Eye Health America strengthens Southern US partnerships, acquires Loris Eye Association

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Eye Health America (EHA) reaffirms its strong ties to the Southeastern United States with an acquisition of Loris Eye Associates. This is the integrated eye care platform’s 24th strategic partnership in the Southeastern US since 2018 with the intention of strengthening the patient care network throughout the northeastern and coastal regions of South Carolina, according to a news release.

“Our longstanding relationship with Dr Sam Seltzer and the Carolina Centers for Sight (CCFS) team made our partnership with them and EHA a natural choice to continue to provide our patients excellent care while expanding their treatment options with new technologies and multi-specialty providers,” stated Tracy Ray, OD, manager of the Loris Eye Associates team.

Loris Eye Associates is a long-time eye care provider, having been providing Loris, South Carolina with medical optometric and optical services for almost 40 years.¹ Some of those eye care services include comprehensive eye exams, glasses and contact lenses fittings, correcting computer vision issues, dry eye and allergy treatments, and eye disease screening and treatment for cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.²

“What a beautiful location and practice! Welcome Dr Tracy Ray and Loris team to our exceptional roster of eye care professionals. In the near future, we eagerly anticipate expansion of our advanced eye care services to the residents of Horry Country, South Carolina,” stated Mary Lou Parisi, Co-CEO of EHA.

South Carolina follows national trends in terms of those at risk of vision impairment. A briefing from the VisionServe Alliance found that older people are more at risk, or individuals 65 years and older, are more susceptible to experiencing vision loss. In a 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System report conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7% of those 65 to 74 years of age, over 9% of those 75 to 79 years of age, and 8% of those over 80 years of age all reported severe vision impairment. Black people are nearly twice more at risk for vision impairment at over 13%.³

Some areas of South Carolina are hit harder than others in terms of vision impairment. The briefing reports that rural counties and poorer populations are more at risk due to eye care resources being more scarce. Of the populations in Allendale and Barnwell counties, for example, have a little over 22% and 16% of residents with vision impairment, respectively. The lowest percentages are in Lancaster and Georgetown counties, both with just under 5%.³

EHA’s contribution to providing better eye care service in the Southeast is to provide practice outlining and financial planning to their partnered eye care practices. The organization currently employs over 100 physicians across 53 locations and 1,000 employees in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The company also manages 10 ambulatory surgical centers and supports other practice groups and ambulatory surgery centers.¹

“Our partnership with Loris Eye Associates and Dr Ray enhances our mission to make lives better with personalized eye care,” said Sam Seltzer, MD, medical director at CCFS. “I have worked with Dr Ray for almost 2 decades and have been thoroughly impressed with his dedication to excellent patient care. The LEA team is a fantastic addition to CCFS and [EHA].”

References:

• Eye Health America announces newest acquisition of Loris Eye Associates. Eye Health America. Press Release. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://www.eyehealthamerica.com/eye-health-america-announces-newest-acquisition-of-loris-eye-associates/

• Welcome to Loris Eyecare. Elevate Eyecare. Website. Updated 2024. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://elevatemyeyes.com/location/loris-eyecare/

• South Carolina’s older population and vision loss: A briefing. VisionServe Alliance.Published September 7, 2022. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://lionsvisionservices.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Final-Report-Phase-One.pdf