Serving The Eyecare Needs Of Patients

Highly Skilled Ophthalmologists And The Latest In Technological Advances At Florida Eye

For nearly 50 years, the Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute has been taking care of the eyecare needs of local residents. In that time, the practice has grown to include a medical staff of highly skilled ophthalmologists at offices in Wellington, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach and west Boynton Beach.

The practice was first established by Dr. Jonathan Chua in 1975. It was purchased by Dr. Randy Katz and Dr. Lee Friedman in 2004. Under the direction of Katz and Friedman, Florida Eye’s mission has remained the same — to provide outstanding vision care to residents of South Florida. The addition of Dr. Barry Schechter as the institute’s third partner made it possible for the practice to reach out to even more patients, offering a more comprehensive range of eyecare solutions.

The practice has multiplied in more recent years, adding another full-time ophthalmologist in 2016, Dr. Jonathan Criss, followed by Dr. Megan Rowlands, Dr. Steven Naids, Dr. Jonathan Lam, and an optometrist, Dr. James Walsh, in 2021. The practice is managed by Jason Feuer, an experienced administrator with more than 27 years of ophthalmology experience.

Several years ago, Florida Eye partnered with EyeSouth Partners, an eyecare management organization, to ensure high-quality administrative support, clinical quality, and long-term stability and growth of the practice.

When patients come to Florida Eye, they become a part of a practice that treats patients like family. Through exams and corrective procedures, patient education and continued contact, Florida Eye keeps patients healthy, informed and seeing the world more clearly.

At Florida Eye, patients receive treatment for a wide array of eyecare needs, such as diabetic eye exams, diagnosis and treatment of macular degeneration and other eye diseases, emergency eyecare, treatment of eye trauma and infection, retinal eye exams and laser treatment, glaucoma exams and treatment, LASIK and refractive surgery, cataract and lens implant surgery, corneal transplants and glaucoma surgery.

“At Florida Eye in Wellington, we are board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons,” Dr. Steven Naids said. “We practice the most minimally invasive and cutting-edge technology to make the cataract surgery experience seamless. Many of our patients choose to have laser-assisted cataract surgery. Recently, we became one of the few practices in the country to offer the most advanced laser, the Ally femtosecond laser, to our patients.”

This is just one of the treatments available for debilitating vision conditions, such as cataracts and glaucoma.

“Along with femtosecond laser technology, we also offer lifestyle-friendly advanced technology intraocular lens implants at the time of cataract surgery. This can provide an extended range of vision and freedom from glasses for the right patients,” Naids said. “Here at Florida Eye, we understand that glaucoma is a lifelong disease and treatment is not a one-size-fits-all approach. As such, we offer the full array of treatments for glaucoma of all severities, including lasers in the clinic and operating room, a variety of minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries, as well as traditional glaucoma surgeries, like trabeculectomies and tube shunts for more refractory cases.”

The doctors and staff at Florida Eye stay up to date with the latest advancements in eyecare.

“Our doctors are members of major societies and are thought leaders in the field of ophthalmology,” Naids said. “We publish original research, and our doctors have received best paper honors at international meetings.”

The practice takes a patient-centric approach to eyecare. “We empower patients to make the right choices for themselves by involving them in the decision-making process,” Naids said. “Vision is such a vitally important part of our lives. Cataract surgery can improve your quality of life overnight. With a combination of state-of-the-art technology and compassionate care, we can achieve an outstanding visual result.”

Florida Eye also prides itself on technological innovation to enhance the quality of patient care.

“Integrating technology into our patient care helps us optimize our patients’ surgical outcomes and improve our patients’ surgical experiences overall,” Dr. Megan Rowlands explained. “Our Ally femtosecond laser system during cataract surgery, for example, not only allows us to achieve greater precision for astigmatism correction by incorporating iris registration, but also minimizes the amount of energy and time required to remove the cataract. This confers a smoother surgical experience and faster healing time for our patients.”

The practice works closely with other medical professionals to support the needs of patients. This collaborative effort involves open communication, shared insights and coordinated efforts to address various aspects of a patient’s health that may impact their eyecare. This process also includes a multi-faceted approach to patient education. Curated patient literature offers detailed insights into various eye conditions, treatment options and preventive measures, complemented by informative videos that break down complex concepts into easily understandable visuals.

Florida Eye’s commitment to personalized care is exemplified through one-on-one consultations between doctors and patients, fostering a collaborative environment where questions are answered and individualized plans are crafted to ensure optimal eye health. In addition, patients have access to a wealth of information available at www.fleyedocs.com covering a range of eye health topics.

Meanwhile, the staff actively engages with the community through informative lectures, providing an opportunity for in-depth discussions on various eye health matters. The practice also takes part in a variety of clinical trials that may be available to patients that qualify. This research serves as the cornerstone of continuous improvement in patient eyecare.

This commitment helps Florida Eye stay at the forefront of ophthalmological advancements and extends to active involvement in research and academic pursuits, which includes publishing original research that contributes to the evolving landscape of eyecare. The doctors at Florida Eye have not only engaged in groundbreaking research but have also been honored with recognition at international meetings, helping to shape the future of ophthalmology on a global scale.

The Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute accepts more than 600 insurance plans, in addition to Medicare. Patients with financial concerns can call the office at (561) 737-5500 to inquire about insurance issues and payment plans, such as the CareCredit card and the Alphaeon credit card.

The Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute is located at 2575 S. State Road 7 in Wellington. For more information, call (561) 792-1205 or visit www.fleyedocs.com.