Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood Ranch Retina is slated to open in July 2026. We are in the process of setting up the clinic and will begin scheduling appointments as we get closer to that date. Keep an eye on our website and social media for announcements regarding the exact opening day and when we’ll start taking appointment bookings.
Not necessarily. No formal referral is required to schedule an appointment with our retina specialist for most patients. You can contact us directly to set up a consultation. However, some insurance plans (particularly certain HMOs or managed care plans) might require a referral or authorization to cover the visit. It’s a good idea to check with your insurance provider, and if a referral is needed, ask your primary care physician or general eye doctor to provide one. We also welcome referrals from other eye care professionals – but if you’re a patient seeking care, you can reach out to us on your own. We’ll assist with any paperwork needed to ensure your visit is covered.
We specialize in retinal and vitreous diseases – essentially problems in the back of the eye. This includes conditions like macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal tears and detachments, retinal vein occlusions, macular holes, epiretinal membranes (macular puckers), uveitis (eye inflammation), dislocated lenses, and more. We do not handle general eye care like prescribing glasses or treating cataracts/glaucoma (we will refer you to specialists in those areas as needed). If your vision issue is related to the retina or if you’ve been told you have a retinal condition, we are the right place. For a more comprehensive list, see our Conditions page on this site.
During your first appointment, we will conduct a thorough evaluation of your eyes, especially the retina. When you arrive, our staff will go over your medical history and any symptoms. Pupil dilation is typically part of a full retinal exam. We will place dilating drops in your eyes to widen your pupils, which allows Dr. Rohowetz to get a detailed look at your retina. Dilation takes about 20 minutes to fully work and will cause your vision to be blurry (especially up close) and increase your sensitivity to light for a few hours. The doctor may also order special imaging tests (like an OCT scan or retinal photographs) if needed. After all the exams and tests, Dr. Rohowetz will discuss the findings with you and recommend a treatment or monitoring plan. Plan on being in our office for 1 to 2 hours for this first visit, due to the dilation and comprehensive testing. Our goal is to ensure all your questions are answered before you leave.
Before our opening in July 2026, you can get in touch via email or through our online contact form to express your interest in an appointment. We will maintain a list and reach out to schedule you once our calendar is open. As we approach opening, we will also start taking phone calls for appointments – at that time, simply call our office number (to be published soon) during business hours to schedule. After we open, scheduling an appointment will be as easy as calling our office or requesting one through this website. If you are being referred by another doctor, they might fax or call in a referral and we will then contact you to set up the visit. We strive to offer prompt appointment availability, especially for urgent problems.
We accept Medicare, Medicaid, and major medical insurance plans. This includes Medicare Part B, Medicare Advantage plans, and a wide range of private insurance carriers such as Aetna and Cigna. If you have a specific insurance and are unsure, you can check our Patient Support page for a list of insurances or contact us to confirm. Please note that we bill medical insurance for retinal care. Routine eye exams (for glasses, etc.) are not covered by us as we don’t use vision insurance plans in our practice. If you don’t have insurance or your insurance is out-of-network, let us know – we have self-pay options and will work with you so that you can be seen.
Yes! We work collaboratively with your regular eye care provider (whether it’s an optometrist or general ophthalmologist). Think of us as part of your eye care team. We focus on the retinal issue that you were referred for, and once that is managed, you’ll continue to see your regular eye doctor for routine eye exams, glasses, cataract care, etc. Throughout your treatment at Lakewood Ranch Retina, we will send updates and reports to your referring or primary eye doctor so they know what is going on. After we complete treatment or stabilize your condition, we’ll recommend that you follow up with them for ongoing general eye health monitoring. We’re always available if the retinal problem requires ongoing specialized attention, but we do not replace your primary eye doctor – we supplement their care with our expertise in retina.
Absolutely. If you’ve been diagnosed with a retinal condition elsewhere and would like a second opinion, we are happy to help. Dr. Rohowetz can review your records, perform his own evaluation, and discuss his recommendations. We understand the importance of feeling confident in your care plan. A second opinion can provide reassurance or present alternative treatment options. Simply contact us to set up a consultation and let us know it’s for a second opinion. We’ll likely ask you to bring (or have sent) any prior test results or imaging, if available, to make the most of your visit.
