Carolina Ophthalmology

What Carolina Ophthalmology does

Carolina Ophthalmology, P.A. is an independent, physician-owned multi-specialty ophthalmology practice founded in 1980 and headquartered in Hendersonville, North Carolina, serving Western North Carolina across six clinical locations (Hendersonville, Asheville, Skyland, Columbus, Waynesville, and Spruce Pine). The practice employs 10 board-certified physicians — most fellowship-trained in their respective subspecialties — supported by over 70 clinical and administrative staff including Certified Ophthalmic Technicians. Core service lines span cataract surgery (including LenSx bladeless laser-assisted surgery, premium intraocular lenses such as the Light Adjustable Lens, and ORA intraoperative refractive analysis), retinal disease management (including anti-VEGF injections with Lucentis, Eylea, and Vabysmo, and retinal detachment repair), glaucoma diagnosis and treatment (including MIGS and iStent implantation), and corneal care (including DMEK/DSEK transplants and dry eye treatment). Outpatient surgical procedures are performed at four regional hospital and ambulatory surgery center partners — Pardee Hospital, Western Carolina Surgery Center, Asheville Surgery Center at Mission Hospital, and Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine.

Revenue is generated through fee-for-service clinical care reimbursed by Medicare, commercial insurance, and patient out-of-pocket payments, with a secondary cash-pay stream derived from Carolina Skin and Laser, a wholly-owned cosmetic division formed in 2008 offering oculoplastic surgery, BOTOX, dermal fillers, laser skin treatments, and Obagi medical-grade skincare. The practice supplements insurance-reimbursed procedures with CareCredit patient financing for non-covered services such as LASIK and premium IOLs, and operates an optical retail shop (Eyelights Optical) at the Columbus location. Patient acquisition is hybrid: direct-to-consumer through toll-free scheduling, online appointment requests, a digital patient portal, and a website-driven patient education video library, combined with a referral channel built on close affiliations with area optometrists who use dedicated consultation request and shared post-operative co-management forms.

The practice's competitive positioning rests on four pillars: a 45-year regional brand and referral network; premium technology adoption (LenSx laser, Light Adjustable Lens, ORA, iStent, OCT) ahead of regional competitors; subspecialty depth covering cataract, retina, glaucoma, cornea, and oculoplastics; and a distributed six-location footprint that reduces patient travel friction across Western North Carolina.

Name

Carolina Ophthalmology

Legal name

Carolina Ophthalmology, P.A.

Website

https://carolinaeyemd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Carolina Ophthalmology, P.A. is a physician-owned multi-specialty ophthalmology practice founded in 1980, operating six locations across Western North Carolina with 10 board-certified physicians and 70+ staff delivering cataract, retina, glaucoma, cornea, and cosmetic eye care services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmology Services

NAICS

Offices of Optometrists (621320)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Retina & Vitreous Specialists (HLAKAKAE), Ophthalmology Surgery Centers (HLAFAIAF), Oculoplastics & Orbital Surgery (HLAKAKAI), Ocular Imaging & Diagnostic Testing Centers (HLAKAKAN), Ophthalmology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAK)

Keywords

• Ophthalmology medical practice
• Cataract surgery services
• Retinal disease treatment
• Glaucoma management care
• Corneal care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hendersonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Surgical Procedures: Outpatient eye surgery services including cataract surgery (laser and traditional), retinal procedures, glaucoma surgery, and corneal transplants performed at hospital outpatient surgery centers and in-office surgical suites
2. Clinical Eye Care Services: Comprehensive ophthalmology examinations, diagnostic testing, and ongoing treatment for eye conditions including cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases, and corneal conditions
3. Patient Financing: CareCredit healthcare credit card financing for procedures not covered by insurance including LASIK and Premium IOLs, enabling patients to pay over time
4. Cosmetic Services (Carolina Skin and Laser): Aesthetic procedures including BOTOX, dermal fillers, laser treatments, skin rejuvenation, and cosmetic surgery performed by oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Christina Choe

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Carolina Ophthalmology is a multi-location ophthalmology practice that diagnoses and treats eye diseases through medical, laser, and surgical interventions across four specialty areas: cataract surgery (including bladeless LenSx laser-assisted procedures and premium IOLs), retinal diseases (macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment), glaucoma (including MIGS and iStent), and corneal conditions (transplants, dry eye, keratoconus). The practice also operates Carolina Skin and Laser, a cosmetic division offering BOTOX, dermal fillers, laser skin treatments, and physician-grade skin care products.

