What CAROLINA EYE ASSOCIATES, PA does

Carolina Eye Associates, PA is a physician-owned, multi-subspecialty ophthalmology and optometry practice headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, operating 14 regional eye care centers across central and southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina since its founding in 1977. The practice delivers a full spectrum of medical, laser, and surgical eye care spanning cataract surgery with premium intraocular lens upgrades, LASIK and refractive procedures, cornea and external disease care (including partial-thickness corneal transplants and corneal cross-linking), glaucoma management with MIGS, retina disease treatment including intravitreal injections, oculoplastics, dry eye therapy (LipiFlow, BlephEx), and routine optometry. Two accredited eye surgery centers in Pinehurst/Southern Pines and Greensboro anchor high-volume outpatient ophthalmic surgery, supported by advanced capital equipment such as femtosecond lasers, wavefront aberrometers, and MIGS devices.

The business model is a hybrid of insurance-reimbursed professional and facility fee revenue (evaluation and management codes, surgical procedure fees, ASC facility charges across commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, VA, and TRICARE networks) and patient-paid elective revenue from premium IOL upgrades, LASIK, aesthetic services, and optical/contact lens sales. CareCredit financing supports elective procedures in the $1,000-$25,000 range. Distribution is direct through 14 physical sites, complemented by an SEO-optimized website, MedFusion patient portal, social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and a formalized referral and comanagement network with primary care physicians and community optometrists. Reported scale metrics include 4.9-star patient satisfaction from approximately 2,500 online reviews, regional Best of The Pines awards in 2020 and 2021, and three consecutive Macular Degeneration Association awards from 2020 to 2022.

The clinical team comprises board-certified ophthalmologists, optometrists, physician assistants, and ophthalmic technicians, with fellowship-trained subspecialists in cornea, glaucoma, retina, and oculoplastics. Operating geographies are limited to two contiguous U.S. states. The practice is structured as a Professional Association with no disclosed parent company, private equity sponsor, or external institutional ownership, and no funding rounds, mergers, acquisitions, or leadership changes are reported in the available data.

Name

CAROLINA EYE ASSOCIATES, PA

Legal name

Carolina Eye Associates, PA

Website

https://carolinaeye.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Carolina Eye Associates, PA is a physician-owned, multi-subspecialty ophthalmology practice operating 14 regional eye care centers across North and South Carolina, with dual accredited eye surgery centers delivering cataract, LASIK, glaucoma, retina, cornea, oculoplastics, and aesthetic eye care services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmology Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (62111), Offices of Optometrists (62132), Optical Goods Retailers (456130)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Ophthalmology Surgery Centers (HLAFAIAF), Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK) (HLAKAKAF), Retina & Vitreous Specialists (HLAKAKAE), Optometry Clinics (Primary Eye Care) (HLAKAKAB)

Keywords

• Ophthalmology services
• Cataract surgery
• LASIK vision correction
• Glaucoma management
• Retina care

Headquarters

HQ city

Southern Pines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medical and Surgical Eye Care Services: Comprehensive ophthalmology and optometry services including office visits, diagnostic testing, laser procedures, and surgical interventions. Revenue generated from evaluation and management (E/M) codes, surgical procedure fees, and facility charges at accredited surgery centers. Core revenue driver across all 14 regional centers.
2. Optical / Eyewear and Contact Lens Services: Routine eye examinations, prescription eyewear, and contact lens fittings coordinated through optometrists across multiple centers. Contact lens services including soft lenses and specialty fittings.
3. Aesthetic Services: Cosmetic and aesthetic services including Botox Cosmetic, dermal fillers, laser treatments, custom facials, chemical peels, dermaplaning, and eyebrow waxing/tinting offered primarily at Greensboro and Pinehurst/Southern Pines locations.
4. Surgical Facility Fees: Facility fees charged for procedures performed at the accredited eye surgery centers in Pinehurst/Southern Pines and Greensboro, supporting high-volume outpatient eye surgery.
5. Premium Intraocular Lens Upgrades: Advanced technology premium IOL implants for cataract surgery (e.g., toric, multifocal, extended range) as elective upgrades beyond standard monofocal lenses, paid out-of-pocket or through financing.
6. CareCredit Patient Financing: Practice participates in CareCredit patient financing program, enabling patients to finance elective procedures (LASIK, cosmetic) with 6-12 month no-interest plans and extended low-interest plans up to 48 months, covering procedure fees from $1,000 to $25,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Carolina Eye Associates is a multi-location ophthalmology and optometry practice delivering medical, laser, and surgical eye care across 14 regional centers in North and South Carolina. Its core services include advanced cataract surgery with premium lens implants, LASIK and refractive procedures, cornea and external disease care, glaucoma management with MIGS, retina disease treatment, dry eye therapy, oculoplastic surgery, and routine eye exams. The practice operates two accredited eye surgery centers in Pinehurst/Southern Pines and Greensboro and supplements clinical care with optical, contact lens, and aesthetic services.

