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J. Alberto Martinez, MD
Board-Certified Ophthalmologist
Fellowship-Trained: Cornea and External Diseases
Comprehensive Ophthalmology
Dr. Martinez sees patients at our Rockville office and monthly at our Washington, DC, office.
J. Alberto Martinez, MD is the founder of Visionary Eye Doctors. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained in cornea and refractive surgery. His specialties are advanced cataract surgery, corneal transplants, pterygium surgery, and corneal cross-linking.
Since the inception in 2003 of Washingtonian magazine’s “Top Doctor” issues, Dr. Martinez’s peers have elected him each year as a “Top Doc” for ophthalmology. Additionally, Dr. Martinez has been selected as a “Top Doctor” by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. Castle Connolly identifies top doctors, both nationally and regionally, based on an extensive nominations process open to all licensed physicians in America. The Castle Connolly physician-led research team reviews and screens all nominated physicians before selecting those regarded as the most outstanding health care providers to be Top Doctors. Dr. Martinez is a sought-after, nationally and internationally recognized leader in corneal, cataract, refractive, and pterygium surgery. Dr. Martinez participated in the initial studies that led to the FDA approval of LASIK. He has been honored as “Teacher of the Year” unanimously by the residents at Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.
Dr. Martinez started Visionary Eye Doctors in 1997 with the goal of performing the best pterygium, cataract, and corneal surgery possible in a way that would make people the happiest and most comfortable possible. After 20-plus years in practice, Dr. Martinez has performed more than 30,000 procedures, including cataracts, cornea transplants, complex reconstructions of the eye, and LASIK. LenSx® femtosecond laser, the greatest technological advance in laser cataract surgery for the past 20 years, became available in 2011, and Dr. Martinez is one of the very few surgeons in the mid-Atlantic region who had access to this technology. In addition, he is one of the few surgeons who has used more than one laser platform. Recently, based on large-scale evidence-based clinical findings of his own patients, he changed to the CATALYS® femtosecond laser for laser-assisted cataract surgery. He has performed over 1,000 laser-assisted cataract surgeries with a success rate of approximately 99%, resulting in a more accurate, gentler, and safer surgery.
Additionally, he has performed more than 11,000 pterygiectomies, with an astoundingly low recurrence rate of less than 1%. This is one of the largest volumes of pterygium surgeries and lowest recurrence rates, placing Dr. Martinez as a pterygium “Top Surgeon” internationally. Dr. Martinez maintains a research fellow focused on pterygium. He has published and presented numerous studies nationally and internationally to share his expertise regarding pterygium.
Click here for more information on pterygium.
Board-Certified: American Board of Ophthalmology
Medical School: Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Internship: Internal Medicine, Washington, DC Hospital Center, Washington, DC
Residency: Ophthalmology, University of Texas, San Antonio, TX
Fellowship: Cornea and External Diseases, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
B.S.: Summa Cum Laude, American University, Washington, DC
When not in surgery, Dr. Martinez attends spiritual retreats and is a certified yoga instructor; yoga is truly one of his passions! He enjoys meditation, teaching basic yoga techniques, and breathing exercises to deal with stress. He also enjoys dancing, traveling, and spending time with his wife and family. As part of our wellness offerings here at VED, Dr. Martinez offers our team free yoga classes.
Giving Back
Dr. Martinez is a long-time resident of Montgomery County, where he serves on several boards, including Friends of White Flint, the Lions Club, and the Board of Directors at Strathmore Music Center. He is also the founder and president of the Visionary Foundation, a nonprofit organization that focuses on eye surgical missions to impoverished countries in Central America. Dr. Martinez’s passion to improve his patients’ quality of life is evident throughout every aspect of his practice. All of the Visionary Eye Doctors specialists share the same level of commitment and compassion to produce the best possible outcome and improve our patient’s lives and how they see the world.
If you are interested in learning more about the foundation and how to contribute, please visit www.visionaryfoundation.net.
Fritz Allen, MD
Board-Certified Ophthalmologist
Comprehensive Ophthalmology
Dr. Allen sees patients at our Rockville office.
Dr. Allen grew up in Haiti and was the president of the Haitian Ophthalmological Society (SHO: Societé Haitienne d’Ophtalmlogie, 1990-1992). Growing up in Haiti infused a soft and laid-back calm in him that made Dr. Martinez immediately take a liking to him in medical school at Georgetown University. They have been lifelong good friends ever since. His personality is engaging enough that it makes his professional accomplishments and expertise seem almost at odds with the guy in front of you. He is a patient and office favorite.
