Excellence In Eye Care (Inside Costco) Can Save Your Eyesight Or Even Your Life!

(L.-r.) Optometric techs Alex Bush and Savannah Leder, Dr. David Scamard, Dr. Carson Woolwine and optometric techs Francesca Alata and Evangelina Rivero of Excellence in Eye Care, located inside the Costco next to the Tampa Premium Outlets combine outstanding customer service and the latest technology. (Photos by Charmaine George)

When you think of Costco, you think of saving money. When you think of Excellence in Eye Care inside the Costco store, you should also be thinking of saving — saving your eyesight that is!!

Located inside the Costco on S.R. 56, Dr. David Scamard, O.D., has been helping patients for more than 30 years. Since joining the Costco location in 2017, Dr. Scamard, a native Floridian, has continued his mission of providing high-quality eye care. He earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from Nova Southeastern College of Optometry in Ft. Lauderdale in 1999. Initially drawn to the medical field, he says his time work- ing in an optometry office solidified his passion for optometry. “I knew this was my calling,” he shares, and his dedication has only grown over the years.

Dr. Scamard is joined by his associate, Carson Woolwine, O.D., who also graduated from Nova Southeastern College of Optometry and received his degree in 2016.

Together, these doctors handle everything from basic eye exams and treating conditions like pink eye to fitting patients for glasses and contact lenses. But, occasionally, their work goes beyond routine care.

A Life-Saving Testimonial

The Neighborhood News spoke with Rocio, one of Dr. Scamard’s patients. Three years ago, Rocio had recently moved to Wesley Chapel and needed a routine eye exam after not having one for two years. She booked an appointment with Dr. Scamard at Excellence in Eye Care. What seemed like a straightforward visit quickly became much more.

After completing Rocio’s exam, Dr. Scamard informed her that she needed to see a specialist immediately. He provided her with contact information and urged her to make an appointment as soon as possible. Rocio followed through, but the earliest appointment she could secure was a month away. The very next day, to Rocio’s surprise, she received a follow-up call from Dr. Scamard’s office, asking if she had made the appointment. She explained that she was scheduled for the following month. However, the office urged her to call back and request the first available slot.

“I did, and they got me in two weeks earlier,” Rocio recalls. She updated Dr. Scamard’s office, but then something unexpected happened. Dr. Scamard personally got on the phone. “He told me he had already made an appointment for me for the following day,” Rocio says. Surprised, she mentioned that she had to work, to which Dr. Scamard responded, “Give me your work number, and I’ll explain the situation to them.”

“I couldn’t believe an eye doctor would do that,” Rocio explains. She went to the appointment, where the specialist quickly sent her to the hospital. “I was diagnosed with meningitis. One of the nurses told me that if I hadn’t come in when I did, I would have died.”

Rocio credits Dr. Scamard’s insistence with saving her life. Reflecting on the experience, she remembers that her father had passed away when she was a teenager, and at the time of her illness, her daughter was the same age she had been.

“This could have been history repeating itself,” she says. “But thanks to Dr. Scamard, I’m here, enjoying my family, and they’re enjoying me.”

And, while Dr. Scamard may not have saved NeighborhoodNews editor Gary Nager’s life, he certainly helped save his eyesight. When Gary told Dr. Scamard that he was seeing spots before his eyes, Dr. Scamard ran a few tests and recognized that, in Gary’s case, those spots were a sign that Gary had a detached retina, so he immediately called retinal specialist and surgeon Dr. Alfred White at Retina Vitreous Associates in Wesley Chapel and got Dr. White to see Gary the same day. Dr. White performed retinal reattachment surgery on Gary’s left eye the next day.

“If left untreated, a detached retina can lead blindness in the affected eye,” Dr. Scamard says. “It needs to be taken care of quickly.”

Dr. Scamard also says that when Gary told the story in this publication of how Dr. Scamard diagnosed him — and then made sure Gary was seen as quickly as possible by Dr. White — a lot of people started coming in to Excellence in Eye Care to have the spots in their eyes checked.

“A number of things — even just not drinking enough water — can cause some people to see spots,” Dr. Dave says. “It’s not always a detached retina, but it is something you want to have checked as quickly as possible.”

About Costco Membership

Making an appointment at Excellence in Eye Care is simple. If you don’t have a Costco membership, just inform the greeter at the entrance that you have an eye appointment, and they’ll let you through. Dr. Scamard works directly with the Costco optical department, which can provide glasses or contact lenses based on your prescription.

