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ABOUT the Practice
Our office offers the latest in ophthalmic equipment to provide our patients with all their primary eye care needs. Our retinal cameras, visual fields, and on-site lab one-hour services provided by EyeMart enable us the means to provide optimal eye care for patients.
Dr. Van C. Forrester
Dr. Van C. Forrester was born in Abingdon, Virginia. He attended Rutgers University and graduated in 1990 from the Honors Program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Forrester was awarded the coveted Beta Beta Beta Research Award while attending UNC-Greensboro. During his undergraduate years, he also served as the Vice-President of Tau Kappa Epsilon, Treasurer of the Interfraternity Council, and Chapter Sweetheart of Alpha Chi Omega.
He was awarded the Doctorate of Optometry in 1996 from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Forrester first served as an extern at the Millington Naval Hospital in Millington, Tennessee. While there, he cared for the visual needs of active-duty Navy personnel, retirees, and dependents. Next, he externed at the Memphis Family Vision Practice in Memphis, Tennessee where he focused on contact lenses and pediatrics.
Dr. Forrester has been in practice for over 15 years, including over 12 years of refractive surgery experience with Clear Choice Laser Eye Centers, Tennessee Lasik Associates, TLC Laser Eye Centers, and Spectrum Eye and Laser Center. In all, Dr. Forrester has participated in the care of over 15,000 lasik, prk, and cataract patients.
Since 1992, Dr. Forrester has been a member of the American Optometric Association. He is a Past-President of the Midlands Optometric Society and a current member of the Piedmont Optometric Society. Dr. Forrester is a Director for the South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association and has lectured throughout the Southeast on lasik, prk, dry eyes, and pediatrics.
Dr. Forrester is an avid cyclist and supporter of the Greenville Drive and Greenville Swamp Rabbits. His interests include Girl Scouts, Project Pet, Special Olympics, and SC Mission. In his spare time, Dr. Forrester enjoys competitive grilling and spending time with his wife, daughter, and numerous pets.
Welcome to
Forrester Eye Associates:
Meet Our Amazing Team
At Forrester Eye Associates, we are committed to delivering the highest level of eye care services and providing the most advanced treatments available. Our team of dedicated professionals provides comprehensive eye care, from routine eye exams to soft contact fittings, and post-operative care for LASIK and cataract surgery. We strive to provide the best possible care to our patients, utilizing the most advanced technology and techniques in the field of ophthalmology. Our goal is to ensure that every patient leaves our office with the best vision and a better understanding of their eye health
An Optometrist (OD), or Doctor of Optometry, is an eye doctor licensed to practice optometry. They specialize in determining spectacle or contact lens prescriptions, diagnosing, monitoring and offering primary care treatment for most eye abnormalities and diseases of the eye. An Optometrist goes to four years of college and then four years of Optometry College and clinical rotations. Some attend post-education residencies. An optometrist prescribes topical and oral eye medications but does not perform major surgical procedures.
What is an
Optometrist?
Detect and diagnose eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, retinal disorders, lid distortions and infections such as conjunctivitis. Prescribe medication to treat eye diseases. Evaluate and treat vision conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Perform minor procedures such as removing foreign objects from the eye. Provide pre- and post-operative care, especially for glaucoma, laser, refractive and cataract patients.
What are Optometrists trained to do?
An Ophthalmologist (MD or DO) is a Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy. Such a physician is licensed to practice medicine and surgery, and each chooses to specialize in different aspects of eye and vision care. An ophthalmologist’s education typically includes four years of medical school and two or more years of general hospital experience in treating eye disease in a hospital-based eye residence program
What is an Ophthalmologist?
An Optician (LDO) is a health care provider licensed to fill and dispense spectacles, contact lenses and other optical devices from a written prescription of a licensed physician or Optometrist. An Optician may become licensed through a two-year education program or apprenticeship program but is not required to be licensed to work. An optician is not an eye doctor.
What is an Optician?
F.A.Q.