Dr. Diana Shechtman, OD

Dr. Diana Shechtman, OD is a board-certified optometrist practicing at her clinic in North Miami Beach, Florida. As a partner in preventive health featured on weprevent.org, she is dedicated to empowering patients with proactive, comprehensive optometric care, registered with The Florida Board of Medicine and practicing under the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice). Your optometrist is your primary partner in lifelong eye health, providing preventive care, vision correction, early disease detection, personalized health plans, and coordinating screenings to ensure your best possible vision and overall wellness. She serves all ages, from infants to seniors.

Dr. Shechtman's approach to care is deeply rooted in collaborative, evidence-based medicine, ensuring a supportive environment where patients feel empowered to take an active role in their long-term health. She is a board-certified optometrist with a degree obtained in 1998, followed by an ocular disease residency in 1999. Dr. Shechtman's extensive experience includes working with ophthalmology practices for nearly a decade and 18 years as a full-time professor at Nova Southeastern University. Recognized as one of the best eye doctors in 2022 by Newsweek, she is fluent in English and Spanish, though consultations are primarily in English. To confirm new patient availability, please call (305) 947-0027.

A key part of the WePrevent mission is building your personalized prevention roadmap. Dr. Diana OD is a vital partner in this journey, focusing on proactive strategies to protect and enhance your long-term health.

By working together, you and Dr. Diana OD can create a clear, actionable plan to address your unique risk factors and health goals.

A proactive approach to health involves understanding and managing potential risks. Dr. Diana OD provides expert care for a range of conditions, focusing on early detection and effective management to support your long-term wellness. Common areas of focus include:

• Ocular Vaccinia: Ocular vaccinia highlights the importance of understanding and managing potential risks to eye health, emphasizing the role of regular eye check-ups and preventive health strategies.
• Optic Neuritis: Regular eye exams are crucial for preventing serious vision complications from optic neuritis, a condition causing inflammation of the optic nerve that can lead to vision loss if left untreated.
• Anisometropia: Having different refractive powers in each eye, known as anisometropia, can impact your vision development, particularly in children; scheduling regular checkups ensures early identification and management.
• Macular Dystrophy, Vitelliform, Adult-Onset: Protecting your eyesight from the potentially debilitating effects of adult-onset vitelliform macular dystrophy starts with proactive, regular visits to your eye doctor for comprehensive eye exams.
• Posterior Uveitis: Protecting your vision involves regular eye exams to detect posterior uveitis early, as prompt treatment helps minimize lasting eye damage.
• Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome: Protecting your vision from OHS involves understanding your risk factors and having routine eye exams, allowing for early detection and treatment to preserve sight.
• Retinal Migraine: Regular eye exams are crucial for early detection of retinal migraine, allowing for timely intervention to prevent lasting vision problems.

This list highlights some common health concerns and is for informational purposes only. The best way to understand your personal health and create a prevention plan is to schedule a consultation. Accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans are developed based on individual patient evaluations.

Taking proactive steps is central to long-term health. Dr. Diana OD offers a range of key preventive screenings and services designed to provide crucial insights into your health and support your well-being:

• Optical Coherence Tomography: Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a painless scan that creates detailed images of your eye's structures, helping detect early signs of glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other eye diseases so you can get timely treatment.
• Lacrimal Surgery (Co-management): Taking a proactive role in your lacrimal surgery journey through co-management helps optimize your recovery and vision outcome.
• Implantable Contact Lens (Co-management): Take a proactive step towards lifelong clear vision by exploring implantable contact lenses, a procedure we co-manage to ensure optimal vision correction and early detection of potential complications.
• Dry Macular Degeneration Management: Take proactive steps to protect your vision by managing dry macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss, through regular eye exams and personalized treatment plans.
• Macular Degeneration Treatment: Don't wait until you experience vision changes. Macular degeneration treatment focuses on early diagnosis and management to help you maintain healthy vision for years to come.
• LASIK (Co-management): Prioritize your long-term eye health by opting for LASIK co-management; your doctor's close supervision helps identify and address potential issues early, preventing future vision problems.
• YAG Laser Capsulotomy (Co-management/some states): Improve your post-cataract surgery results: YAG laser capsulotomy is a quick procedure to help restore clear vision after cataract surgery, preventing further vision loss.

