Florida cataract, glaucoma, and eyelid surgery center.

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. 

Locations & Contacts

Hudson, Florida
14003 Lakeshore Blvd
Hudson, FL 34667
Phone: (727) 868-9442
Toll Free: (800) 282-6341
Crystal River, Florida
221 N.E. Hwy 19
Crystal River, FL 34429
(352) 795-2526
Debrha Marlin (Coordinator)
additional information

© 2010 Suncoast Eye Center

Contact & copyright info

Alan M. Freedman, M.D.

Ophthalmology Resources

Societies

Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis
www.acad-ophthal-int.org

American Academy of Ophthalmology
www.aao.org

American Association of Dispensing Ophthalmologists
www.aado.net

American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus
www.aapos.org

American Board of Ophthalmology
www.abop.org

American College of Eye Surgeons
www.aces-abes.org

American Glaucoma Society
www.glaucomaweb.org

American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery
www.ascrs.org

American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
www.asoprs.org

Association for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology
www.arvo.org

Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists
www.clao.org

International Council of Ophthalmology
www.icoph.org

International Society of Refractive Surgery
www.isrs.org

Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology
www.jcahpo.org

Michigan Ophthalmological Society
www.msms.org/msmsto/specialtysoc/specialtysoc.html

Pan American Association of Ophthalmology
www.paao.org

Retina Society
www.retinasociety.org

Foundations
American Macular Degeneration Foundation
www.macular.org

Eye Bank Association of America
www.restoresight.org

The Foundation Fighting Blindness
www.blindness.org

The Glaucoma Foundation
www.glaucomafoundation.org

Glaucoma Research Foundation
www.glaucoma.org

International Council of Ophthalmology Foundation
www.icofoundation.org

International Eye Foundation
www.iefusa.org

Macular Degeneration Foundation
www.eyesight.org

The Macula Foundation
www.macula.org

National Association for Visually Handicapped
www.navh.org

National Keratoconus Foundation
www.nkcf.org

Research to Prevent Blindness
www.rpbusa.org

Government
National Eye Institute
www.nei.nih.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov

Food and Drug Administration
www.fda.gov

Publications
American Journal of Ophthalmology
www.ajo.com

Archives of Ophthalmology
http://archopht.ama-assn.org

Cornea
www.corneajrnl.com

Eye World
www.eyeworld.org

Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology
www.jneuro-ophthalmology.com

Ophthalmology
www.aaojournal.org

Ophthalmology Times
www.ophthalmologytimes.com

Retina
www.retinajournal.com

Review of Ophthalmology
www.revophth.com

Other
Disease and Conditions Simulator
www.visionsimulator.com

Macular Degeneration Help Center
www.amd.org

CATARACT & IMPLANT SPECIALIST

ALAN M. FREEDMAN, M.D., is a board certified ophthalmologist, specializing in cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation. Dr. Freedman, co-founder of the Suncoast Surgery Institute, is distinguished as being one of the few Fellowship trained cataract specialists on the West Coast of Florida.

Surgical Expertise

Cataract surgery with intraocular lens insertion

Dr. Freedman removes the cloudy lens, from the eye and replaces it with a clear plastic lens. These lenses focus light just like a natural lens. As a result, thick glasses are no longer needed after surgery. It is the most common operation performed in North America today.

Insertion of an intraocular lens for the treatment of cataracts is the most commonly performed eye surgical procedure. The procedure can be done under local anesthesia with the patient awake throughout the operation. The use of a flexible IOL enables the lens to be rolled for insertion into the capsule through a very small incision, thus avoiding the need for stitches, and this procedure usually takes less than 10 minutes in the hands of an experienced ophthalmologist. The recovery period is about 2–3 weeks.

Intraocular Lens Implant

Intraocular lenses - also called IOLs - come in two varieties: monofocal and multifocal intraocular lenses. IOLs are implantable lenses that replace the lens of the eye when it is removed during cataract surgery. Originally, IOLs were monofocal, or corrective of vision at one distance only, whether near, intermediate, or far. Since they correct vision at just one distance, glasses are still needed, especially if the patient suffers from presbyopia (or age-related farsightedness). Newer, multifocal intraocular lenses will correct vision at multiple ranges, without the use of glasses or regular contact lenses.

