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the eye institute of west florida

Latest Eye Care News

Dr. Neel Desai of Eye Institute of West Florida Recognized as a Best Eye Doctor in America for 2023

Tampa, FL – July 12, 2023 – EyeCare Partners (ECP), the nation’s leading provider of clinically integrated eye care, is proud to announce that Neel Desai, M.D., of Eye Institute of West Florida has been named to Newsweek’s 2023 list of America’s Best Eye Doctors. This prestigious accolade is a testament to Dr. Desai’s expertise,… Read More


Dr. Robert Weinstock first to offer laser cataract surgery with the ALLY™ Adaptive Cataract Treatment System

Dr. Robert Weinstock, Director of Cataract and Refractive Surgery at The Eye Institute of West Florida, is the first surgeon to offer laser cataract surgery with the new ALLY System from LENSAR. The ALLY System, recently FDA cleared, is now available and the first installed unit is at The Eye Institute of West Florida. As… Read More


Parking Lot Entrance Closure at our Hyde Park Tampa Office – Detour Information

Starting on Monday, September 13th, our parking lot entrance off of W Gray Street at our Hyde Park Tampa office will be closed for approximately one month. A detour will be required for entering and exiting our practice located at 501 North Howard Avenue as shown in the graphic. The new entrance and exit will… Read More


Dr. Robert Weinstock is the First Cataract Surgeon in the USA to Implant the Rayner RayOne IOL

Dr. Robert Weinstock Implants Rayner RayOne IOL

Dr. Robert Weinstock, Director of Cataract and Refractive Surgery at The Eye Institute of West Florida, became the first surgeon in the USA to implant Rayner’s RayOne IOL. FDA-approved cataract lens, RayOne EMV, was developed to provide clear, crisp vision at distance and intermediate ranges of vision. Dr. Mariano Royo, Director of Ophthalmology at the… Read More


Dr. James Roberts, General Ophthalmologist, joins The Eye Institute of West Florida

James A. Roberts, M.D. has joined the eye care team at The Eye Institute of West Florida. As an experienced ophthalmologist, Dr. James Roberts, will be providing high-quality eye care and vision services for patients at our Largo, Clearwater, and Westchase (Tampa) locations. Dr. Roberts is credentials with the American Board of Ophthalmology and looks forward… Read More


COVID-19 Related Eye Problems on the Rise

Dry Eye Syndrome, Blepharitis, and Styes on the Rise due to the COVID-19 Pandemic The physicians at The Eye Institute of West Florida, along with eye doctors across Tampa Bay and the country, are noticing an uptick in some of the most common eye problems. These eye conditions (dry eye syndrome, styes and Blepharitis) can… Read More


Medicare Advantage Plans differ from Traditional Medicare

Are Medicare Advantage Plans Worth The Risk? Now is the time to start thinking about your insurance plan before the enrollment period. If you are considering Medicare Advantage for your healthcare needs, ask yourself one simple question. Is Medicare Advantage worth the risk? Medicare Advantage plans have become an alternative option to traditional Medicare. The… Read More


Dr. Brandon Clair, Eyelid Specialist, Joins The Eye Institute of West Florida

Brandon C. Clair, M.D. is an ophthalmologist specializing in oculoplastic, orbital, and reconstructive surgery. After growing up outside of Philadelphia, PA, Dr. Clair completed medical school in New York at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He then went to Baltimore, MD for his internship at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where he met his wife…. Read More


Dr. Amy Martino, Glaucoma Specialist, Joins The Eye Institute of West Florida

We are pleased to announce Amy Martino, MD, has joined our practice and is now accepting patients starting in August! Dr. Amy Martino is one of Tampa Bay’s premier board-certified, fellowship-trained Glaucoma Specialists. She is committed to providing advanced treatments for glaucoma patients of The Eye Institute of West Florida. She was one of the… Read More


Tissue tuck technique provides alternative method of pterygium removal – Neel Desai, MD

Dr. Neel Desai explains a new, innovative technique for pterygium surgery Dr. Desai published an article in the medical journal “Ocular Surgery News” regarding a new “tissue tuck” technique he developed for pterygium surgery. Pterygium surgery is used to remove the white mass (pterygium) that can develop on the sclera (white of the eye) that… Read More


