Atlantic Eye Center Celebrates 25 Years

On July 5, 1988, Dr. Michael Caruso set up an eye care center on Village Drive in Cape May Court House. It was not even a week after his June 30th graduation from the ophthalmology residency program. But he had heard that south Jersey was in need of an eye doctor, and he had fond memories of the shore from his childhood. It seemed a good place to start his ophthalmology career.
Now 25 years later, Dr. Caruso is a leading name in ophthalmic and surgical eye care in South Jersey, offering services at three locations in Cape May and Atlantic Counties: Atlantic Eye Center, EyeMax Lasik Center, and Cape Cataract Center.
“There were definitely challenges,” said Dr. Caruso, “such as getting zoning, and building an office while we were still running the business. But there have been many more successes over the years.”
The board-certified ophthalmologist, doctor of medicine and eye surgeon is trained to perform total eye care, from routine eye exams to disease diagnosis, prescription treatments and surgery with specialties in cataract, lid surgery and Lasik surgery. That’s what prompted him to open his own surgical centers.
Dr. Caruso opened the EyeMax Lasik Center in Linwood in 1998 and Cape Cataract Center in Cape May Court House in 2002. “A surgery center is more comfortable for patients than going to a hospital,” he explained.
Over the last 25 years, Dr. Caruso has seen some significant changes in medical technology. When he began, radial keratotomy (RK) was the treatment of choice; today it is Lasik surgery. Lasik surgery can correct even severe cases of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatisms. Dr. Caruso was the first doctor in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland Counties to perform Lasik surgery.
Dr. Caruso also performs the most advanced outpatient cataract surgery available. “There are no stitches, no patches, no needles,” he said. “We use a premium Intraocular Lens (IOL),” he explains. He also stays on top of ophthalmic advances in his full-service practice that treats patients from the time they are young, through adult years, and as their eyes age. He also helps patients with a trendy new accessory—their glasses. “Glasses have gone from a necessity to a fashion item,” he noted. “Some people are even wearing glasses with clear lenses, for the look.”
As for the 25th anniversary milestone, Dr. Caruso is celebrating with his staff of 30, ten times the personnel that his business had at the start. “I couldn’t have done this without my dedicated staff and patient base. I thank everyone who has supported us over the years.”
For more information on Atlantic Eye Center, or to schedule an appointment, visit www.DoctorMichaelCaruso.com or call 609-465-1616.