Category: News

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, 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

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, 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

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

Happy Holidays! Our amazing staff are in the holiday spirit! They submitted a photo for our Don’t Be Elfish, Share your Holiday Cheer contest. We are asking our Facebook audience to like their favorite photo through December 22nd. Winners get prizes and will be announced December 23rd!   Please enjoy our Holiday Photo Album below…. Read More

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

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

All office are closed on Monday, September 7th, 2020 in observance of Labor Day. We would like to thank our staff for their enduring commitment to the health and safety of our patients. Our offices will reopen on Tuesday, September 8th, 2020. For emergencies, please contact our after hours line at (727) 562-6839.

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

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

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

The Eye Institute of West Florida is pleased to announce the opening of its new office in Clearwater, FL on August 3, 2020. The office located in the Fessler complex at 3165 McMullen Booth Road will be moved to 3220 McMullen Booth Road. Located less than a mile North of the Fessler complex, the new Clearwater office is… Read More

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

The Eye Institute of West Florida is pleased to announce the addition of Stacia H. Goldey, MD to our eye care team. Dr. Goldey is a board-certified Oculoplastic Surgeon. She served her residency at Shands Teaching Hospital at the University of Florida, followed by a fellowship in Ophthalmic Plastic and Orbital Surgery at the Jules… Read More

Happy Mother’s Day! The Eye Institute of West Florida would like to pay tribute to all the amazing mothers without whom none of this would be possible. Please enjoy our Mother’s Day Family Album below. All pictures featured in our gallery are of a physician or staff member with their mother or children. Click the… Read More

The Eye Institute of West Florida is resuming operations and seeing patients on a limited schedule. We are working hard to accommodate more patients while maintaining our COVID-19 (coronavirus) safety measures. Rest assured we are taking every precaution to safeguard our patients and staff. Based on CDC recommendations, we require patients coming in to our… Read More

We are now offering virtual visits for patients in need of eye care. The Eye Institute remains committed to safeguarding our patients, staff and community during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. If you need us we are here for you. Patients are able to have a virtual appointment with select providers during Florida’s mandated “Safer at… Read More

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

*Note this article will be continually updated with the latest information regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus). It has been the founding principal of The Eye Institute of West Florida to ensure the health and safety of our patients. In response to recent events regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus), we are taking additional precautions to ensure the welfare of our… Read More

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

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

Dr. Steven Kane, one of The Eye Institute of West Florida’s premier Cornea Specialists, teamed up with the Lion’s Eye Institute for a teaching conference in Mexico last winter. During the “Curso Internacional de Cornea y Cirugía Refractiva” or “International Course of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Dr. Kane along with colleague Dr. Ben Lambright taught… Read More

Please reference the following for office holiday closings in Largo, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Hyde Park (Tampa) and Westchase (Tampa) during the 2019-2020 season. Please note that all offices will be closing early December 24th, closed on December 25th and closed on January 1st, 2020. Happy Holidays from the physicians and staff at The Eye Institute… Read More

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

Siddarth Rathi, M.D., M.B.A, is a nationally recognized glaucoma specialist and physician innovator. He is the former Director of Teleophthalmology and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at NYU Langone School of Medicine. Dr. Rathi completed his graduate medical studies at Boston University and M.B.A. at Harvard Business School. His residency was completed at the NYU Medical… Read More

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

Eyelid surgery is an intricate procedure that requires the expertise and experience of a properly trained surgeon. To achieve the best results, doing your research for an appropriately trained surgeon to perform your procedure is essential. For surgical and non-surgical services involving the eyelids and the face, an oculoplastic surgeon is an optimal choice. Jasmine… Read More

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 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 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

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

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

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

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

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

‘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

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

Certain things in life are inevitable. One of those things is aging. Whether we like it or not, aging is a natural part of life. However, just because we’re getting older doesn’t mean looking old is also inevitable. With today’s advanced technology and techniques, there is an excess of options to refresh our appearance. These… Read More

