Dr. Steven Lloyd Maskin, MD

Dr Maskin is very thorough and detail oriented, he is determined to get to the bottom of your dry eye problem, after having been from Dr to Dr for 3 plus years and not getting anywhere I decided to go to him, it was the best decision I ever made. He diagnosed me with a very rare eye disease , Ocular pemphigoid, and went to an ophthalmologist / immunologist in Boston to have my condition confirmed. This condition causes severe MGD , probing is the only thing that has truly helped me, I need it about 3x a year to stay comfortable this is pretty rare . It is vital that your comorbidities get addressed , or your meibomian will glands will soon get obstructed again and your symptoms will return. Dr Maskin is a very creative thinker and truly tries everything to help your quality of life improve.

Dr. Maskin's passion is helping his patients recover from debilitating Dry Eye issues. He is single-minded in this goal, and employs an ever-increasing range of ways to achieve it. And his in-depth testing to see what is happening with the meibomian glands simply isn't found elsewhere. His new book, written w/ Natalia Warren, "Your Dry Eye Mystery Solved", is essential if you suffer with this condition that can range from annoying and painful to debilitatingly so. In this book and in his office, you will be met with a compassion and an understanding that is rare to find. And answers. There is hope.

My dry eye began over a decade ago. For seven years Restasis worked well for me until I woke up one morning in real discomfort. It's hard to describe dry eye pain to those who haven't experienced it. Those of us with severe dry eye often consider suicide as a way out the pain. Few doctors understand or are willing to explore the root causes of dry eye. I found Dr. Maskin on the internet after two years of suffering. At that point my life had narrowed considerably. I could no longer read for long periods. I was in bed by 8:30 every night and dreaded waking up. Every blink was torture. I'd tried Lipiflow - which barely made a dent in my condition. Finally, I took a leap of faith and flew from Maine to Tampa to see Dr. Maskin. Yes, Dr. Maskin is expensive. But he's worth it. He is doing the research and publishing the results. He developed the tools for probing. He has tested his treatments over and over again. He has taken all the risks and those of us who are his… patients have had our lives and hope restored. My understanding is Dr. Maskin is now working to teach and promote his work world-wide. God bless him for this. It is Dr. Maskin's work that will make this procedure affordable for millions of people who desperately needs it. As Dr. Maskin said to me, "I'm doing this because I can't probe everyone in the world who needs it." Every ophthalmologist should be trained in Dr. Maskin's technique. Every single one. Thank you Dr. Maskin. Oh, and Maria and Andrea too. Amy Haible Harpswell, Maine

trice Schweitzer 18 minutes ago Dr Maskin Review I have suffered for more ten years with dry eye. I went to a reputable ophthalmologist for my refraction and eye problems including my cataract surgeries. However they kept wavering over my dry eye problem and kept prescribing drops which did not help. I was not happy with the procedure because it was torture to my eyes. Xidra drops were torture twice a day. I felt like no one could help me and it was effecting my vision. I felt like I should go to the Light House for the Blind as to be prepared for the future. I felt cutoff from the world because of pain an inability for my eyes to focus properly. I decided to get a second opinion. My research began on Google under dry eye. I came across the name Dr Maskin. As I read about his background I decided to buy his book. I have read most of it and then called his office. It was the best thing decision I ever made. He even helped me the first appointment by opening a tear duct which… provided more lubrication for my eyes. Finally the Sahara Desert was out of my eyes. Dr Maskin resurfaced my eyes with micro surgery, adjusted the amount of lubrication in the eyes by probing my Meibomian gland and adjusting the amount of lubrication little by little. He is a caring doctor who really helps his patients. His research is more than just research because he wants people to be out of pain and he listens to his patients. He uses what he learns from patients to help others. The papers he has produced for the Ocular Surface Research and Education Foundation (OSREF.org) have gained worldwide attention. There is a world map in his lobby and patients put pins from where they come from to visit Dr Maskin. Some patients come as far as Australia and New Zealand just to name a few. This realm of research and clinical work should be taught to ophthalmologists in university as a complete class so other doctors can learn to help patients. This dry eye pain affects lives and quality of patients. Dr Maskin is a brilliant researcher and doctor who lives at a mentally higher level than most of us. He is a perfectionist which can make a huge difference in surgery and probing. His follow up is intense and caring. I now have a life without pain thanks to Dr Maskin. I suggest you see him if you have any problem with dry eyes. It is the best decision I ever made in my life. I thank him for the gift of being pain free. His staff are always upbeat and ready to help. If could do anything to help him it would be to ask people to make a donation to OSREF.org so the research of his and others can continue. Please make checks payable to OSREF and send to: Dry Eye and Cornea Treatment Center 3001 Swann Avenue, Tampa, 33609 Florida Attn: Dr. Steve Maskin Thank you