Product overview

Carolina Eye Associates is a multi-location ophthalmology and optometry practice offering a comprehensive suite of eye care services through 14 regional centers across North and South Carolina. The core service lines include advanced cataract surgery with premium lens implants and laser-assisted techniques, LASIK and refractive procedures, cornea and external disease care, glaucoma management with MIGS options, and retina disease treatment including intravitreal injections. Additional services encompass dry eye treatment with LipiFlow therapy, eyelid and facial plastic surgery, aesthetic services (Botox, dermal fillers, laser treatments), routine eye examinations, and contact lens care. The practice operates full-service accredited eye surgery centers in Pinehurst/Southern Pines and Greensboro locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cataract Surgery Advanced surgical removal of clouded lenses and replacement with artificial intraocular lenses, including laser-assisted cataract surgery with premium lens implants for customized visual outcomes.
• LASIK Vision Correction Laser eye surgery that reshapes corneal tissue to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, reducing dependence on glasses and contact lenses.
• Cornea and External Disease Services Medical and surgical care for corneal conditions including dystrophies, infections, corneal swelling, dry eye, DSEK/DMEK/DALK corneal transplants, corneal cross-linking, and pterygium surgery.
• Dry Eye Treatment Diagnosis and treatment for dry eye disease including LipiFlow thermal pulsation therapy, BlephEx lid exfoliation, artificial tears, medications, and punctal plugs.
• Glaucoma Management Comprehensive glaucoma care including medication, laser therapy (SLT, LPI, cyclophotocoagulation), traditional surgery (trabeculectomy, drainage implants), and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) with iStent and Hydrus stents.
• Retina Services Medical and surgical treatment of retinal diseases including diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal detachment, macular holes, epiretinal membranes, and vascular occlusive disease, including intravitreal injections.
• Eyelid and Facial Surgery Oculoplastic surgery including blepharoplasty, brow lifts, tumor removal, orbital fracture repairs, and tear duct obstruction repair.
• Aesthetic Services Cosmetic procedures including Botox injections, dermal fillers, laser treatments for skin tightening and pigmentation, facial hair removal, and esthetician services (facials, chemical peels, dermaplaning, brow waxing and tinting).
• Routine Eye Examinations Comprehensive eye exams for adults and children over six, including refraction, vision screening, and monitoring for early signs of ocular disease.
• Contact Lens Services Contact lens fittings and evaluations, including soft lenses and specialty fittings coordinated through optometrists across multiple centers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.9-star overall patient satisfaction rating from approximately 2,500 online reviews
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sandhills Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOphthalmic assistant training program in partnership with Sandhills Community College, supporting standardized clinical workflows and team-based care across the practice network.
• The Surgical Eye CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated high-volume outpatient eye surgery facility complementing the practice's own accredited surgery centers in Pinehurst/Southern Pines and Greensboro.
• MedFusioncoreTechnology or IntegrationPatient portal technology provider enabling patients to access medical records, schedule appointments, communicate with the practice, and pay bills online through the MedFusion platform.
• Image SkincareminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAesthetic skincare products (Image Skincare) used in facial treatments and recommended to aesthetic services patients at the Greensboro center to support skin health outcomes.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EyeSouth Partners: Atlanta-based PE-backed ophthalmology and optometry platform that has been actively acquiring practices across the Southeast. Highly comparable multi-subspecialty model with affiliated surgery centers in overlapping Carolinas/Georgia geography.
• Clemson Eye: South Carolina-based multi-subspecialty ophthalmology and optometry practice offering cataract, LASIK, glaucoma, retina, oculoplastics, and aesthetic services. Highly comparable scale and service mix, competing directly in the Upstate SC market and serving overlapping patient demographics.
• Woolfson Eye Institute: Atlanta-based multi-location ophthalmology practice specializing in LASIK, cataract surgery with premium IOLs, cornea, and glaucoma. Comparable multi-subspecialty model with affiliated surgery center and similar elective revenue mix.
• Katzen Eye Group: Mid-Atlantic multi-location ophthalmology and optometry group with full subspecialty coverage including cataract, glaucoma, retina, cornea, oculoplastics, and aesthetics. Comparable in scale, multi-subspecialty service mix, and ASC-affiliated operating model.
• Mann Eye Institute: Texas-based multi-location ophthalmology and optometry practice offering cataract, LASIK, cornea, glaucoma, retina, oculoplastics, and aesthetics with ambulatory surgery centers. Highly comparable full-service subspecialty model and revenue mix.

Broad incumbents

• EyeCare Partners: PE-backed national ophthalmology and optometry platform operating hundreds of locations across the US. Directly comparable as a large multi-subspecialty eye care consolidator with surgical centers, similar payor relationships, and active M&A in the Carolinas.
• US Eye: PE-backed ophthalmology platform with locations across the Southeast. Comparable as a multi-subspecialty eye care group operating affiliated ASCs with broad insurance and elective service mix.

Regional players

• Quigley Eye Specialists: Florida-based multi-location ophthalmology practice offering cataract, LASIK, glaucoma, retina, oculoplastics, and aesthetics. Comparable full-service subspecialty model, but operating in a different regional geography.
• Horizon Eye Care: Multi-location ophthalmology and optometry practice in the Charlotte NC region offering subspecialty care, optical services, and ASC-based surgery. Comparable subspecialty model with geographic overlap in NC.
• Florida Eye Specialists: Large multi-subspecialty ophthalmology practice serving the Jacksonville/North Florida market with cataract, glaucoma, retina, oculoplastics, and aesthetics. Comparable service mix and scale, but in a different regional geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CarolinaEye
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carolina-eye-associates
• Instagraminstagram.com/carolinaeye.associates?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Xx.com/EyeCEA

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 CAROLINA EYE ASSOCIATES, PA