Why Choose Sand Pacific Eye Group?

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Dr. Sand is a board certified subspecialty trained ophthalmologist who attended medical school at Case Western Reserve University where he was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Dr. Sand completed his residency at the prestigious Doheny Eye Institute/University of Southern California and his cornea, external disease and refractive surgery training as a Heed Ophthalmic Foundation Fellow at the prestigious University of Michigan, Kellogg Eye Center. There he also completed an eye banking fellowship as the inaugural Eversight Eye Bank Fellow. 

Prior to transitioning to private practice, Dr. Sand directed the cornea and refractive surgery division for several years for a multi specialty group covering almost 250,000 members directly and several million members within the regional network. In his role he was responsible for setting up one of three corneal cross-linking centers in the Southern California region and also performed the first corneal cross-linking case in the region. The clinic he led became a regional referral center for Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK). 

Dr. Sand performs all types of corneal transplantation surgery (including PKP, DALK, DSAEK, and DMEK) and he enjoys helping patients with dry eyes and other ocular surface problems. He is excited about offering the newest advanced technology intraocular lenses and cataract surgery technologies to his cataract patients to help make patients less dependent on glasses after surgery. Given his subspecialty training he also offers corneal and lens based refractive surgery to his patients (including LASIK, PRK, SMILE, INTACS, KAMRA, Corneal Relaxing Incisions, ICL and RLE). He is passionate about tailoring surgery to the needs of every patient.  

Dr. Sand is continuing his involvement with the Eye Bank Association of America as a member of a national committee. He has volunteered to be part of an eye surgery team that went to Mexico in the past to provide care there. He has extensively published original research, authored a book chapter and presented his findings at major ophthalmic meetings. He stays current by attending national and local meetings to be able to offer the newest and best treatments to his patients. Dr. Sand operates at Specialty Surgical Center in Beverly Hills and is excited to help his patients with their eye care needs.  

Dr. Mariah Sand is a board certified, dual sub-specialty trained ophthalmologist and member of the American Glaucoma Society. She has been a practicing physician for a decade and a half. Her specialties are glaucoma (including glaucoma lasers and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery), advanced techniques in cataract surgery, corneal transplants and anterior segment disease.  

Dr. Sand graduated cum laude with a degree in chemistry and mathematics from Bryn Mawr College and earned her medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, where she received the Dean’s honors award for her exemplary performance in her clinical rotations. She interned in general medicine and surgery at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. Dr. Sand completed her ophthalmology residency at the prestigious University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, under the mentorship of the world-renowned Dr. Jonathan Lass, MD. She pursued additional sub-specialty training with a dual fellowship in glaucoma, cornea and anterior segment disease at Indiana University - Purdue University under the tutelage of several leaders in ophthalmology including Dr. Louis Cantor, MD; Dr. Darrell WuDunn, MD, PhD; and Dr. Clark Springs, MD. During fellowship, Dr. Sand trained resident physicians in ophthalmic surgery and excelled at performing some of the most complex glaucoma surgeries, cataract surgeries and corneal transplants referred to the hospital.

Following subspecialty training, Dr. Sand worked in a high volume private practice in Pasadena treating patients for a wide variety of ophthalmic conditions. She then joined the glaucoma faculty of Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan, one of the top eye hospitals in the country. As Kellogg faculty, she trained residents and fellows in advanced surgical techniques and was part of a referral center that treated complex glaucoma and cataract cases sent from Michigan and the surrounding states.

Throughout her career, Dr. Sand has presented research and clinical cases to colleagues at regional and national meetings. She is passionate about life-long learning and believes in offering her patients the most cutting-edge medical and surgical care. Her approach to treatment is individualized to each patient and involves taking the time to address patient concerns and focusing on holistic and preventive medicine in addition to minimally invasive surgical management. 

In her free time, Dr. Sand enjoys yoga, painting, playing the cello, cooking, and spending time outdoors with her husband and children in beautiful southern California.