Dr. Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba on April 5, 1967. He grew up in Spain and later in Puerto Rico. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in 1989, from Tulane University, where, the Chemistry Faculty and the American Chemical Society named him the Most Outstanding Senior in Chemistry. As an undergraduate, he was fortunate to work as a research assistant to the 1977 Nobel Laureate in Medicine, Dr. Andrew Schally. In 1990, he received his Master of Science degree in Theoretical Chemistry and in 1994, received his Doctorate of Medicine from the Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Medicine in New Orleans. 

During his studies at LSU, he conducted years of laser vision correction research with Marguerite McDonald, MD and Stephen Klyce, PhD. Dr. McDonald, in 1987, performed the world’s first excimer laser to reduce the dependency on glasses. Dr. Klyce is responsible for the modern method of representing the cornea which is used by clinicians to understand the cornea before and after laser vision correction.  Dr. Martinez’ collaboration with Dr. Klyce and McDonald was one of the first successful attempts to look at wavefront analysis of laser vision correction and the role of pupil size in optical quality. As a first year resident, Dr. Martinez was chosen to present this research at the meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Dr. Martinez worked with Dr. McDonald for six years on improving laser vision correction; presently, he continues to do work with Dr. Klyce. He finished an internship in Internal Medicine in 1995 and completed his Ophthalmology residency at the LSU Eye Center in New Orleans in 1999 where he was selected as chief resident during his last year. He became Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology as soon as he became eligible.

In 1999, he moved to Long Beach and has been practicing Ophthalmology at Eye Physicians of Long Beach. His dedication to providing state of the art eyecare for all patients includes implanting the first accommodating intraocular lens in Long Beach, performing the first non-penetrating glaucoma surgery, Aquaflow, and offering all laser LASIK with Intralase, as Eye Physicians of Long Beach is the only practice in Long Beach to own this technology. 

Dr. Martinez has been a guest speaker at the International Society of Refractive Surgery and served as moderator during the Pre-American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting of the International Society of Refractive Surgery. He has authored or co-authored seven abstracts and eight articles in peer reviewed journals like Archives of Ophthalmology and the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery amongst others. He is also a reviewer for the Journal of Refractive Surgery, one of the leading peer-reviewed journals on vision correction and cataract surgery. In 1998, he collaborated with world renowned ophthalmologists like Ioannis G. Pallikaris, a Greek ophthalmologist who in 1989 performed the world’s first LASIK and Epi-LASIK, to write one of the first books on LASIK. Dr. Martinez subsequently published two book chapters, in 2000, “Corneal topography” in Albert and Jacobiec’s second edition of Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology and in 2008, “Corneal Form and Function” in the third edition. His latest chapter on “Keratometry and Corneal Topography” is in the third edition of Krachmer, Mannis and Holland’s, Cornea which is set to be published later in this year.

Dr. Martinez is an Associate Clinical Professor for the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of California in Irvine and has been selected by his peers to serve as Chairman of the Ophthalmology Department at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and director of the Southern California Preferred Physicians Medical Group. He has been a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the International Society of Refractive Surgery, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, California Medical Association, Los Angeles County Medical Association, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Dr. Martinez considers practicing medicine a great honor and privilege. He remains committed to a lifetime of learning, researching, and bringing to his patients the most advanced technology in eye care. Although he is proud of his contributions to the field of Ophthalmology, he considers having a great relationship with his patients, who he cherishes as members of his own family, the most rewarding aspect of Ophthalmology.

Outside the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Christina, and their two sons, Michael and Gabriel.

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