In refractive surgery and corneal transplants, "nothing is slowing down."

THE PRACTICE: Sandra C. Belmont, M.D., F.A.C.S., is director of the Laser Vision Correction Center and Corneal Service at New York Weill Cornell Medical Center of New York Presbyte-rian Hospital, where she also directs the Corneal Fellowship Program.

LOCATION: Dr. Belmont's practice is in New York City.

PRACTICE SUMMARY: Dr. Belmont specializes in corneal transplants and refractive surgery.

In 1984, she completed her fellowship with Richard Troutman, M.D. He taught her his techniques for corneal transplantation.

Since 1988, Dr. Belmont has practiced at the Weill Cornell Medical Center. For the past 3 years, she's been director of the Laser Vision Correction Center and Corneal Service. She works with a staff of eight: an accountant, a secretary, a bookkeeper, a fellow, a coordinator, an ophthalmic assistant and two laser assistants.

SURGICAL FOCUS: Dr. Belmont performs 70% laser vision correction and 30% corneal transplants.

Recently, she started performing laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on cornea patients. "I usually wait 2 years after the transplant -- 1 year after the sutures have been removed. I perform the procedure if the patient's refraction is stable. So far the results have been very good."

PREFERRED INSTRUMENTS: VISX Star S2 excimer laser, Sunrise Hyperion LTK System, Moria CB microkeratome and Chiron ACS keratome.

PREFERRED MEDICATIONS: "We use TobraDex for a week post-op."

GROWTH AREAS: "The whole laser refractive area is growing."

Dr. Belmont is an investigator for the Sunrise Technologies U.S. clinical trials of laser thermal keratoplasty (LTK) for hyperopia. She has treated more than 200 patients with the procedure. Both she and her patients have been pleased with the results. "As soon as the procedure is over," says Dr. Belmont, "I commonly hear, 'Wow, I can see the hands on my watch!'"

Dr. Belmont says she believes that "the Sunrise Hyperion LTK System will become the procedure of choice for farsightedness because of its excellent safety profile, effectiveness, low learning curve for physicians, and ease of treatment for patients."

She adds, "Excimer procedures and LTK aren't mutually exclusive. Rather, they can be complementary for surgeons who want to be able to treat both myopia and hyperopia."

SLOW SPOTS: "I have such a narrow focus that nothing is slowing down."

MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY: "I try to establish a rapport with my patients by giving them individual attention.

"When in surgery, my staff and I function as a team. We routinely interchange jobs. We don't set up an assembly line. That's not my way of practicing medicine."

Our aim is to get the job done so the patient sees well and is satisfied.

BUSINESS STATS (2000)

Sandra C. Belmont, M.D., is an associate professor of clinical ophthalmology at New York Weill Cornell Medical Center.