St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute brings life-changing vision care to Wesley Chapel

Since 1968, St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute has cemented itself as an innovative ophthalmology practice committed to providing life-changing vision care for its patients. In July, the esteemed institute opened a brand-new clinic and state-approved surgery center in the heart of the burgeoning Wesley Chapel area, with its team of eye care experts offering full-service, family-focused ophthalmology to the local community.

“We’ve been looking at this area for a long time as the growth from the Tampa area has been going this way,” said Dr. Robert M. Lee, a board-certified ophthalmologist at St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute in Wesley Chapel who specializes in refractive cataract surgery. “We wanted to provide a service to this community. (We have) state-of-the-art, brand-new equipment right here in Wesley Chapel.”

The new St. Luke’s clinic provides everything from eye exams to dry eye treatment for patients in the area. Comprehensive eye exams, which are provided at the Wesley Chapel clinic by board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Mike Stuntz, are the best defense against vision-stealing eye conditions.

Dr. Lee recommends that those who wear contact lenses should come in for an eye exam once a year, and individuals who wear glasses, up until the age of 60 or 65, should have an eye exam every once or two years. At the age of 65, the risk of glaucoma increases, and individuals 65 or older should come in every year to get their eyes checked. Diabetic patients should also have an annual eye exam once they’re diagnosed with diabetes.

In addition to its new clinic, the Wesley Chapel practice also boasts an innovative surgery center, providing the best surgical solutions to restore patients’ vision, including cataract and LASIK surgeries.

Cataracts are something we all will develop if we live long enough, Dr. Lee said. People may develop cataracts starting in their late 50s and early 60s, with patients often noticing that streetlights are causing more glare, or that they’re unable to read fine print. If your primary eye care doctor isn’t able to correct your clouded vision with contact lenses or glasses, you may be a good candidate for cataract surgery.

“The nice thing about cataract surgery is you can lose all your vision from cataracts, and if you do cataract surgery, you get it all back,” said Dr. Lee, who has performed over 50,000 cataract surgeries during his decades-long career. “You go home without a patch, and you’re seeing better within the next day or two. It’s more than 99% successful.”

At. St. Luke’s, patient care is the primary focus, with the Wesley Chapel team providing exceptional ophthalmology services in a welcoming environment.

“St. Luke’s has been around for 55 years, is a family-owned practice and treats patients like family,” said Dr. Lee. “We can get great results with our technology, but it’s about how you treat the patients that’s going to keep people coming back.”

Learn more about how St. Luke’s can provide for your eye care needs. Find more information on the St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute in Wesley Chapel at https://www.stlukeseye.com/locations/wesley-chapel/ or call (813) 953-1170 today to schedule an appointment.