Dr. Maskin literally saved a life– mine! 99% of the world will live without ever knowing they have Meibomian Glands which, when they malfunction, can cause pain that is not of this world and will not be relatable to your friends and loved ones. This is not Aunt Martha’s dry eye. The pain is at a level completely off the charts . I went to 6 high end doctors (Specialists) including the top teaching hospitals which have world famous dry eye clinics. One said, “We’re doing everything we can do, you’re doing everything you can do, this is how it is”. Even the “best” doctors don’t have a clue how to treat this specialty within a specialty. My pain was so horrific I questioned how I could get through to the next 15 minutes, let alone the “one day at a time” philosophy. I was planning my exit, not through depression but to escape the unrelenting massive pain. In desperation, I did one last internet search on DRY EYE pain and found Dr. Maskin along with a review of his… treatment that gave me a glimmer of hope. I won’t go through the long and winding road to maintenance status but only Dr. Maskin at that critical time was able to navigate that path through an amazing diagnostic and treatment skill set. Unfortunately, this is not a condition that can be “cured” only managed. Dr. Maskin has patients from all over the world because he treats the underlying causes of the pain instead of merely masking the symptoms. This is what is necessary and cannot be accomplished in 15 minute appointments at traditional providers. And yes, it’s worth the flight to Tampa.

I would not recommend anyone to see Dr Maskin. His office was extremely rude and unprofessional to me. I am on Medicare, and before scheduling my visit, I made sure they accepted my insurance. The receptionist I spoke to over the phone said they did. On the day of my appointment, I handed my insurance cards at check in, and waited an hour to see the doctor. When he entered the examination room, I was barely be able to get out a " Hello doctor" before he shut me down. He took one look at my swollen red eyes and my medical chart before saying " I usually do not take your insurance, but let me confirm at the front desk". He immediately left the room, and two minutes later his assistant came in , who in fact confirmed that they do not accept my insurance. I was then asked to leave. If they do not take my insurance, why then was I told that they did over the phone, and further more, why wasn't anything said to me the entire time I was in the waiting room? I lost three hours… driving back and forth and waiting for the doctor, who did not even bother to properly diagnose me ! My entire ride home all I kept thinking about were the degrees and awards that aligned his wall, but two important ones were missing: empathy and professionalism. Save yourself the time and trouble, and see another doctor who is more empathetic and caring like I should have done. Sign P.An

Ten years ago ,I began to develop eye discomfort. For two of those years it was treated with over the counter eye drops and prescription glasses. As my discomfort grew, I went to see doctor after doctor. My discomfort became worse to the point where I felt I could not work. Discomfort turned to desparation. I traveled from doctor to doctor receiving in some cases painful procedures. By some miracle,a friend of a friend mentioned Dr Maskin. I made the appointment and was prepared to be disappointed once again. Boy was I wrong!!!!!!! I refer to Dr. Maskin when I speak to other people as my Eye Savior! The Doctor meticulously diagnosed each part of my total eye problem and treated it thoughtfully and to my great joy SUCCESSFULLY! There is not enough thumbs up for Dr. Steve Maskin??????????

I feel fortunate to have been referred to Dr. Maskin four years ago. For two years I’d had difficulty with my eyesight and had been seen by several doctors. Finally one told me I had two problems which needed immediate attention...severe dry eye and cataracts. I saw Dr. Maskin within a week and he determined I had dry eye but also had Conjunctivochalasis. The following week he did surgery on one eye and a week after that he did another surgery on the other eye. With the successful surgery and follow-up treatments, I now have comfortable eyes and improved eyesight. Dr. Maskin has suggested a home care routine which has worked for me. I very much appreciate his sensitive and caring nature. He recently also provided care to a friend who has repeatedly thanked me for encouraging her to seek his care. Jane Bradley

He is the master at probing and it is worth it if you are symptomatic. However, he is ridiculously expensive in general, even if you have good insurance, and does not seem to care about that part. Many of the tests he did (Culture, Demodex check, etc) are covered at other doctors so I don’t know why the billing department says it is not and will not provide codes. Some of the tests seem unnecessary and are again very expensive. His surgery fees are also insane and that is why I chose not to move forward with more treatment.

Dr. Steven Maskin treated me for my severe dry eye disorder with intraductal meibomian gland probing and amniotic membrane surgery. My eyes previously were so dry that eye drops would quickly evaporate within an hour of applying. My eyes are much more comfortable, and I am now able to return to a much more comfortable life. Not only is Dr. Maskin a competent surgeon, he also is a very good listener, and generous with his time. I felt he was a great source of support, would return phone calls and email messages even on off hours, and offered helpful advice as I went through my surgeries alone. If I had to do it over, I would definitely choose Dr. Maskin as my surgeon. He possesses a unique combination of skills.