Dr. Karina Findlay, MD

Media Releases

Get to know Ophthalmologist Dr. Karina Billiris Findlay, who serves patients in Tampa, Florida.

Dr. Findlay is a board-certified ophthalmologist who has been practicing medical and surgical retina since 1997. She sees patients at Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida at the offices in Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Wesley Chapel, and performs surgery at AdventHealth Hospital Tampa.

“Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida, established in 1971, is the first and largest retina practice serving Tampa Bay. Our doctors are board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and Fellowship Trained. Our offices are equipped with the most advanced diagnostic tests available. In our offices and surgery suites, we also have a variety of cutting-edge therapeutic modalities and we are capable of treating both simple and very complex retinal disorders.” as stated on their website. 

In her current capacity, Dr. Findlay is a Clinical Associate Professor within the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of South Florida and has supervised residents and fellows in surgical cases at James A. Haley VA Hospital for over 15 years. She continues to participate in clinical research and has given numerous patient education talks in diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.

With a passion for her field, the doctor belongs to numerous professional organizations, including the Tampa Bay Ophthalmological Society, the Florida Society of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Retinal Specialists, the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the Florida Medical Association, the Hillsborough County Medical Association, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Research to Prevent Blindness, and the American Diabetes Association.

In the early days of her academic career, Dr. Findlay graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of South Florida with a degree in Chemistry before completing her medical degree at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. She then went on to complete her internship in internal medicine and her residency in ophthalmology at the University of South Florida, after which she completed her medical and surgical vitreoretinal fellowship with Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida. 

A Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, she is board-certified in ophthalmology by the American Board of Ophthalmology, an independent, non-profit organization responsible for certifying ophthalmologists in the United States of America. 

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery, which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Ophthalmologists are experts in the diseases, functions, and anatomy of the eye. They may provide routine care such as vision testing, as well as prescribe and fit eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, ophthalmologists are also surgeons. They repair traumatic injuries to the eye and perform cataract, glaucoma, and corneal surgery. 

Recommended Articles

• How to Prepare for Cataract Surgery

  The normal process of aging is the leading cause of cataracts. The eye’s lens slowly loses its clarity and gets cloudy as we age. As a result, the quality of vision decreases. Cataract surgery is recommended when your life’s quality starts to suffer.It is important to know how to prepare...

• Treatments for Conjunctivitis

  Conjunctivitis or "pinkeye" is an infection of the conjunctiva, the thin, clear membrane coating the white of the eye and lining the inside of the eyelid. The symptoms may vary slightly depending on the cause, but are distinct: redness of the white part of the eye, tearing, a thick yellow discharge...

• How Long Does It Take To Get A Cataract Removed?

  How Cataract Surgery is Performed Prior to a cataracts surgery, you will have to attend an eye assessment with an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist will first examine your health condition and any previous eye treatments. They will also check for any other eye problems currently affecting...

• What Could a Swollen Eyelid Mean?

  Your eyelid’s skin is stretchy and loose with a thickness of less than 1 mm. Your eyelids can swell if there is a buildup of fluid in the tissues that surround your eyes.In most cases, swollen eyelids are not a cause for concern and can return back to its normal shape and size after a few days....

• What are the Side Effects of Cataract Surgery?

  Cataract is a disease which makes an eye lens to appear cloudy, thus reducing the eyesight. A normal eye lens assists in focusing light onto the retina for clear and undistorted image appearance. When a cataract forms in the eye, it makes images appear blurred and distorted. Although cataracts can...

• Rosacea: What is Light Therapy and Why is it Used?

  Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that mainly affects women past their 30s. According to the National Rosacea Society, approximately 16 million people in the US alone are affected with rosacea. It is a very common problem, especially among fair-skinned people. Rosacea causes redness over your...