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About Our Practice
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Welcome to Gulfcoast Eye Care. Our doctors offer LASIK, laser vision correction, cataract surgery, glaucoma and dry eye treatment, and more. We invite you to read more about the ways in which we can help you achieve clearer vision.
Gulfcoast Eye Care was established in 1980 by Dr. Lyda D. Tymiak and has served the Palm Harbor, Florida area with advanced eye care services for more than three decades. Offering both surgical and medical treatments and specializing in cataract surgery and lens implant procedures, Gulfcoast Eye Care evolved to become a premier eye care facility providing comprehensive care for a range of eye conditions. Our practice was one of the first in the Tampa Bay area to offer lens implants capable of improving multifocal distance vision and correcting presbyopia at the time of lens replacement and cataract surgery.
Pinellas Eye Care was formed in 2000 in Pinellas Park, Florida under the direction of J. Kevin Schweninger, D.O. as a practice whose primary emphasis is on providing patients with personalized medical and surgical eye care. In 2010, Dr. Schweninger chose to pass the leadership of Pinellas Eye Care on to Michael H. Manning, M.D.
In late 2010, Dr. Tymiak decided to focus more on her role as the Medical Director of the aesthetic practice that she has developed, known as Timeless MD Spa. With this change, she chose to pass the leadership of Gulfcoast Eye Care on to Dr. Manning. Under Dr. Manning’s leadership, the two practices later merged into one as Gulfcoast Eye Care in Spring of 2011. Gulfcoast Eye Care continues to be a pioneer in the latest technologies of eye care and vision correction all the while maintaining the same close doctor-patient relationship for which each of its two founding practices have always been known.
In Spring 2015, Gulfcoast Eye Care acquired Florida Eye Center, a multidisciplinary eye care practice originally founded in St. Petersburg, Florida by Dr. Mark Sibley. With this addition, Dr. Manning has continued in his role as Medical Director and CEO of the overall practice. Drs. Jason Handza, a long-standing member of the original Florida Eye Center team, continues to practice here at Gulfcoast Eye Care.
Gulfcoast Eye Care is regarded as one of the premier Florida eye centers for over 30 years. Started by Dr. Lyda Tymiak in 1980 and now under the leadership of Dr. Michael Manning, our experienced eye doctors have helped thousands of people enjoy better vision and have introduced breakthrough technologies to the Tampa Bay area.
At Gulfcoast Eye Care our focus is on creating an unparalleled patient experience. This starts with our individualized attention to your personal needs that is not found in large practices that possess what some call a “factory mentality.” In this way, ours is more of a “boutique” eye care practice. Our priority is not simply to care only for your eyes but to care for you. Because each person’s individual needs are unique, we tailor our treatments to you. We have created this website to provide extensive information about our doctors, our diagnostic technologies, our state-of-the-art treatments, and what you can expect when you visit us. We provide you with all of this information because we understand that the more you know about us, the more confident you will feel about choosing us for all of your vision correction and eye care needs.
We are proud of the tremendous team of professionals that we have assembled from our doctors to our highly trained ophthalmic technicians to our directors of first impressions and beyond. As important to our organization as our relentless commitment to improving our patients’ experience is our continuing development and nurturing of our organization’s culture. We enjoy working with people who love what they do as much as we do. We work with a higher purpose of caring for the people that we treat. We take satisfaction in knowing that our co-workers are like our own family.
Dr. Manning is a board-certified ophthalmologist and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). He has further received the highest designation (Fellow) in the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgeons. He is a regular instructor at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. Manning has been involved in the training of other eye doctors in various surgical techniques including LASIK and cataract surgery. He has co-authored publications in ophthalmology journals and a book chapter in a major textbook, Albert and Jakobiec’s Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology. Through his extensive knowledge and surgical expertise, he has helped thousands of people improve their vision.
Gulfcoast Eye Care has a rich history in investing heavily in the most cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment technologies available in ophthalmology. With Dr. Lyda Tymiak, we were proud to be one of the first practices in the Tampa Bay area performing cataract surgery with multifocal lens implant technology in the 1990’s. We continue to offer all of the latest in Lifestyle Lens implants to reduce patients’ dependence on glasses. Our reputation for introducing new technologies continues with the recent introduction of laser cataract surgery. At the time of the laser’s introduction to Florida in October 2011, Dr. Michael Manning was among the first doctors in Florida to be able to offer his patients this exciting new technology whereby a computer-guided femtosecond laser is used to perform steps in cataract surgery that could previously only be performed with a blade. In March 2012, Gulfcoast Eye Care became the first ophthalmology practice in Florida to offer the revolutionary treatment for dry eye called LipiFlow that dramatically improves dry eye with a quick, painless in-office procedure. From the initial testing and evaluation of your eyes, to the lasers and equipment that we use to correct your sight, everything Gulfcoast Eye Care offers is world class.
Much of the success of vision correction surgery depends not just on the technology used and the skill of the surgeon but also on the proper patient selection for each respective procedure. At Gulfcoast Eye Care we know this to be true and we are careful to select appropriate procedures for each patient. While we have many patients who come to us for LASIK or lens replacement surgery, we are frank and upfront any time that we find a person’s eyes are not well suited to a particular procedure. Whenever appropriate we will advise you of another method of vision improvement that we can provide. We will not recommend LASIK or another surgery unless we are confident that we can achieve the outcome that you desire and that the respective procedure can achieve.
For many patients, affordability is a factor when considering LASIK, Lifestyle lens implants, or other elective vision correction surgery. Some practices address this sensitive issue by engaging in “bait and switch” marketing, luring patients in with the promise of LASIK for as little $299 but then surprising them with the fact that only 1% of patients who come in will qualify by having only a very slight prescription. They then learn that their surgery will cost much more. Other centers may utilize a “ghost surgeon” whom you will never meet before or after your procedure. At Gulfcoast Eye Care, we don’t engage in such marketing practices and our doctors take the time to meet with you personally to discuss your options, answer your questions, and address your concerns. Fortunately, we are able to make vision correction affordable enough for most candidates and we offer a number of payment and financing options. At Gulfcoast Eye Care, you can be assured that we will provide you with excellence in every aspect of your eye care. Your vision is worth it.
Gulfcoast Eye Care is honored to be recognized by the Refractive Surgery Council as an RSC Verified practice. This seal is given to distinguish vision care practices that deliver unbiased information that is backed by science. The RSC Verified seal signifies our dedication to patient education and our promise to provide you with the information you need to feel confident in your vision care decisions. When you see the RSC Verified seal, know that the information you read has been approved and meets the highest standard for quality and accuracy. For years, Gulfcoast Eye Care has provided advanced, comprehensive vision care for patients in the Palm Harbor and St. Petersburg area and you can count on us to explain your vision care options and offer our expertise to help you make informed decisions.
These are just a couple of the reasons why you should choose us for your eye care needs. We look forward to meeting you in person!
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