Welcome to Southwest Florida Eye Care

Call us at (239) 768-0006 today.

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COMMITTED TO ENHANCING YOUR VISION AND IMPROVING YOUR LIFE

Your vision is like your fingerprints -- completely unique and as individual as you are. At Southwest Florida Eye Care, we deliver an exceptional experience to each and every patient we serve. You’ll find physicians and staff who take the time to get to know you, to provide a most thorough eye examination and to offer clear explanations that help you make well-informed choices about your eye care needs.

Our Services

Our goal is to provide you with the best vision possible and our comprehensive eye care services offer everything you need to maintain good eyesight at any age.

  • Comprehensive eye exams
  • Glasses & contacts
  • Cataract evaluations and treatment including Laser cataract surgery with the Bausch & Lomb Victus system, Multifocal and Accomodative implants for decreased dependence on glasses
  • All Laser LASIK for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism using the Bausch & Lomb Technolas
  • Treatment for corneal eye disease
  • Glaucoma evaluation and treatment
  • Emergency eye care

At Southwest Florida Eye Care, we are dedicated to providing high-quality optometry services in a comfortable environment.Call us at (239) 768-0006 or schedule an appointment today online.


Exclusive Offer

New Patients receive 15% OFF Second Pair of Complete Glasses!

Meet Our Physicians

Learn Who We Are

  • F. Rick Palmon
    M.D.
    Cataract & Lens Replacement, LASIK and Corneal Surgeon

    Dr. Palmon is a board-certified, fellowship-trained cataract, refractive and corneal surgeon. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology from Georgetown University, graduating magna cum laude, and then received his medical degree from the Tulane University School of Medicine. He completed his internal medicine internship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a residency at Wills Eye Institute at Thomas Jefferson University. His fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery was completed at the University of Minnesota.

    Dr. Palmon specializes in premium cataract and lens replacement surgery, as well as laser vision correction with LASIK, Epi-LASEK and implantable lenses. He is sure to employ the most advanced treatments available for his patients including corneal cross-linking and corneal transplantation with Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK). Dr. Palmon also provides medical and surgical treatments for glaucoma.

    Dr. Palmon is a diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology and certified by the American Board of Eye Surgery in refractive surgery. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the International Society of Refractive Surgery to name a few. He has authored numerous scientific articles in ophthalmology journals and is a frequent speaker at ophthalmic symposia.

    Originally from Philadelphia, he moved to Florida in 1994. He and his wife are empty nesters, having raised four adult children. In his spare time he enjoys tennis, biking, skiing and golfing.

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  • Leonard F. Avril
    O.D.
    Optometric Physician

    Dr. Avril is a board-certified optometric physician who provides a wide variety of primary care services to patients. He knew he wanted to pursue optometry at age eight when he was treated for his own eye issues. He received his undergraduate degrees, graduating magna cum laude, from St. Petersburg Junior College and the University of South Florida. He completed his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Missouri School of Optometry where he received the Dean’s Award for graduating first in his class, and the Outstanding Contact Lens Achievement Award. During his time there, Dr. Avril was a teaching assistant for neuroanatomy and clinical studies, completed an externship at St. Louis Eye Hospital, and did his rounds at Barnes Hospital.

    Dr. Avril is a member of the American Optometric Association, Southern Council of Optometrists, Florida Optometric Association and the Southwest Florida Optometric Association.

    Born in Columbus, Ohio, he was raised in St. Petersburg, Florida. He lives in Estero with his wife Mary. Dr. Avril’s hobbies include live performance singing, playing guitar, cooking, fishing and spending time with family.

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  • Brian K. Marhue
    O.D.
    Optometric Physician

    Dr. Marhue is a board-certified optometric physician that provides a wide variety of primary eye care to patients. He completed his bachelor’s degree and Doctor of Optometry degrees at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He completed externships at Omega Eye Care Center, Piedmont Medical Center, Birmingham V.A. Medical Center and the Sparks Center for Developmental Vision Clinic.

    Dr. Marhue’s present and past memberships include Students of Optometry Serving Humanity, the Trinidad and Tobago Optometrists Association, Florida Surgical Eye Expeditions, the American Optometric Association, the Florida Optometric Association and the Southwest Florida Optometric Association.
    He served as the president of the Southwest Florida Optometric Association for over four years and has participated in multiple eye mission trips to Trinidad, Guatemala and El Salvador.

    Born in Trinidad, he completed high school and started college in Toronto and completed his last years of undergraduate and professional training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He served as the Director of Optometry at the Eye Centers of Florida for 14 years before joining Southwest Florida Eye Care as a partner which is now part of Centers For Sight.
    Dr. Marhue has lived in Fort Myers since 1991. He and his wife Tricia are the proud parents of two adult children, Aaron and Brittnie. His joy is first his family, followed by hiking, climbing, cycling, fishing and soccer.

