eyecarecenter

What eyecarecenter does

eyecarecenter is a regional, full-service optometry retail chain operating hundreds of physical clinic locations across North Carolina, with concentration near Raleigh, Charlotte, Fayetteville, and Wilmington. Founded in 1954 and operated as a DBA under EyeCare Partners, LLC, the company provides comprehensive eye examinations (including pediatric, contact lens, diabetic, and in-office remote exams), clinical treatment for conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, dry eye, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, and a broad eyewear product line spanning designer prescription frames, sunglasses, prescription lenses, and specialty contact lenses. The business uses digital diagnostic equipment, secure high-definition video consultation for remote exams, and an online virtual try-on tool that supports frame selection, while digital infrastructure (Vision360Plus Portal) handles scheduling, patient records, and bill pay, and a separate wewillship.com storefront handles contact lens reorders with free shipping.

Revenue is generated primarily through direct-to-consumer professional service fees (eye exams starting at $119 in most locations) and transactional retail sales of prescription eyewear, sunglasses, and contact lenses, supplemented by a recurring Eyewear Protection Plan (up to $39.99/year) and acceptance of FSA/HSA plus a broad range of vision insurance plans. The target customer is the individual consumer and family, with dedicated pediatric programming (20/20 Kids Club) and use-case segments for contact lens wearers and diabetic patients; financing is offered through a Sunbit pay-over-time integration. Distribution is exclusively North Carolina, combining in-person clinical and dispensing services at retail locations with online ordering and virtual try-on, and the business operates as a private subsidiary of strategic operator EyeCare Partners, LLC.

Name

eyecarecenter

Legal name

EyeCare Partners, LLC

Website

https://eyecarecenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

eyecarecenter is a North Carolina optometry retail chain, operating hundreds of clinics that deliver comprehensive eye exams, clinical eye disease treatment, prescription eyewear, and contact lenses to individual consumers and families under the EyeCare Partners, LLC umbrella.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optometry and Optical Retail Services

NAICS

Offices of Optometrists (62132), Optical Goods Retailers (45613)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Optometry Clinics (Primary Eye Care) (HLAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA), Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Retail (Glasses/Frames/Lenses) (HLAKAKAL), Ophthalmology Clinics (Medical & Surgical Eye Care) (HLAKAKAC), Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK) (HLAKAKAF)

Keywords

• Optometry eye exams
• Prescription eyewear sales
• Contact lens fittings
• Ophthalmic clinical services
• Vision insurance acceptance

Headquarters

HQ city

Cary

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Eye Care Services: Professional optometry services including comprehensive eye exams, kids eye exams, contact lens exams, diabetic eye exams, and treatment for conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, dry eye, and macular degeneration.
2. Eyewear Sales: Sale of prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses with a wide selection of frames from designer brands. Includes prescription lenses with various options (progressive, photochromic, polarized).
3. Contact Lens Sales: Sale of contact lenses including daily disposables, monthly replacements, toric lenses, multifocal lenses, and specialty contact lenses for complex vision needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

eyecarecenter is a North Carolina-based optometry retail chain that provides comprehensive eye exams (including pediatric, contact lens, diabetic, and remote in-office exams), clinical treatment for eye diseases (glaucoma, cataracts, dry eye, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, pterygium, myopia, ocular emergencies), and sells prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, specialty contact lenses, and prescription lenses from designer brands. It serves individual consumers and families at physical clinic locations and through online contact lens ordering.