His passion for precision and gift of compassion accelerated his ability to rise to new challenges, having been chief resident while at Georgetown Medical School and the top cataract surgeon with Kaiser in the Mid-Atlantic region. As an active member and volunteer with Friends of Children of Lascahobas Foundation (FCLF), Dr. Allen has traveled numerous times with the FCLF to Haiti, where he performs free eye surgery for the people of Haiti.
Dr. Allen is a very active cataract surgeon, performing advanced cataract surgery and the latest refractive surgery techniques. He also performs argon laser and many other different treatments and injections in the office for patients with conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
Board-Certified: American Board of Ophthalmology
Medical School: Faculté de Medicine et de Pharmacie (School of Medicine and Pharmacy), State University of Haiti, WI
Internship: Internal Medicine, Harlem Center at New York Hospital, New York, NY
Chief Residency: Georgetown University Hospital, Center for Sight, Washington, DC
B.S.: Saint Louis de Gonzague, Port-au-Prince Haiti, WI
Hobbies and Interests
Dr. Allen enjoys spending time with his wife and traveling.
Sandra Lora Cremers, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Ophthalmologist
Comprehensive Ophthalmology
Dr. Cremers has created a global destination practice for those patients suffering from severe dry eye and patients travel from all over the world for innovative dry eye treatment and personalized care.
- Dry Eye
- Rosacea
- Blepharitis
- Cataract and Refractive Surgery
- Glaucoma Surgery: Certified to Perform Micro Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) and Goniotomy Surgery for Glaucoma
Dr. Cremers sees patients at our Rockville office.
Dr. Cremers anchors the Visionary Eye Doctor team and is a widely respected and experienced researcher and clinician in dry eye disease, having spent a decade at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear infirmary. She is a fellow with the American College of Surgeons, specializing in cataract and pterygium surgery.
Dr. Sandra Lora Cremers is a board-certified ophthalmologist, an American Academy of Ophthalmology diplomate, and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. She joined Harvard Medical School’s Department of Ophthalmology, the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in 2000. During this time, she worked with Dr. Judah Folkman on the angiogenesis basis of ocular rosacea, published surgical teaching tools in top international journals, created the largest database of surgical outcomes for resident cataract surgery, and was active in training residents and fellows. She participated in the Lancaster Cataract Course and the Harvard Medical School’s Intensive Cataract Surgical Training Program. She has performed thousands of cataract, glaucoma, refractive, cornea, pterygium, and complex intraocular surgeries. She co-authored the highly acclaimed and used Ophthalmic Surgical Procedures Textbook, 2nd edition used at numerous surgical residency programs in the U.S. and abroad. This textbook has been translated into three languages and is in its third edition. Her key interest is surgical outcomes and dry eye treatments. She is one of the few surgeons in the world that performs Meibomian Gland Probing. Patients travel from around the world to see Dr. Cremers. She cares deeply about helping patients find relief from eye discomfort and vision loss.
Dr. Cremers is recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor. The Top Doctors who are listed in their books and their website’s directory were nominated by their peers in an extensive survey process of thousands of American doctors each year. These Top Doctors’ medical educations, training, hospital appointments, disciplinary histories, and much more are screened by the Castle Connolly physician-led research team. Those doctors who are among the very best in their specialties and in their communities are selected for inclusion. Doctors do not and cannot pay to be included in any Castle Connolly Guide or online directory.
An Ivy League education, combined with being a world-renowned dry eye specialist and having incredible surgical skills, could create a bit of a divide between doctor and patient in the world of medicine, but not with Dr. Cremers. She has a natural ability to connect with patients, and she truly has a passion for treating and helping patients with severe dry eye to reclaim a pain-free life.
Board-Certified: American Board of Ophthalmology
Medical School: Dartmouth University, Brown University Joint Program in Medicine
Internship: Harvard Medical School, Internal Medicine, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA
Residency: Clinical Fellow of New York Medical College, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York, NY
Fellow: American College of Surgeons
M.P.H: Columbia University School of Public Health, New York, NY, Preliminary Course Work Completed
B.A.: Columbia College, Columbia University, NYC, NY
Hobbies and Interests
Dr. Cremers has been active in leading marriage and parenting courses in the area and volunteers at several local schools, as she is a mother of six children. We like to call her Wonder Woman.
Dr. Cremer’s main interests include dry eye disease, cataract surgery, and pterygium surgery. She spends countless hours researching ways to improve the treatment and correction of these conditions
Dr. Cremers helps patients around the world through a HIPAA secure online Virtual Consult service called HealthTap Concierge. Dr. Cremers is ranked fouth nationally for Cataract Surgery and ranked first nationally for pterygium surgery. She has received thousands of thank-you’s from patients she has connected through HealthTap. Cconnect with Dr. Cremers for a follow-up appointment, second opinion, or general question, or create an account on www.healthtap.com/cremers.
