Dr. Santamaria has performed over 18,000 cataract operations. In 1969, he earned his B.S. in Physics and Mathematics at The Cooper Union School of Engineering and Science and his M.D. in 1973 at the College of Physicians and Surgeons (P&S) of Columbia University in New York. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, where he also serves as Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology (Columbia University). He is the co-inventor of the Phaco- Gard™ blade (patented), which facilitated sutureless cataract surgery. His preferred method currently is topical clear cornea.

Dr. Santamaria has been performing refractive surgery since 1985. He is a corneal specialist and has served at the Cornea Clinic of the Harkness Eye Institute for the past 20 years. At Harkness he was also a Fellow in Corneal Immunology Research. He not only performs LASIK for correction of myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia, but also performs other more complex corneal procedures such as corneal transplants. He actively uses the ReZoom™ and ReSTOR® multifocal intraocular lenses and the crystalens® accommodating intraocular lens. Dr. Santamaria is the author of numerous peer review scientific papers—several in the field of the safety of refractive procedures.

Dr. Santamaria is Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, as well as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is on the surgical staff of the Wills Eye Network Surgical Center, The Surgery Center of Central New Jersey. He is also certified by the American Board of Eye Surgery.