Dr. Robert Weinstock conducts RxSight Clinical Study for New Cataract Lens

RxSight’s Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) Clinical Study Dr. Robert Weinstock, Director of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, is a leader in refractive cataract surgery and the only surgeon in Florida conducting RxSight’s Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) clinical study. The purpose of this clinical study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Light Adjustable Lens… Read More


Dr. Robert Weinstock shares important information on digital eye strain amid Coronavirus outbreak

Dr. Robert Weinstock, Director of Cataract and Refractive Services at The Eye Institute of West Florida, shares insight into protecting your eyes from digital eye strain. As more and more people are working or distance learning from home during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, they are exposed to more screen time. Dr. Weinstock shared some important… Read More


New Breakthrough Wet Macular Degeneration Treatment Beovu® Available

New, FDA-approved breakthrough wet macular degeneration treatment Beovu® is now available at The Eye Institute of West Florida. World-renowned Retina Specialist Dr. Leonard Kirsch is one of the first physicians in Florida to offer Beovu® to his patients. Much like Eyelea® and Avastin®, Beovu® is an injectible drug designed to treat patients with wet age-related… Read More


Dr. Robert Weinstock trials Beyeonics™ Surgery Headset

Robert Weinstock Trials Beyeonics Visualization System

Our very own Dr. Robert Weinstock is the first ophthalmologist in the US to try out a breakthrough new virtual reality headset to help improve cataract surgery. Using the same technology that fighter pilots use in the cockpit, the Beyeonics™ virtual reality headset system enables the surgeon to virtually step into a detailed environment of… Read More


New, Innovative Intraocular Lens Offering – Light Adjustable Lens

Rx Sight's Light Adjustable Lens

The Eye Institute of West Florida is the first ophthalmology practice in the southeastern United States to use this innovative technology. The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) is the first of its kind. The lens gives our surgeons the ability to make adjustments to the lens after implementation in a series of brief, painless in-office procedures…. Read More


Glaucoma – The Silent Thief of Vision

Our vision allows us to see and enjoy the world. It’s a privilege we often take for granted, forgetting what an integral role it plays in our ever day life until something forces us to acknowledge it. Many ocular diseases introduce themselves with some type of symptom that encourages patients to see an eye doctor;… Read More


Don’t Cry over Dry Eyes

Tens of millions of Americans suffer from dry, itchy eyes. They avoid bright lights due to sensitivity and are all too familiar with a burning sensation in their eyes. Unless they regularly administer a topical lubricant into their eyes for temporary relief, they generally feel uncomfortable. This discomfort is more than just that. Dry eye… Read More


A Whole New Lens: Everything You Need to Know about Cataracts

A cataract is the clouding of the eye’s natural lens, located behind the iris (the colored part of the eye). A healthy lens bends light rays in a way that allows us to form a clear image and focus on objects at various distances. Cataracts compromise this clear vision. At some point in our lives,… Read More


The Eye Institute of West Florida Is Changing the Way We View Healthcare

The Eye Institute of West Florida is reshaping more than just corneas. The multi-specialty ophthalmology practice that patients have been trusting with their eye care for over 40 years, is world-renowned thanks to their commitment to seeking the most advanced treatment options in hopes of providing better visual outcomes and a better overall experience for… Read More


Glaucoma: The Silent Thief of Sight

Dr. Sandra Johnson, Glaucoma Specialist at The Eye Institute of West Florida, is featured in the latest article of Florida Health Care News. She details a couple of glaucoma cases where her intervention was able to save her patients’ eyesight. Former boxer and Hillsborough County Sheriff Depty Michael Harris and snow bird Gloria Duck discuss… Read More


Want to Get Rid of Your Glasses? There’s a Procedure for That

We live in a digital age where seemingly any desire we wish to be fulfilled is done so with the click of a button. Want someone to pick up food from your favorite restaurant and bring it to your doorstep? There’s an app for that. Perhaps you’d like to find a fitness routine tailored to… Read More


You Can See Clearly Now the Cataracts are Gone

Cataracts are an inevitable part of life, similar to gray hair or wrinkles, an often not-so-friendly reminder of the number of years we’ve lived. It’s no secret that they’re a nuisance, blurring your vision, forcing you to switch between glasses – a pair for seeing far away, a pair for reading, a pair for computer… Read More


A New Approach to Treating Dry Eyes

Have you ever felt like your eyes are so dry that you’d like to remove them, soak them in solution, letting them absorb as much moisture as possible, and then put them back in? Or maybe you’ve been in a situation where your vision is distorted (and your box of tissues depleted) because your eyes… Read More


Why a Subspecialty Ophthalmology Practice is Best for your Eye Care

The Eye Institute of West Florida Specialists

The Eye Institute of West Florida was founded by Stephen M. Weinstock, M.D., FACS in 1974 with the goal of providing expert eye care for every eye disease while always putting the patient first. What started as a practice with one physician has expanded to become one of the largest subspecialty ophthalmology practices in Florida,… Read More


Aren’t You Ready to Lose Your Readers?