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

The Eye Institute of West Florida is led by the vision of delivering our patients the best care available in a safe and caring environment. One way we continue working toward this goal is by providing our patients the most advanced technology available to ensure the best vision correction possible. When it comes to refractive… Read More

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

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

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

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 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

Have you had cataract surgery? Do you still rely on reading glasses to see closeup? Would you like to reduce or eliminate your dependence on those reading glasses? If you are nodding yes right now, The Eye Institute of West Florida might have the solution to your constant battle of “on, off, on, off” –… Read More

“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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

2015 will be the inaugural launch of the Weinstock/Desai Refractive Cataract Fellowship at The Eye Institute of West Florida. Director, Dr. Robert Weinstock, and Co-Director, Dr. Neel Desai, have made their final selection of candidates and have submitted a request for approval, according to Krista Hailwood, fellowship coordinator. Cataract surgery has turned a new era… Read More

Dr. Robert Weinstock is moderator to a July article discussing the ease of use, versatility, efficacy, and safety of the STAAR Toric IOL to correct astigmatism.

See clearly after cataract surgery. Blurred vision caused by astigmatism can now easily be corrected in the hands of experienced physicians using the latest precision equipment. At The Eye Institute of West Florida, our surgeons use integrated software, innovative template overlays and lasers to correct astigmatism which some surgeons still correct by hand. Correct your… Read More

LENSAR’s Refractive Suite offers our surgeons the latest operating room innovations through connectivity to pre-operative data, automated intelligent treatment planning, and on-screen guidance, connecting the LENSAR Laser to our 3-D TrueVision System and all in real time. “This Suite of technology provides increased predictability, increased level of automation to make our outcomes even better for… Read More

LENSAR pushes the evolution of operating room technology using Cassini. Now Robert Weinstock, MD, Neel Desai, MD and Stephen Weinstock, MD are using the latest OR innovations to view live information about the true measurement of corneal astigmatism for premium surgical planning. Pre-surgical data about each patient’s eye help guide surgeon decisions regarding correct selection… Read More

Robert Weinstock, MD, will be speaking at the 4th annual Telling It Like It Is meeting on January 15th-18th at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.  He is considered by Robert Osher, MD, as a ‘World-class faculty’ and is his 4th invitation as guest speaker.  He will be lecturing to 500 ophthalmologist from around the world on topics to include: new technology, challenging… Read More

Dr. Robert Weinstock lectures in London at the 2014 ESCRS Meeting.  TOPCON Lensar invites Dr. Weinstock to speak on 3 occasions during his visit to London.  Visit http://www.escrs.org/london2014/ for more information.www.escrs.org/london2014/

Passionate about patient safety, surgical results and patient experience, Dr. Rob Weinstock is conducting a small group study testing TriMoxi and TriMoxi+Vancomycin eye injections over traditional eye drops to prevent post-surgical endophthalmitis or inflammation. The results he sees will some day help patients that are having problems self administering drops or otherwise noncompliance, heal safely… Read More

Since his fellowship training under his father, Dr. Robert Weinstock has adopted many newer innovations and techniques to correct astigmatism.  The computer guided precision and accuracy of lasers have made a significant improvement of vision outcomes over the years.  Dr. Rob utilizes 3 laser platforms, options not found in most hospitals or universities.  Take a… Read More

On Monday, February 10th starting at 3PM guests will learn all about cataract, cataract surgery and all the important pre-surgical decisions patients need to understand. This presentation will start off with a discussion by Dr. Neel Desai on What is a Cataract?before guest turn their attention to a special screen where Dr. Robert Weinstock will… Read More

“LASIK and laser cataract surgery are different eye surgeries used for different diagnoses, but the ultimate goal of both procedures is the same – the sharpest vision possible without the need for glasses. As a busy optometric physician, Priti Panchal, OD, especially appreciates the value of clear vision. She needs her eyesight to be crisp… Read More