Atlanta Ophthalmology Associates

What Atlanta Ophthalmology Associates does

Atlanta Ophthalmology Associates (AOA) is a private, physician-owned ophthalmology practice founded in 1999 in Atlanta, Georgia, operating as a Northside Hospital Network Provider from a single clinical site at 5730 Glenridge Drive, Suite 120, with surgical cases performed at the affiliated Peachtree Dunwoody Outpatient Surgery Center (PDOSC) of Northside. The practice serves adult patients across the full ophthalmology continuum—comprehensive eye examinations, cataract surgery, glaucoma diagnosis and management, LASIK and PRK refractive surgery, DMEK and DSAEK corneal transplantation, dry eye disease treatment, contact lens fitting, and an in-house optical dispensary (AOA Optical Gallery)—with a particular reputation for complex cataract and corneal surgery that draws national referrals.

AOA is staffed by two fellowship-trained ophthalmologists (Dr. Reay H. Brown, MD, and Dr. Heather M. Weissman, MD) and two optometrists (Whitney Seltman, OD, and Dhara Patel, OD, FAAO). The technology platform centers on the Ziemer femtosecond laser for bladeless cataract and LASIK surgery, excimer laser systems for PRK and refractive correction, the Eidon camera for dilation-free retinal imaging, OCT for glaucoma and corneal diagnostics, and a proprietary double-method IOL measurement technique for cataract surgical planning. The optical retail arm carries premium frame brands (Maui Jim, Oliver Peoples, Ray-Ban, Tom Ford, Silhouette, Dutz) with Shamir and Essilor lens products, adding a hardware retail revenue layer beyond professional services.

The business model is professional services plus hardware retail. Revenue is generated through (1) insurance-reimbursed medical and surgical eye care, (2) cash-pay refractive surgery (LASIK/PRK) and premium IOL upgrades, (3) out-of-pocket refraction fees and ancillary testing not covered by Medicare, and (4) optical retail sales of designer frames and lenses. GTM is primarily direct-to-consumer via phone-based appointment booking (404-252-1194) and the Northside provider portal, supplemented by physician-to-physician referrals from across the country for complex cases. The practice has collectively performed 30,000+ cataract surgeries since inception, earning a 'Cataract Center of Excellence' designation, and Dr. Brown concurrently serves as Chief Medical Officer of ophthalmic device company Sight Sciences, Inc., linking the practice to upstream device innovation.

Name

Atlanta Ophthalmology Associates

Legal name

Atlanta Ophthalmology Associates

Website

https://aoaeye.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Atlanta Ophthalmology Associates is a private, physician-owned ophthalmology practice in Atlanta, GA (founded 1999) providing comprehensive eye exams, cataract and refractive surgery, glaucoma management, corneal transplantation, dry eye treatment, and an in-house optical gallery, with a national referral base for complex surgical cases.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmology Services

NAICS

Offices of Optometrists (62132), Offices of Optometrists (621320), Optical Goods Retailers (45613), Diagnostic Imaging Centers (621512)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Ophthalmology Clinics (Medical & Surgical Eye Care) (HLAKAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Glaucoma Specialists (HLAKAKAG), Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK) (HLAKAKAF), Ophthalmology Surgery Centers (HLAFAIAF), Ocular Imaging & Diagnostic Testing Centers (HLAKAKAN), Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA)

Keywords

• Ophthalmology services
• Cataract surgery
• Laser vision correction
• Glaucoma management
• Corneal transplant

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medical Eye Care Services: Revenue from comprehensive eye examinations, diagnostic testing, and medical treatments for conditions including cataract, glaucoma, dry eye syndrome, and corneal diseases. Services typically billed to medical insurance.
2. Surgical Procedures: Revenue from surgical procedures including cataract surgery (with femtosecond laser), LASIK/PRK, corneal transplants (DSAEK, DMEK), and glaucoma treatments. Performed at Peachtree Dunwoody Outpatient Surgery Center of Northside.
3. Optical/Retail Eyewear: Revenue from prescription eyewear, frames, lenses, and optical accessories through AOA Optical Gallery. Carries designer brands including Maui Jim, Oliver Peoples, Ray-Ban, Tom Ford, Silhouette, and Dutz Eyewear.
4. Contact Lens Services: Revenue from contact lens fittings, evaluations, and contact lens sales. Contact lens prescriptions valid for 12 months requiring annual renewal exams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Atlanta Ophthalmology Associates is a private ophthalmology practice that delivers comprehensive medical and surgical eye care, including cataract surgery with femtosecond laser and advanced intraocular lenses, LASIK/PRK laser vision correction, corneal transplantation (DSAEK and DMEK), glaucoma diagnosis and surgical management, dry eye treatment, comprehensive eye examinations, and contact lens services, supported by an in-house optical gallery for prescription eyewear.

Product overview

Atlanta Ophthalmology Associates is a comprehensive eye care practice offering a full spectrum of ophthalmic services. The practice operates on a service-line model with core offerings including cataract surgery (using femtosecond laser technology), LASIK/PRK laser vision correction, glaucoma management, corneal transplants (including DSAEK and DMEK procedures), dry eye treatment, comprehensive eye examinations (with dilation-free Eidon camera option), contact lens services, and an in-house optical gallery. The practice has performed over 30,000 cataract surgeries and holds a Cataract Center of Excellence distinction. All services are provided by four eye care providers including ophthalmologists and optometrists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AOA Optical Gallery: Optical retail service providing frames, lenses and eyewear options including featured brands like Maui Jim, Oliver Peoples, Ray-Ban, Tom Ford, Silhouette, and Dutz.

