Dr. Rebekah Camelia Allen, MD

Central to being a fine doctor is being a careful listener. Dr. Rebekah Allen is, remarkably so. To really listen means not only filtering what a patient says through a vast data bank of medical knowledge, but the ability to listen empathetically, to achieve in a short office visit an understanding of what the patient wants, what the patient needs. This is especially true when dealing with a difficult patient like me, an old professor/writer/editor anxious for the best vision, but scared, overexcited, bombarding the doctor with research and questions. Dr. Allen communicates with energy and clarity –- no jargon, no oversimplifying either –- making the doctor-patient relationship more of a collaboration. This extends to her e-mails. My many queries have been answered quickly, fully, and with warmth. The result: I now have excellent monovision. My left eye (my distance eye) profoundly myopic since childhood is 20/20 or better without glasses or contacts. My right eye (my reading… eye), no longer blurry and grainy –- and no longer astigmatic, thanks to modern technology -- is ready to resume hours-long sight-intensive writing/reading sessions.