Meet Your Low Vision Specialist: Dr. Edward Huggett
In Dr. Edward Huggett’s own words: “Many years ago, my father developed age-related macular degeneration. He was a truck driver, and it caused him to have vision loss, preventing him from earning a living. This was at a time when I had recently graduated from optometry school.”
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“In seeing how low vision caused him difficulties in his daily life, and not knowing how to help my father with even simple tasks, I made it my mission to learn as much as possible about helping people like him.
I examine people every day who were told by their eye doctor there was nothing else that could be done, and I so enjoy showing them that there is, in almost every case, something that could be done. I make it my personal challenge to have every patient leave their low vision exam seeing better than they came in. To have a person read again, or see the face of a loved one more clearly, is very exciting to me. And that is why I do this.”
More About Dr. Huggett
Dr. Huggett received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida in 1981 and started his career that same year as a Resource Instructor for the Citrus County School Board in Crystal River, Florida — a way to earn and save money while furthering his career in optometry. Although he didn’t plan it, those five years of teaching middle and high school taught him a great deal about children and learning, and how brain development and neurological processing are affected by the visual system. He remains thankful for those years in teaching, as they’ve made him a better specialist in the field of low vision.
Dr. Huggett is dedicated to vision rehabilitation, creating programs and prescribing prescription lenses designed to enhance cognitive processing for patients with vision-related processing disorders. He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball team in 1994 as their Team Eye Physician, where his specialized training helped improve the visual acumen of professional athletes.
Dr. Huggett is a past co-presenter for the IMDSG, a monthly live internet support group for people around the world interested in learning the latest developments in low vision science and vision rehabilitation. For IMDSG, he also served as the chief contributor to the “Ask the Doctor” column, providing custom answers to submitted questions online.
He has also opened a free eye clinic within the Clearwater Free Clinic in Clearwater, FL, as well as at The Shepherd Center and The Homeless Outreach, both in Tarpon Springs, FL, serving the homeless, low-income individuals, and victims of domestic violence.
In his spare time, Dr. Huggett enjoys snow skiing, SCUBA diving, and spending time with his family in Tarpon Springs, FL.
EDUCATION
- Post-graduate coursework in low vision, 2007
- Post-graduate coursework in pediatric and binocular vision disorders, 1994–1998
- Doctor of Optometry, University of Houston College of Optometry, Houston, TX, 1990
- Post-graduate courses in Education, with special emphasis in Curriculum, Instruction and Administration, St. Leo College, St. Leo, FL, 1981–1983
- Bachelor of Arts, Zoology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 1981
- Associate of Arts, St. Petersburg Junior College, St. Petersburg, FL, 1978
EXTERNSHIP
- Bay Pines VA Medical Center, Bay Pines, FL, 1989
FELLOWSHIP
- University of Houston College of Optometry, Houston, TX, 1988–1989
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
1995 to present — Director and Founder of NuEyes Low Vision Solutions, providing vision examinations and rehabilitation for the visually impaired population
2012 to present — Principal, Dr. Light, lighting products for vision enhancement
2010 to present — Director of Optometric Services and Vision Enhancement Services, CLEAR Solutions for Reading, Inc.
2006 to 2015 — Director, NuEyes Low Vision Solutions, St. Luke’s Cataract and Laser Institute, Tarpon Springs, FL
2005 to 2007 — Director, NuEyes Low Vision Solutions, Morton Plant Mease Rehab. Center, Palm Harbor, FL
1994 — Team Eye Physician, Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball Club
1990 — Staff Optometrist, James Haley VA Medical Center, Tampa, FL
1981 to 1986 — Resource Instructor, Citrus County School Board, Inverness, FL
PUBLICATIONS
Contributor to Visual Ability of Patients Seeking Outpatient Low Vision Services in the United States, JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), 2014
ChromaGen Vision Screener Manual
CERTIFICATION
Board Certified Optometric Physician — State of Florida License: OPC2447, current
AFFILIATES
Get to Know the Rest of the Team
Dr. Huggett is supported by a dedicated team — you can meet them on our Our Staff page. To learn more about the kind of care Dr. Huggett provides, visit our Living With Low Vision page, or explore his approach to low vision rehabilitation therapy. If you’re ready to schedule your first visit, our New Patient Center outlines exactly what to expect.
Meet Our Doctor: Frequently Asked Questions
What inspired Dr. Huggett to specialize in low vision?
Dr. Huggett’s father developed age-related macular degeneration, which motivated him to dedicate his career to helping patients with low vision maximize their remaining sight.
What are Dr. Huggett’s credentials?
Dr. Huggett is a Board Certified Optometric Physician in the State of Florida, holding a Doctor of Optometry from the University of Houston College of Optometry and post-graduate training in low vision and binocular vision disorders.
How long has Dr. Huggett been practicing low vision care?
Dr. Huggett founded NuEyes Low Vision Solutions in 1995 and has been providing vision examinations and rehabilitation for the visually impaired ever since.
Has Dr. Huggett worked with professional athletes?
Yes. In 1994, Dr. Huggett was selected as the Team Eye Physician for the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball Club.
Does Dr. Huggett give back to the community?
Yes. He has opened free eye clinics at the Clearwater Free Clinic, The Shepherd Center, and The Homeless Outreach, serving homeless, low-income, and domestic violence survivor populations.
How do I schedule an appointment with Dr. Huggett?
You can request an appointment through our website or call our office directly at (727) 463-2579.
