A SITE FOR HEALTHY EYES

Lake Eye has a longstanding tradition of delivering cutting-edge eye care and outstanding patient service.

Thomas Mitchell thinks Lake Eye is a true gem. A resident of The Villages, Thomas learned that the cataracts in both his eyes were becoming increasingly worse. When Dr. Scot Holman recommended he undergo surgery, Thomas had no qualms.

“Overall, I was extremely happy with my experience at Lake Eye. The practice offers the best of both worlds — state-of-the-art technology with a caring, professional staff. You cannot ask for more than that.”

Of course, there is another reason why Thomas is so

Lapidary Arts in Georgia. Thanks in part to his successful cataract surgery, Thomas recently fared well in two prestigious gemstonecutting competitions. At the United States Faceters Guild Single Stone event, he scored an impressive 95.778 in the novice class. Although the the meticulous work of Dr. Holman played a role in helping me do well in those competitions. Having surgery with Dr. Holman has allowed me to continue enjoying this fun hobby. I thank him for his surgical skills and kind, caring manner.”

A Tradition Of Excellence

Thomas is one of thousands of patients who have enjoyed a magnificent experience at Lake Eye, which is one of the oldest and most respected eye care practices in Central Florida. Since opening in 1977, the practice has proudly served countless patients needing routine eye exams, new glasses or contacts, and surgical procedures to treat eye conditions like cataracts and glaucoma.

“I felt comfortable making that decision because Dr. Holman is very upbeat and positive, so as a patient, I felt very confident in his abilities. Whenever you ask him a question he gives you direct answers without beating around the bush.” elated that Dr. Holman was able to restore his vision. Four-and-a-half years ago, he became involved in faceting gems as a way to fi ll time during retirement. Through faceting, he utilizes a highly advanced machine to cut, shape, and polish gemstones and give them a unique sparkle. For Thomas, this hobby has quickly become a passion. He has authored a book on the basics of gemstone cutting and also teaches the art in The Villages, as well as at the William Holland School of official winners have not been announced as of this writing, he feels confident that his high score will help him place as one of the top competitors. The other competition was the Franklin Faceters Frolic in North Carolina, where Thomas earned a fi rst-place fi nish in the synthetic stone division. This popular event draws competitors from all over the world.

Thomas underwent cataract surgery on one eye and two weeks later, underwent surgery on his other eye. To say he is happy with the outcomes would be an understatement.

“My surgeries went off without a hitch,” he says.

“Faceting requires precision and is a highly visual art, so it is vitally important to have good eyesight,” he says. “Certainly,

In addition to Dr. Holman, the practice is home to three other experienced, boardcertified physicians who are highly regarded in the field of ophthalmology: Dr. Mark Vocci, Dr. Scott Wehrly, and Dr. Shelby Terpstra. Each takes a great deal of pride in helping restore the vision of their patients.

“We treat patients just like we would want our own family members to be treated,” Dr. Holman says. “Rather than run patients in and out like cattle, we take the time to listen to them and clearly explain every possible treatment option. Another thing patients like about our practice is that we have a doctor on call 24 hours a day. Therefore, if patients are experiencing any kind of problem, we can be there for them. That is our whole purpose.”

In addition to outstanding patient service, Lake Eye has always remained on the forefront of technology. That is especially true today, as Dr. Holman and Dr. Wehrly are among a small group of ophthalmologists in the country who use a special laser surgery to treat cataracts. Dr. Holman estimates he performs between 3,000 to 3,500 surgeries each year, most of which involve treating cataracts.

“Cataracts take away detail and obscure color and clarity,” says Dr. Wehrly. “We improve sight by precisely and delicately removing the cloudy cataractous lens, restoring a more youthful vision. We implant a new lens that improves clarity, color, and overall crispness of vision. We’re always pushing the limit of technology to get the best results possible. That has been the mainstay of Lake Eye since the beginning.”

This is accomplished through use of an Alcon LenSx Laser. Lake Eye was the fi rst practice in Lake County to introduce this state-of-the-art technology. This bladeless, computercontrolled laser allows Dr. Holman and Dr. Wehrly to plan and perform a fiveminute operation to precise specifications not achievable by any other method.

“The LenSx Laser affords us the opportunity to really customize cataract surgery,” Dr. Holman says. “Not only are we removing the lens and implanting a lens, but we are also moving to a bladeless cataract surgery that will also reduce the astigmatism simultaneously. It also precuts the cataract for us, which makes it easier, faster, and safer for us to take the cataract out. In addition, it cuts a hole where the new lens is going to sit. This is beneficial for lens alignment because it keeps the implant more central in the visual axis. Essentially, the laser takes the human variability out of the equation and automates the procedure.”

The entire procedure takes less than 10 minutes. This is another example of how Lake Eye has pioneered eye care — and particularly laser cataract surgery — in Central Florida.

“We’re always trying to maximize the vision back to the highest level of functioning like it was before cataracts,” says Dr. Holman. “For many patients, we can reduce their dependency on glasses for reading, using a computer, and for distance. However, there are numerous factors that determine whether someone will need glasses after surgery.”

An Eye On Greatness

During a time when many private medical practices are permanently closing their doors, Lake Eye continues to thrive. There is a reason for this. Patients are not only elated to have their vision restored by a talented group of physicians; they are also impressed with the enthusiasm and excellent service they receive from the entire staff, which, in turn, creates happy and healthy patients. It’s hardly any surprise that much of Lake Eye’s business is generated by satisfied patients who are happy to refer their family and friends to the practice.

“For us, it is all about delivering quality, comprehensive eye care with a personal touch,” Dr. Holman says. “We work closely as a team to provide quality results for our patients and offer them a welcoming environment. When patients see fi rsthand how we respect and support each other, it makes them feel more comfortable and confident in our abilities.”

Patients like Thomas would certainly not argue with that.

“Dr. Holman provided me with exceptional eye care, and I would not hesitate to go back in the event that I develop additional eye problems down the road. I discovered that the entire Lake Eye team is extremely friendly, courteous, and always willing to help. I consider myself fortunate to be a patient of Lake Eye. The service I received was tremendous and this is very important to me because in this day and age, service seems to be a lost art.”

Lake Eye has three convenient locations:

Tavares (352.343.2020)

Leesburg (352.365.2020)

The Villages (352.750.2020)

You can also visit Lake Eye’s comprehensive website at www.lakeeye.com.