By Kathleen Schiop
Vision is one of only five human senses and for those of us who have it, we can’t imagine life without it. For that reason, we should keep our eyes healthy with regular exams and maintenance. Insight Family Eyecare is here to do just that.
With two locations, one in the Trinity area of New Port Richey (called Trinity Eyecare Optical), and the other located much closer to New Tampa on S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel, Insight Family Eyecare is a full-service optometry practice, specializing in comprehensive eye exams, diagnosing and treating eye diseases and fitting glasses and contact lenses (both hard and soft), with a focus on pediatric eye care.
Founded in November 2009 by Dr. James Robinson, O.D., and his wife and partner, Dr. Leslie Church, O.D., Insight Family Eyecare has been serving the Wesley Chapel area for nearly four years at the same location. Insight also has added Dr. Alfred Lappano, O.D., to the staff at both locations and most recently, well-known local ophthalmologist and pediatric eye specialist Thomas Pusateri, M.D., has begun seeing patients three Wednesdays each month at the Wesley Chapel office.
Dr. Robinson and Dr. Church met in optometry school at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, where they both earned their O.D. (Doctor of Optometry) degrees. They graduated together in 2000 and both also are Board- certified in Optometry in Florida. They live in the Wesley Chapel/Land O’Lakes area and have two children in public schools in Pasco County.
Note-Although he is back in the area following his most recent 15-month deployment in Texas, Dr. Robinson, a U.S. Army Major, will not be seeing patients for a little while longer.
“He is still active for another six months,” says Dr. Church. “So, he won’t be seeing patients at our offices until then.” Dr. Robinson had been treating soldiers returning to Texas from overseas.
Dr. Albert Lappano, O.D. also is a Florida-licensed Board-certified Optometric Physician. Dr. Lappano received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Pennsylvania College of Optometry of Salus University in Elkins Park, PA, in 1981. He has more than 28 years of experience providing comprehensive eye care to patients in the Tampa Bay area. Dr. Lappano is married, lives in Lutz and has three grown children. He says he especially enjoys helping sports enthusiasts improve their visual skills at their chosen athletic activities.
Dr. Thomas Pusateri, M.D., a native of Chicago, has been one of the Tampa Bay area’s best-known ophthalmologists since he was honored with the Dean’s award as the USF School of Medicine’s Outstanding 1984 Graduate. He received advanced medical training at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL, and at USF. A member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Dr. Pusateri is a comprehensive ophthalmologist treating patients of all ages, although he has special interests in pediatric eye care and complex glaucoma management, including SLT laser treatment.
“We are thrilled to offer our patients another outstanding option in eyecare with Dr. Pusateri seeing patients in our Wesley Chapel office,” says Insight office manager David Kosto. “We have always had what we call a ‘subspecialty’ in pediatric eyecare, so Dr. Pusateri’s pediatric eye expertise allows us to provide even better service for our patients of all ages.”
Kosto adds, “Children’s eyes are especially important to keep healthy while they are young and we really have a great set up for kids here. One of our unique features is a large play area for children that they really enjoy. I think that’s one of the things that sets us apart from the rest because very few eye care facilities have this feature.”
In fact, one Wesley Chapel resident wrote (in a Yelp.com review), “Amazing!!! I just walked in the door from taking my three year old to his first eye exam. Before we got there I thought this could really go bad fast… but they were AMAZING! The doctors and the rest of the staff were sooo great with him. The office was really the nicest I have ever been in. They had a great children’s play area and my son felt so at ease he even wanted to take his shoes off, lol! The doctor definitely knew what he was talking about and I am so thankful that I chose this office. Oh, and my son had a blast… Now I know, of all places, that he had fun at the eye doctor?! This is the only eye doctor my family will ever go to again.”
In addition to Kosto, who manages both offices, the doctors are joined by their five capable and knowledgeable staff members — Venisha, the lead optician, Jessica, who also is an optician, and technicians Johanna and Gary.
“The staff is super friendly and you can tell they like working there,” says patient Harry D., of Tampa. “They have good knowledge (of the products and services they provide) and walk you through the entire process. I first came in with a nasty little eye infection and theysaw me right away and don’t think I didn’t appreciate it. I left feeling more like an old friend than just another customer.”
In addition to a great play area for children, and warm, personalized attention to your eyesight needs, Insight Family Eyecare offers specials for pediatric check ups, package pricing on children’s eyeglass frames and lenses to fit any individual budget, as well as designer frames to suit any fashionista, including Oakley, Michael Kors, Prada, Tory Burch, Nike and Ray-Ban, just to name a few. The office also fits and prescribes all type of hard, soft and multi-focal contact lenses.
“And, we pretty much accept every vision insurance plan under the sun,” beams Kosto.
Bringing eye health to the community is a priority concern for the staff at Insight Family Eyecare, so the offices participate in volunteering eye exam services for elementary school eye screenings at Wesley Chapel Elementary, Denham Oaks Elementary in Lutz and Lake Myrtle Elementary in Land O’ Lakes.
Insight also donates frames for local charities and auctions, and sunglasses for raffle prizes at car shows, including one coming up to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer foundation on Saturday, May 4, in Palm Harbor.
Insight Family Eyecare, P.A., is located at 27607 S.R. 56, Suite #101, in Wesley Chapel, in the same plaza as Wolf’s Den restaurant. The office is open Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Tuesday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday. For appointments and more information, call 406-4993 or visit InsightFamilyEyecare.com. For Trinity Eyecare Optical (10751 Maple Creek Dr., Suite #104, New Port Richey), call (727) 375-8442 or visit Trinity-Eyecare.com.
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