Tom Chang MD, received his MD from the University of Toronto Medical School. He completed three fellowships in retinal diseases at several highly esteemed eye institutions in the United States. In fact, Dr. Chang was a valued member of the team that performed the world’s first surgical implantation of stem cell treatment for dry macular degeneration.
As a very qualified clinician, surgeon, and educator, Dr. Chang always makes it a point to emphasize to patients that they need to take care of their own health when it comes to having healthy eyes for years to come.
Even as the Managing Partner of Acuity Eye Group, a multi-location 360 Advanced Vision Center in California, Dr. Chang still takes the time to talk one-on-one with patients about their eye health.
Tom Chang MD Recommended Lifestyle for Eye Health
While many patients have considered creating a healthy lifestyle for the body as a whole, the eyes sometimes get overlooked. Tom Chang MD, notes that good habits involving the eyes can greatly impact long-term health.
Many of the same things that help the rest of the body can help the eyes as well, including getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and maintaining a healthy diet. Specific actions that patients can take to help eye health might include:
- Ensuring intake of the right vitamins and minerals for eye health (such as Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Lutein, and Zeaxanthin)
- Decreasing or limiting screen time
- Eye protection from UV rays
- Eye protection from physical harms
Keeping up with regular eye exams and letting the doctor know when something might be wrong is also critically important.
Creating a Good Dynamic and Rapport with the Eye Doctor
Ensuring that patients get the eye care they need also requires a good relationship with an eye doctor. Tom Chang MD notes that he sometimes thinks that patients feel rushed when interacting with their doctor. As a result, they brush off issues that they think might be unimportant or trivial. However, those seemingly minor issues could be a sign of a bigger issue.
Degenerative and progressive diseases are not always easy to spot. They often do not appear through any physical symptoms. Instead, keeping up with annual exams is one of the best ways that Dr. Chang believes patients can catch these serious issues early. Treatment is much easier, and often more effective if the condition has not yet fully developed.
Patient Education As a Priority for Tom Chang MD
Understanding eye health and empowering patients to spot and address issues is high on Dr. Chang’s priority list. Tom Chang MD believes that having information that is easy to find and navigate is one of the best ways to control their own healthcare treatment.
Patient engagement through education creates a better overall experience for the patient and the care provider. Over the long term, it also increases rapport with a doctor and often creates better health outcomes.
