Exceptional Training, Personal Experience

The Retina Group of Florida (RGF) is pleased to welcome Jie Sun, MD, PhD, as the newest physician at its Lakewood Ranch office. Not only does Dr. Sun bring exceptional expertise in medical retina and uveitis she also offers a deeply personal understanding of what vision loss means to patients and their families.

Dr. Sun’s journey into ophthalmology began during medical school in China, when she was still deciding on a specialty. Suddenly, her father experienced a vision emergency of retinal detachment. Seeing her dad as a patient, listening to his doctor explain treatment options, witnessing the surgery, and ultimately watching his vision return solidified her calling.

“On day one, when they opened the eye patch, and my dad was able to see, I decided I wanted to be an ophthalmologist,” Dr. Sun says. “That experience gave me empathy and knowledge from a personal perspective.” That empathy defines her practice. “Now I try my best to bring vision back to my patients and bring a smile back to the faces of their family members.”

Her medical perspective has also been shaped by global experience and broad-based training. After completing her medical education and practicing in China, she moved to the U.S. and was accepted into the Department of Ophthalmology at Howard University College of Medicine, where she earned a master’s degree and was awarded a Howard Fellowship. This comprehensive training provided a broad clinical foundation that benefits patients every day.

That breadth of experience matters. Recently, Dr. Sun treated a patient who had been told for years she had macular degeneration. After a careful examination, Dr. Sun found only a small amount of drusen: tiny deposits that can be a normal part of aging and do not, on their own, indicate macular degeneration. “The patient was really relieved,” she says.

At Retina Group of Florida, Dr. Sun is pleased to be part of a practice that mirrors her own values. The Lakewood Ranch team collaborates closely, discussing cases to ensure precise diagnoses and optimal treatment plans. Patients benefit from same-day availability and 24/7 on-call physician coverage, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. “Not every practice can offer this,” Dr. Sun notes. “We’re happy to provide it.”

Serving patients across Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, and Bradenton, Dr. Sun is proud to be part of a practice where advanced retinal care is delivered with a comprehensive touch and heartfelt compassion.