Premium Cataract Surgery with Dr. Mark Arey at Florida Medical Clinic Eye Specialists

Cataracts remain one of the most common sight-threatening conditions affecting patients both in the US and worldwide. The American Academy of Ophthalmology estimates that more than half of those aged 75 and older will have an advanced cataract at the time of diagnosis that if left untreated can result in significant visual impairment.

The typical symptoms of cataracts include blurred vision, glare and light sensitivity, and decreased night vision. Quite simply, a cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens. The lens is the focusing element of the eye that filters light and projects the image onto the retina. In an eye with a cataract, this cloudy lens blurs and distorts that image.

Advanced Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery
Modern cataract surgery utilizes ultrasound energy via a small incision to remove the cloudy cataract. Femtosecond laser technology can now be used to perform the most critical steps of the surgery, a significant advancement in this otherwise remarkable procedure. Dr. Mark Arey was the first to bring femtosecond laser technology to North Tampa and is proud to offer the LenSx® femtosecond laser to his patients undergoing cataract surgery.

Additionally, Dr. Arey is proud to have been among the first cataract surgeons in America to implant both the PanOptix® and Vivity® advanced technology intraocular lenses.

PanOptix® is the first FDA-approved trifocal lens available in the United States and has been used by Dr. Arey since 2019 in patients striving for maximum glasses independence following cataract surgery. This lens is ideal for those with an active lifestyle wishing to achieve excellent vision at all ranges (distance/ intermediate/ near) with minimal dependence on reading glasses after surgery.

Vivity® was approved by the FDA in 2020 as the newest EDOF (Extended Depth of Focus) lens available for patients undergoing cataract surgery. Vivity® provides a range of vision from distance to intermediate without the additional risk of halos and/or glare that some patients with a trifocal lens may experience. Detailed near tasks such as reading fine print may require either reading glasses or an adjustment in the font size/ zoom on your smartphone or other device. Vivity® may also be an option for patients that have other pre-existing ocular conditions that would otherwise prevent them from receiving a premium intraocular lens implant.

What to Expect on the Day of Your Cataract Evaluation
At Florida Medical Clinic Eye Specialists, we dedicate specific appointment times for our cataract patients to be evaluated, ensuring that each patient receives the examination, testing, and counseling needed to help ensure the best surgical outcome. A spouse or family member is welcomed and encouraged to be involved in the discussion during which the surgical plan, including the choice of intraocular lens, will be made.

What to Expect on the Day of Your Cataract Surgery
Dr. Arey operates at the Florida Medical Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center in North Tampa. Upon arrival, patients are greeted and brought to the pre-operative area where the surgical consent and plan are confirmed. An IV is started and drops are initiated to dilate the eye. Members of the anesthesia team meet the patient and relaxing medicine is administered through the IV. Surgery itself typically takes less than 15 minutes, and following a short stay in the recovery area patients head home to relax and enjoy the rest of the day. A follow-up visit back in the office is planned for the following morning.

What to Expect After Your Cataract Surgery
One of the most rewarding things about cataract surgery is how quickly patients typically recover. It is quite common for patients to experience an early “Wow!” at the first post-operative visit. In more dense cataracts, vision may be a bit blurry in the early post-op period, with clearing of the vision expected to occur over the following several days. Symptoms such as mild irritation, foreign body sensations, and sensitivity to light are transient and typically quickly resolve.

What Makes Florida Medical Clinic Eye Specialists Different
“I’m confident in believing that at Florida Medical Clinic Eye Specialists, we have the best of both worlds. We can offer efficient, advanced, personalized services to both our brand new and our very loyal returning patients, while offering the benefits available to them as part of a larger, integrated health care delivery system” explains Dr. Arey.

Continuing, Dr. Arey notes that “We’re very respectful of our patients’ time and we do our very best to avoid long wait times in the office and the exam room. It’s truly our goal to get most of our patients out within an hour or less of their scheduled appointment time. We avoid overscheduling while being sure to take care of our patients who may call in with an urgent eye issue. My lead technician, surgical coordinator, and office manager Thuy does a great job establishing and maintaining a positive and warm office environment for both our patients and our staff. We truly get to know our patients and strive to build long term relationships with them via exceptional, personalized care.”

About Dr. Mark L. Arey
A Central Florida native born and raised in Winter Haven, Dr. Arey, or “Weeb” as his close friends and family call him, grew up as a student-athlete with the goal of attending the University of Virginia and becoming a physician. After graduating from UVa in 1998, Dr. Arey moved on to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to attend Wake Forest University School of Medicine, graduating in 2002. Along with his new wife Shuchi, Dr. Arey moved to Dallas and began his training at the nationally recognized Department of Ophthalmology of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center/ Parkland Memorial Hospital. Following completion of residency and an additional fellowship year in cornea and external disease, Dr. Arey returned to his home state in 2008 and has been taking care of patients in North Tampa ever since. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Dr. Arey has spent much of his free time volunteering as a coach in several local youth sports organizations. He has coached literally hundreds of kids over the last decade in programs at the New Tampa YMCA, Chargers Soccer Club, North Tampa Athletic Association, Keystone Little League, and Tampa Bay United Soccer Club. He holds a National “D” Level Coaching License with the US Soccer Federation.

Dr. Arey has been married for 20 years to his beautiful wife Shuchi, and together they raise their three kids, Mikaela, Evan, and Daniela with a focus on both academic and athletic achievement. In his free time, Dr. Arey enjoys running and cycling, competing annually in the Gasparilla Half Marathon every year since 2011.

To learn more about Dr. Arey and FMC Eye Specialists please visit FMC2020.com. To schedule an appointment, please call us at (813) 284-2323.