Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute

What Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute does

Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute (FLEI) is a private, multi-specialty ophthalmology practice founded in 1980 by Dr. Gil Epstein and headquartered in Plantation, Florida, with a satellite East Office in Fort Lauderdale. The practice employs more than 50 professionals, including eight board-certified ophthalmologists with sub-specializations in cataract/refractive surgery, retina and vitreous, glaucoma, cornea, and oculoplastics, along with an optometric physician, an ophthalmic nurse practitioner, and a clinical research manager. It serves individual patients across South Florida, the broader Southeastern United States, and the Caribbean, including a dedicated international patient program.

The practice operates as a comprehensive ophthalmic care platform, delivering diagnostic, medical, and surgical services spanning vision correction surgery (LASIK, advanced surface ablation, clear lens extraction), cataract surgery with premium intraocular lens options (toric, multifocal, monovision) and femtosecond laser assistance, retina and vitreous surgery including vitrectomy and treatment of macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma management, oculoplastics (blepharoplasty, ptosis repair, brow lifting, CO2 laser resurfacing, Mohs reconstruction), and dry eye management. Diagnostic capability includes A-Scan biometry for intraocular lens calculation. An active clinical research program has completed more than 30 trials and contributed to peer-reviewed publications, providing patient access to investigational therapies.

Revenue is generated through fee-for-service professional charges across insured and self-pay procedures. The practice employs a sales-led go-to-market approach combining direct patient acquisition (phone, online appointment requests), physician referrals, and international patient services. Patient financing is enabled through a CareCredit partnership covering cataract surgery, cosmetic eyelid surgery, retinal injections, and other out-of-pocket services. Care delivery is anchored by the Plantation headquarters with 24/7 on-call coverage, supplemented by the Fort Lauderdale East Office and a multi-channel marketing footprint that includes educational blog/video content, social media, and Google Reviews.

Name

Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute

Legal name

Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute

Website

https://flei.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute is a private, multi-specialty ophthalmology practice founded in 1980 in Plantation, Florida, with eight board-certified sub-specialist surgeons serving individual patients across South Florida, the Southeastern U.S., and the Caribbean with comprehensive medical and surgical eye care.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmology Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (62111)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ambulatory Surgery Centers (Ophthalmic/Outpatient Eye Surgery) (HLAKAKAO), Retina & Vitreous Specialists (HLAKAKAE), Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK) (HLAKAKAF)

Keywords

• Ophthalmology services
• Cataract surgery
• Retina care
• Oculoplastic surgery
• Eye disease treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Plantation

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ophthalmic Medical and Surgical Services: Direct patient care revenue from comprehensive ophthalmological services including eye exams, diagnostic testing, medical treatments, and surgical procedures for conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases, and oculoplastic surgeries.
2. Healthcare Financing Intermediary: Accepts CareCredit as payment option for out-of-pocket medical expenses, providing patients with flexible financing plans for services like cataract surgery, cosmetic eyelid surgery, and retinal injections.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute is a multi-specialty ophthalmology practice that provides diagnostic, medical, and surgical eye care to individual patients. Its core offerings span vision correction surgery (LASIK, advanced surface ablation, astigmatism surgery), cataract surgery with advanced intraocular lens implants, oculoplastic and eyelid surgery, retina and vitreous surgery, and management of glaucoma, dry eye, and other eye diseases, supported by an in-house clinical research program.

