Steven L. Maskin, MD

Ophthalmology/Dry Eye Specialist

Steven L. Maskin, MD, is an ophthalmologist who specializes in solving difficult Dry Eye, Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), and ocular surface disorders. He treats patients from across the globe who seek comprehensive care tailored for their specific needs at the Dry Eye and Cornea Treatment Center in Tampa, Florida. He is the founder of MGDinnovations (mgdi.com), a translational bio-tech company focused on Meibomian gland dysfunction.

Dr. Maskin completed clinical and research fellowships in Cornea and External Disease at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, FL, where, as a recipient of an NIH Grant, he also studied Meibomian glands. He is a 2019 recipient of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award, honoring physicians for their significant contributions to the Academy, its scientific and educational programs, and to ophthalmology. He was chosen Best Doctor of the Year by his peers every year from 1999 to 2015. He is a courtesy professor at the Department of Medical Engineering at the University of South Florida.

Dr. Maskin was the first researcher to confirm the presence of periductal fibrosis, the tissue that constricts Meibomian glands, and is the inventor of intraductal Meibomian gland  probing, the novel procedure that releases the constricting tissue. Before its invention and introduction as a first line therapy for MGD, patients often suffered with intractable, life-altering eye pain so severe it could lead to suicidal ideation and in extreme cases suicide. Now, with the advent of the Maskin® Probe and Protocol, the disease can be reversed and lives can be restored.

Dr. Maskin holds six US patents related to the treatment of Meibomian gland dysfunction.

He has published over 22 scientific papers on MGD, Meibomian gland probing, and other ophthalmic topics. He is the author of Your Dry Eye Mystery Solved: Reversing Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, Restoring Hope (Yale University Press, 2022). Written for patients and their doctors, the book reviews the science of Meibomian glands and MGD and challenges commonly held views about the cause of disease. A must read for anyone suffering with Dry Eye and MGD, the book describes patient symptoms,how these can impact daily life, and the comorbidities and cofactors that can contribute to the disease. The book chronicles Dr. Maskin’s innovative approach to achieving accurate diagnoses and prescribing effective treatments targeted for each individual case. Dr. Maskin is also the author of Reversing Dry Eye Syndrome: Practical Ways to Improve Your, Comfort, Vision, and Appearance (Yale University Press, 2007).

He is a frequent presenter at meetings of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), World Cornea Congress, and American Academy of Optometry, where he generously shares his research findings with colleagues from around the world.