In addition to Dr. Scamard and Dr. Woolwine, the office staff includes techs Evangelina, Savannah, Alex, and Francesca, all dedicated to providing a smooth and pleasant experience.

Embracing Technology
Dr. Scamard uses a lot of technology to diagnose eye problems and find the right prescription for you.

“Many of my patients come in for a quick exam,” says Dr. Scamard, “and when they’re told they need their eyes dilated, they often say they don’t have the time and will do it next time.”

Dilating the eyes allows optometrists to get a clearer view of the back of the eye, which is crucial for detecting conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. In Rocio’s case, significant inflammation at the back of her eye was detected during this process.

Dr. Scamard notes that he has even seen cases of diabetic retinopathy in patients who didn’t know they had diabetes.

When patients arrive, the staff uses a refractor, a machine that helps determine the correct lens type needed. “The information from the refractor is sent to a phoropter, which pre-populates the prescription numbers,” Dr. Scamard explains. The phoropter is the device used when you’re asked, “One or two? Two or three?” during an eye exam, helping to fine-tune the lens prescription.

For patients who can’t spare the time for dilation, Excellence in Eye Care offers a modern solution: the Optos machine. Optos retinal photography captures a detailed image of the inside of the eye without the need for dilation. “It allows us to show patients exactly what we see,” Dr. Scamard says. “We charge a minimal fee for this test, and it’s worth it for many patients who are short on time.”

When it comes to children, Dr. Scamard encourages parents to pay attention to early signs of vision issues. However, he recommends that all children get an eye exam early, even if no problems are noticeable.

To support this, both Dr. Scamard and Dr. Woolwine participate in the InfantSEE program, a public health initiative started by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Managed by the American Optometric Association (AOA), the program offers no-cost comprehensive eye assessments for infants aged 6 to 12 months, regardless of a family’s income or insurance status. This ensures that vision care becomes a vital part of infant wellness.

A Clear Vision For The Future

At Excellence in Eye Care, Dr. Scamard and his team are committed to more than just helping patients see clearly — they’re dedicated to their patients’ overall well-being. Whether it’s using cutting-edge technology to streamline care or going the extra mile to ensure someone gets life-saving treatment, the level of care you receive here is exceptional.

Having compassionate, dedicated doctors like Dr. Scamard and Dr. Woolwine, conveniently located inside Costco, means you have access to high-quality, personalized care that truly makes a difference.

So, next time you’re at Costco for those un-beatable savings, remember that one of the greatest deals inside might just be on your health — because at Excellence in Eye Care, they’re not just saving your eyesight, they could be saving your life.

Excellence in Eye Care doesn’t accept insurance, but will provide an itemized receipt to submit for reimbursement with vision insurance companies. Costco Optical does accept insurance for glasses, contact lenses and other eyewear products.

Excellence In Eye Care is located inside Costco at 2225 Grand Cypress Dr. in Lutz.The office is open Mon.,Wed. & Fri., 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; 1 p.m.–7 p.m. onTues. &Thur.; & 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Sat. For more information call (813) 279-7038, or visit ExcellenceInEyeCare.net.

Check Out The Hyatt Place’s Thanksgiving Buffet! 

If you don’t feel like having to cook a big meal at home for Thanksgiving, why not check out the big Thanksgiving Buffet at the beautiful Hyatt Place Hotel Tampa/ Wesley Chapel (26000 Sierra Center Blvd., just west of I-75, Lutz), on Thursday, November 28 (obviously), with three seatings — one at 10:30 a.m., one at noon and the last at 1:30 p.m. 

The buffet menu will include most of your Turkey Day entrée favorites, including a not-so-traditional (but also extremely popular) fried turkey, as well as honey-glazed ham and tender, slow-roasted prime rib served with a savory au jus. Less traditional main course options include citrus-glazed salmon fillets and beef tips sautéed with portobello mushrooms in a rich, savory sauce. 

Starters include lobster & crab bisque and a butternut squash soup, Italian chopped salad, a “berry bliss” salad, as well as classic creamy potato salad and a “melody” of pasta salad. 

Side dishes include creamy garlic mashed potatoes, Southern macaroni & cheese, sweet candied yams, wild rice pilaf, sweet & savory glazed carrots and green beans sautéed in lemon butter. 

Save room for dessert, as there will be (of course) sweet potato pie, traditional apple pie and rich cream carrot cake. 

The meal also will include live music at all three seatings and bottomless mimosas (for ages 21 & older), although the Hyatt Place also will offer its full premium-liquor bar (Note-All bar drinks will incur an additional charge; soft drinks are included in the per-person price, however). 

