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Dr. Robert Charles Howard, MD

Accepting New Patients

(25 Ratings)

Specializes in: Ophthalmology (Eye Disease)

Tufts University School of Medicine (2007)

Professional interests include: eye problems, LASIK

43309 US HIGHWAY 19 N
Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

(727) 955-3429

Dr. Robert Charles Howard, MD is an ophthalmologist in Tarpon Springs, FL specializing in ophthalmology (eye disease). He graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine in 2007 and has 17 years of experience. Dr. Robert Charles Howard, MD is affiliated with St. Luke's Cataract and Laser Institute, St. Luke's Cataract and Laser Institute and ST LUKES CATARACT AND LASER INSTITUTE.

Office Locations

Address:

43309 US HIGHWAY 19 N
Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

Address:

187 Mariner Boulevard
Spring Hill, FL 34609

Some issues Dr. Robert Charles Howard, MD can help you with:

Eye Problems

Millions of people every year have problems with their eyes. Some of the most common eye problems are refractive disorders, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and cataracts.

Refractive disorders happen when the shape of the eye doesn't let allow someone focus very precisely. They might be myopic (nearsighted), hyperopic (farsighted), or have an astigmatism, which is a focus problem caused by the cornea. Refractive disorders can be corrected by glasses or contacts.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the United States. It happens when fluid pressure builds up within the eye and damages the optic nerve. It is treated with medications and surgery.

Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes. The retina is tissue at the back of the eye that is filled with numerous, tiny blood vessels. When diabetes damages these delicate blood vessels, they burst or leak, leading to blind spots and blurred vision. Diabetic retinopathy can be treated with laser therapy and surgery, but often vision cannot be restored.

Macular degeneration is common in older adults. The macula is the central part of the retina and is responsible for crisp center vision. Over time, the cells in the macula begin to die, making central vision blurry. An early symptom of macular degeneration is that straight lines appear wavy.

Cataracts happen when the clear lens in the front of the eye becomes cloudy, making things look blurry or faded. They are extremely common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans will have had a cataract. In early stages, prescription glasses and magnifying lenses can help. As the cataracts get worse, surgery to replace the lens may be the best option.

More than just one of the five senses, the eyes are heavily relied upon to communicate, work, and get around every day. It's important to have regular eye exams for vision stays in good shape for years to come.

LASIK

LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a surgical procedure that improves vision by permanently correcting refractive vision errors. Refractive vision errors are sight problems (such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism) that typically require patients to wear contact lenses or glasses. Nearsightedness (myopia) causes blurred vision at a distance, while farsightedness (hyperopia) makes objects that are up close appear blurry. Astigmatism results in blurred vision at both near and far distances. Each eye is either nearsighted or farsighted, and can additionally have astigmatism. These refractive vision errors develop from imperfections in the curvature of the eye, which LASIK fixes through the use of a laser. The laser changes the shape of the eye by cutting away tissue from the cornea (clear outer layer of the eye).

LASIK is generally considered an elective procedure (not medically necessary) since patients can wear glasses or contact lenses instead of undergoing LASIK. Nevertheless, many people still elect to undergo LASIK to have better vision without having to wear corrective lenses. Certain professionals, such as pilots, military members, firefighters, and athletes, might particularly benefit from LASIK.

Ophthalmologists (eye doctors) evaluate patients before surgery, measuring the cornea and checking for any eye irregularities that would disqualify patients from LASIK. A special eye scanner is used to create a map of the cornea. This map guides the surgeon in developing an individualized LASIK treatment plan. Once approved for LASIK, contact-wearers are advised to switch to glasses for the three weeks leading up to their surgery.

LASIK is a brief procedure, lasting for about half an hour, depending on the state of a patient's eyes and the corneal reshaping required. Patients lie down on a reclining chair and have numbing eye drops applied to one or both eyes to eliminate pain and discomfort during the procedure. While the eyes are held open by a device, the eye surgeon raises a fixation light where patients direct their eyes. The surgeon uses a femtosecond laser to cut a precise circular incision in the cornea's surface. The surgeon then manually folds back the corneal flap to access the stroma (inner cornea).

An excimer laser is then used to remove certain amounts of corneal tissue. For patients with farsightedness, the laser cuts tissue on the outer regions of the cornea, making the central cornea more prominent. For patients with nearsightedness, the opposite is done; central corneal tissue is removed while the outer tissue is left alone, flattening the eye. In patients with astigmatism, the laser is used to even out the surface of the corneal tissue, making the eye more spherical. When the lasering process is complete, the ophthalmologist folds the corneal flap to its regular position. The flap quickly begins to heal and naturally reattach itself to the eye.

LASIK patients need someone to drive them home from the procedure and cannot drive for the following 24 hours. Recovery from LASIK lasts about five days. Patients typically notice improved vision within a day or two of surgery. Prescription eye drops are given to patients to alleviate discomfort and promote eye healing. During this recovery time, patients must be incredibly careful not to touch or rub their eyes. Ophthalmologists often instruct patients to wear protective glasses during the day and night to prevent potential damage from eye rubbing.

