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SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Ophthalmology
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
45 Answers
16 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Pick your favorite: Which eye do you use to look through a telescope? The eye you pick for one-eyed tasks is your dominant eye. However, eye dominance doesn't mean a hill... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Maybe not necessary: Has your child been evaluated for eyeglasses? If the child is farsighted, wearing the proper eyeglasses will often straighten the eyes without surger... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
About 19,200 times: Most people blink their eyes about every three seconds, or 20 times a minute, 1200 times an hour, or roughly 19.200 times in a 16 hour day.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Probably not.: There are no medications that have been proven to prevent or reduce cataracts once they have formed. Cataracts are just a normal part of growing up, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Stress,caffeine: An isolated twitch of a muscle is called myokymia. It may be caused by stress, fatigue, or excess consumption of caffeine, or caffeine like compounds ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Mother fatigue: Have you had a baby yet? Taking care of just one baby properly is a lot of hard work. Taking care of two, especially if you are nursing, is even more... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Definitely: Many children, even those of black or hispanic ancestry, are born with light colored irises. The basic model iris is actually white, though we call i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
No: I know of no treatment that will make the blind spot, or "scintillating scotoma" of migraine resolve any faster than its natural course. All migraine ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Need more evaluation: The contacts may be too old, too tight, or you may have an infection. You may be losing contact tolerance or have other diseases. Not everyone can w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Often: A lazy eye in an adult will most often tend to drift outward, but it may remain straight, or turn inward, depending on the nature of the underlying di... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Recheck: Not every infection responds to every antibiotic. If the infection has not cleared within 10 - 14 days, recheck with the doctor who prescribed the or... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Eye practitioners: Optician are technicians who makes glasses and contacts to other practitioners' prescriptions. Optometrists can prescribe glasses and contacts, but ar... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Stress,caffeine: An isolated twitch of a muscle is called myokymia. It may be caused by stress, fatigue, or excess consumption of caffeine, or caffeine like compounds ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Usually, but...: Examination at the microscope will often tell an ophthalmologist if a patient has a bacterial or viral infection. However, sometimes, certain infectio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Side effect of meds: It is common for the eyedrops (particularly steroid drops) given after cataract surgery to make the eyelid a bit droopy. Usually, the lid will return... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 52-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Steroid side effects: Lotemax (loteprednol) is a steroid eyedrop. It can be useful in certain selected conditions. However, long term steroid use (> 2 weeks) may cause de... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
PVD Prevention: When we first got our eye lasers many years ago, we tried to preventatively treat vitreous detachments. Unfortunately, we found that the laser beam, p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Possible infection: The contacts may float away. However, you should not wear contacts while swimming, as they may cause the development of a severe infection by a one c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Not likely.: There is a tube of skin called the conjunctiva that extends from the edge of the iris, goes halfway back along the surface of the eyeball, and then t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Not a good idea.: Would you wear the same underwear for two weeks without taking it off? The inside of the eyelid is a sort of buffing and cleaning machine. Every nig... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Need evaluation soon: The sudden onset of a facial droop may indicate something serious like a stroke, or a somewhat less serious condition like a bell's palsy. You should... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Possibly: All eyedrops that come in a recloseable container are required to contain preservative chemicals to prevent growth of bacteria and fungi. Some patien... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
It's normal: Most children are born about 6 diopers farsighted, 'cause their eyes are small (90% of adult size). This is completely normal. Most three year olds ar... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Recheck the contacts: Redness is nature's way of cleaning up problems in the eye. When something bothers the eye, the vessels on the eye surface expand to carry away the i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Depends: People generally seem to become more farsighted as they age, and the lenses of their eyes get more stiff. However, as cataracts develop, the lens of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Different kinds: Complete inability to see any light at all is usually called "no light perception" (nlp) vision. A person who can see no better than 20/200 with best... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 63-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Ask your surgeon: The time it takes to heal enough to resume normal activities depends on the way your surgery was performed. It's best to ask your operating surgeon a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Wrong approach: Lubricating drops lubricate the eye, don't fix redness. Redness is nature's way of cleaning up problems in the eye. When something bothers the eye, th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Not beneficial: Your own tears contain 30+ disease fighting chemicals. I usually don't recommend "washing" the eyes with anything foreign unless you get dust or a ch... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Depends.: Has the child been properly evaluated for eyeglasses, and possibly patching? Many cases of strabismus respond well to simple eyeglass use. Eyeglasses ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 71-year-old male asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
It depends: Alcohol in any form lowers the eye pressure for about 6 hours, but then raises it for about 18 hours. If you are going to be tested for glaucoma, you... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
It's a good idea: Without dilating the eyes, doctors can see only the central 10% of the eye. There is a lot more territory out there that is only visible when you dil... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Possibly: The fovea is the most delicate part of the eye. 90% of all vision fibers connect to this tiny area. There are new amazing surgeries to repair condit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A 26-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Permanent eye damage: You can permanently burn the back of the eye and cause a permanent shadow in the vision. It's just like starting a fire in a piece of newspaper with ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Usually lifelong: Astigmatism is a condition where the eye is less than perfectly round. A "perfect" eye would be as round as a billiard ball, but most eyes are a bit ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Absolutely not!: No! peroxide will cause severe and painful burning of the cornea, and will be only mildly annoying to the bacteria. Do not use it in your eye!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Possibly: I've read that people who wear sun glasses most of their lives have half the risk of cataract formation, and half the risk of developing macular degen... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Probably not: Your eyes run the same 24/7/365, awake or asleep. You may feel tired after concentrating for a long time, but your eyes are just as ready to work as ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Not likely.: None of the nerves or blood vessels that serve the vision system go through the neck. The eye has its own private nerves, called cranial nerves, that... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Time, usually: If you are referring to a red patch of blood on the white part of the eye, known as a subconjunctival hemorrhage, or "bloodshot eye", then only the pa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Not uncommon: Dry eyes are a common development with age. Certain medicines, contact lens use, smoking, sun and wind exposure, and lasik may make them worse. If the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Possibly: Floaters come from vitreous debris or blood floating within the fluid of the interior of the eye. The more serious the injury to the eye, the more li... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 57-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
When they interfere: Cataracts are a normal part of aging, like grey hair and wrinkles. An eye with a little cataract is still better than any artificial alternative that... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
Definition of a sty: A "sty" is a common name for a new lump in the eyelid, just as a "cold" is a common name for viral pharyngitis. Hordeola are short term lumps with ba... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:
Dr. David Speckanswered
Ophthalmology 44 years experience
End of optic nerve: At the back of the eye, all of the nerve fibers come together to join at the optic nerve which carries the picture to the brain. Strangely, there are... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
126
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Speck is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Speck is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you for your input. She has been wearing glasses for about 8 months so far. And I've only noticed a worsening in frequency of the affected eye turning outward. her pedi opth she was seeing said ...Read More
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! thank you doctor it's really useful and quick answer
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, NY
Graduated 1979MD
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