top of page
Doctor Brian_Headshot.jpg

Brian Den Beste, OD, FAAO

 

Dr. Brian Den Beste opened the first Laser Vision Correction facility in Orlando in April of 1996! In fact, it was one of the very first LASIK centers in the entire country. His first company purchased Visx laser #64 and a few years later purchased Alcon laser #1. Brian has assisted on over 40,000 LASIK procedures and has helped train over 30 surgeons to use three different excimer laser systems. He has helped several companies obtain FDA approval for both laser applications and keratome approval. 

Brian was born and raised in the small town of Sheldon, Iowa. He completed his undergraduate studies at Northwestern College and in 1980 graduated with honors from the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago. He then completed a one-year residency in ocular disease at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. 

After one year in private practice, Brian was recruited to Miami as a staff optometrist at the prestigious Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami department of Ophthalmology. Four and a half years later (1987) he and his family moved to Orlando and began a practice limited to consultation in ocular disease and laser vision correction.
 

Since 1983, Brian has provided optometric education, including externships and fellowships in both Miami and Orlando.
 

His lecturing experience includes over 100 presentations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Holland, Denmark and Australia. He was on the admittance committee for the American Academy of Optometry, 1989-1992. Appointed by the Governor in 1986, he chaired Florida’s 1st formulary committee. He is a consultant to the Florida state board of optometry and the Florida Department of Health since 1983. During his extended tenure he has completely changed both the format and content of the state board exam for optometric licensure. In 1988, he was voted Florida’s Optometrist of the Year. In 2024 he was voted Florida's Optometrist of the Decade. Brian has authored numerous papers and has served on the review board of several journals. He continues to serve on the adjunct clinical faculty for several universities and colleges…including his favorite, Indiana University!

​

In his leisure time, Brian enjoys tennis, fishing, hiking, and spending time with his family. 

 

  

​

​

Education

  • 1982-1987: University of Miami. Bascom Palmer Eye Inst. Staff Optometrist

  • 1980-1981: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Residency in Family Practice Optometry.

  • 1976-1980: Illinois College of Optometry.

  • 1973-1976: Northwestern College (Orange City, Iowa) Biology major.

Work History

  • 1981-1982: Private Practice – Des Moines, IA

  • 1982-1987: Staff O.D. @ University of Miami, Basom Palmer Eye Institute

  • 1987-1989: Staff O.D. @ Eye Institute of Central Florida

  • 1989-1996: President Eye Foundation, Orlando

  • 1996-2007: President LaserVue

  • Orlando 1999-Present: President of Lasik Pro, P.A., Orlando​​​​​​

Awards

  • 2024: Voted Florida’s Optometrist of the Decade.

  • 2022: Newsweek: America’s Best Eye Doctors: #114

  • 2022: Nominated: “Lifetime Achievement Award, Florida”

  • 2000: Nominated “Florida’s Optometrist of the Decade”

  • 1996: Prevent Blindness Visionary Award- 1st award ever presented in Florida

  • 1988: Florida’s Optometrist of the Year  Outstanding CFOS Member

  • 1980: Graduate with Honors, ICO

  • 1980: Outstanding Young Men in America

  • 1979: Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Fraternity

Publications

  • 2013: “Can You Nail the Diagnosis? “Review of Optometry. Oct issue

  • 2009: “Comanaging Refractive Surgery, “Optometric Management, Nov issue

  • 1997: “Recurring Herpes Simplex Keratitis,” Review of Optometry

  • 1995: “Glaucoma Treatment,” Dec 1995 Optometry Today

  • 1987: “How to Manage Blepharitis,” Review of Optometry

  • 1986: “AIDS, A Review and Guide for Infection Control,”

  • 1979: “Choroidal Tear,” Optometric Monthly, December 1979

Experience and Committees

  • 2021-2023: Expert consultant. State of Florida dept of health (Abbason and Assoc)

  • 2017-2023: AOA new technology committee

  • 2014-Present: Diplomate American Board of Optometry 1982-Present: Department of Professional Regulations/ Dept. of Health Consultant and Author of Florida State Board of Optometry Exam. Annual examiner and test author.

  • 1999-Present: President of Lasik Pro.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

  • 1996-2007: LaserVue: President and founder of 1 st laser refractive center in Orlando.

  • 1988-Present: Preceptor for Externship program with Indiana Univ. and Nova Southeastern

  • 1999-2006: Preceptor for 1 yr. post grad fellowship in Ocular Disease and Refractive Surgery.

  • 1997-1999: AAO Corporate Support Committee Industry Relations Committee – American Academy of Optometry Florida Department of Labor – Workers Compensation Committee Florida Public Health Association – President Eye Care Section Visx Speakers Bureau

  • 1996: Florida Department of Labor and Employment Security  Physician’s Advisory Council

  • 1995-2003: Alcon pharmacological Advisory Board

  • 1993: Disciplinary monitor, Dept. of Professional Regulations.

  • 1993-2000: Medical Board Member- Coalition for the Homeless

  • 1993: Appointment – Clinical Expert Review Panel: AOA Clinical Practice Guideline on Cataracts.

  • 1991-present Consensus panel on diabetes,

  • June 1991. Panel sanctioned by the American Optometric Association to create a complete synopsis on Management of the diabetic patient to be distributed to all AOA members.

  • 1991-1992: Education Committee – Southern Council of Optometry

  • 1993-1997: Established accredited Residency in Ocular Disease and laser vision correction with University of Alabama in Birmingham

  • 1990-1991: President, Central Florida Optometric Society.

  • 1990-present American Diabetes Association, member

  • 1989-2007: President, The Eye Foundation, Orlando, Florida. Practice limited to diagnosis and management of ocular disease.

  • 1986-1988: Clinical Director – Eye Institute of Central Florida

  • 1988-2000: American Journal of Optometry, Referee

  • 1987-1992: American Academy of Optometry, Admittance Committee Education Chairman, Florida

  • 1986-1991: 1st Formulary Committee Chairman, Florida legislative Appointment to determine diagnostic and therapeutic Pharmaceuticals for practicing optometrists.

  • 1985-1987: Assistant Coordinator of Optometric Services, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (12 Staff O.D.’s)

  • 1985-Present: Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry

  • 1983-1993: Southern Journal of Optometry, Referee.

  • 1982-1987: University of Miami School of Medicine, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Optometrist.

  • 1981-1982: Optometric Associates of Warren County, P.C. Iowa, Private Practice

  • 1980-1981: Residency in Family Practice, UAB. Services rendered at the School of Optometry, Family Practice Medical Center, V.A. Hospital – Birmingham, Diabetes Research Hospital, Partlow Mental Hospital – Tuscaloosa, School of Deaf – Telladega, Neo-Natal Clinic Birmingham.

  • 1980 Hines V.A. Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. Six week internship – Blind Rehabilitation Center.

Contact Us

google reviews.webp
bottom of page