FORT MYERS, Fla.—Eye Health America (EHA), a leading eyecare provider, has announced the acquisition of Eye Centers of Florida, a highly regarded ophthalmology practice with 11 locations serving residents in the Fort Myers-Naples market. The partnership with this practice, which has provided medical and surgical ophthalmic services for almost 50 years, “solidifies EHAs market presence in Southwest Florida from St. Petersburg/Tampa to Naples,” the announcement noted. Separately last week, EHA announced the acquisition of Nielsen Eye Center, which will become part of its Updegraff Laser Vision practice to expand the group’s continuum of patient care in the Tampa Bay area.

Terms of the transactions, which are EHA’s eighth and ninth acquisitions of 2021, were not disclosed.

Eye Centers of Florida (ECOF), based here in Fort Myers, was founded by Dr. David Brown, MD, in 1972.

“This merger will enable us to continue as the leader in quality eyecare, introduction of new technology, and continuous expansion,” Brown said in an announcement. “Eye Health America is my recommended choice to partner and carry on the long-standing delivery of patient care in a professional and effective manner, consistent with Eye Centers tradition.”

ECOF has grown to 11 locations, spanning the area from Port Charlotte to South Naples, including a two-room ambulatory surgery center. The staff includes 13 eyecare providers across all specialties (cataract, retina, medical ophthalmology, optometry, optical, hearing and medical aesthetics).

“[We] are thrilled to welcome the ECOF team to our growing network of eyecare practices in the Southeast,” John Swencki, EHA’s co-chief executive officer, said in the announcement. “Their practice has a proven reputation known widely across the industry, and we look forward to building on their legacy.”

This acquisition marks EHA’s 19th strategic partnership, joining together respected and advanced eyecare practices and ambulatory surgery centers.

Based in in Greenville, S.C., EHA partners with ophthalmology and optometry practices, as well as ambulatory surgery centers across the Southeast U.S. The group provides strategic, financial and operational support to member practices, which include Clemson Eye, Piedmont Surgery Center and Carolinas Centers for Sight, among others.

Eye Health America was formed in 2018 by LLR Partners, a lower mid-market private equity firm, and is led by an experienced team of eyecare veterans that includes the co-CEOs Mary Lou Parisi and Swencki.

EHA has seen substantial growth in the past three years. With the addition of ECOF, the group is currently operating with 75 physicians across 42 locations, seven ambulatory surgical centers and more than 900 employees in South Carolina and Florida. The organization said it plans to continue investing in technology and services that create value, including patient engagement technology and revenue cycle management.

In a separate deal announced Friday, EHA acquired Nielsen Eye Center, which operates in the Tampa Bay area. James Nielsen, MD, established this practice in Pinellas County over 40 years ago and ran the practice until his passing in January 2021, the announcement noted. Nielsen Eye Center has two offices—in Clearwater and Largo—and both locations will be rebranded as Updegraff Laser Vision offices.

Dr. Brian Roberts has assumed delivery of eyecare services with Dr. Angela Diamontakos, of Updegraff Laser Vision, who will be overseeing the transition to ensure quality patient care/service coverage of the existing Nielsen Eye Care patient base.

Updegraff Laser Vision, based in Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg, is led by one of the most renowned LASIK and refractive surgeons in the world, Stephen Updegraff, MD, FACS, according to EHA’s announcement.