Compare 15 ophthalmologists in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
15
Ophthalmologists
100%
Accepting patients
80%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Fort Lauderdale sits in the shadow of Miami's medical establishment to the south, but it has quietly built its own identity. Broward Health's public system handles the volume, while Holy Cross's Cleveland Clinic affiliation has brought specialty depth that did not exist here a decade ago.
Fort Lauderdale has 15 ophthalmologists. The most common credential is MD (80%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
Healthcare clusters along three east-west corridors: the downtown/Las Olas strip near Broward Health Medical Center, the Commercial Boulevard corridor near Holy Cross Health, and the Cypress Creek area in the north. I-95 and the Florida Turnpike connect neighborhoods to hospitals, but rush-hour traffic on US-1 and Broward Boulevard can double travel times.
Providers practice throughout Fort Lauderdale. Las Olas is fort Lauderdale's signature boulevard, with specialty and concierge practices clustered between downtown and the beach. Victoria Park is a central residential neighborhood near Broward Health Medical Center with established family practices. Wilton Manors is known as a welcoming LGBTQ+ community with affirming primary care and mental health providers. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a small beach town north of Fort Lauderdale with walk-in clinics and proximity to Holy Cross Health.
Nearby hospitals include Broward Health Medical Center, Holy Cross Health (a Cleveland Clinic hospital), and Fort Lauderdale Hospital (behavioral health). Local training programs run through Nova Southeastern University and Florida Atlantic University (nearby Boca Raton campus). Broward Health is one of the ten largest public health systems in the United States, operating multiple hospitals and dozens of outpatient centers across Broward County.
The first visit includes a comprehensive eye exam with dilation, detailed imaging of your retina and optic nerve, and a review of your symptoms and medical history. The ophthalmologist will explain their findings, discuss treatment options (including whether surgery is indicated), and outline next steps. Plan for two to three hours total because of dilation and imaging.
Many Fort Lauderdale providers speak Spanish, Portuguese, and Creole in addition to English. If you are a seasonal resident, ask practices about their policies for patients who are only in the area part of the year.
See an ophthalmologist for cataracts, glaucoma requiring surgery or advanced management, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal tears or detachment, eye injuries, LASIK evaluation, eyelid problems, crossed eyes in children, or any eye condition your optometrist has referred you for. You should also see one if you have a systemic disease (diabetes, autoimmune conditions) that affects the eyes.
Office visit copay: $30-75 · Cataract surgery: $3,000-5,000 per eye · LASIK: $2,000-3,000 per eye · Retinal imaging: $50-200
Fort Lauderdale, FL has 15 licensed ophthalmologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of ophthalmologists in Fort Lauderdale, FL are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Broward County has strong ACA marketplace competition with Florida Blue, Ambetter, Molina, and Oscar all active. PPO plans give more flexibility across the Broward Health and Holy Cross systems. HMO plans may restrict you to one network.
An office visit copay is $30 to $75. Cataract surgery costs $3,000 to $5,000 per eye. LASIK runs $2,000 to $3,000 per eye. Retinal imaging costs $50 to $200. Actual costs in Fort Lauderdale, FL depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Medical eye conditions (cataracts, glaucoma) are billed to medical insurance. Routine refraction for glasses is billed to vision insurance. LASIK is typically self-pay. Verify which insurance applies to your visit type.
Fort Lauderdale's healthcare market is split between the Broward Health public system and private providers affiliated with Cleveland Clinic (Holy Cross), Baptist Health, and Memorial Healthcare System to the south. Most residents in the city proper use Broward Health or Holy Cross, while those in western suburbs often connect to Memorial or Cleveland Clinic Weston.
80% of ophthalmologists in Fort Lauderdale, FL accept Medicare. Medicare covers eye exams for conditions like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Cataract surgery is covered. Routine vision exams for glasses prescriptions are not covered under Original Medicare. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Some ophthalmologists in Fort Lauderdale, FL accept Florida Medicaid, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers medically necessary eye care in all states. Coverage for routine vision exams and glasses varies by state. Children have broader coverage than adults. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Florida Medicaid participation before scheduling.
Holy Cross Health became part of Cleveland Clinic in 2021. The biggest changes are expanded cardiology, neurology, and surgical programs, plus access to Cleveland Clinic's physician network for complex referrals. Day-to-day operations and locations have remained largely the same.
Yes. Many practices in Fort Lauderdale are accustomed to snowbird patients who visit October through April. Urgent care centers along US-1 and Federal Highway accept most out-of-state insurance. For ongoing care, ask your provider about telehealth follow-ups when you return home.
Top accepted carriers in Fort Lauderdale, FL include medicare, unitedhealthcare, qhp-16842, qhp-19898, and molina.
Medical insurance covers ophthalmology visits for eye diseases and conditions (glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic eye exams). Vision insurance covers routine refraction and glasses prescriptions. LASIK is typically not covered by either. Cataract surgery is covered by medical insurance. Verify in-network status and whether pre-authorization is needed for surgery or diagnostic imaging.