Product overview

eyecarecenter is a comprehensive eye care services provider operating in North Carolina, offering a unified platform of clinical services and eyewear products. The core clinical services include eye examinations (comprehensive, pediatric, contact lens, diabetic, and in-office remote exams) and treatment of eye conditions (glaucoma, cataracts, dry eye, myopia, diabetic retinopathy, pterygium, macular degeneration, and ocular emergencies). The eyewear product portfolio encompasses prescription eyeglasses for women, men, and children, sunglasses (including prescription options), and specialty contact lenses, supported by digital features like virtual try-on and online ordering. Additional services include vision insurance acceptance, the Eyewear Protection Plan, contact lens ordering, online bill pay, and a patient portal. eyecarecenter operates under EyeCare Partners LLC and serves patients through multiple North Carolina locations near Raleigh, Charlotte, Fayetteville, and Wilmington.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Comprehensive Eye Exams Full-scope eye examinations evaluating vision clarity, eye health, and early detection of diseases including glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. Includes vision testing, prescription evaluation, eye health examination, and eye pressure testing.
• Kids' Eye Exams Pediatric eye examinations tailored for children, including specialized tests using retinoscopes, eye function evaluation through following moving objects, and screenings for early signs of vision issues. Features the 20/20 Kids Club program.
• Contact Lens Exams Specialized examinations including corneal measurements, tear film evaluation, and trial lens fitting to ensure proper contact lens fit and comfort. Covers daily disposables, monthly replacements, toric lenses for astigmatism, multifocal lenses, and rigid gas permeable lenses.
• In-Office Remote Eye Exams Comprehensive eye exams performed with on-site technicians conducting pre-testing (vision testing, corneal measurements, eye pressure testing, digital imaging) while a licensed optometrist evaluates results via secure high-definition video consultation.
• Diabetic Eye Exams Specialized examinations for diabetic patients including dilated eye examinations, fluorescein angiography, visual acuity testing, and glaucoma screening to detect diabetes-related eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.
• Glaucoma Treatment Diagnosis and management of glaucoma through comprehensive eye exams using tonometry, gonioscopy, ophthalmoscopy, and perimetry testing. Treatment options include prescription eye drops and laser procedures.
• Cataract Treatment and Surgery Diagnosis and surgical treatment of cataracts including outpatient cataract surgery with lens implants (intraocular lenses/IOL), using advanced diagnostic technology including slit-lamp exams, imaging (Fundus Photos/OCT), and tonometry.
• Dry Eye Treatment Diagnosis and management of dry eye syndrome using slit-lamp exams, tear break-up time testing, corneal staining, Schirmer tests, and meibomian gland evaluation. Treatment options include prescription eye drops, punctal plugs, thermal therapies, and light-based therapy.
• Myopia Treatment Management of nearsightedness through prescription lenses (glasses and contact lenses) and refractive surgery options including LASIK, PRK, and SMILE procedures using cutting-edge laser technology.
• Diabetic Retinopathy Screenings Diagnostic screenings for diabetes-related retina damage using OCT imaging and fluorescein angiography to detect and monitor diabetic retinopathy progression.
• Pterygium Treatment Treatment of pterygium (surfer's eye) including non-surgical options with artificial tears and anti-inflammatory drops, as well as outpatient surgical removal. Diagnostic tests include visual acuity, slit-lamp exam, corneal mapping, and fluorescein staining.
• Macular Degeneration Treatment Diagnosis and treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using Amsler grid testing, OCT imaging, and fluorescein angiography. Treatment includes anti-VEGF injections and photodynamic therapy.
• Emergency Eye Care Treatment of ocular emergencies including eye infections, chemical exposure, foreign bodies, traumatic injuries, and sudden vision changes. Services include bacterial and viral infection treatment and retinal detachment care.
• Specialty Contact Lenses Custom-fit specialty contact lenses for patients with keratoconus, irregular corneas, astigmatism, myopia, presbyopia, and dry eyes. Includes scleral lenses, toric lenses, and lenses for complex prescriptions.
• Prescription Lenses Custom prescription lenses including progressive lenses (ECP Ultimate, ECP Premium, ECP Plus), lens materials (Hi-Index, Trivex, Polycarbonate), ECP No-Glare lenses, photochromic lenses, and polarized sunglasses.
• Women's Eyeglasses Prescription eyeglass frames for women featuring designer brands including Coach, Anne Klein, Vera Bradley, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Versace, DKNY, Ray-Ban, Prada, Burberry, and more. Available with virtual try-on functionality.
• Men's Eyeglasses Prescription eyeglass frames for men featuring brands including Polo, Penguin, Flexon, Burberry, Versace, Oakley Rx, Lacoste, Nautica, Joseph Abboud, and more. Available with virtual try-on functionality.
• Kids' Eyeglasses Durable, kid-approved prescription eyeglass frames from Nike Kids, Ray-Ban Youth Rx, Marchon NYC, Vera Bradley Kids, VE 99 Kids, and Ted Baker Kids with virtual try-on available.
• Sunglasses Sunglasses including prescription options from Ray-Ban Sun, Oakley Sun, Kate Spade Sun, Costa Sun, Nike Sun, Anne Klein Sun, and Runway Sunwear. Available with polarized lenses and virtual try-on.
• Eyewear Protection Plan One-year protection plan covering 90% of repair or replacement costs for accidental damage to frames or lenses. Costs up to $39.99 for adults and kids, $19.99 for second pairs. Includes complimentary cleaning and inspection at six months.
• Contact Lens Ordering Online contact lens ordering system with fast, free shipping on every order. Customers can order lenses matched to their prescription with convenient reordering through local offices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Most eye exams take about 30 minutes with remote exams