Nima Moainie, MD
General Ophthalmology
- Diabetes-Related Eye Issues
- Glaucoma
- Aesthetic Services – BOTOX®
Dr. Moainie sees patients at our Washington, DC, office and our Rockville office on certain Saturdays each month.
Dr. Moainie completed his residency at Georgetown University Ophthalmology Department and has served as chief resident while at the National Veterans Hospital. When he’s not in the clinic, Dr. Moainie enjoys the active kind of relaxation. His research interests include the use of telemedicine in conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, and he has presented his research at national meetings. After residency, Dr. Moainie worked with Unite for Sight in Ghana and has done surgical trips with medical students and residents in South America, including Guatemala and Ecuador.
Medical School: University of Maryland Medical School, Baltimore, MD
Internship: Good Samaritan Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
Residency: Georgetown University / Washington, DC Hospital Center, Washington, DC
B.S.: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Dr. Moainie is very involved with the community and enjoys traveling. He is a patient favorite, and he’s impossibly good at what he does here.
Shirley Middleton, MD
Board-Certified Ophthalmologist
General Ophthalmology
Dr. Middleton sees patients at our Washington, DC, office.
Dr. Middleton has been serving the Washington, DC, community for over 40 years. She is a member of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia. Dr. Middleton was elected several years as one of Washingtonian’s Top Doctors, and in 2015 and 2016, she received recognition by Vitals for Compassionate Doctor Recognition. She has an engaging manner with her patients and is a perennial favorite.
Board Certified: American Board of Ophthalmology
Internship: Howard University, Washington, DC
Residency: Howard University, Washington, DC
B.S.: Howard University, Washington, DC
In her spare time, Dr. Middleton enjoys traveling, loves making fabulous jewelry, and enjoys being with her family.
Robert Kaufman, MD
Board-Certified Ophthalmologist
Comprehensive Ophthalmology
Dr. Kaufman sees patients in our Damascus location.
Dr. Robert Kaufman has been serving the Washington, DC, metropolitan community since 1976. He is an affiliate of TLC Laser Eye Center and has been recognized as a Washingtonian magazine Top Doctor. He has taught ophthalmology residents in the cornea clinics at Georgetown University Hospital and Washington, DC Hospital Center, and has headed the ophthalmology section at Shady Grove Hospital and Montgomery Surgery Center, where he serves on the Medical Executive Committee. In medical school, Dr. Kaufman received numerous awards, including the AOA Honor Society in his junior year and the Roche Award for first in class. Dr. Kaufman is a Patient’s Choice Award recipient with Vitals, and he is truly a patient favorite.
Board-Certified: American Board of Ophthalmology, receiving the highest mark in the U.S. on the board exams
Internship: Internal Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Residency: University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI
Corneal fellowship: University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI
Medical school: State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
B.S.: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
When he’s not at our centers, Dr. Kaufman is a weekend warrior and enjoys biking, skiing, and spending time with his grandson. He enjoys traveling around the world and photographing his adventures. Dr. Kaufman enjoys biking, skiing, photography, traveling, and reading. He knew he wanted to be a doctor at a young age and chose to specialize in ophthalmology in part to honor his father, who was an optometrist.
Andrew Hammer, MD
Board-Certified Ophthalmologist
Comprehensive Ophthalmology
Dr. Hammer sees patients at our Damascus and Rockville offices.
Prior to joining VED in December 2017, Dr. Hammer was with Baltimore Washington, DC Eye Center. Dr. Hammer earned his medical degree from the University of Maryland, School of Medicine, followed by an internship at Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia. He then completed his training with a residency in Ophthalmology at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, which serves the greater Washington, DC, metro area. Dr. Hammer served as chief of ophthalmology at Ireland Community Hospital in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Board-Certified: American Academy of Ophthalmology
Medical School: University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Internship: Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Augusta, GA
Residency: Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC
B.S.: Electrical Engineering, Cum Laude, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Dr. Hammer was voted a Top Doctor by Washingtonian magazine in 2018. Additionally, Dr. Hammer has been selected as a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. Castle Connolly identifies top doctors, both nationally and regionally, based on an extensive nominations process open to ALL licensed physicians in America. The Castle Connolly physician-led research team reviews and screens all nominated physicians before selecting those regarded as the most outstanding health care providers to be Top Doctors.