The price for this sumptuous meal with no post-meal cleanup at your house? It’s just $75 per person, $30 for children under age 12 and children under age three eat for free. The prices do not include tax or gratuity and an 18% gratuity will be included for all parties of six or more. 

Reservations are definitely suggested, as the hotel believes that all three seatings are likely to sell out. To reserve your table, call (813) 803-5600. For more information, visit Hyatt.com/WesleyChapel. — GN 

Update – Morris Bridge Rd. Has Reopened!

Although, as of the day this issue went to press, Morris Bridge Rd. between Cross Creek Blvd. and S.R. 56 was still closed (as it has been since Hurricane Milton blew through our area on Oct. 9-10), based on my conversations with more than one Hillsborough County Sheriff ’s Office (HCSO) deputy on duty at the Hillsborough side of the closure, the road itself and a storm drain in that segment were both damaged by the storm. 

The second deputy I spoke with said that despite reports that the road would reopen by sometime between Oct. 30-Nov. 4, he had no idea when the storm drain repairs would be completed or how long that segment of Morris Bridge Rd. would remain closed (top photo). 

K-Bar Ranch residents who normally take Morris Bridge Rd. to work and/or take their kids to and from school were still being diverted away from Morris Bridge at our press time, but the hope here is that they would be able to resume using the two-lane roadway by the time this issue reached your mailbox, but there were no guarantees. Morris Bridge Rd. is already a dangerous place to drive because of people attempting to pass slower-moving vehicles, so please don’t make the situation worse by ignoring or attempting to move the barricades. 

Flatwoods Park Reopens, But… 

Speaking of damage from Milton, both entrances (at 18205 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. at 14302 Morris Bridge Rd.) to the Wilderness Conservation Park Flatwoods Site (aka “Flatwoods Park,” bottom photo) reopened on Oct. 25, even though other county parks along or off Morris Bridge Rd. in the Lower Hillsborough Wildlife Management Area — including Dead River Park and Trout Creek Conservation Park — remained closed at our press time. 

While Flatwoods Park itself is now fully passable along the 7-mile paved loop from Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and 8.25-mile loop from Morris Bridge Rd., park ranger Matthew Parejko said on Nov. 3 that many of the hiking and off-road biking portions of the park were “still not safe to use due to damage from Milton” nearly three weeks after the storm. 

A little south and east of Flatwoods, Morris Bridge Park (13630 Morris Bridge Rd.), best known for fishing along the Hillsborough River, also has reopened, although most of the areas closest to the river also remain unusable due to damage from Milton. 

For more information about Flatwoods and the other parks along Morris Bridge Rd., call (813) 426-5583. There is a regularly updated recorded message and the park rangers do return calls, too. 

You’ll Love It When You Find Silva’s Coffee Grind On S.R. 54 (In Front Of One-Stop Landscape Supply)!

When Angela Silva called our office a week or before Hurricane Helene hit, the first thing that stood out to me was her New Yawk accent. That’s not always so important to me, but when that accent is telling you that her and her husband Hiram (photo below) had just opened a “new caw-fee and New Yawk bagel place called Silva’s Coffee Grind” (on S.R. 54, in a tricked-out trailer in front of One-Stop Landscape Supply at 34100 S.R. 54), I was suddenly even more interested in what she had to say.

The week after Helene decimated the Gulf coast, Jannah and I went to sample what the Silvas had to offer.

And, we both came away impressed. The coffee is delicious (they get their espresso for their cappuccinos, lattes, macchiatos & espresso affogatos from Coffee Latitudes) and the bagels? Oy! Legit!

“We import them from New Yawk,’ Hiram says, “but I won’t tell you where from because I know you’re gonna write about it and I want us to be the only place that has them.”

I, of course, had my bacon, egg and Swiss cheese on a toasted everything, while Jannah opted to have her bacon, egg and cheddar on a toasted croissant. Both yum.

By the time of our next visit, a few days before Hurricane Milton hit, Angela was making sure they could get an ad in this issue of the paper and I prom- ised I would tell 105,000 or so of my closest friends in Wesley Chapel a little bit about them.

We opted for a lunch sandwich this time — a delicious turkey BLT on a toasted plain bagel, with lettuce, tomato and Angela’s zesty homemade pesto cream sauce. “I like it on everything,” Hiram says. And, who could argue with him?

