Dr. Michael DeStefano has served as a neuro-developmental optometrist at Visual Symptoms Treatment Center since 2021. He specializes in treating complex neurological conditions—including Visual Snow Syndrome, POTS/dysautonomia, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome—as well as supporting neurodivergent individuals and students struggling with binocular vision dysfunction or visual processing disorders.
He received his Bachelor of Science in biology and his Bachelor of Arts in Italian at Loyola University Chicago, where he graduated with high honors in 2016. Dr. DeStefano received his Doctor of Optometry degree in 2021 from Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Optometry, where he was valedictorian of the school’s inaugural class and a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society.
Dr. DeStefano is highly involved in patient advocacy, research, and treatment of visual snow syndrome. He was the first optometrist in the Midwest—and one of the first in the United States—to partner with the Visual Snow Initiative, an organization dedicated to helping those with the condition. He has been interviewed by the Visual Snow Initiative, lectured to fellow physicians, and had his work on visual snow syndrome published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. He remains active in multiple online support groups for people with visual snow syndrome and related neurological conditions.
He has also lectured extensively on the role of vision in learning and development, speaking to audiences of teachers, neuropsychologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. He has dedicated time to working with gifted children at the Midwest Academy for Gifted Education (MAGE), where he helped highly intelligent but sometimes struggling students reach their full academic potential through vision therapy.
He credits his extensive knowledge in vision therapy to his time as the founder and former president of Midwestern University’s chapter of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD). He remains active in the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA, formerly known as COVD) as well as the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA).
Dr. DeStefano resides in Elk Grove Village with his wife, Lisa, a special education teacher. He was born and raised in Palatine, just three miles from the office. When he isn’t seeing patients, he typically spends time with his wife and Italian family, golfing, or working out. He considers himself a kid at heart, as he enjoys watching the Chicago Cubs, playing video games, and collecting trading cards.
Most importantly, he enjoys serving patients every day and looks forward to helping you or a loved one.
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Professional Memberships
- Illinois Optometric Association
- American Optometric Association
- Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA)
- Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA)
- Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society
Honors, Awards, and Involvement
Clinical & Academic Excellence
- Valedictorian, Midwestern University Chicago College of Optometry
- 99.8th Percentile (Top 0.2%) overall on the Optometry Admissions Test
- Recipient of Allergan’s JumpStart Award for young optometrists achieving practice excellence
- Winner of VSP's Practice Excellence Scholarship for leadership and advancement of private practice optometry
- Two-time winner of Midwestern University's Optometry Quiz Bowl & Essilor Student Bowl national competitor
Service & Research
- Two-time winner of Midwestern University's Spirit of Service Award
- Researcher on the link between traumatic brain injury and abnormal pupillary light responses (alpha omega pupil)
- Two-time representative for the OptoPrep national board exam preparation program
Podcasts
Scholarships & Heritage
- Four-time Colombian Club of Chicago Scholarship winner
- Italian American Executives of Transportation Scholarship winner
- Four-time William J. Cook Scholarship winner
- Additional honors from: CI-AMA, LIADO, UNICO (Ralph Torraco Memorial), and the Chicagoland Italian American Charitable Organization