Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute

Have you ever had a stye? I think most people have. Have you ever had a stye for longer than a week? I’d assume not too many reading this have. Now, have you had a stye for a couple of months, and while trying to do warm compresses accidently burned your eye lid? And frustrated by the massive red/​peeling bump on your eye you decide to finally get surgery?
Kinda embarrassing right? Like, you burned your eyelid cause the water was too hot? Ah, these are the events in my life that I can look back at and laugh… laugh because Dr. Epstein is a magician that made my eyelid normal again. I was super scared for a while there as the burning really made that thing swell.
I will say… this place is like a factory — so many people come in and out of the doors, it’s almost dizzying. However, on both occasions I went in Dr. Epstein always took his time with me and I never felt rushed. Somehow on my first visit we talked about high schools and although we went to rival schools, I trusted him with my eyes.
On my first visit I came in for what I thought would just be a consultation. I filled out the first timer paperwork and waited about 15 minutes. After talking to the Dr. for about 5 minutes he explained that surgery to remove the chalazion would be the best course of action. I asked him when the next availability for that would be — as I was traveling that week and would love to do it as soon as possible. «We can do it right now» was his answer. Awesome!
Now, the surgery was interesting. You can Youtube it, or let me describe it. First came some drops, not sure what those do. Then came a needle with a numbing agent that burned so damn bad. I dug my thumb into my thigh to distract my brain from the pain I felt. It only lasted about 45 seconds but that felt like a lifetime. Then I couldn’t keep my eyelid open haha It felt like when you are watching a movie but you are so tired that your eyes keep on closing… pretty gnarly feeling. Then he clamped my lower lid… flipped it and cut open the lid from the inside. Scooped out the chalazion, and said, «Yep, that’s been in there a while! It usually has the consistency of tapioca pudding, but this one is a little harder.» He’s a charmer. He flipped my lid back into place, wrote me a prescription for an ointment, placed a patch on my eye and I was out of there. 3 months of discomfort was solved in 5 minutes in this guy’s chair. Awesome.
Recovery was super easy. I had an ointment I’d put in my eyelid at night to make sure it healed properly and that’s about it. The patch came off the next morning. I was working the day after and made it to my work conference with a slightly bruised eye that no one even noticed.
I did come back 3 weeks later for a follow up. This one was a bit frustrating as I had to wait about 2 hours after my appointment to see the Dr. As soon as I got in the room the techs explained there were 2 emergency operations that morning and they pushed everything back. The Dr. also apologized. I still had a little residual inflammation, and likely left over piece of chalazion so he shot me up with some steroids. A quick pinch this time, not too bad. The eye is basically back to normal now, but he said to still give it a few more weeks to completely flatten out.
I will recommend you try and come here as early as possible. My first appointment was at 8am and it was pretty empty. The second time was at 1pm and it was SLAMMED. I have a feeling even without the emergency ops pushing things back the afternoon likely isn’t the best time to come in.

The most incredible doctors work here.

Dr Lara is a great doctor… have had tests and so far no lazer needed…

Dr. Gil Epstein is fabulous!!! My eyes came out absolutely natural looking. Would recommend him in a heartbeat. As for the reviews of wait time, it is true that the wait times can be ridiculously long. Once in with the doctor, he does not rush you and answers every question thoroughly. I wonder if he is aware just how backed up it gets. Staff seems to be better organized when he is there.

Nice office but it’s full of older people who take forever. Someone needs to make an eye place for younger people that way were in and out.