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On a warm and muggy Tampa Bay night, sometime in 1985, the rear view mirror held a sight that no first time driver wants to see: the blue lights of a Florida State Trooper. When the trooper looked over my license noting the restriction on my brand new Driver’s License, he immediately shined his enormous flashlight directly into my eyes and barked, “Where are your corrective lenses?”

As only a cheesy Tampa Bay teenager could pull off, I retorted, “Check it out, I just got contacts!” I don’t recall, but I’m sure I was cited for something.

Dr. Moira Burke, my Ophthalmologist who practiced near USF and who is now retired, had just put me in Toric Gas Permeable contact lenses for the first time- ending years of misery and embarrassment of wearing glasses thick enough to handle countless diopters of astigmatism. No doubt I loved her. To me, this lady walked on water. She had changed my life. Whether going to the beaches at Siesta Key or Clearwater, competing on baseball diamonds from Plant City to Tampa to Sarasota and coming of age at Brandon High School, my outlook on life was completely altered in a positive way. My vision was sharper for sports related activities, and I felt better about my appearance during those years of vanity. Now all I needed was a dermatologist (I’ll save that for another story).

So, make no mistake that it’s meaningful that Local Eye Site and our entire community are dedicated professionals in the eye care industry. This is especially true for those of you who touch patients each and every day. You are making a difference.

Bill Valdespino
Partner
Local Eye Site, LLC

Photo from 1984