Dr. Kathy Mejia, OD

Dr. Kathy Mejia, OD is a board-certified Optometrist practicing at her clinic in Miami, 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, and is committed to collaborative, evidence-based medicine, creating a supportive environment where patients feel empowered to take an active role in their long-term health.

Dr. Kathy Mejia, OD is an optometrist in Miami, FL, dedicated to the comprehensive and proactive care of her patients' eye health. Her practice emphasizes the importance of early detection and prevention, recognizing the crucial link between eye health and overall well-being. She provides a personalized approach to care, tailoring treatment plans to meet each patient's unique needs. Patients should call (305) 265-9686 to confirm if she is currently accepting new patients. Dr. Kathy OD provides consultations primarily in English.

A key part of the WePrevent mission is building your personalized prevention roadmap. Dr. Kathy 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. Kathy 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. Kathy 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:

• Misaligned Eyes: Addressing misaligned eyes early can prevent the development of double vision, eye strain, and other vision complications, emphasizing proactive eye care.
• Retinal Macoaneurysm: Managing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes reduces your risk of developing retinal macroaneurysms, a serious eye condition requiring preventative care through routine eye exams.
• Anisometropia: Anisometropia, or a significant difference in your eyes' focusing abilities, can lead to vision problems if left untreated. Prevent complications with regular eye exams for early detection and customized vision correction.
• Supranuclear Ocular Palsy: Managing supranuclear ocular palsy effectively relies heavily on early detection, achievable through routine comprehensive eye exams; this allows for prompt intervention and potentially minimizes its impact on your vision.
• Internuclear Opthalmoplegia: Prevent vision complications associated with internuclear ophthalmoplegia by prioritizing regular comprehensive eye examinations. Early diagnosis is key to successful management of this eye movement disorder.
• Amaurosis Fugax: Amaurosis fugax is a temporary vision loss in one eye, often a warning sign of a more serious underlying health problem, so regular eye exams are crucial for early detection and prevention of complications.
• Visual Hallucinations: Experiencing visual hallucinations, such as seeing things that aren't there, can be a sign of a serious underlying health issue, emphasizing the importance of regular comprehensive eye exams for early detection and prevention of further complications.

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. Kathy OD offers a range of key preventive screenings and services designed to provide crucial insights into your health and support your well-being:

• Strabismus Treatment: Strabismus treatment corrects misaligned eyes, reducing double vision and improving your quality of life.
• Ultrasound, Eye: Don't wait for symptoms; an eye ultrasound can detect issues like retinal tears or swelling even before you notice any vision changes, preventing severe complications.
• Interpretation of Pharmacologic Stress Tests: As part of comprehensive eye care, this test is a valuable tool for early detection of medication-related eye conditions, ensuring timely intervention.
• Monovision: Monovision offers a convenient way to correct both near and farsightedness, simplifying your vision needs and potentially preventing future vision problems.
• Visual Evoked Potential (VEP): Protect your eyesight by undergoing a VEP test, which helps screen for conditions that can impair your visual pathways and ultimately, your vision.
• Intraocular Lens Implant Surgery (Co-management): Protect your vision and improve your quality of life by opting for our co-management of intraocular lens implants; we work alongside your surgeon for optimal results.
• Clear Lens Extraction (Co-management): Enhance your vision and safeguard your eye health through clear lens extraction co-management, providing comprehensive care before, during, and after surgery.

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. Kathy 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:

• By scheduling regular eye exams, a young child received prompt diagnosis and treatment for misaligned eyes, preventing the development of vision complications and ensuring clear sight for years to come. This proactive approach fostered peace of mind for the entire family.
• By closely monitoring their blood sugar and blood pressure, a patient proactively reduced their risk of retinal macroaneurysms, ensuring peace of mind and a healthier future.

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. Kathy OD:

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

An optometrist (OD) is a primary eye care provider who performs comprehensive eye exams, prescribes glasses and contact lenses, and diagnoses and manages many eye diseases. An ophthalmologist (MD) is a medical doctor specializing in eye surgery.

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 for most adults, even if your vision is good. These exams detect silent, vision-threatening diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy early, when treatment is most effective. Early detection is key to preserving your vision.

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 for the detection of early signs of systemic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even certain cancers or autoimmune diseases.

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

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

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 exam allows Dr. Kathy OD to detect changes early and arrange treatment to prevent vision loss.

When should my child have their first eye exam?

Dr. Kathy OD recommends a comprehensive eye exam for children between 6 and 12 months of age. This early exam is vital to detect potential vision problems like lazy eye or misaligned eyes, ensuring proper vision development.

Is it safe to buy contact lenses online without an exam?

No, it is unsafe and illegal to purchase contact lenses online without a comprehensive eye exam. Contact lenses are medical devices that sit directly on your eye, and a proper fitting and annual exam with Dr. Kathy OD is essential to ensure correct fit and prevent potential eye damage, infections, and vision loss.

What is an OCT scan?

An OCT scan is an advanced imaging technology, similar to ultrasound but using light, to create incredibly detailed cross-sectional pictures of the retina and optic nerve. This allows Dr. Kathy to detect and monitor diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration with great precision.

7500 SW 8th St
Miami FL 33144
Phone: (305) 265-9686

Dr. Kathy Mejia, 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): 1730679317

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. Kathy 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.