Dr. Deborah Distefano
Ophthalmology
Chattanooga, TN
47 years experience female
Locations
Office
Chattanooga, TN
About
Bio
I am a board certified ophthalmologist that did her felowship training in cornea at Harvard in Boston.. I was chairperson of the Dept of Ophthalmology at the University of Tenn. in Chattanooga for 10 years. I specializie in refractive surgery ;such as LASIK . I have a med spa also.
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
Licenses
United States: Tennessee
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
22 Answers
0 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Swollen eyes: It sounds as if you may have an allergy to something. If it persists you need to see your ophthalmologist to rule out potentially serious problems suc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
672 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Contact lenses: It is usually fine to take a nap with contacts. If you have very dry eyes this may cause irritation. It may be a good idea to put artificial tears in... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
672 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Refractive error: refractive error means that you need glasses to see well. This can mean that you are near sighted, farsighted or have astigmatism. It also may be a s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
666 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Healthy eyes: To maintain healthy eyes:
- have them checked annually
- wear sunglasses
-eat healthy vegetables
- take eye supplements
-don't rub them
- use safety g... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
672 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Restasis: If you have already used artificial tears and they don't help enough than you should ask your doctor about restasis. It is a medicated drop that help... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
672 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Blepharitis: Crusting of the eyelids are usually called blepharitis. This is usually an infection of the eyelids that cause the lids to be thickened and red with ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
836 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Eyelash falling out: There can be a number of reasons for eyelashes falling out. An infection can cause this and should be treated with lid hygiene and antibiotic drops ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
665 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Differing size pupil: This can be a problem and should be evaluated by an ophthalmologist. Sometimes it is called an Adies pupil that is not serious. It is usually not ass... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
836 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Blue grey sclera: The sclera is the white of the eye that you see when you look at your eyes. If it thins then you can see the underlying pigment which gives it a blue ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
672 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Ignore: Glaucoma is usually a painless condition that can progress . It is important to be checked yearly.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
663 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Eye pain: Pain is not common and should be seen by an ophthalmologist to ascertain the reason for it. Glaucoma, dry eyes, inflammation, infection are a few of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
665 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old male asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Dry skin: At times you may need a steroid cream to eradicate this problem. You may need to go to an ophthalmologist or dermatologist to ascertain the cause and... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
836 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Dry eyes: The tears of your eyes keep your eyes from drying out. They are made in the lacrimal gland and come across the eye and drain into the nose through the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
666 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Ignore: Keep lids clean, warm compresses on hordeolum to express the stye, antibiotic ointment to lids.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
664 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
New glasses: Sometimes the exam is not right the first time. It is important at your age to have a dilated exam to get an exact prescription for your glasses. If... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
836 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Eye vitamins: Ocuvites are eye vitamins that help prevent macula degeneration. They contain many of the vitamins that are important in maintaining the health of th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
666 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Conjunctivitis: No, viral conjunctivitis is more contagious than bacterial conjunctivitis. Bacterial conjunctivitis tends not to be contagious unless the surface of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
665 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Foam in eyes: This can be do to a number of conditions such as dry eyes, allergies and bacterial infections. I would suggest that you see your eye doctor for a de... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
672 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 51-year-old member asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Herpes simplex: If you have a cold sore that means that the herpetic virus is in your body. If the cold sore is active and weepy and you touch it and then touch the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
665 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Causes of dry eyes: Dry eyes can be caused many reasons. They can be aggravated by allergies. Tears can diminish as we age or with hormonal changes and contact lens wear... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
666 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Lump on neck: The lump on your neck can be a number of things but could be a swollen lymph node. Did you have any viral illnesses recently or come in contact with ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
836 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. Deborah Distefanoanswered
Ophthalmology 47 years experience
Lacrimation: Lacrimation is tearing. Tearing is normal but their are some diseases that cause a decrease or increase in tearing.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
836 viewsReviewed >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.
3
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Your answer was very helpful! Thanks :)
HealthTap member
Your answer was very helpful, thanks!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Medical College of Wisconsin, WI
Graduated 1976MD
Residency
The Medical College of Wisconsin
Awards
Most Influential, Second Place, the Chattanooga Region - Spring
2017
Top Doctor, First Place, the Chattanooga Region - Spring
2017
Thought Leader, First Place, the Chattanooga Region - Spring
2017
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