Dr. Laura Espinosa, OD

Dr. Laura Espinosa, OD is a board-certified Optometrist practicing at her clinic in Miami, FL. 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. Laura Espinosa, OD is an optometrist in Miami, FL, committed to collaborative, evidence-based medicine. She fosters a supportive environment where patients feel empowered to take an active role in their long-term health, recognizing the crucial connection between eye health and overall well-being. This approach is central to her practice and ensures a personalized experience tailored to each individual's needs. Patients should call (305) 253-2525 to confirm if the doctor is currently accepting new patients. Dr. Laura OD offers consultations in Spanish.

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

• Eye Muscle Disorders: Preventing long-term vision impairment from eye muscle disorders starts with proactive care: schedule regular comprehensive eye exams to catch and address any issues early.
• Stye: Preventing styes involves good hygiene practices like washing your hands frequently and avoiding touching your eyes; early detection through self-examination and professional check-ups is key.
• Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: Regular eye exams are essential for early detection of Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), a condition affecting the oil glands in your eyelids that can cause discomfort and potentially increase your risk for serious eye diseases.
• Chorioretinitis: Chorioretinitis, an inflammation affecting the back of your eye, can be managed more effectively with preventive care, including regular eye checkups.
• Myopia, Infantile Severe: Infantile severe myopia is a serious condition where a child develops extremely nearsighted vision at a young age, emphasizing the need for early detection and management to prevent vision impairment later in life.
• Retinopathy: Protecting your vision from retinopathy involves managing conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, which can greatly increase your risk.
• Microcornea - Cataract - Coloboma Syndrome: Protecting your vision starts with understanding conditions like microcornea-cataract-coloboma syndrome; routine eye checkups are crucial for early diagnosis and treatment to prevent severe vision impairment.

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

• Lacrimal Surgery (Co-management): Co-managing your lacrimal surgery ensures your eyes heal properly and helps prevent potential complications after the procedure.
• Eyeglass Fitting: An accurate eyeglass fitting allows for optimal vision correction, reducing the risk of accidents and improving your quality of life.
• LipiFlow® Procedure: Invest in your eye health and prevent further dry eye complications with LipiFlow®, a procedure that effectively unclogs blocked glands responsible for producing healthy tears.
• BlephEx™ for Blepharitis: BlephEx™ is a safe and effective treatment for blepharitis, helping to relieve symptoms like redness, itching, and burning by gently exfoliating your eyelids.
• Pharmacologic Stress Testing: Taking proactive steps for your eye health, pharmacologic stress testing helps your eye doctor assess how well your eyes respond to medication and identify potential issues early.
• Interpretation of Pharmacologic Stress Tests: Taking proactive steps towards better vision, this test helps your eye doctor assess your eye health and identify potential problems early on.
• Astigmatic Keratotomy (Co-management): Astigmatic keratotomy co-management helps ensure your vision correction surgery is successful and your eyes heal properly, preventing potential complications.

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. Laura 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 patient proactively identified and addressed early signs of potential eye muscle issues, reducing the risk of long-term vision impairment and gaining peace of mind.
• By practicing good hygiene and scheduling regular eye exams, a patient proactively avoided the discomfort of a stye, ensuring continued comfort and clear 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. Laura 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 conditions. 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, even if you see well. These exams screen for silent, vision-threatening diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, which often have no symptoms until significant damage occurs. Regular exams are a vital preventive measure.

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

Yes, a comprehensive eye exam can detect early signs of systemic diseases. The eye is unique in that blood vessels can be viewed directly without surgery, allowing our doctors to identify potential issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain cancers. A dilated eye exam can reveal these early warning signs.

What is 'low vision' and how can you help?

Low vision is vision impairment that cannot be fully corrected with glasses, contacts, or surgery. A low vision evaluation with Dr. Laura OD focuses on maximizing your remaining vision through tools like magnifiers, special lighting, and adaptive devices to help you maintain independence.

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

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, requiring a proper fitting and annual exam with Dr. Laura OD to ensure a correct fit and prevent potential eye damage, serious infections, and vision loss.

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. Laura to detect these changes early and arrange treatment to prevent vision loss.

When should my child have their first eye exam?

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

My eyes often feel dry and gritty. What can I do?

Dry eye is a very common condition. Dr. Laura OD can diagnose the underlying cause and recommend a personalized treatment plan, which may include prescription eye drops or in-office procedures, to improve comfort and prevent damage.

14429 S Dixie Hwy
Miami FL 33176
Phone: (305) 253-2525

Dr. Laura Espinosa, 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): 1942654116

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. Laura 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.