the University of Washington Medical Center in 2000. Furthermore, Dr. Stelzner completed executive management training at the Yale School of Management.

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. She is a sought-after speaker at national ophthalmology conventions and around the world.

Dr. Stelzner is board-certified in ophthalmology by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO). The ABO is an independent, non-profit organization responsible for certifying ophthalmologists in the United States of America.

Dr. Stelzner is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. She is also a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the American Medical Association, the California Medical Association, and the American Society of Anti-Aging.

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.

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery, which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Ophthalmologists are experts in the diseases, functions, and anatomy of the eye. They may provide routine care such as vision testing, as well as prescribe and fit eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, ophthalmologists are also surgeons. They repair traumatic injuries to the eye and perform cataract, glaucoma, and corneal surgery. 

Recommended Articles

• How Is Sarcoidosis Diagnosed?

  What is sarcoidosis?Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease, which is characterized by the growth of granulomas or tiny collections of inflammatory cells in various parts of the body. When the immune system is slowed down and when these numerous clumps form, they tend to interfere with the organ’s...

• Tay-Sachs Disease in Children

  IntroductionHealthy infants tend to achieve their growth and development milestones in a timely manner. They also develop their vision, hearing, movement, and other types of vital functions because certain enzymes clear out fatty protein as well as other unwanted elements that can hinder normal...

• Everything You Need to Know About Cataract Surgery

  What is a cataract?Sometimes there is a clouding of the lens in the eye; this clouding is called a cataract. Mostly, this clouding is related to old age. In fact, the majority of Americans aged 80 and above have experienced this clouding or have already undergone a cataract surgery at a particular...

• Pink Eye vs. Allergies

  IntroductionThe eye is one of the sensitive parts of the body, and it easily gets affected by any irritants such as microbes. Eyes turning red would be due to not getting enough sleep or not blinking enough in a day. In certain cases, it can also be a sign of some kind of infection or...

• What are Cataracts: Get the Facts

  Cataract is the blurring of the lens part of the eye that can lead to complications in vision. Aging is the cause of the common form of cataract. It grows slowly and should symptoms develop they should not be ignored as this condition worsens with time. Congenital defects, previous eye surgery,...

• Eyelid Twitching and Stress

  What is eyelid twitching?Eyelid twitching or myokymia is an involuntary eyelid spasm. The upper lid is usually affected, but spasms can also occur in the lower lid or both lids. Eyelid twitching is often mild for most people. However, others may experience stronger spasms, which may force their lids...