Academic Eye Centers in Florida: Bascom Palmer, UF Health, USF Health, Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic Florida

Academic eye centers are ophthalmology departments linked to medical schools or academic health systems. When a problem is complex or uncommon, or you want a second opinion, it helps to know which centers serve your region and what each one documents about its services.

At a glance

South Florida: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (Miami)

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute is the Department of Ophthalmology for the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, within the University of Miami Health System. Its official website is bascompalmer.org.

• It opened on January 21, 1962, according to the institute's official history.
• The same page says it treats eye emergencies.
• Its main location is in Miami, with satellite facilities in South Florida. When you call, ask which site handles your type of appointment.

South Florida: Cleveland Clinic Florida (Weston)

Tampa Bay: USF Health (Tampa)

The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology appears in Tampa General Hospital's care directory. The location listing gives these details:

• Address: 13330 USF Laurel Drive, Tampa, FL 33612
• Phone: 813-821-8022
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–5:00 pm; closed weekends

A second directory listing names ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery, often called oculoplastics, among the department's specialties. For more on that area, see our subspecialty guide.

North Central Florida: UF Health (Gainesville)

The University of Florida's Department of Ophthalmology sees patients at The Oaks, 6201 W. Newberry Road, Gainesville. Appointments are made at (352) 265-2020, according to the department's patient care page. UF pages list different ZIP codes for this address, so confirm the full address when you book.

The department's Comprehensive Eye Service provides basic diagnostic, medical and surgical care, including evaluation of vision loss. UF also runs a separate ophthalmology research site.

Ophthalmology Equal Access Clinic

The Ophthalmology Equal Access Clinic offers eye care to adults and children who lack routine access to it. The clinic focuses on evaluation, screening and referral, and is located at HealthStreet, 2401 SE Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608. Contact the clinic to ask about current hours and who can be seen.

Northeast Florida: Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville)

Mayo Clinic's Department of Ophthalmology in Jacksonville reports more than 110,000 outpatient visits per year, according to its glaucoma fellowship faculty page. A job posting dated August 19, 2026, describes a multidisciplinary academic practice offering full medical and surgical eye care. A posting dated February 27, 2026, mentions a growing team of 15 faculty.

• Neuro-ophthalmology: the neuro-ophthalmology fellowship page lists care that includes double vision (diplopia), idiopathic intracranial hypertension, multiple sclerosis and nystagmus.
• Glaucoma: Mayo Clinic runs a glaucoma fellowship at its Florida campus.
• Ocular oncology: the February 2026 posting was for an ophthalmologist-ocular oncologist. A job posting isn't a service listing, so ask whether the service is available.
• Mayo's ophthalmology overview describes the department across Mayo Clinic, not the Florida campus specifically.

When a referral may be worth asking about

Only a physician who knows your case can say whether you need an academic center. These are situations where it's reasonable to raise the question with your ophthalmologist:

• Your condition is uncommon, or you've been told you need a subspecialist who may not practice near you.
• You'd like a second opinion before surgery or another major decision.
• Your eye problem is linked to another condition, such as multiple sclerosis, and care may involve more than one specialty.
• You've been referred for an area such as neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastics or ocular oncology.

How to prepare for a referral

1. Talk it through with your current physicianAsk whether a referral makes sense, which center and subspecialty fit, and whether your records can be sent ahead.
2. Check your insuranceCall the member number on your card to ask whether the center is in network and whether you need a referral or prior authorization.
3. Call the center directlyUse phone numbers from official pages, and confirm the address, since some centers see patients at more than one site.
4. Plan the tripConfirm directions and parking, ask roughly how long the visit may take, and ask whether you should arrange for someone to drive you.