Hiram, who does the on-site cooking, is all about giving the people outstanding breakfast and lunch items at a fair price and he is planning to expand the menu offerings in response to people’s requests. As seen in the ad below, Silva’s Coffee Grind also features iced coffee, cold brew, iced lattes and frappes, hot and cold teas, including green tea matcha, flavored iced teas and lemonades, bursting boba tea drinks and even smoothies and sorbets — all from that one little trailer? Ya gotta try it, yo!

Silva’s Coffee Grind is open Mon.-Fri., 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. & 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sat. For more info, search “Silvas Coffee Grind” on Facebook or @Silvas.Coffee.Grind” on Instagram. — GN

Saddlebrook Celebrates Being The New HQ For The Tennis & Pickleball Registries!

PTR & PPR’s 23,000+ Professional Coaching Members In 127 Countries Now Call Saddlebrook Resort Home!

(Above, l.-r.) Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) & Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) CEO Peter Hurley, PTR Board Chair Lynne Rolley, Saddlebrook VP of International Sports Patrick Farrell, PTR Vice-Chair Martin van Daalen, Florida’s Sports Coast Marketing & Comm. Dir. Raul Nardi, PTR COO Brian Parkkonen & USTA Senior Dir. Craig Jones cut the ribbon at Saddlebrook Resort.

Why is it such a big deal that Saddlebrook Resort is now the new home of both the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) and the Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR)?

Well, for one thing, the 125-year-old PTR has moved its headquarters for the first time in 40 years, from Hilton Head, South Carolina, according to PTR Board Chair Lynne Rolley, who opened the festivities at the Grand Opening and ribbon-cutting event for PTR and PPR at Saddlebrook on Sept. 24. “We made this significant move to relocate here to Saddlebrook Resort and we are just so excited,” Rolley said. “Today marks the beginning of an incredible journey for us. Saddlebrook has always been a leader in the tennis community.”

She noted that Saddlebrook has, “trained so many Grand Slam champions, including Jim Courier, Andy Roddick, John Isner, Marty Fish, Lisa Raymond, Martina Hingis, Mary Pierce, Justine Henin and about 20 more. Some of our great coaches from Saddlebrook, sitting right here, have been responsible for that success.”

Rolley also said this about Saddlebrook: “This state-of-the-art facility will become a hub for developing coaches, empowering athletes and fostering a community that’s passionate about the growth of tennis and pickleball.”

Of course, those who have been responsible for PTR and its now 23,000 members under one umbrella (including 10,000 PPR members) in 127 countries have always been passionate about tennis and, for the last six years, pickleball.

Accredited by the United State Tennis Association (USTA), PTR offers globally-recognized certifications for tennis instructors and is the largest membership organization in the world for certifying tennis coaches.

And, with pickleball, still acknowledged as the fastest-growing sport in the country, PPR, which was founded in 2018, has grown exponentially and has been a big contributor to the 20% growth of PTR’s overall membership from 19,000 in a little more than a year.

“Who knows,” Rolley said, “We may soon train a Grand Slam champion in pickleball here.”

Rolley then introduced PTR Vice-Chair Martin van Daalen and called up PTR and PPR CEO (and new Wesley Chapel resident) Peter Hurley to the microphone.

Hurley first thanked Rolley and said that her hard work also has helped Saddlebrook groom many of its long list of professional tennis champions and, “along with Martin, helped bring PTR and PPR here to Wesley Chapel.”

Saddlebrook VP Of Intl. Sports Patrick Farrell

Hurley joked that the day of the Grand Opening, “marks my seventh day on the job as CEO of PTR and PPR, although I feel as though I’ve been here for a lifetime.”

He added, “This is a monumental day for our organization. I want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to our passionate members and to our ‘picklers,’ who are out here enjoying the day with Sarah (Ansboury, the managing director of PPR and a five-time U.S. Open Pickleball champion), our dedicated staff and Board of Directors and the entire Saddlebrook community for the warm welcome you have given us. We look forward to engaging members, developing content, education and curriculums and events that will drive visitors to the Saddlebrook area.”

Hurley then introduced Patrick Farrell, the VP of International Sports at Saddlebrook. “Patrick has an amazing team here,” Hurley said. “He also oversees the operation of the Saddlebrook Preparatory School, one of the most prestigious golf and tennis academies in the world. Pat has held many key leadership positions at top resorts across America, but most important to me is that he’s also a great guy, a class act and a phenomenal partner.”

Farrell welcomed everyone to Saddlebrook and thanked both the ownership group of the resort (Mast Capital) and Florida’s Sports Coast (Pasco’s destination management organization), “because without them, this really couldn’t have transpired.

Their support and what they do to bring sports tourism to Pasco County is unsurpassed in this industry. The work that they do helps support the tourism business here. The impacts for not just racquet sports but the hospitality business in this area and the impacts for the community are immense.”

