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Dr. Michael Tolentino, MD
Ophthalmologist | Retina Specialist
1450 Hollingsworth Oaks Dr Lakeland FL, 33803About
Michael J. Tolentino, MD, is a retina specialist, researcher, clinical trialist, and entrepreneur who diagnoses and treats patients at The Macula Center with three offices in Florida. He is now seeing patients at all three of their central Florida offices: The Macula Center Clearwater, The Macula Center at The Villages, The Macula Center at Hubbell Eye Clinic in Lakeland, Florida. Dr. Tolentino works alongside Drs. Dana M. Deupree and Jason Handza. He has joined The Macula Center in May 2017 to have the freedom to pursue both novel preventative and therapeutic research. The move will also allow him to treat patients in a caring and compassionate environment that is state of the art, holistic, and spiritually healing. Furthermore, he is Chief Technology Officer at The Macula Store in Lakeland, Florida, Associate Clinical Professor Ophthalmology at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando, Florida (2012-Present), and Speaker for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (2011-Present). As a retina specialist, he has dedicated training and unique experience in the medical and surgical management of diseases of the vitreous body of the eye and the retina. This subspecialty is sometimes known as vitreoretinal medicine. Dr. Tolentino has an impressive professional journey that spans seventeen years and his areas of expertise cover all facets of medical and surgical treatment of retinal diseases, as well as laser surgery. This includes diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, macular puckers, uveitis, retinal tears, complex retinal detachments and retinal degenerations such as retinitis pigmentosa. Throughout his many years of experience, Dr. Tolentino has upheld a steadfast commitment to the ethical and professional standards of his practice, as evidenced by his sterling record, and ensures an impeccable degree of patient satisfaction in all facets of his work. Dr. Tolentino is the son of Dr. Felipe Tolentino, MD, who is recognized as a pioneer in retinal surgery at Harvard Medical School as well as author of one of the first textbooks on vitreo-retinal surgery.
Dr. Michael Tolentino, MD's Videos
Education and Training
University Of Massachusetts Medical School 1993
Board Certification
American Board of Ophthalmology- Ophthalomology
OphthalmologyAmerican Board of OphthalmologyABO
Provider Details
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Dr. Michael Tolentino, MD's Expert Contributions
I have a black spot on my eye
This looks like a broken blood vessel but it is difficult to discern since the picture quality is rather limited. Did he notice this after waking up? He needs to try not to sleep on his face or side. Also, put a protected mask on before sleeping. READ MORE
Expert Publications
Data provided by the National Library of Medicine- Pharmacological regulation of protein expression from adeno-associated viral vectors in the eye.
- Inhibition of retinal neovascularization by intraocular viral-mediated delivery of anti-angiogenic agents.
- Central retinal vein occlusion immediately following cardiac surgery.
- Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting VEGF effectively inhibits ocular neovascularization in a mouse model.
- Retinal temperature increase during transpupillary thermotherapy: effects of pigmentation, subretinal blood, and choroidal blood flow.
- Systemic rapamycin inhibits retinal and choroidal neovascularization in mice.
- Images in clinical medicine. Central serous chorioretinopathy in pregnancy.
- Verteporfin photodynamic therapy combined with intravitreal bevacizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
- Current molecular understanding and future treatment strategies for pathologic ocular neovascularization.
- A strategy to discover circulating angiogenesis inhibitors generated by human tumors.
Areas of expertise and specialization
Faculty Titles & Positions
- Lectures on All Levels, Over 100 Invited -
- Board Member Association of Filipino Ophthalmologists in America -
- Founder and Board Member Tolentino Eye Research Foundation -
- Founder Macular Degeneration Association -
- Board Member Florida Polytechnic Foundation -
- Assistant Professor Florida Polytechnic Foundation -
- Clinical Associate Professor University of Central Florida Medical School -
Awards
- Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
Treatments
- Diabetes
- Macular Degeneration
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Retinal Detachment
- Retinal Tear
- Macular Hole
- Uveitis
- Type 2 Diabetes
Professional Memberships
- American Society of Retinal Specialists
- American Association of Ophthalmology
- Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
- Restoring Sight International
Dr. Michael Tolentino, MD's Practice location
The Macula Center
3280 N. McMullen Booth Rd Suite 120 -Clearwater, FL 33761Get Direction
Center For Retina & Macular Disease
2815 Lakeland Hills Blvd. -Lakeland, Florida 33805Get Direction
Palm Beach Eye Center
1450 Hollingsworth Oaks Dr -Lakeland, FL 33803Get Direction
Dr. Viet Ho
200 Avenue K Sw Suite 4 -Winter Haven, FL 33880Get Direction
Dr. Michael Tolentino, MD's reviews
Write ReviewPatient Experience with Dr. Tolention
- Karen
Dr Tolentino is one of the most friendly, intelligent and personable Doctors I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. I would recommend him to everyone!
Media Releases
Dr. Michael J Tolentino attended Deerfield Academy and received his honors Bachelor’s degree in computer science and organizational behavior from Brown University and his Medical degree from the University of Massachusetts. During College he studied at Nanjing University in China.
During high school and college he worked at Harvard Medical School at the Schepens Eye Research Insitute in his father’s laboratory. His father (Felipe Tolentino MD) is one of the founders of the field of vitreoretinal surgery and was a partner of Charles Schepens the founder of the Schepens Eye Research Institute of the Harvard Medical School.
He moved to the University of Pennsylvania for his vitreo-retinal surgical fellowship under the guidance of Drs. Stuart Fine and Alexander Brucker. He had a joint appointment as a member of the Cellular and Molecular Biology Faculty at UPENN and ran a NEI sponsored laboratory where he invented a VEGF gene silencing molecule called Bevasiranib.
As a retinal specialist, he also researched the use of gene and stem cell therapy for use in retinal disease. In parallel he refined his surgical skills as one of the main ophthalmic trauma surgeons in Philadelphia and the main Veterans Administration retina surgeon for the northern mid-Atlantic region. He eventually became the director of the vitreo-retinal surgical fellowship at UPENN.
Michael Tolentino, MD, is a leading physician at the Center for Retina & Macular Disease that is based out of the state of Florida. With nearly 20 years of experience and Board certification, Dr. Tolentino is well-versed in the field of ophthalmology; with particular expertise in retina surgery.
Dr. Tolentino helped develop all current treatments for wet macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy; such as Avastin, Lucentis, Macugen and Verteporfin.
Being a doctor of distinction, Dr. Tolentino was the first in the world to test Avastin in a model of eye disease 15 years ago; and is currently helping to develop eyedrops for wet macular degeneration, novel treatments for dry macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy at the Center.
Dr. Tolentino has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and has been invited to speak globally on new therapies for macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Being highly active in his field, Dr. Tolentino invented Bevasiranib, a drug being tested for wet AMD by OPKO health, and also founded Acuity Pharmaceuticals, which merged to become OPKO health.
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