Eye Health America Acquires Two Florida Eye Practices

Eye Health America (EHA) has acquisition Nielsen Eye Center and Eye Centers of Florida.

Nielsen Eye Center is joining Updegraff Laser Vision to expand Eye Health America’s continuum of patient care in the Tampa Bay area.

James Nielsen, MD established his practice in Pinellas County over 40 years ago and ran the practice until his passing in January 2021. Nielsen Eye Center has an office in Clearwater and Largo, Florida. Both locations will be rebranded as Updegraff Laser Vision offices.

Dr. Brian Roberts has assumed delivery of eye care services with Dr. Angela Diamontakos, of Updegraff Laser Vision, who will be overseeing the transition to ensure quality patient care/service coverage of the existing Nielsen Eye Care patient base.

Updegraff Laser Vision, based in Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg, Florida, is led by one of the most renowned LASIK and refractive surgeons in the world, Stephen Updegraff, MD, FACS. Dr. Updegraff holds several U.S. LASIK patents and performed the first LASIK procedure in Asia (and the third in the U.S.) in 1994. In addition to LASIK, the practice’s state-of-the-art facilities features modern technologies for cataract surgery, lens implants, dry eye syndrome, and ophthalmic plastic surgery.

“Eye Health America is excited to continue Dr. Nielsen’s legacy of providing patient-centric service and quality outcomes in the Pinellas County area. We have been working hard to ensure continuity of care for the patients who have entrusted their eyecare to Dr. Nielsen for so many years. Dr. Nielsen’s patients now have access to a full continuum of medical, surgical, and optical eyecare under the Updegraff Laser Vision and Tampa Bay Eye Surgery Center brand,” said John Swencki, Co-CEO of Eye Health America.

Eye Health America (EHA) also announced the acquisition of Eye Centers of Florida, the company’s eighth acquistion of 2021.

Based in Ft. Myers, Florida, Eye Centers of Florida (ECOF) is a highly-regarded ophthalmology practice that serves residents in the Ft. Myers-Naples market. The practice and its physicians have provided medical and surgical ophthalmic services for almost 50 years. This large partnership solidifies EHAs market presence in Southwest Florida from St. Petersburg/Tampa to Naples.

“Eye Health America consists of a ‘family of practices’ that share a similar mission, vision, and values that we have at Eye Centers of Florida,” said David Brown, MD, Founder of Eye Centers of Florida in 1972. “This merger will enable us to continue as the leader in quality eye care, introduction of new technology, and continuous expansion. Eye Health America is my recommended choice to partner and carry on the long-standing delivery of patient care in a professional and effective manner, consistent with Eye Centers tradition.”

ECOF has grown to an eleven location practice spanning from Port Charlotte, FL down to South Naples including a two-room ASC. It is serviced by a total of 13 providers across all eye care specialties (cataract, retina, medical ophthalmology, optometry, optical, hearing and medical aesthetics).

“On behalf of everyone at Eye Health America, we are thrilled to welcome the ECOF team to our growing network of eye care practices in the Southeast,” said John Swencki, Co-CEO of Eye Health America. “Their practice has a proven reputation known widely across the industry, and we look forward to building on their legacy.”

This acquisition marks EHA’s 19th strategic partnership, joining together the most well-reputed and advanced eyecare practices and ambulatory surgery centers.

Eye Health America (EHA) was formed in 2018 by the partnership between LLR Partners, a growth-focused private equity firm, Clemson Eye and The Eye Associates. EHA is led by an experienced team of eye care veterans including Co-CEOs, Mary Lou Parisi and John Swencki; Chief Medical Officer, Cathleen McCabe, MD; Chief Development Officer, Philip Isham and more.