Product overview

Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute is a multi-specialty ophthalmology practice offering comprehensive eye care services. The practice operates as a single unified healthcare facility providing surgical and medical treatments across several subspecialties. The core service offerings include Vision Correction Surgery (LASIK, Advanced Surface Ablation, Astigmatism Surgery), Oculoplastics (Blepharoplasty, Ptosis Repair, Brow Lifting, CO2 Laser Resurfacing), Cataract Surgery with advanced Lens Implants (Monofocal, Toric, Multifocal options using femtosecond laser technology), Retina & Vitreous Services (treatment for macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, vitrectomy), Eye Disease Treatment (Glaucoma, Dry Eye), and Clinical Research Trials. The practice also provides diagnostic services like A-Scan Biometry and treatment procedures such as Punctal Plugs for dry eye management. Additional payment options include CareCredit financing for eligible patients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vision Correction Surgery Comprehensive refractive and corrective eye surgery including LASIK, Advanced Surface Ablation, Astigmatism Surgery, Clear Lens Extraction, and Small Gauge Vitrectomy, designed to correct vision errors and reduce dependence on glasses or contact lenses for individual patients.
• Oculoplastics Specialized plastic and reconstructive surgery of the eyelids, orbit, and tear ducts, including Upper and Lower Blepharoplasty, Brow Lifting, Ptosis Repair, CO2 Laser Resurfacing, Ectropion and Entropion Repair, Mohs Reconstruction, and other cosmetic and functional oculoplastic procedures for individual patients.
• Cataract Surgery & Lens Implants Advanced technology laser cataract surgery with multiple intraocular lens (IOL) options including Monofocal, Toric for astigmatism correction, and Multifocal for presbyopia correction, along with YAG laser treatment for posterior capsular opacification, delivered to individual patients with cataracts.
• Retina & Vitreous Services Medical and surgical treatment of retinal diseases including dry and wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, retinal tears and detachments, macular holes, uveitis, ocular trauma, flashes and floaters, and chorioretinitis, including vitrectomy surgery and clinical trial access, delivered to individual patients.
• Glaucoma Management Diagnosis and treatment of open-angle and angle-closure glaucoma, including medication management, laser surgery, and microsurgical options to control intraocular pressure and prevent optic nerve damage in individual patients.
• Dry Eye Testing & Treatment Comprehensive dry eye evaluation including tear film assessment and Meibomian gland imaging, with treatment options such as artificial tears, prescription medications, punctal plugs, IPL treatments, and lid hygiene procedures for individual patients with dry eye disease.
• Keratoconus Treatment Treatment options for keratoconus including Intacs corneal implants, collagen cross-linking, specialty contact lenses, and corneal transplant surgery for advanced cases, delivered to individual patients with keratoconus.
• Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery Computer-controlled bladeless cataract surgery using femtosecond laser technology for precision corneal incisions, capsulotomy, and lens fragmentation, offering lower likelihood of infection and faster healing compared to manual cataract surgery.
• A-Scan Biometry Computerized ultrasound test using sound waves bounced off the back of the eye to calculate the strength of the intraocular lens implant for precise cataract surgery planning.
• Clinical Trials Active clinical research program conducting trials for new ophthalmic treatments in retina and other eye conditions, offering qualifying individual patients access to investigational therapies and contributing to medical literature in leading journals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dr. Keith Skolnick has performed over 22,000 cataract and lens replacement procedures since 1997.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (University of Miami Health System): Ranked #1 eye hospital in the US and located in the same South Florida market as FLEI. Comparable as a multi-subspecialty ophthalmology provider delivering tertiary medical, surgical, and clinical research services, though at academic-medical-center scale.
• Center For Sight (EyeCare Partners affiliate): Large multi-location ophthalmology and optometry platform across Florida now part of the EyeCare Partners PE-backed network. Comparable in service breadth and premium cataract offering, illustrating the consolidator pathway FLEI might consider.

Direct peers

• Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute: Long-standing independent multi-specialty ophthalmology practice in South Florida (Boca Raton/West Palm Beach). Closely comparable in service mix (cataract, retina, glaucoma, oculoplastics), independent ownership model, and reliance on community referrals.
• Rand Eye Institute: Multi-specialty ophthalmology and surgical center in Deerfield Beach / Pompano Beach, FL. Directly comparable as a regional ophthalmic surgical practice offering cataract, LASIK, retina, and oculoplastic services with similar physician-led ownership.
• Katzen Eye Group (now part of EyeCare Partners): Multi-specialty ophthalmology practice in Florida acquired by EyeCare Partners. Directly comparable to FLEI's specialty mix and patient demographic, and a representative example of a successful practice partnership/consolidation outcome.
• Florida Retina Institute: Subspecialty retina and vitreous practice with multiple Florida locations. Comparable on the retinal services side of FLEI's offering and on the use of clinical trials as both a patient acquisition and revenue lever.
• Koch Eye Associates (now Retina Consultants of America affiliate): Independent-to-PE-consolidated multi-specialty ophthalmology group in Rhode Island/New England that expanded through clinical research. Comparable trajectory and service mix (cataract, retina, LASIK, glaucoma) to FLEI's current operating model.

Regional players

• Harvard Eye Associates: Multi-specialty ophthalmology group serving Orange County, California. Comparable in service breadth (cataract, retina, glaucoma, oculoplastics) and physician-led ownership, though operating in a different geographic market.
• Piedmont Eye Center: Mid-sized multi-specialty ophthalmology practice in Lynchburg, Virginia offering cataract, retina, glaucoma and oculoplastic services with in-house clinical research. Comparable scale and operating model to FLEI though outside Florida.
• Clewner & Kelly Eye Center: Multi-specialty ophthalmology practice on Florida's east coast with similar cataract, retina, and oculoplastic focus. Comparable as a like-sized independent Florida ophthalmology competitor drawing on a similar patient demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fleieye
• Facebookfacebook.com/FortLauderdaleEye
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fort-lauderdale-eye-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute