Mark Sibley, MD - Eye Surgeon, Ophthalmologist, Anti-Aging Solutions

My parents taught us the invaluable lesson to dream big.  They wanted more for their five children.  They taught us that having a desire for anything but not working towards it was just a fantasy, but having a desire and working for it was a dream that could be successful and could come true.  We believed in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy growing up, but my parents instilled in us there was no magic way to earn money.

A knee injury during a high school football game changed the direction of my life forever.  After the sports college scholarship offers were withdrawn, I had to go to “Plan B,” which unfortunately did not exist.  I was devastated, afraid, and had to figure out a new dream.

I went to the University of Florida and it was there that I found my calling. I studied hard, got good grades, and worked multiple jobs during part-time those four years to pay my own tuition.  I decided I wanted to become a medical doctor specializing in ophthalmology.  I would be able to restore vision and prevent blindness.  I felt that this was the ultimate goal of paying it forward and “helping others.”  I spent four years in residency training to become an eye physician and eye surgeon.

 My professors at Harvard reminded me that the simplest three steps to do this were to, “See one, do one, and then be able to teach one.”  I realize that they may have been wrong.  I found that I had to see one, see done correctly, do one, finally do one correctly, try to teach one, and then actually teach one correctly to my young doctors in training.  I have continued to follow this philosophy and teach this philosophy the rest of my life – to my family, my staff, the doctors I train, and the doctors I teach.

I came to St. Petersburg in 1980 and started the ophthalmology department at the Suncoast Medical Clinic.  It grew in the next 30 years to become one of the largest medical facilities in St. Petersburg.  It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost 20 years since I founded the Florida Eye Center in St. Petersburg and became the medical director and head surgeon. When the Tampa Bay Rays professional baseball team was formed in the 90s they selected me as their first team eye doctor, their first team LASIK doctor and I am honored to remain in that role to this day.

Though I thank my parents every day for raising me with the morals, ethics and work principles that led to my success – to succeed by working harder, I look back now and I realize that my parents raised us like they had been raised, to work hard, but unfortunately, they never addressed the potential health issues I would face later on in life. 

 
Issues like smoking, cancer, heart disease, stroke, macular degeneration, damage to my skin from the sun and free radicals, vitamins, minerals, diet, skin care, everything related to health and preventive measures.  My Mom was even a nurse at the time!   It wasn’t because she and my Dad didn’t care or love me, rather they simply did not possess the scientific knowledge we have at our fingertips today.

And I found it.

I found the company, the science, the products and the solution I could offer not only to my remaining family members, but everyone else as well.

I also found my mission in life.

 
As a Doctor, who has seen countless deaths which could have been prevented, I am blessed to have the opportunity to change lives, from the inside out, including my own!

It’s all about “Paying It Forward”.  Ever see the movie?  I help you, you help others.  It’s that simple.

You must take the action needed to change your future and the future of your loved ones. 

As for me, to Jack and Alyce Sibley (my parent’s), I say “Mom and Dad, you were proud of me before and now I am going beyond just helping others locally, I am helping them globally...and it’s all for you!   Love Always, Your Son,
Mark”.