He also noted that, “Thanks to Florida’s Sports Coast, we have people moving into the area to be team members of PPR and PTR, plus all of their events and programming throughout the year. So, it’s extremely exciting to have them as a partner for the long term. They are helping to take Saddlebrook to new heights and restoring it to its past grandeur. Our entire staff is extremely excited to partner with PTR and PPR and look forward to a great future.”

Next up was Raul Nardi, the marketing & communications director for Florida’s Sports Coast., who said how excited the county’s tourism office was to have PTR and PPR moving to Saddlebrook. “We know this move will have a profound impact on our tourism,” Nardi said, “and Saddlebrook is renowned for its beautiful amenities and world-class tennis facilities. And, with the addition of PTR and PPR, we can expect an influx of visitors, coaches and sports enthusiasts to the region. These guests will not only fill our hotel rooms, but also dine at our restaurants, shop at our stores and visit our multiple attractions that our beautiful county has to offer.”

Nardi added that Pasco County officials also are excited about the, “economic impact that all of these visitors and different events, tournaments and championships that are coming into our county [will bring]. It’s going to create jobs, drive revenues, encourage investment in the area and we expect it to have a ripple effect and bring still more visitors to our area. We’re just thrilled to see this flourish and come to fruition.”

Then, Hurley introduced USTA senior director of coaching Craig Jones, noting that “The USTA is a vital partner to PTR and PPR. Craig is responsible for developing coaching resources, workshops and accreditation. He is a certified PTR Professional and a USTA high-performance coach.

Prior to coming to USTA, Craig spent 25 years as a club owner, a director and a junior developer working with young players from novice through international champion.”

Jones said, “We want to welcome PTR to the great tennis state of Florida.” He mentioned that the USTA’s own National Campus is located in Orlando, “So, how great is it to have these two amazing facilities within 80 miles of each other? The USTA also is looking forward to more collaboration with PTR in the future.”

Hurley, van Daalen, Rolley, Farrell, Jones & Parkkonen celebrate PTR & PPR’s new home at Saddlebrook with a champagne toast.

Hurley also thanked Brian Parkkonen, the Chief Operating Officer of PTR. “Brian has been juggling multiple responsibilities to facilitate our move from Hilton Head while also helping me get up to speed in the last seven days.”

He also mentioned that Parkkonen has more than ten years of service to PTR. “Brian has played a pivotal role in advancing education pathways and developing innovative programs, including the PTR education dashboard and advancing the PPR pickle- ball certification curriculum.”

Parkkonen then said, “You’ve heard about all of the exciting things that are going to happen with PTR and PPR’s headquarters being relocated here to the beautiful Saddlebrook Resort. We’re excited about the impact that these organizations are going to have on Saddlebrook, as well as Pasco County. The question becomes now, ‘How do we deliver this exceptional service?’ It gives me great pride and honor to introduce the staff that’s going to be driving our initiatives here at Saddlebrook. As many of you know, putting together an exceptional team is not an easy task.”

He noted that it takes time, “to identify those who have the right skill sets, that have a passion for their sports — whether that be tennis, pickleball, padel, platform tennis, etc. — that have a generational perspective, in that we have individuals from multiple generations, all with the same goal of really providing an exceptional experience for our members.”

Parkkonen also quoted former NBA coach Phil Jackson, who said, “The strength of a team are the individual members of the team. The strength of the individual members is the team. And I think that what we’ve had the opportunity to put together at PTR and PPR is truly an exceptional team.”

He added that “Not only are PTR and PPR bringing a successful business to Saddlebrook.

We’re bringing exceptional individuals who will be contributors to the community. And, I don’t think most staffs have over 125 years of experience on their team, but we do.”

Parkkonen then introduced both the team relocating to Saddlebrook “and those who will be working remotely as well — (PPR managing director) Sarah Ansboury, (VP of special events & pickle-ball) Julie Jilly, (international director) Inaki Balzoa, Michael Baumgarten and (event coordinator) Dimitri Vlassov).” The remote folks Parkkonen thanked included (PTR membership director) Helma Capp, (PTR marketing manager) Caitlyn Fries, (PTR director of education and diversity) Milena Vidos, (PTR membership coordinator Sanaz Marand, (PPR membership services) Melanie Beckler. Then, there was a champagne toast to end the festivities.

For more info about PTR,visit PTRTennis.org. For PPR, visit PPRPickleball.org. For Saddlebrook Resort info, visit Saddlebrook.com.