Florida Eye Specialists unifies refractive surgery under new brand

By AI, Created 10:15 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Florida Eye Specialists has renamed Maida Custom Vision as Florida Eye Custom Vision and placed day-to-day surgical leadership with two fellowship-trained cornea and refractive specialists. The move keeps LASIK pioneer Dr. Jerry Maida involved in care while expanding patient access to newer vision correction options and integrated specialty services across Northeast Florida.

Why it matters: - Florida Eye Specialists is consolidating refractive surgery under one brand while preserving the legacy of Dr. Jerry Maida, who helped introduce LASIK to Northeast Florida. - The transition expands patient access to newer procedures and a broader ophthalmology network, which can matter for people seeking more personalized vision correction and follow-up care. - The move also reflects a shift from early LASIK-era care to a more integrated model that connects refractive surgery with other eye subspecialties.

What happened: - Florida Eye Specialists announced the transition of Maida Custom Vision to Florida Eye Custom Vision on May 6, 2026, in Jacksonville, Florida. - Dr. Jerry Maida performed the first LASIK procedure in Northeast Florida in 1996. - Dr. Maida has completed more than 22,000 LASIK procedures and 37,000 eye surgeries over his career. - Dr. Maida will remain actively involved in patient care. - Dr. Amit Chokshi and Dr. S. Akbar Hasan now lead day-to-day surgical operations. - Both surgeons are fellowship-trained cornea and refractive specialists with experience in academic medicine, major health systems and high-volume surgical centers.

The details: - Florida Eye Custom Vision is now the unified refractive surgery brand within Florida Eye Specialists. - The practice now offers newer procedures including SMILE, EVO ICL and custom lens replacement. - Florida Eye Specialists says those options allow surgeons to treat a broader range of patients than was possible in the early years of LASIK. - Florida Eye Custom Vision patients now have direct access to retina, glaucoma, cornea and advanced cataract surgery care within the broader Florida Eye Specialists network. - Florida Eye Specialists operates more than 15 locations across Northeast Florida. - Florida Eye Specialists has performed more than 100,000 cataract procedures. - Florida Eye Custom Vision is located in St. Johns County. - The practice offers LASIK, SMILE, PRK, EVO ICL and custom lens replacement. - Florida Eye Specialists says it is the leading ophthalmology practice in Northeast Florida with approximately 20 surgeons specializing in cataract, retina, glaucoma, cornea, oculoplastics and refractive surgery.

Between the lines: - The brand change signals a handoff from a founder-led model to a broader group practice built around subspecialty coverage and newer surgical technology. - The emphasis on integrated care suggests Florida Eye Specialists is trying to keep refractive patients inside one system for evaluation, surgery and follow-up. - The leadership transition appears designed to reassure longtime patients while positioning the practice for the next generation of vision correction.

What’s next: - Dr. Chokshi and Dr. Hasan will continue leading procedures as the practice expands access to newer treatment options. - Dr. Maida will continue seeing patients, preserving continuity during the brand transition. - Florida Eye Specialists is likely to keep emphasizing comprehensive eye care as refractive surgery becomes more closely tied to its larger subspecialty network.

The bottom line: - Florida Eye Specialists is turning a legacy LASIK practice into a broader, integrated vision correction center without losing the founder’s presence or the market’s long-running expertise.