Eye Care Dedicated to Health & Comfort

Coming from a family of medical professionals, Amanda Stebbins, O.D., always knew she would follow the same career path. When it was time to choose a speciality, all she had to do was reflect back on a personal experience.

“I was blind as a bat,” Stebbins said, jokingly. “When my vision was first corrected, I remember the great feeling I had walking out of the office, and I wanted to do that for others.”

Stebbins, who owns and operates The Spectacle Shoppe in the Rialto, graduated with honors from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., and went on to earn her Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Alabama School of Optometry. She gained valuable experience

during her internship in ocular disease and pathology at the Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Viera, Fla. Stebbins is board-certified in the treatment and management of ocular diseases, and is a member of several national and state optometric associations.

According to Stebbins, the success of her practice is the result of a cohesive team approach. The moment patients walk through the door they are warmly greeted by Jon Watts, the practice’s patient care coordinator. Also a certified paraoptometric technician and ophthalmic technician, Watts conducts preliminary tests before patients see Stebbins. He is trained in retinal and corneal pathologies. But it is not just Watts’ expertise that is instrumental, it is his friendly demeanor that immediately puts patients at ease.

“It is a priority to me to make sure our patients have an overall great experience,” he said.
Stebbins conducts comprehensive eye exams with an emphasis on patient education. Typically, exams take 30 minutes; however, Stebbins allots at least one hour for each patient in order to explain procedures, diagnoses and treatments, and to address questions.

“When my patients leave, I want to make sure they know exactly what we did and why,” Stebbins said.
If vision correction is necessary, the patient will then see Jennifer Gaffney, who is an optical consultant with many years of experience. She helps clients navigate the numerous choices in frames and lenses, according to their personal style.

“I’m completely honest with people and don’t hesitate to tell them if I think the frames look good on them,” she said.

Gaffney stocks a wide variety of frames, from traditional to trendy designers such as Montblanc, Sama Eyewear, Zero G Eyewear and Tod’s.

“I don’t believe in high-pressure sells; I want people to feel comfortable,” she said.
Patients also can opt for contacts at The Spectacle Shoppe. Before recommending a specific type, Stebbins asks the right questions to determine what would be the best fit for the patient’s personality and lifestyle.
In addition to routine exams, Stebbins is able to treat a variety of ocular diseases, prescribe topical medications and help manage diseases such as diabetes, glaucoma and high blood pressure, as they relate to the health of one’s eyes.

“We do everything here, with the exception of surgery,” she said.

For that, she refers her patients to specialists; however, Stebbins provides pre- and post-operative care.
The Spectacle Shoppe is a family-friendly practice. In fact, Stebbins encourages parents to have their children’s eyes examined prior to entering kindergarten and throughout their school career. The office has a playroom for its younger patients, and Stebbins uses fun, interactive techniques to examine children’s eyes.

Of particular interest to Stebbins is the treatment of dry eyes. She has completed extensive educational courses in this specialized area. The Spectacle Shoppe also is a Dry Eye Center of Excellence — one of the first in Central Florida. She stays current with the latest treatment techniques to best serve her clients.

Serving patients to the best of their abilities is the main goal of Stebbins and her staff at The Spectacle Shoppe.
“We think what sets us apart is that we want to be here,” Gaffney said. “We really enjoy our jobs and helping other people.”

“We treat our patients like we would want to be treated — with courtesy and respect,” Watts added.

“We had a patient who had severely bad vision and had lived with it for more than 10 years without having his vision corrected,” Stebbins said. “When we fitted him with contacts, he burst into tears because he was so happy. Those are the cases that are heartwarming to us. That’s when I know I’ve chosen the right path.”

The Spectacle Shoppe is located in the Rialto in Suite 119 at 7335 W. Sand Lake Road in Orlando. For more information, call 407-409-8123 or visit www.thespecshoppe.com on the Web.