‘I think I left my reading glasses on my nightstand. Oh no, maybe I put them in my purse? I was reading the newspaper this morning, so I know I had them in the kitchen at some point. Oh! I’ll just grab the pair I hid from myself so I wouldn’t lose them. I hid… Read More


Renowned Multi-Specialty Eye Care Practice Opens New Doors

The Eye Institute of West Florida is one of the largest multi-specialty ophthalmology practices in the country. Founded by Stephen M. Weinstock, M.D., FACS in 1974, what began as a one-physician practice is now home to 28 physicians, with six offices across the Tampa Bay area. The Eye Institute has been caring for people in… Read More


Simple Procedure Allows Patients to See Without Bothersome Floaters

Everybody who suffers from eye floaters has something in common besides actually having floaters: they want relief from the visual distraction that follows them everywhere they go. Ordinarily most of these floaters go away by themselves. However, in some cases, they can become very disturbing to your vision. In the past you either had to… Read More


May is Healthy Vision Month: The Eye Institute of West Florida’s Top Tips for Healthy Vision

Did you know that, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, approximately 37 million adults in America currently have some sort of eye disease, whether it be age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma? More alarmingly, if left untreated, each of these diseases can cause visual impairment or blindness. The Eye Institute of West… Read More


Dr. Robert Weinstock Co-Program Chair for 2017 Caribbean Eye Meeting in Cancun, Mexico

It’s a busy month for Dr. Robert Weinstock, Director of Cataract and Refractive Services at The Eye Institute of West Florida. This weekend he and Dr. William Wiley, cataract and refractive surgeon at Cleveland Eye Clinic, are the Program Chairs for the 2017 Caribbean Eye Meeting in Cancun, Mexico. The meeting, taking place from February… Read More


Cataract Surgery: Telling It Like It Is 2017 Symposium in Naples, FL

Dr. Robert Weinstock is in Naples, Florida for the annual Cataract Surgery: Telling It Like It Is conference. He will be speaking, presenting and chairing events throughout the conference. Dr. Weinstock’s complete schedule is below: Thursday, January 26 12:00 pm: Dr. Weinstock presents at noon today as a joint speaker on Durezol and Ilevro with… Read More


LENSAR Laser Streamline III Upgrade \\ Laser Cataract Surgery

Time for an upgrade! Our LENSAR laser got the Streamline™ III upgrade, which provides our refractive cataract surgeons the tools to plan astigmatism treatment more intuitively and more confidently than earlier generations of software. The Eye Institute of West Florida is one of only six practices in the country and the only practice in Florida… Read More


As Seen in Florida Health Care News: See Better with Vision Correction

As featured in Florida Health Care News: A commercial REALTOR® in the Tampa Bay area, Jane Levin’s responsibilities require her to read sales contracts and lease agreements with clarity and ease when representing her clients. In recent years, those daily tasks became more of a challenge as Jane’s vision slowly declined. “The numbers on the… Read More


Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today: Masters of Innovation

“The other day, an industry friend called me to say he wanted me to try a new phaco machine from a company just entering the space. Being someone who is always looking to improve my surgical technique and outcomes, I agreed. Well-known emotions soon overtook me: anxiety over trying something new, concern for the patient… Read More


New Raindrop Near Vision Inlay Eliminates the Need for Reading Glasses

The Eye Institute of West Florida is the first practice in Tampa Bay to offer the Raindrop Near Vision Inlay. Following the FDA’s approval of ReVision Optics’ Raindrop Near Vision Inlay, Dr. Robert Weinstock, Director of Cataract and Refractive Surgery at The Eye Institute of West Florida, performed the first cases in the area, correcting… Read More