Dr. Hammer enjoys spending time with his family and is very involved with the community. His commitment and his passion for his work are demonstrated by the loyalty of his patients.
At Visionary Eye Doctors, our goal is to provide you with the best in comprehensive eye health care, as how you see the world matters.
Daniel Sarezky, MD
Board-Certified Ophthalmologist
Comprehensive Ophthalmology
Dr. Sarezky sees patients in our Rockville and Washington, DC, offices.
Dr. Sarezky earned his medical degree from Northwestern University. He completed his residency in Ophthalmology at the Scheie Eye Institute of the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a fellowship in cornea and external disease at the Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins University. He has participated in numerous research studies and has been published in several ophthalmic journals.
B.A.: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Medical School: Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
Internship: Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, PA
Residency: Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Fellowship: Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Dr. Sarezky enjoys spending time with his growing family and enjoys hiking and camping. Interesting trivia fact: Dr. Sarezky has visited all 50 states in the United States.
Dr. Reena Garg, MD
Comprehensive Ophthalmology
Dr. Garg sees patients at our Rockville office.
Reena A. Garg, MD, is a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist & fellowship-trained glaucoma & cataract surgeon. Dr. Garg graduated from Drexel University School of Medicine & completed her internship at the University of Maryland Medical Center. As Chief Resident, she then completed her Ophthalmology residency at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Garg completed one of the most intense glaucoma fellowships globally at Columbia University in New York City.
She currently is the Ophthalmology Residency Program Director at Georgetown University. Dr. Garg is a highly respected ophthalmologist in this area, specializing in all aspects of medical, laser, and surgical treatment for glaucoma. She is also an accomplished cataract surgeon who offers routine cataract surgery and laser-assisted refractive cataract surgery. She performs MIGS, or minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries, in conjunction with cataract surgery for patients with glaucoma.
Dr. Garg is known for her kindness and compassion towards patients, co-workers, & colleagues. She was awarded the prestigious Humanism in Ophthalmology award during her Chief Residency- an honor is only given to one resident per year. She is also honored to be named a Top Doctor by Washingtonian Magazine in 2020 and 2021; and a Castle Connolly Top Doctor in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Dr. Edward Tsoy, MD
General Ophthalmology
After 36 years of solo private practice in Montgomery County, Dr. Tsoy is excited to become a member of the Visionary Ophthalmology team of dedicated eye care specialists. A native Washingtonian, he returned to the area to practice Ophthalmology after completing his residency at the Duke University Eye Center in Durham, NC. While at Duke, in addition to the extensive medical and surgical training program, Dr. Tsoy was the lead author in several research studies. These endeavors culminated in an American Academy of Ophthalmology presentation on the clinical applications of botulinum toxin and a paper published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology on optimal glaucoma medication regimens. Dr. Tsoy is also one of only a few physicians who have achieved Board Certification status in both Ophthalmology and Internal Medicine.
Throughout his career, Dr. Tsoy has demonstrated that he truly enjoys his work and delivers excellent Ophthalmologic care. He treasures his relationships with his patients. He is a genuinely nice person with a friendly and gentle demeanor, as his many dedicated patients would attest. He is also an enthusiastic mentor to numerous premedical and other healthcare students, and he takes the time to personally teach these students the basic principles of ocular science and general medicine.
- Board Certification – American Board of Ophthalmology
American Board of Internal Medicine - Ophthalmology Residency – Duke University Eye Center, Durham, NC
- Internal Medicine Residency – Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC
- Medical School – University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Undergraduate School – Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
On a personal note, Dr. Tsoy enjoys spending as much time as he can with his wife and family, especially if it involves national parks, Broadway musicals, and Duke basketball!
Babak Hosseini, OD
Board-Certified Optometrist
Comprehensive Eye Care
- Surgical Co-management (Cataract and Pterygium)
- Specialty Contact Lenses, Including Management of Keratoconus
- Dry Eye and Allergic Conjunctivitis
- Pediatric Eye Care
- Myopia Progression Management
Dr. Hosseini sees patients at our Rockville office.
Dr. Hosseini earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2012, where he was awarded High Honors and membership in the Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society. He joined Visionary Eye Doctors in 2012 and has provided care for all ages, from preschool to senior citizens, ever since. He is an expert in the area of contact lenses for all ages, with a special focus on hard-to-fit Rigid Gas Permeable, Scleral, Hybrid, and custom soft contact lenses for conditions such as keratoconus, corneal transplant, high irregular astigmatism, dry eye contact lens management, and other corneal conditions. His background in public health has embedded a passion in him to educate and treat all his patients with a comprehensive approach — looking at the person as a whole and how their eye conditions affect their daily life.