LASIK can improve the experience of certain activities such as swimming or reading, and in some cases, LASIK can be a life-changing procedure for those with severe refractive vision errors. LASIK may also save patients money by eliminating the recurring need for updated corrective lenses.

capsulotomy	255
doctor visit	492
eye procedures	2091
lacrimal (tearing system) procedures	33
laser treatment	253
ultrasound (sonogram)	61

**Gender**
Male	1184
Female	1608

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	2620
Black	38
Hispanic	66
Asian	24
Other	44
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	1278
From 75 to 84	1028
85 and over	420
Less than 65	66

Hypertension	69
High Cholesterol	69
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	37
Depression	17
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	26
Dementia	9
Cancer	10

capsulotomy	433
cyst removal	16
doctor visit	850
excision	26
eye procedures	3335
lacrimal (tearing system) procedures	31
laser treatment	431
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	27
ultrasound (sonogram)	103

**Gender**
Male	815
Female	1203

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	1882
Black	35
Hispanic	52
Asian	0
Other	29
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	938
From 75 to 84	727
85 and over	292
Less than 65	61

Hypertension	70
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	39
Depression	18
Chronic Kidney Disease	28
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	29
Dementia	9
Cancer	11

capsulotomy	670
cyst removal	26
doctor visit	611
excision	48
eye procedures	4254
lab tests	289
lacrimal (tearing system) procedures	72
laser treatment	682
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	49
ultrasound (sonogram)	86

**Gender**
Male	719
Female	1023

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	1604
Black	39
Hispanic	53
Asian	15
Other	31
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	771
From 75 to 84	649
85 and over	254
Less than 65	68

Hypertension	70
High Cholesterol	66
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	42
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	32
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	15
Diabetes	29
Dementia	9
Cancer	12

capsulotomy	889
cyst removal	20
doctor visit	822
excision	77
eye procedures	5686
lab tests	129
lacrimal (tearing system) procedures	85
laser treatment	935
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	58
ultrasound (sonogram)	138

**Gender**
Male	801
Female	1221

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	1849
Black	46
Hispanic	66
Asian	17
Other	44
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	884
From 75 to 84	786
85 and over	278
Less than 65	74

Hypertension	71
High Cholesterol	72
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	42
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	33
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	15
Diabetes	30
Dementia	9
Cancer	11

capsulotomy	839
cyst removal	14
doctor visit	703
excision	30
eye procedures	4849
lacrimal (tearing system) procedures	76
laser treatment	860
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	31
ultrasound (sonogram)	104

**Gender**
Male	798
Female	1179

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	1793
Black	46
Hispanic	57
Asian	0
Other	53
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	861
From 75 to 84	761
85 and over	286
Less than 65	69

Hypertension	71
High Cholesterol	73
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	42
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	35
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	29
Dementia	8
Cancer	12

capsulotomy	814
cyst removal	17
doctor visit	563
excision	29
eye procedures	4755
lacrimal (tearing system) procedures	126
laser treatment	838
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	30
ultrasound (sonogram)	77

**Gender**
Male	888
Female	1315

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	2006
Black	41
Hispanic	71
Asian	0
Other	53
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	971
From 75 to 84	873
85 and over	303
Less than 65	56

Hypertension	67
High Cholesterol	72
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	41
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	34
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	27
Dementia	9
Cancer	13

capsulotomy	1676
doctor visit	3937
excision	13
eye procedures	8065
injections	27
lacrimal (tearing system) procedures	364
laser treatment	1705
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	14
ultrasound (sonogram)	147

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2015 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Robert Charles Howard, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Robert Charles Howard, MD treated as an ophthalmologist in Tarpon Springs, FL were eye procedures, laser treatment, capsulotomy and lab tests.

capsulotomy	796
cyst removal	18
doctor visit	1142
excision	38
eye procedures	4724
injections	27
lab tests	209
lacrimal (tearing system) procedures	112
laser treatment	816
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	35
ultrasound (sonogram)	102

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2015 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert Charles Howard, MD.

**Gender**
Male	520
Female	754

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	24
Asian / Pacific Islander	5
Non-Hispanic White	1175
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	36
Other	25

**Age**
75 to 84	482
85 and over	183
Less than 65	39
65 to 74	570

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert Charles Howard, MD From 2015 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Robert Charles Howard, MD treated were high cholesterol, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	41
High Cholesterol	42
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	11
Chronic Kidney Disease	18
Asthma	5
Osteoporosis	6
Heart Failure	8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	17
Atrial Fibrillation	7
Cancer	6
Dementia	5

Education & Training

Dr. Robert Charles Howard, MD graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine in 2007. He has a state license in Florida.

Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine (2007)

Licensed In: Florida

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Robert Charles Howard, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

St. Luke's Cataract and Laser Institute

ST LUKES CATARACT AND LASER INSTITUTE

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Robert Charles Howard, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 25 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Robert Charles Howard, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Tarpon Springs, FL.

Overall Rating

(25 Ratings)

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Reviews From Around The Web

Overall Rating: 5.0 2023-11-04