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MyEyeDr. Large multi-state optometry chain offering comprehensive eye exams, prescription eyewear, contact lenses, and disease management (glaucoma, macular degeneration, dry eye). Directly comparable to eyecarecenter in service mix, target customer (individuals and families), and retail+clinical model, with the key difference of operating across many states rather than a single state.
• LensCrafters: National optical retail chain (owned by EssilorLuxottica) providing in-store eye exams, prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses with insurance network coverage. Comparable in product mix, on-site exam delivery, and insurance partnerships; larger and more nationally distributed than eyecarecenter.
• Warby Parker: DTC eyewear brand combining prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses with a growing network of retail stores that offer eye exams. Overlaps with eyecarecenter in optical retail and exam delivery, and increasingly competes in the same consumer segment with a strong digital try-on and home try-on funnel.
• Visionworks: National optical retailer (formerly part of EyeCare Partners' portfolio) operating stores that provide eye exams, prescription eyewear, sunglasses, and contact lenses. Highly comparable service offering and target customer; primary differentiator is multi-state presence versus eyecarecenter's NC focus.
• America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses: High-volume value optical chain offering eye exams, contact lenses, and two-pair eyewear bundles, with broad insurance acceptance. Directly comparable in mass-market eye exam + eyewear + contact lens model, with a sharper price-value positioning than eyecarecenter.
• Pearle Vision: Franchised optical chain (under Luxottica) providing eye exams, designer frames, and contact lenses with insurance network participation. Comparable franchise/owned-store retail model, designer frame mix, and family-oriented customer base, though with national reach.
• Stanton Optical: Multi-state optical retailer offering eye exams, two-pair deals, and contact lenses with a value-oriented positioning. Overlaps with eyecarecenter in single-visit exam-plus-eyewear flow and insurance acceptance, with a more aggressive price-led go-to-market.

Broad incumbents

• Costco Optical: Optical department within Costco Wholesale offering eye exams by independent optometrists, prescription eyewear, contact lenses, and sunglasses at value pricing. Competes with eyecarecenter for price-sensitive patients and members; broader retail anchor and lower price point differentiate it from a dedicated optical chain.
• Target Optical: Optical concession inside Target stores providing eye exams, prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses with broad insurance acceptance. Comparable consumer-facing exam + eyewear model, but operates as an in-retail anchor rather than a dedicated optical brand.

Others

• EyeCare Partners: PE-backed national optometry and ophthalmology platform and direct parent company of eyecarecenter. Compares at the portfolio level: shared back-office, group purchasing, sub-brand portfolio, and specialty clinical services across multiple states provide a natural benchmark for eyecarecenter's positioning within a multi-region platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/eyecarecenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about eyecarecenter