Dr. Robert Weinstock Awarded Top Doctor in Tampa Bay

Robert J. Weinstock, M.D., Director of Cataract and Refractive Surgery at The Eye Institute of West Florida is awarded top doctor in Tampa Bay Metro Magazine’s “2015-2016 Best Doctors in Tampa Bay,” top doctor in Tampa Magazine’s “Top Doctors” edition and Ocular Surgery News’ 2016 “Premier Surgeon – 300 Innovators in Refractive Cataract Surgery.” Robert… Read More


American-European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery 2016 Summer Symposium

Dr. Weinstock, Program Committee Member for American-European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery’s (AECOS) Summer Symposium, will be leading discussions, panels and moderating numerous events throughout the weekend-long conference. He will also be starring in and moderating a special, “Afternoon at the Movies,” which will show different cases in 3D. The American-European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery “is… Read More


The Eye Institute of West Florida Discusses “Cataract Awareness Month”

June is “Cataract Awareness Month.” This blog post will discuss the importance of cataract awareness and how you can achieve clear vision today. A cataract is a clouding and hardening of the eye’s natural lens, which distorts vision, making images blurry and dull. When left untreated, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in aging… Read More


Like Father, Like Son

Hailed as one of the pioneering ophthalmic surgeons in the Tampa Bay area, Stephen M. Weinstock, MD, naturally would only trust his eyes to the finest surgeon when he developed cataracts. Fortunately, he didn’t have far to look. Dr. Stephen Weinstock trusted his cataract surgery to his skilled son, Dr. Robert Weinstock, both of The… Read More


As Seen in Senior Voice America: Top Rated Eye Specialists in Tampa Bay

Specialists within the field of ophthalmology are ophthalmologists who have completed additional fellowship training for surgery related to a specific ocular disease or condition. These specialties include cataracts; refractive treatments, such as LASIK or a Clear Lens Exchange; glaucoma; retinal diseases, including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinal detachments; and oculoplastic procedures, such as blepharoplasty… Read More


The Eye Institute of West Florida Attends the American Academy of Ophthalmology 2015 Meeting

Physicians and employees of The Eye Institute of West Florida head to Las Vegas to deliver presentations, lecture on advancements in ophthalmology and attend different courses at the annual American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting. They join at least 30,000 eye care professionals from all over the world, from surgeons to administrative staff. The six day… Read More


The Eye Institute of West Florida Looks Back on 40 Years

In the Fall 2015 edition of Pinellas Health Care News, Dr. Stephen Weinstock discusses what differentiates The Eye Institute of West Florida from general ophthalmic practices, stating, “Our physicians are accomplished ophthalmologists with subspecialty training in all the major areas of ophthalmology…When a new patient comes in, the examining physician will quickly determine why it is… Read More


Introducing the first Cataract and Cornea Surgery Fellow at The Eye Institute

The Eye Institute of West Florida is thrilled to welcome Dr. Chad Hummel to our staff! Dr. Hummel joins The Eye Institute as the first fellow in our new accredited Cataract, Refractive and Cornea Surgery Fellowship, headed by Robert J. Weinstock, M.D., Director and Neel R. Desai, M.D., Co-Director. Dr. Hummel joins The Eye Institute… Read More


2015 ASCRS Symposium

The ASCRS Annual Symposium is the largest meeting in the United States solely dedicated to the needs of the anterior segment specialist*. The 2015 ASCRS Annual Symposium will take place in San Diego from April 17 through April 21. Robert J. Weinstock, MD and Neel R. Desai, MD will be featured speakers at a number… Read More


Dr. Robert Weinstock’s Editorial Debut in Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today

Robert Weinstock, MD, was announced the newest Chief Medical Editor of Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today (CRST) earlier this year. In his CRST editorial debut, Dr. Weinstock discusses the challenges ophthalmologists face with integrating electronic health records (EHRs) into practices. A year after the Eye Institute of West Florida “completed the painful process of implementation,”… Read More


Eyeglasses for Haiti

Donations of eyeglasses can be dropped off at a collection box in the lobby of The Eye Institute of West Florida’s Largo office at 148 13th St. SW, Largo, Florida 33770 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.


How to become a better femtosecond cataract surgeon

In a second interview, Dr. Robert Weinstock shares his knowledge as an experienced surgeon using the latest laser-assisted cataract procedure with other surgeon.  Read the attached link. bit.ly/163En8M


LASIK Self-Test Cataract Self-Test