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  • Penny Orr
    O.D.
    Optometric Physician

    Dr. Orr is a board-certified optometric physician that provides a wide variety of primary eye care to patients. She completed her bachelor’s degree at Florida Southern College, followed by her Doctor of Optometry degree at the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis. She completed internships at Winter Haven Eye Clinic in Winter Haven, Florida and St. Luke’s Eye Institute in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

    Dr. Orr is a member of the American Optometric Association, Florida Optometric Association, Southwest Florida Optometric Association, Contact Lens Association of Optometrists and the Kiwanis Club. She has dedicated her time to the Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, an organization that facilitates the provision and sustainability of vision care worldwide for people who can neither afford nor obtain such care. She has traveled to Belize, Santo Domingo, Costa Rica, Haiti and Panama. Dr. Orr serves on several local boards including the Humane Society of Lee County, Parkinson’s of Southwest Florida and Alzheimer’s Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter.

    Originally from Maine, Dr. Orr has lived in Southwest Florida since 1989. Dr. Orr is active in sports, particularly tennis, golf and cycling. She is passionate about animal rescue and enjoys crafting and traveling. 

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  • Albert Smolyar
    M.D.
    LASIK, Cataract & Lens Replacement Surgeon

    Dr. Smolyar is a board-certified cataract and refractive surgeon with over 25 years of experience. He received his medical degree from Kursk State Medical University in the former Soviet Union. He completed an ophthalmology residency at the University of Louisville and a fellowship in Neuro-Ophthalmology at Michigan State University. He completed another ophthalmology residency at Ben Gurion University in Israel prior to coming to the United States. 

    Dr. Smolyar specializes in premium cataract and lens replacement surgery, as well as laser vision correction with LASIK, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK). He also has significant expertise in cosmetic and reconstructive eyelid surgery. Dr. Smolyar is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He was in private practice in Louisville, Kentucky for many years where he also served as a clinical Associate Professor at University of Louisville Department of Ophthalmology.

    He has been living in Fort Myers since 2018 with his wife and dogs; they have raised three children together. In his spare time, Dr. Smolyar enjoys swimming, scuba diving, kayaking and fishing. He has dedicated time to providing free surgical eye care in underserved countries and considers that to be one of his passions. 

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Featured Articles

Read up on informative topics

    Saccadic Fixators

    This entails a wall-mounted square board with a starburst design. Along the various striations of the starburst are lighted buttons. As the buttons light up, the patient works quickly to see how many of these lit buttons they can push before they go out. The key is to keep the head still. Peripheral ...

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    Patches

    Eye patches are used to strengthen muscle control in weak eyes. By placing a patch over the strong eye, the weaker eye is forced to do the heavy lifting. While it may be uncomfortable for the patient at first, the muscle controlling the weaker eye will become tougher and more resilient. This will allow ...

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    Rotation Trainers

    Rotation trainers consist of a disk – with various designs – that is attached to a rod-like base. As the disk rotates, the patient is asked to perform tasks that are designed to test and enhance eye-hand coordination, space awareness, perceptual awareness and visual acuity. ...

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    Computer Software

    Computer aided vision therapy consists of a software package designed to enhance eye tracking skills, visual thinking, processing skills and binocular vision skills. Eye teaming, focusing and tracking are not optical in nature, and problems in these areas are the result of poor eye muscles. Specialized ...

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    Prisms

    A prism has the same cross-section across the entire length of its shape. When used in eyeglasses, they often correct abnormalities associated with nearsightedness, farsightedness and double vision. Eyeglasses, or corrective lenses, reduce or increase the size of the image based on the eyes’ ability ...

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    Dry Eye

    Sometimes your eyes don’t make enough tears or the tears evaporate too fast because they don’t have the right amount of compounds in them. This is called dry eye. Up to 5% of Americans complain of some form of dry eye. Individuals who wear contact lenses or have undergone LASIK or other types of ...

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    Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

    Similar to a bruise under the skin, a subconjunctival hemorrhage happens when a small blood vessel located between the sclera (white portion of an eye) and the conjunctiva (lining on the surface of an eye) breaks and covers the sclera with blood. Unlike broken blood vessels located under the skin which ...

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    Decorative (Plano) Contact Lenses

    Colored contact lenses allow you to temporarily change your eye color whether or not you need to correct impaired vision. In this way, you can create a more subtle eye appearance, wear a crazy design for special occasions, or just enjoy a new eye color. Will Colored Contacts Change the Way I See? Yes, ...

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    Wandering Eye

    A wandering eye is a type of eye condition known as strabismus or tropia, and it may be caused by damage to the retina or muscles that control the eye, stroke or brain injury, or an uncorrected refractive error like farsightedness. With a wandering eye, one eye deviates or wanders in a different direction ...

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    Reading and Writing

    For many adults, reading and writing come so naturally that they seem almost effortless. However, reading and writing are actually complicated skills that take significant effort to learn. For example, reading involves recognizing letters, associating letter combinations with their corresponding sounds, ...

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Testimonials

Reviews From Our Satisfied Patients

  • "Great people work at Southwest Florida Eye Care. It’s always a pleasure to come in for my eye exam each year."
    Barbara
  • "I am always satisfied with the service. The friendly staff makes you feel comfortable at your visits and the location is very convenient. The quality care make you feel your eye care needs are being take care of."
    Trenda
  • "Everyone on the staff is very professional, courteous, knowledgeable and caring. Sometimes you may find one or two in a practice with these attributes, but here everyone exceeds your expectations."
    John

Locations

Find us on the map

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Fort Myers Office

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Naples Office

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Cape Coral Office

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed