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

Freedom
From
Glasses

After forty years of wearing glasses, routine cataract surgery frees one patient of the need for prescription eyewear.

Sherry Jasinski has some good reasons she needs her eyesight to be sharp, and not all of them are work-related.

I work at Auntie Anne’s Pretzels," explains Sherry, "but I also like to make flower arrangements and do crafts."

Unfortunately, her eyesight was starting to make Sherry wonder whether she needed new glasses

. "I’d worn glasses since I was eighteen years old because I was nearsighted," she says. "I felt I needed new ones, and I decided to get an eye exam."

For a referral, Sherry took a suggestion from her sister and brother-in-law.

"They go to Dr. Seigel, so in 2003 I went and saw him too," she reports.

Lawrence A. Seigel, MD, the founding eye surgeon of Suncoast Eye Center, is a diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology and a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

"Dr. Seigel examined my eyes. I didn’t need new glasses, but he told me that cataracts were starting to form in my eyes so he wanted to keep a watch on it."

Not long afterwards, Sherry learned that she had diabetes, which required her to return to Dr. Seigel annually for follow-up exams.

"By 2006, I was starting to notice some symptoms," she explains. "My cataracts were getting a little more to the point where I would be noticing that things weren’t as bright or clear asthey used to be. All of a sudden, my glasses seemed like they were the wrong prescription. "I was having a hard time seeing far away when I had my glasses on, and that’s what my glasses were for – my distance vision. I felt like I needed to have them on all the time." The problems were particularly noticeable at night. "When I was driving at night, I just didn’t see as well as I used to," says Sherry. "I would see a burst behind a headlight or streetlight … like a star forming behind it.

"Dr. Seigel told me that as cataracts go on, strange things like that can happen."

When Sherry returned to Dr. Seigel for her 2007 exam, the situation had deteriorated further.

"When I went in 2007, my husband was with me, and Dr. Seigel told me I should start thinking about having my cataracts treated soon because when you’re a diabetic, it takes longer for things to heal," explains Sherry. "He didn’t say when I had to have it done, but he said to start thinking about it." Then Sherry’s husband chimed in. "My husband said, Why don’t you just get it done now, so you don’t have to wait? "I said, Okay, let’s do it."

Intraocular lens implants

"A cataract is simply the clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye," notes Dr. Seigel. "It occurs as a natural part of the aging process. Cataracts develop with the passage of time, but people can develop them at any age from an injury or 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 during the same procedure 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."

"He’s the best!"

Sherry was actually surprised by her lack of preoperative anxiety. "I was amazed that I wasn’t nervous," she says. "I just had so much confidence in Dr. Seigel from him reassuring me on everything, telling me exactly what I needed to know and what to expect.

"And when I got to the surgery center, everybody was absolutely wonderful … from the lady who made my appointment to the one who brought me some orange juice and fruit after my procedure was done."

The results were even more of a pleasant surprise. "I had the right eye done first, and after the procedure, I could tell already that I could see more clearly," reports Sherry. "It was just amazing. Everything was bright, well-outlined. When my husband and I left the surgery center, we actually went and had breakfast. "I had the surgery on a Thursday, took Friday off, and I was back at work on Monday. I had no problems whatsoever."

With such an easy experience behind her, Sherry was more than ready to have her left eye treated.

"I was looking forward very much to having the other one done," Freedom

she assures, "and I did that about a week and a half later. Everything went just as well as the first one, and we went out to breakfast after that procedure, too. It all went absolutely wonderfully."

Now that her cataracts have been removed, Sherry is looking at a brighter world … without the need for corrective lenses.

"For forty years I wore glasses, and now I don’t have to wear glasses anymore! When I went for my checkup, where they tested my vision, it was 20/20. The only time I wear glasses now is when I need to read something. I don’t need them for distance at all.

"The results are amazing, and it was a truly wonderful experience."

Beyond her good results, Sherry expresses her appreciation for the entire staff of Suncoast Eye Center.

"Everyone in Dr. Seigel’s office is very pleasant and accommodating, and Dr. Seigel is a very nice man. He’s easy to talk to, he explains everything and makes sure you understand, and he takes his time and listens to you. "As far as I’m concerned, he’s the best!"

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."