Products and services

• Cataract Surgery Cataract removal surgery using femtosecond laser technology with options for monofocal, multifocal, and toric intraocular lens implants; performed for patients with cloudy vision, glare, and vision impairment, with over 30,000 cataract surgeries completed since 1999.
• Comprehensive Eye Examination Complete eye health evaluation including visual acuity testing, intraocular pressure measurement, pupil testing, visual field testing, and retinal examination; offered with traditional dilation or dilation-free Eidon camera option; takes approximately 1.5 hours.
• Contact Lens Services Fitting, evaluation, and supply of soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses, including specialty scleral lenses for patients with irregular corneas or keratoconus; includes training on insertion, removal, and lens care with annual prescription renewal.
• DSAEK (Descemet's Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty) Partial-thickness corneal transplant replacing only the innermost layers (endothelium and posterior stroma); offers 3-4 month visual recovery with smaller wound and reduced astigmatism compared to full-thickness transplant.
• DMEK (Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty) Newest partial-thickness corneal transplant procedure replacing only the endothelial layer; provides faster visual recovery (1-2 months) and smaller wound compared to DSAEK, with very little postoperative astigmatism and over 95% of patient's own cornea retained for structural integrity and reduced rejection risk.
• Corneal Transplant Full-thickness and partial-thickness corneal transplant procedures including penetrating keratoplasty and lamellar keratoplasty techniques for patients with corneal disease, scarring, or damage.
• Dry Eye Syndrome Treatment Treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and blepharitis including Tear Care thermal therapy procedure, BlephEx eyelid cleaning, and at-home care recommendations for patients with chronic dry eye disease.
• Glaucoma Management Diagnosis and treatment of open-angle, narrow-angle, and traumatic glaucoma including prescription eye drops, laser surgery, micro-stent insertion, and filtration surgery (trabeculectomy).
• LASIK/PRK Laser eye surgery using Ziemer femtosecond laser and excimer laser for correction of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism; includes bladeless LASIK procedure, monovision correction, and enhancement surgery.
• AOA Optical Gallery In-house optical dispensary offering designer frames (Maui Jim, Oliver Peoples, Ray-Ban, Tom Ford, Silhouette, Dutz) and lenses (Shamir, Essilor) with options including anti-glare, photochromic, and polarized coatings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000+ cataract surgeries performed since practice inception in 1999, earning Cataract Center of Excellence distinction
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northside HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtlanta Ophthalmology Associates operates as a Northside Network Provider. The practice is integrated into Northside's provider network, use Northside's patient portal and billing systems, perform surgeries at Northside's Peachtree Dunwoody Outpatient Surgery Center, and appear in Northside's Find a Doctor and provider search portals.
• Georgia Eye BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Heather Weissman serves on the Medical Advisory Committee for the Georgia Eye Bank, which provides donor tissue for corneal transplants including DMEK and DSAEK procedures.
• Peachtree Dunwoody Outpatient Surgery Center (PDOSC) of NorthsidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA surgeons perform cataract and other surgical procedures at this affiliated Northside surgery center. The facility has state-of-the-art equipment and highly skilled staff. AOA surgeons have the complete commitment of the surgery center staff each time they operate.
• Sight Sciences, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Reay Brown has served since 2018 as Chief Medical Officer of Sight Sciences, Inc., an ophthalmic device company. This represents a leadership role in a company developing eye care technology.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• LensCrafters: National optical retail chain offering prescription eyewear, contact lenses, and in-store eye exams. Comparable on the optical retail and contact lens revenue streams where AOA competes through its AOA Optical Gallery.
• LasikPlus: Large national LASIK provider operating high-volume refractive surgery centers. Comparable on the refractive surgery service line but competes primarily on price/access rather than AOA's premium clinical positioning.
• TLC Laser Eye Centers: National LASIK and refractive surgery chain with multiple US locations. Comparable as a refractive surgery competitor with broader geographic footprint but less specialty depth than AOA's full-scope ophthalmology offering.

Others

• Sight Sciences: Public ophthalmic medical device company focused on glaucoma and dry eye technologies. Thematically connected through Dr. Reay Brown's CMO role and the practice's use of related surgical devices; not a clinical peer but represents ecosystem adjacency.

Direct peers

• Georgia Eye Partners: Atlanta-area multi-specialty ophthalmology practice offering cataract, glaucoma, cornea, retina, and LASIK services. Directly comparable as a regional specialty competitor with similar surgeon-led model and Northside/Emory-adjacent patient base.
• Marietta Eye Clinic: Multi-location ophthalmology and optometry group in the Atlanta metro (Marietta/Cobb County area) offering cataract, LASIK, glaucoma, and oculoplastic services. Comparable as a larger-scale regional peer with similar service-line breadth and physician ownership.
• Emory Eye Center: Academic ophthalmology department at Emory University providing comprehensive medical and surgical eye care including cataract, cornea, glaucoma, and refractive surgery. Comparable in clinical scope and Atlanta footprint; Dr. Brown previously led Emory's Glaucoma Service, making this a direct competitor for complex cases.
• Eye Consultants of Atlanta: Long-established Atlanta-based ophthalmology multi-specialty practice offering cataract, cornea, glaucoma, LASIK, and oculoplastic services. Directly comparable as a competing specialty eye-care practice in the same metro with similar surgical scope and physician-ownership structure.
• Piedmont Eye Care: Comprehensive ophthalmology and optometry practice serving the greater Atlanta metro with cataract surgery, glaucoma management, and routine eye care. Comparable in service mix and regional patient overlap with AOA.

Emerging players

• Warby Parker: Direct-to-consumer eyewear retailer offering prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses with growing eye exam services. Comparable as an emerging competitive threat to AOA's optical retail revenue and as a disruptor reshaping patient eyewear purchasing behavior.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atlanta-ophthalmology-associates

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Atlanta Ophthalmology Associates