Meet Dr. James Doyle: Bolstering Kids' Eye Care

His timing was impeccable, Dr. James Doyle recalls with a rueful laugh. In March 2020, the board-certified ophthalmologist had moved from New York to Tampa to practice with a health system there. But COVID-19 scuttled those plans as the country went into a lockdown.

But ultimately, the development was good news for our community and Lee Physician Group Pediatric Ophthalmology. That’s because last September, Dr. Doyle brought his formidable education and skills to SWFL Children’s Charities Eye Institute of Golisano Children’s Hospital.

The New York native boasts more than a quarter century of expertise as a board-certified ophthalmologist who is fellowship-trained in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus surgery. In sum, Dr. Doyle treats and manages various ocular diseases affecting children using specialty eyeglasses, medications and, when necessary, eye surgery.

Dr. Doyle finds the support of the staff and hospital administration excellent, he says, but he also admits Golisano Children’s Hospital – named the “Most Beautiful Hospital in the U.S.” in 2018 – reminds him of the children's hospital where he trained in pediatrics back in New York.

But Dr. Doyle says the award-winning care the hospital provides matters most to him. That the hospital is the only comprehensive and accredited children’s hospital between Tampa and Miami is no small thing, either.

“I was drawn to Southwest Florida for the weather, of course. But, more specifically, to work at any children's hospital is a remarkable opportunity, but especially at Golisano Children’s hospital. For any pediatric specialist or subspecialist, it’s an exceptional place to enhance one’s medical career and personal life.

“To do all that while meeting the needs of an underserved population and help children at risk, it’s a marvelous opportunity in a good location,” he adds. “I feel very comfortable with the quality and consistency of the care I’ve seen delivered to every single child here.”

Dr. Doyle earned his medical degree at State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn College of Medicine, and residencies in ophthalmology at Interfaith Medical Center, Brooklyn and in pediatrics at Long Island Jewish Schneider Children’s Hospital, New Hyde Park, New York. He completed a pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus (abnormal alignment of the eyes) fellowship at The University of Illinois, Eye and Ear Infirmary, Chicago.

But it was his laboratory experience as a graduate student in biology at St. John’s University Graduate School in Jamaica, New York, where he found his calling in the ophthalmology field.

“I had an opportunity to do some laboratory work with a professor who was researching calcium activated proteases in the tobacco hornworm and how they might relate to muscular dystrophy,” Dr. Doyle recalls. "I did microsurgery under the microscope on the tobacco hornworm and found it fascinating. I thought I’d really like to continue to doing microsurgery in a field like ophthalmology that would impact someone's life. So much of the world is visual and beautiful. I wanted to help people be able to experience those things.”

Helping others runs in the Doyle family. Dr. Doyle’s spouse is a registered nurse, their daughter plans to pursue a Ph.D. in psychology and their son works in digital media in the continuing adult education component at Florida Atlantic University.

Early diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent eye diseases and vision disorders from progressing and severely hindering your child's eyesight. Dr. Doyle and his expert peers treat a range of conditions, including:

• Eye muscle disorders
• Amblyopia (“lazy eye”)
• Retinopathy of prematurity (often called ROP or Terry syndrome)
• Ptosis (drooping eyelid)
• Nasolacrimal duct (tear duct) obstructions
• Strabismus (abnormal alignment of the eyes, also known as crossed eyes)

The new eye institute is located just seven minutes from Golisano at Summerlin Road and San Carlos Boulevard. Before the center opened, patients had to travel outside our area, typically to Miami or Tampa, to receive specialized eye care.