Referrals (For Physicians)

At Lakewood Ranch Retina, we greatly value our relationships with referring optometrists, ophthalmologists, and other healthcare providers. Thank you for trusting us with the care of your patients. As a physician-owned practice, our commitment is to provide your referred patients with prompt, expert retinal care and to maintain open communication with you throughout the process.

Referral Process:

Referring a patient is easy. Please download and complete our Patient Referral Form (available on this page or in our resources section) and fax it to our office. You may also securely email the form to us at our contact email. If you prefer, simply call our office and our staff will assist in scheduling the patient and gathering the necessary information. For any urgent or sight-threatening cases (such as suspected retinal detachment or acute vision loss), please call us directly – we will expedite those appointments, often seeing the patient the same day.

Collaborative Care:

We consider ourselves an extension of your care team. After evaluating and treating your patient, Dr. Rohowetz will send you a timely consultation report detailing our findings, treatment plan, and recommendations for follow-up. We make every effort to return the patient to your care for routine eye health needs once the retinal issue is addressed. Our goal is to ensure continuity of care and that the patient feels supported by both their primary eye care provider and Dr. Rohowetz.

Why Refer to Lakewood Ranch Retina?

As a Bascom Palmer-trained retina specialist, Dr. Rohowetz offers advanced skills in medical and surgical retina care. As former chief resident at Bascom Palmer, he has extensive experience independently managing a high volume of complex surgical and medical retina conditions in addition to more common diseases such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

As a recipient of the prestigious Heed and Michels fellowships, Dr. Rohowetz brings extensive knowledge and academic excellence to the area, relying on evidence-based principles to provide objective evidence-based care to patients.

As the owner and founder of Lakewood Ranch Retina, Dr. Rohowetz is deeply committed to serving the community with personalized, accessible care. Our independent, physician-led model prioritizes patient relationships, continuity of care, and long-term commitment to the region. Patients and referring physicians can trust that clinical decisions are made locally, based solely on medical need, and free from outside influence.

Our clinic is equipped with cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment technology, allowing for accurate diagnoses and in-office treatments (lasers, injections) when appropriate. Patients receive academic-level care without having to travel far.

We understand that retinal problems often need prompt attention. We prioritize urgent referrals – if you have a patient with an emergency, we will accommodate them as soon as possible, including same-day appointments for conditions like retinal tears or acute vision changes. Our responsive scheduling ensures your patients won’t face unnecessary delays in care.

We accept Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and most major insurance plans, as well as many secondary insurances. This broad participation means you can refer patients with confidence that insurance will likely be accepted, minimizing out-of-pocket barriers for your patients.

We keep referring doctors informed. You will receive consultation notes and updates on your patient’s treatment. We are also readily available by phone if you wish to discuss a case or co-manage aspects of the patient’s care. This collaborative approach ensures the best outcomes for the patient and a seamless hand-off back to you for ongoing care.

We strive to make the referral experience smooth for you and your staff. Download the referral form, or contact our office for any questions about the referral process. We appreciate your partnership in caring for patients – together we’ll work to protect and enhance your patient’s vision.