Service availability can change, and not all services listed may be appropriate for every patient. For a comprehensive understanding of all available services and to create your personalized screening plan, please schedule a consultation.

All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for Optometry Services in Florida.

Dr. Diana OD is dedicated to partnering with Caregivers to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how a proactive approach can make a tangible difference in a Patient's life:

• A family was relieved to learn that regular eye exams, recommended by an optometrist, helped identify and address a potential risk of ocular vaccinia, ensuring their eye health remained optimal. By proactively managing potential risks, they were able to maintain peace of mind regarding their family's vision.
• By scheduling regular eye exams, a patient proactively monitored their eye health, significantly reducing the risk of optic neuritis complications and maintaining clear vision. This proactive approach ensured peace of mind and confidence in their long-term vision.

These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results may vary and depend on many factors specific to each patient. She will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.

Here are answers to some common questions about proactive Optometric care with Dr. Diana OD:

What is an Optometrist, and how are they different from an Ophthalmologist?

An optometrist, like Dr. Diana OD, is a primary eye care provider who performs comprehensive eye exams, prescribes glasses and contact lenses, and diagnoses and manages many eye conditions. An ophthalmologist, on the other hand, is a medical doctor who specializes in surgery and more complex eye conditions.

How often should I get a comprehensive eye exam, even if I see well?

A comprehensive eye exam every one to two years is crucial, even if you see well. These exams look beyond your vision, detecting silent, vision-threatening diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Early detection is key to preserving your sight.

Can an eye exam detect other health problems in my body?

Yes, a comprehensive eye exam can detect other health problems. The eye is the only place where blood vessels can be viewed directly without surgery, allowing our doctors to identify early signs of systemic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even certain cancers or autoimmune diseases during a dilated eye exam.

I have diabetes. Why do I need a special dilated eye exam every year?

Diabetes can damage the small blood vessels in your retina, a condition called diabetic retinopathy. This is a leading cause of blindness, but often has no symptoms in its early stages. An annual dilated eye exam allows Dr. Diana OD to detect any changes early and arrange treatment to prevent vision loss.

What are the signs of a cataract?

Common signs of a cataract include blurry or dim vision, increased glare from lights, fading or yellowing of colors, and frequent changes in glasses prescription. Dr. Diana OD can diagnose and monitor cataracts for you.

What is glaucoma and why is it called the 'silent thief of sight'?

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve, often due to high pressure inside the eye. It's called the "silent thief" because it typically has no symptoms in its early stages, causing irreversible peripheral vision loss. Regular eye exams are the only way to detect it early and prevent blindness.

What is an OCT scan?

An OCT scan is an advanced imaging technology, similar to an ultrasound but using light, to create incredibly detailed cross-sectional pictures of the retina and optic nerve. Dr. Diana OD uses this to precisely detect and monitor diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration.

What is the role of an optometrist in managing cataract surgery?

Dr. Diana OD will diagnose your cataract, determine when surgery is needed, refer you to a trusted ophthalmologist, and then provide all the essential post-operative care and follow-up vision correction.

1701 NE 164th St Ste 200
North Miami Beach FL 33162
Phone: (305) 947-0027

Dr. Diana Shechtman, OD is regulated by the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice) in Florida and is licensed by The Florida Board of Medicine.

National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1710052089

Registration can typically be verified through The Florida Board of Medicine website or by direct inquiry.

The information on this profile, provided by weprevent.org, is for general informational purposes and to help you connect with preventive health partners. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the physician named. Optometry Services like Dr. Diana OD are skilled in helping patients create proactive health plans. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. It is always recommended to maintain open communication with your optometry about all aspects of your health and your personalized prevention plan.