It’s normal to feel anxious about procedures on the eye, but rest assured that patient comfort is a top priority for us. Intravitreal injections (eye injections) are done with the eye fully numbed using anesthetic drops (and sometimes gel or a small anesthetic injection in the eyelid if needed). Most patients feel pressure but no sharp pain during the injection – it’s over within seconds. Dr. Rohowetz and our team will talk you through it and use techniques to make you as comfortable as possible. After an injection, your eye might feel a little irritated or gritty for a day, but serious pain is not typical – we’ll provide aftercare instructions to help you manage any minor discomfort.
For retinal surgeries (like vitrectomy or scleral buckle), these are performed in an operating room under anesthesia. Depending on the case, you might have either local anesthesia with sedation (meaning you’re relaxed and your eye is numbed, but you aren’t fully “out”) or general anesthesia (completely asleep). You won’t feel pain during the surgery. Some soreness or irritation can occur in the eye for a few days after surgery, but we prescribe appropriate pain relievers and drops to minimize that. Dr. Rohowetz will explain exactly what to expect before and after any procedure so you feel prepared. Many patients are surprised at how comfortable these eye procedures can be with the proper care.
If you experience a sudden change in vision such as a dark shadow coming across your vision, a burst of new floaters and flashes, sudden severe blurred vision, or eye trauma it could be a retinal emergency. Call us right away if it’s during office hours. We will triage the situation and likely instruct you to come in immediately for evaluation. If it’s after hours or you cannot reach us quickly, and you suspect a serious problem like a retinal detachment or acute vision loss, you should go to the nearest emergency room. The ER can stabilize any general issues and they will contact an on-call ophthalmologist. We have arrangements to be notified of emergencies for our patients. Once our practice is open, our phone system will provide an emergency contact method (such as reaching Dr. Rohowetz or the doctor on call). In short, do not ignore sudden vision changes as time can be critical, especially for issues like retinal detachment. We would rather you err on the side of caution and get checked promptly. For any urgent concerns, we will make space to see you as soon as possible.
Minor treatments like laser therapy or intravitreal injections are done right in our office. We have a procedure room equipped for these in-office treatments. If you require a surgical procedure (for example, a vitrectomy for a retinal detachment or macular hole), Dr. Rohowetz will perform the surgery at a nearby ambulatory surgery center or hospital. These facilities have the specialized equipment needed for eye surgery and allow us to do the surgery on an outpatient basis (meaning you go home the same day in most cases). We will schedule the surgery for you and provide all the pre-operative instructions. The actual location will depend on our affiliations; as we establish our practice, we’ll have specific surgery center partnerships in the Sarasota/Bradenton area so it’s convenient for our patients. Rest assured, any surgery will be done in a fully accredited surgical facility with an experienced ophthalmic anesthesia team to ensure your safety and comfort.
The frequency of your visits really depends on your diagnosis and treatment plan. Some conditions require multiple treatments and regular monitoring. For example, if you have wet macular degeneration or diabetic macular edema, you might receive injections every 4–6 weeks initially, and we’ll see you monthly to gauge response. For a stable condition, we might see you only a few times a year. Dr. Rohowetz will outline the expected course, whether it’s a series of injections, a post-surgery follow-up schedule, or periodic exams. Our office will help schedule these in advance. We also understand life is busy; if you have travel or transportation constraints, let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your needs (sometimes we can coordinate multiple treatments on the same day or adjust timing). Adhering to the recommended follow-up schedule is very important in retina care, since many conditions need ongoing treatment to maintain vision. We’ll partner with you to make it as manageable as possible.
We are always here to answer your questions! You can call or email us any time, and our team will provide answers or direct your question to Dr. Rohowetz if needed. During your appointments, never hesitate to speak up if something isn’t clear – we strive to explain things in understandable terms, but we’re happy to repeat or clarify any information. You may also find additional information on our website’s pages (see the Conditions and Treatments sections for educational content). Your understanding of your condition and care is important to us – an informed patient is a partner in achieving the best possible outcomes for their vision. If your question wasn’t covered in this FAQ, just reach out and ask! We’ll update this page periodically to include new frequently asked questions as they arise.