Patient Testimonials

When eye surgical expertise, and compassion come together, amazing things happen. Almost every day, we receive wonderful letters of thanks from eye surgery patients. It is testimonials like the ones you read here that validate what we do and keeps us focused on being "Dedicated to the Work of Healing."

Optical Center Right Inside Our Lobby

Our doctors correct your vision, our goal is to preserve your vision. Our optical boutique provides premium lenses to fit everyone's lifestyle. There is no need to drive all over town.  Our professionally staffed boutique caters to each and every patient individually. The licensed optician has over 26 years experience and will give you honest opinions. No need to go elsewhere.

Board Certified Ophthalmologists

The Suncoast Eye Center provides its patients with outstanding vision care. Our professional and friendly medical staff uses the latest technology to meet the needs of our patients. Clinic surgeons are board-certified ophthalmologists with years of experience performing surgical and laser procedures. 

Licensed Optometrists

Optometrists are specifically educated, trained and licensed to examine the eye and surrounding structures for the purpose of prescribing eyewear or contact lenses.  All doctors are board certified optometrists and Dr. Kaplan specializes in comprehensive eye exams, as well as Sports Vision. 

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Conquering
Glaucoma and
Cataracts
Together

For Vera, the combined ECP and cataract surgery delivered results that were nothing short of astounding

A leading edge procedure enables surgeons to correct both cataracts and glaucoma at the same time.

I have glaucoma, and I was using eye drops all the time," says Elvera "Vera" Nicosia. "Glaucoma builds up pressure in the eye, and I needed the eye drops because the pressure in my eyes was so high."

Rising eye fluid pressure is one of the signs of glaucoma, a serious condition that can cause irreversible vision loss. Most glaucoma sufferers have no symptoms, so regular exams with an experienced ophthalmologist are the first line of defense against the disease. Vera was fortunate to be seeing Lawrence A. Seigel, MD, who is a diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology and fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

After confirming Vera’s diagnosis, Dr. Seigel prescribed the medicated eye drops to help her control her intraocular pressure, and that approach worked well. But Vera had another problem: cataracts.

"I’ve been a regular patient for a couple of years, and Dr. Seigel told me a while ago that I had cataracts," confides Vera. "I just delayed doing anything about them."

Eventually, however, the cataract situation grew serious enough that Vera realized the time for treatment had arrived.

"It was very hard to see at night, and my vision was blurry," she reports. "It was getting to the point where I had to do something."

Combination of the two

Dr. Seigel explains that a cataract is simply the clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye.

"Cataracts occur as a normal part of the aging process," he observes. "They develop naturally with the passage of time, but people can develop them at any age from an injury, a disease, or from taking certain medications.

"The lens of the eye works much like a camera lens," continues Dr. Seigel. "Light passes through it, allowing images to be focused on the retina. The result is a perfect picture if the lens is clear. However, if the lens becomes clouded, light is diffused, and a fuzzy or blurred image forms on the retina.

"When these symptoms are so pronounced that they interfere with daily activities, we recommend removing the natural lens that has become clouded by the cataract and replacing it with a clear synthetic lens, an intraocular lens implant [IOL]. The good news is that cataracts are the leading cause of treatable vision loss in adults."

In the case of a patient like Vera, who also has glaucoma, Dr. Seigel offers an additional option.

"Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation [ECP] is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that has proven to be highly effective in controlling glaucoma and reducing the need for glaucoma medications. Many patients are electing to have ECP because their glaucoma medication is quite expensive, and may also have side effects such as blurred vision or low blood pressure."

ECP surgery can be accomplished at the same time as a cataract procedure. The procedure may also be a viable option for patients who have already had their cataracts removed.

"Before the procedure we numb the eye with either a local or topical anesthesia," describes Dr. Seigel. "A small self-sealing micro-incision is then made to allow the insertion of a laser probe. The probe uses tiny optical fibers that allow us to illuminate and view the ciliary body. Applying laser energy directly to the ciliary body reduces its fluid production, thereby lowering intraocular pressure.

"The treatment takes approximately ten minutes to perform, and the patient is allowed to return home shortly thereafter to relax for the rest of the day."

After ECP surgery, a patient will need to follow up to have his or her doctor monitor their intraocular pressure. The pressure-lowering effect of ECP treatment is typically gradual, taking place over a period of weeks. Consequently, patients may be instructed to continue current glaucoma medication until their surgeon determines that the pressure is low enough to reduce or eliminate it.

"ECP is excellent for pressure control," emphasizes Dr. Seigel, "especially with patients using eye drop medication, and it’s nowhere near as prone to complications as a filtering procedure. In fact, with a success rate near ninety percent, and extremely low chance for complications, ECP is fast becoming the surgical treatment of choice for glaucoma. Remarkably, all forms of glaucoma respond to this treatment with lasting results.

"I believe ECP is one of the best tools yet in the fight to preserve patients’ existing vision and to prevent future deterioration from this sight-threatening disease."

"It’s just amazing"

For Vera, the combined ECP and cataract surgery delivered results that were nothing short of astounding.

"I didn’t feel a thing, and it was over before I even knew it,"

Accreditation shows our commitment to providing the highest levels of quality care

The Suncoast Eye Center/Eye Surgery Institute is pleased to announce that we have recently been accredited for 3 years by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). 

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