Product overview

Carolina Ophthalmology is a multi-location ophthalmology practice offering a comprehensive range of eye care services. The practice operates as a unified service platform with core specialty areas in cataract surgery (including LenSx laser-assisted surgery and premium lens options), retina services, glaucoma management, and cornea treatments. The practice also includes a cosmetic/aesthetic division called Carolina Skin and Laser offering BOTOX, dermal fillers, and laser treatments. All locations utilize advanced diagnostic technology including ORA Wavefront Aberrometry, OCT imaging, and provide injectable drug therapies for retinal conditions. The practice serves Western North Carolina with six locations and maintains an online patient portal for scheduling and communication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cataract Surgery Services
• Retina Services
• Glaucoma Services
• Cornea Services
• Diagnostic Testing
• Carolina Skin and Laser
• Retinal Injections
• Corneal Transplants (DMEK/DSEK)
• IPL for Ocular Rosacea

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 95% of cataract surgeries performed with no complications
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• First Citizens BankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2017Community partnership for charitable initiatives including First Annual Focus on Community coat drive. Joint effort to donate 316 coats to local community members in need through The Storehouse, Eblen Charities, and Steps to Hope.
• Pardee HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital outpatient surgery center where Carolina Ophthalmology performs eye surgery procedures. Located in Hendersonville, NC.
• Western Carolina Surgery CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutpatient surgery center partnership for eye surgery procedures serving Western North Carolina patients.
• Asheville Surgery Center at Mission HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor hospital-based outpatient surgery center where Carolina Ophthalmology performs surgical procedures. Located in Asheville, NC.
• Blue Ridge Regional HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional hospital in Spruce Pine, NC where Carolina Ophthalmology performs eye surgery procedures.
• CareCreditcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare credit card financing program partner enabling patients to pay for vision care procedures including LASIK and Premium-IOLs over time with monthly payments. CareCredit is North America's leading patient healthcare financing program.
• One Warm CoatminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational nonprofit coat drive program that makes it easy for organizations to collect and donate coats to those in need. Carolina Ophthalmology participates through annual coat drives.
• The StorehouseminorOthersHenderson County charitable organization receiving donated coats from Carolina Ophthalmology's community coat drives.
• Eblen CharitiesminorOthersBuncombe County charitable organization receiving donated coats from Carolina Ophthalmology's community coat drives.
• Steps to HopeminorOthersPolk County charitable organization receiving donated coats from Carolina Ophthalmology's community coat drives.
• Obagi Medical ProductsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPhysician-prescribed medical skincare product line offered at Carolina Skin and Laser. Products work at cellular level to correct hyperpigmentation, improve skin texture, and reduce fine lines.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• EyeSouth Partners: PE-backed ophthalmology management services organization (MSO) that partners with and acquires regional ophthalmology practices across the Southeast. Represents the platform/consolidator model that Carolina Ophthalmology could either join or compete against for physicians and referrals.
• Duke Eye Center: Academic medical center ophthalmology department in Durham, NC offering comprehensive subspecialty eye care including complex retina, cornea, glaucoma, and oculoplastics. Comparable subspecialty breadth but operates in academic tertiary-care setting rather than community practice.
• Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates (CEENTA): Large North Carolina multi-specialty physician practice with extensive ophthalmology, otolaryngology, and related service lines across many locations. Comparable in scale and multi-specialty approach, though it operates across broader geographic and specialty boundaries.

Direct peers

• Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center: Large multi-location ophthalmology group across Arizona with comprehensive cataract, retina, glaucoma, and cornea services. Highly comparable operating model with multiple locations, advanced surgical technology, and premium IOL offerings, often cited as an example of scaled regional eye care.
• Graystone Eye: Large multi-location ophthalmology practice based in Hickory, NC, offering cataract surgery, retina, glaucoma, cornea, and oculoplastic services across several Western and Central NC locations. Highly comparable in scope, multi-specialty physician mix, and use of advanced surgical technology.
• Asheville Eye Associates: Direct regional competitor headquartered in Asheville, NC, providing comprehensive ophthalmology and optometry services across the Western North Carolina market. Overlaps significantly with Carolina Ophthalmology in cataract, glaucoma, retina, and cornea service lines, and competes for the same referring optometrist base in the region.
• Tidewater Eye Center: Multi-location ophthalmology and optometry practice in Virginia offering cataract surgery, glaucoma, retina, and cornea services. Comparable in regional scale, comprehensive service offering, and physician-led practice model.

Regional players

• Carolina Eye Prosthetics: NC-based regional eye care provider offering ophthalmology and prosthetic eye services. Comparable in regional Carolina footprint and patient base, though narrower in specialty scope.

Emerging players

• Retina Consultants of America: PE-backed network of retina-specialty practices offering medical and surgical retinal care including Anti-VEGF injections. Overlaps with Carolina Ophthalmology's retina center service line, particularly for wet AMD and diabetic retinopathy patients.
• Center for Retina & Macular Disease: Specialty retina practice providing medical and surgical retinal care including Anti-VEGF injections for macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Direct overlap with Carolina Ophthalmology's retina center and injectable therapy offerings.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Carolina-Ophthalmology-PA-100064251722532
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carolina-ophthalmology-pa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Carolina Ophthalmology