Dr. Stephen Houghton, OD

Dr. Stephen Houghton, OD is an optometrist dedicated to empowering patients with proactive, comprehensive eye care. As a partner in preventive health featured on weprevent.org, he practices at his clinic in Miami, FL, and is registered with The Florida Board of Medicine, practicing under Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice). He is committed to providing personalized health plans and coordinating screenings to ensure optimal vision and overall wellness. Your optometrist is your primary partner in lifelong eye health, providing preventive care, vision correction, early disease detection, and personalized health plans, all coordinated to ensure your best possible vision and overall wellness.

Dr. Stephen OD serves all ages, from infants to seniors, with a focus on preventative care. He believes in a collaborative, evidence-based approach to medicine, fostering a supportive environment where patients feel empowered to take an active role in their long-term health. He is committed to providing high-quality optometric care, focusing on the early detection of potential eye issues and promoting healthy vision habits. Patients should call (305) 273-7790 to confirm if Dr. Stephen Houghton, OD is currently accepting new patients.

Dr. Stephen Houghton, OD is an optometrist in Miami, FL, committed to comprehensive eye care. He understands that proactive health is crucial for a long and healthy life, and he is dedicated to educating patients about maintaining optimal eye health. His practice is based on collaborative, evidence-based medicine, focusing on prevention and early detection. Dr. Stephen OD provides consultations primarily in English.

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

• Mucocutaneous and Ocular Herpes, Neonatal: Early detection of neonatal herpes in the eyes and skin is crucial, as prompt treatment can minimize long-term vision and health problems.
• Acanthamoeba Keratitis: Protecting your eyes from Acanthamoeba keratitis involves careful contact lens care to prevent this potentially blinding infection, emphasizing early detection for better treatment outcomes.
• Diplopia: Regular eye exams are key to preventing vision problems. If you experience diplopia, or double vision, it's important to seek prompt medical attention to determine the underlying cause and start treatment to prevent future problems.
• Nystagmus, Congenital Motor, Autosomal Recessive: To prevent long-term complications associated with congenital nystagmus, such as amblyopia, early diagnosis through routine eye exams is essential for effective treatment and management.
• Periorbital Cellulitis: Protecting your eye area from injuries and infections helps prevent periorbital cellulitis, a dangerous condition affecting the tissues surrounding your eye, emphasizing proactive preventative care.
• Eyelid Eczema: Preventing eyelid eczema flare-ups is key to preserving your vision. Simple measures such as gentle eyelid cleansing and avoiding irritants can greatly reduce its impact.
• Retinoblastoma: Early detection of retinoblastoma through routine eye screenings significantly improves treatment outcomes and chances of preserving vision.

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

• Mechanical Circulatory Support System: Protecting your vision starts with understanding your eye health; a comprehensive eye exam helps detect potential problems early.
• Contact Lens Treatment: Regular contact lens assessments are key to ensuring optimal comfort and vision while detecting potential eye health issues early.
• BlephEx™ for Blepharitis: Protect your vision by addressing blepharitis with BlephEx™. This innovative procedure helps prevent potential vision-threatening complications associated with chronic eyelid inflammation.
• Oculoplastics (Co-management): Take a proactive step towards preventing vision problems by choosing oculoplastics co-management; it coordinates care for conditions affecting the eyelids, tear ducts, and surrounding structures, ensuring early diagnosis and treatment.
• Diagnostic Angiography: As a proactive step in maintaining healthy vision, diagnostic angiography helps your doctor visualize the blood vessels in your eyes, enabling early diagnosis of conditions that could impair your sight.
• Dry Macular Degeneration Management: Early detection and management of dry macular degeneration are key to slowing disease progression and maintaining your independence. Our program offers the support you need to protect your sight.
• Hemodynamic Monitoring: Taking proactive steps to protect your vision often includes screenings that check the blood flow to your eyes, helping prevent serious eye conditions.

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. Stephen 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 proactively sought regular eye exams, minimizing the risk of neonatal herpes affecting their baby's vision and overall health. Early detection of any potential issues provided peace of mind and allowed for prompt treatment, ensuring a healthy start for the newborn.
• By diligently following the optometrist's instructions for contact lens hygiene, a patient significantly reduced their risk of developing Acanthamoeba keratitis, ensuring clear vision and peace of mind.

These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results may vary and depend on many factors specific to each patient. He 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. Stephen 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 contacts, and diagnoses and manages many eye diseases. An ophthalmologist (MD) is a medical doctor and eye surgeon.

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 help detect silent, vision-threatening diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy early, when treatment is most effective. It's a preventative measure for maintaining optimal eye health.

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

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

I have something in my eye. Should I come here first?

Yes, absolutely. For issues like eye infections, corneal scratches, or foreign bodies, an optometrist is the ideal first point of contact. We are equipped to diagnose and treat these urgent issues, often preventing a long and costly visit to the emergency room.

When should my child have their first eye exam?

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

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, yet causes irreversible peripheral vision loss. Regular eye exams are the only way to detect glaucoma early and prevent blindness.

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

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

Low vision is vision impairment not fully correctable with glasses, contacts, or surgery. A low vision evaluation with Dr. Stephen OD focuses on maximizing remaining vision through tools like magnifiers and special lighting, helping patients maintain independence.

12640 SW 88th St
Miami FL 33186
Phone: (305) 273-7790

Dr. Stephen Houghton, 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): 1427085455

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. Stephen 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.