By Bonnie Mason
Patients clearly see the focus of the New Tampa Eye Institute — high quality personalized care.
In fact, Michael Alperovich, the CEO and co-founder of New Tampa Eye Institute, located in the Summergate Professional Park (behind Sam’s Club) in Seven Oaks, says, “We have a team of devoted health care professionals standing by to care for you. And, our state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, plus the latest in medical record technology, complement the excellent care our doctors provide their patients.”
Alperovich partners with his wife, Board-certified ophthalmologist Gretta Fridman, M.D., to bring the specialty eye care practice to New Tampa/Wesley Chapel residents.
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors with extensive training focused on the eyes and the area around the eyes. They are able to provide the full continuum of eye care, from routine eye exams to diagnosis of eye disease to performing complex and intricate eye surgeries.
Meet The Doctors
The medical professionals at New Tampa Eye Institute remain at the forefront of medical technology for the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease.
Dr. Fridman is Board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. Prior to completing her residency and glaucoma fellowship at the University of South Florida, Fridman received her M.D. degree from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, and her Bachelor’s Degree from Barnard College of Columbia University, also in New York City. Originally from the Ukraine, Fridman grew up in the Big Apple, which is where she met Alperovich, who is originally from Moscow. Married for 13 years, the couple lives in New Tampa with their 4- and 7-year-old daughters.
A New Tampa Eye Institute patient named George says that Dr. Fridman is great to work with and talks to you in a way that you will understand. “I’d recommend her to anyone,” George says.
“Patient education is a big part of what we do and why we spend as much time as we need to with our patients,” Dr. Fridman says, adding that whether she is explaining a medical diagnosis, treatment options, or after-surgical care to patients and their families, she always tries to speak in terms that can be easily understood.
Dr. Fridman’s subspecialty is in glaucoma, a disease of the optic nerve. Glaucoma generally begins with a subtle loss of peripheral vision that can cause progressive damage to the optic nerve; it is the leading cause of blindness.
“An early diagnosis (of glaucoma) is important,” Dr. Fridman says. “If glaucoma is not diagnosed and treated, it can progress to a loss of vision.” Glaucoma is most often treated with eye drops, although it may require surgery if the drops prove not to be effective.
Dr. Fridman says she also treats patients with cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and all other diseases and disorders of the eyes.
She says she recommends that everyone have their eyes examined once per year, even infants. “Routine eye exams, where your vision and eye pressure are checked, is extremely important to good eye health,” says Dr. Fridman.
Methods to help prevent eye disease include being diligent about ultraviolet (UV) ray protection, eating healthy foods and exercising. The UV rays (radiation) from the sun can damage the skin on your eyelids, as well as your cornea, lens and other parts of the eye and may increase the development of cataracts (the clouding of the eye’s lenses) or macular degeneration. Dr. Fridman explains that protection from this harmful radiation can be accomplished by wearing proper sunglasses that filter the UV rays and that wearing a hat may further protect your eyes.
Dr. Fridman also notes that healthy eating habits are essential to good eye health. In fact, she says, “eating carrots for good eyesight is not a myth. Carrots are high in vitamin A, an essential nutrient for vision.” Other foods containing high quantities of vitamin A and are therefore good for your eyes include egg yolks, milk, cheese and liver. Dr. Fridman cautions that the high oxidation of red meat also can be a cause of macular degeneration and yes, exercising three times a week for at least twenty minutes improves blood flow in all parts of the body, including the eyes. She highly recommends walking, running and other cardiovascular activities.
Dr. Laurie Small, M.D., also is Board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. Dr. Small received her M.D. degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville, which also is where she completed her residency and fellowship in oculoplastic surgery. She earned her Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree from the University of Miami (FL). Dr. Small lives in Wesley Chapel with her husband, gastroenterologist Dr. Michael Small, and their two daughters, ages 3 and 1.
Dr. Small says her subspecialty is in oculoplastics, which is a nice complement to Dr. Fridman’s specialty. Oculoplastic surgeons are ophthalmological eye surgeons with additional advanced training in plastic surgery relating to the eyes and surrounding structures, such as the eyelids, tear drain, eye socket, eyebrow, and midface. Dr. Small can surgically treat patients who have ptosis, the medical term for a droopy eyelid, as well as eyelid tumors, and those with eyelid retractions. She also can alleviate facial spasms with Botox injections.
Minor eye procedures can be performed on site at the New Tampa Eye Institute, although more complicated procedures are conducted at either the New Tampa Surgery Center, located nearby on Cypress Ridge Blvd. (also off S.R. 56) or at the Ambulatory Surgery Center on E. Fletcher Ave., across the street from USF’s Tampa campus.
No matter what eye disorders you are experiencing, or if you are simply looking for a quality, personable eye doctor, the New Tampa Eye Institute features quality ophthalmologists and a state-of-the-art vision center.
The New Tampa Eye Institute is located at 27348 Cashford Cir. in Wesley Chapel and accepts most medical insurance plans. For appointments, call 994-7000. The Institute is open Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Thursday. Saturday hours are available every other week, 9 a.m.-noon. Same-day appointments are available for emergencies. For more information, visit NewTampaEyes.com.
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