Dr. Hosseini treats and manages many eye conditions such as dry eyes, blepharitis, allergic conjunctivitis, glaucoma, cataracts, pterygium, astigmatism, amblyopia, and myopia. He has successfully treated many children with amblyopia to achieve their best-corrected vision and helped many families in controlling and slowing down their myopic progression in today’s digital age.
The epidemic of myopia today is putting many of our teenagers at risk of increased myopia and blindness with higher degrees of myopia. His approach to myopia management includes comprehensive education of causes of myopia progression and utilization of technology, such as dual-focus contact lenses and orthokeratology.
Dr. Hosseini’s clinical training included ocular disease diagnosis and management at the Baltimore Veterans Hospital, low vision and rehabilitation at The Eye Institutes in Philadelphia, primary care and anterior segment management at Visionary Eye Doctors, posterior segment management at Select Eye Care, and specialty contact lenses at Eye Doctors of Washington, DC.
Dr. Hosseini is the Director of our Optometry and Optical Department and has a great chair-side manner with his patients of all ages. His patients are tremendous fans!
Dr. Hosseini enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, and he is active in the Persian community and other cultural activities. He enjoys participating and collaborating with public health advocacy and preventive care activities such as health fairs. He also is an active member of the Maryland Optometric Association and part of the MOA education committee. He has presented lectures for Visionary Eye Doctors’ continuing education series on keratoconus, specialty contact lenses, and co-management of pterygium surgery.
Board-Certified: Optometrist
Doctor of Optometry: Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Elkins Park, PA
Internship: Public Health Specialist, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, Baltimore Veterans Hospital, Low Vision and Rehabilitation at the Eye Institutes, Specialty contact lenses at EDOW, Primary Care and Anterior Segment at Visionary Eye Doctors and Posterior Segment Management at SEC
B.S.: Optometric Science, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Elkins Park, PA
B.S.: Magna cum Laude, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Dr. Hosseini grew up locally in Montgomery County, Maryland, and currently lives in Rockville, MD. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Maryland, School of Public Health with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. A strong believer in preventive health care, he strives to provide everyday preventive care to his patients.
Lorena Riveros, OD
Board-Certified Optometrist
Comprehensive Eye Care
- Pediatric Eye Care
- Contact Lenses
Dr. Riveros sees patients at our Rockville office.
Dr. Riveros earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry where she was awarded High Honors. Dr. Riveros practices comprehensive family eye care and low vision eye examination. She is an expert on pre- and post-surgical care. Dr. Riveros is a member of the American Optometric Association, the Volunteer Optometric Services Association to Humanity, and the Maryland Optometric Association.
Optometry is a family affair with Dr. Riveros, as she and her husband are both sought-after optometrists in the DC metro area.
Board-Certified: Optometrist
Internship: Low Vision / Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), San Juan VA Hospital, San Juan, PR
Doctor of Optometry: Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry
B.S.: Biology Major and Chemistry Minor, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Dr. Riveros was born in Bogota, Colombia. She enjoys reading, watching scary movies, and traveling. She also likes to jog and was the co-captain for Vision Walk NOVA Foundation Fighting Blindness, 2014. Dr. Riveros is fluent in Spanish and hosts a weekly radio show each Monday for the Latino community on eye health.
Maliha Saeed, OD
Board-Certified Optometrist
Comprehensive Eye Care
- Pediatric Eye Care
- Contact Lenses
Dr. Saeed sees patients at our Rockville and Washington, DC, offices.
Dr. Saeed earned her doctorate at the New England College of Optometry in Boston, MA, where she was a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honors Society. She earned her BA graduating magna cum laude in cell biology and neuroscience from Rutgers University, NJ. She also completed a minor in Psychology and French, achieving membership to the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society. Her clinical experience includes training at the Hudson Valley Veterans Affairs Hospital in New York, a specialty contact lens practice in Silicon Valley, CA, and the ophthalmology clinic at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. Her professional interests are primary care optometry and contact lenses, as well as ocular disease and surgical co-management. She is a compassionate clinician excited to provide quality eye care to patients in Maryland and DC.
Board-Certified: Optometrist
Externship: Contact lens, The Hudson Valley Veterans Affairs Hospital in New York, and the ophthalmology clinic at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, MD
Doctor of Optometry: the New England College of Optometry, Boston, MA
B.S.: Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Dr. Saeed was born in Bangladesh and enjoys exploring different cultures through traveling and reading. She also loves running outdoors and cooking with friends and family.