Stuart Sondheimer, MD
Volunteer Ophthalmologist
Professional Education, Practice, and Affiliations
Stuart Sondheimer, MD is a board-certified ophthalmologist with decades of experience in refractive and cataract surgery. Among the first surgeons in the U.S. to perform surgical correction for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, he has completed more than 12,000 refractive surgeries and 10,000 cataract procedures.
A native Chicagoan, Dr. Sondheimer earned his bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, his medical degree from the University of Illinois in Chicago and completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He has also held leadership roles at Desert Laser & Eye Institute in Arizona, the Laser Vision Institute in Tucson, and other major practices across the country before returning home to Chicago.
While recently retired from practice in June 2025, Dr. Sondheimer was the founder of his successful surgical practice that provided premium, personalized, and advanced eye care solutions.
A passionate humanitarian, Dr. Sondheimer has devoted more than three decades to delivering eye care in underserved regions. His outreach work began on Indian reservations and remote areas of Arizona through the Arizona Mobile Eye Unit. Internationally, he has traveled as a volunteer eye surgeon to Vietnam, Honduras, El Salvador, Panama, and Guinea, where he has examined patients, performed cataract and pterygium surgery, and taught local ophthalmologists. In his view, these missions have been among the most rewarding experiences of his life and have deepened his commitment to address global disparities in care and strengthen long-lasting partnerships with host physicians.
Dr. Sondheimer has partnered with leading nonprofit organizations including SEE International, Vision Outreach International, Combat Blindness Foundation, and FOCUS. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and an active member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the International Society of Refractive Surgery, and the Chicago Ophthalmological Society.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Sondheimer lives in Wilmette with his wife, Bonnie. Together they enjoy time with their six children and eight grandchildren, as well as being active in civic and community affairs.
Service with SEE International
Dr. Sondheimer an extensive history volunteering with SEE since joining in 2010. He has contributed his time and experience as an educator and surgeon for programs around the world. To date, he has participated in 15 programs, providing thousands of sight-restoring surgeries and educating aspiring doctors in El Salvador, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Panama, the United States, and Vietnam.
In addition, Dr. Sondheimer is a significant supporter who has donated towards the purchase of essential equipment needs and launching of impactful program initiatives.
