Doctor Pautler graduated with high honors from the University of Florida in 1977 with a bachelors degree in microbiology. He gained early admission to the University of South Florida (USF) College of Medicine, where he served as freshman class president. After a general surgery internship, he completed his residency in ophthalmology at USF with an average score in the 95th percentile for overall ophthalmic knowledge and 99th percentile in retinal disease among all resident doctors across the United States. He gained acceptance to the world-renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI) at the University of Miami where he completed a medical retina fellowship under Doctor J. Donald M. Gass (named one of the ten most influential ophthalmologists of the 20th century). Doctor Pautler remained at BPEI to complete a surgical fellowship in vitreoretinal disease. He has published numerous medical articles and several book chapters on retinal disease. He has taught courses to fellow ophthalmologists at the American Academy of Ophthalmology on the management of diabetic retinopathy, interpretation of retinal testing, and the diagnosis of difficult cases. As President of the Florida Affiliate of the American Diabetes Association, he organized free patient screening exams for the detection of diabetic retinopathy. He received Compassionate Doctor Recognition and was given the On-Time Doctor Award and Patients’ Choice Award by Vitals.com.  Doctor Pautler was selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Doctors in America® from 1998 to 2020 (the listing discontinued after 2020). He was selected as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor from 2015 to 2024. Only 6-7% of board-certified physicians receive this recognition in the United States.  As associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of South Florida (USF), he participates in clinical research and helps teach resident physicians. He was named Alumnus of the Year by the department of ophthalmology at USF in 2019. He is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Doctor Pautler works as senior partner of the Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida. His primary interest is to optimize communication with his patients, to create a welcome office environment, and to provide excellent individualized patient care in Tampa, Florida. He takes pride in advocating for the patient in an era of corporate ownership of doctors’ offices and the heavy influence of drug companies.

For a telemedicine consultation with Dr Pautler, please send email request to spautler@rvaf.com. We accept Medicare and most insurances in Florida. Please include contact information (including phone number) in the email. We are unable to provide consultation for those living outside the state of Florida.