Find more information about how this procedure is performed, it's risks and benefits here.

Dr. Freedman’s leading-edge techniques in cataract surgery

Dr. Freedman, founding surgeon of the Suncoast Eye Center uses the most advanced surgical techniques in cataract surgery today including: small incision, no-stitch surgery, clear corneal surgery with topical anesthesia.

No Stitch Same Day Surgery

Dr. Freedman makes a tiny incision that seals by itself. Applying a topical anesthesia allows for a rapid recovery producing clear vision that returns almost immediately with little, if any, discomfort.

Clear Corneal Surgery

Dr. Freedman performs this technique to restore vision loss due to cataract development. The cataract is removed with the assistance of ultrasound technology known as phacoemulsification. Following clear cornea, small incision cataract surgery, you may resume many of life’s daily living activities immediately.

Fellowship training in Phacoemulsification

January- August 1979 Mary Shiels Hospitial, Dallas, Texas
"Phacoemulsification is a variation of extracapsular cataract extraction", explains Dr.  Freedman. "A procedure in which the lens and the front portion of the capsule are removed. Formerly the most popular cataract surgery, the older method of extracapsular extraction involves a longer incision, about 0.4 in (10 mm), or almost half of the eye. Recovery from the larger incision extracapsular extraction also requires almost a week-long hospital stay after surgery, and limited physical activity for weeks or even months.  This self-sealing procedure requires no stitches so recovery time is greatly reduced."  Read the entire article on Phacoemulsification in our educational section.

Education

Dr. Freedman received his medical degree from New York Medical College, Vallhalla, New York; he completed three years of residency training in Ophthalmology at Nassau County Medical Center, Long Island, New York. Dr. Freedman’s specialized Fellowship training in Phacoemulsification, Intraocular Lens Implantation and Anterior Segment Surgery, was completed at Mary Shiels Hospital, Dallas, Texas, under William S. Harris, M.D. Before joining the Suncoast Eye Center in 1985, Dr. Freedman practiced from his offices in the Tampa Bay area. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology and a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is also a Clinical Associate Professor in Ophthalmology, at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida. 

Residency in Ophthalmology:

Nassau County Medical Center Clinical Campus (1975-1978)
State University of New York at Stonybrook, East Meadow, New York

University Affiliations:

Clinical Assistant Professor University of South Florida, College of Medicine
Department of Ophthalmology 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Tampa, Fl 336112

Saving Sight Together

Dr. Lawrence A. Seigel, in an continuing effort to formally reach out into the community to help others, successfully established the Suncoast Eye Center Foundation in 1985. These non-profit Foundations goals are to provide or obtain, necessary eye care and treatment for the needy in our community and educate the communities served by the Suncoast Eye Center about eye health care.
Follow the link below to learn more about the foundation, its activities, or how you can help our continued growth. learn more »

Eye Surgery Institute

The Suncoast Eye Surgery Institute first opened January 1989. Our state-of-the-art facility is equipped with two operating rooms, two laser suites and comfortable pre and post-operative areas. Your surgical experience and comfort should be as pleasant as possible. Providing that personal attention and care is our main goal.
The Surgery Institute is Medicare-certified and fully licensed by the State of Florida. learn more »

Free Speakers Bureau

Need a speaker for your group? The Suncoast Eye Center provides an informative seminar on the aging eye. Covering topics including cataracts, glaucoma, droopy eyelid problems, macular degeneration and several others. The seminar can be tailored to work with your existing program.. learn more »

"The Suncoast Eye Center, Eye Surgery Institute, is dedicated to providing the highest level of ophthalmological care, in a professional, caring, pleasant atmosphere, and is committed to providing their team members a secure, caring, and safe work environment."

"The goal at the Suncoast Eye Center, Eye Surgery Institute, is to continuously strive for improvement in providing quality car to patients, and a pleasant work place for team members."