By Bruce Frankel

Once you meet Dr. Amy Harper, it becomes clear why this passionate, top rated optometrist is loved by so many of her patients. “My philosophy is that each patient deserves individual and personalized care. That takes time and I am willing to share that time with my patients,” Dr. Harper enthusiastically proclaims. “To me, people are not just eyeballs! I believe that you have to actively listen to your patients. It could even be as simple as the way a person says something or the subtle item that they reference that can tell the bigger story.” Anyone who has experienced an eye exam with Dr. Harper will gladly boast that they believe the most important patient is the one she is treating at the time.

With almost 10 years of caring for clients in their Kernersville office, Dr. Amy Harper and her husband Overton Harper have established one of the most important community healthcare practices in town. In a rapidly changing environment, where regional medical institutions, corporate chains, and overall healthcare consolidation is the norm, it is truly a testament to their success that Harper Eye Care can excel as a fully independent comprehensive eye care clinic.

Through their inspirational leadership style they have assembled a staff with a core purpose to preserve and improve the quality of their patients’ vision so that their everyday lives are more fulfilling, and the entire team works towards that goal. With the focus of learning about each patient’s unique needs, Harper Eye Care offers comprehensive eye examinations, eye glasses, contact lens fittings, annual diabetic dilated exams, removal of metal and debris from the eye, treatment of pink eye, pediatric vision exams, and vision therapy all with state-of-the-art technology.

In addition to strong patient relationships, the quality of the health service provided is based on attention to detail which includes the use of cutting-edge eye care technology such as being the first and only private practice in Kernersville to offer the Visioffice system. Provided at no additional charge to clients, this system can assure that your lenses are shaped and aligned to give you the best vision at all angles.

Dr. Harper’s approach for comprehensive detailed examinations with the utilization of the high quality office equipment has resulted in some patients praising her for helping them find relief when she discovers the cause of a problem others have missed.

As Jennifer Pike, who has been bringing her family to Harper Eye Care for the last six years stated, “Dr. Harper told me something about my eyes that my prior doctor never told me and that won me over. Who does not want to know as much as possible?”

In addition to being an active parent at Caleb’s Creek Elementary School where their daughter Hayden attends third grade, Dr. Harper has a special interest in pediatric and developmental vision and was specially trained in the pediatric unit of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. She is also a participating provider through the InfantSee® program which offers free eye exams to infants 6-12 months of age. 

Although most adults are aware that changes in eyesight can be an issue from middle-aged on, they are unaware that even young children’s vision changes during their early years of development and should be tested regularly. This is especially important when you consider that as much as 80% of the learning a child does occurs through his or her eyes. A vision screening by a child’s pediatrician or at his or her preschool is not the same as a comprehensive eye and vision examination by an optometrist. Vision screenings are a limited process and cannot be used to diagnose an eye or vision problem, but rather may indicate a potential need for further evaluation. They may miss as many as 60% of children with vision problems. Even if a vision screening does not identify a possible vision problem, a child may still have one.

In addition to these young patients, Dr. Harper regularly sees entire families spanning several generations, from young children to parents and even grandparents. She truly enjoys the complexity of conditions that range from pediatrics to geriatrics with a deep appreciation for hereditary predisposition.

“When you treat a diverse population, it is exciting clinically to appreciate the genetic implications of some of these diseases. Personally, it is a great joy to get to know families and earn their trust by providing care to their loved ones. All of our providers are very comfortable treating patients of any age,” said Dr. Harper.

Like most of the staff at Harper Eye Care, Allyson the receptionist, takes great personal pride in caring for all patients. “Patients are not just patrons, I have grown really close to a lot of patients I come in contact with. Over the years, they have shared their personal stories with me. That makes me feel like I am a part of their lives. That is what I like most about my experience working at Harper Eye Care.”

This sentiment is shared by other staff members who all reside in the Kernersville area such as Chelsea, “We strive to provide the absolute highest level of care, while also exceeding patients’ service expectations. It becomes a rewarding experience for both patients and staff members alike, knowing that we have the potential to not only help manage and impact patients’ eye care in a positive way, but also help put a smile on each patient’s face.”

With a growing practice, it is important for the Harper’s to select optometrists who share their passion for meeting a family’s entire need for eye care and are also committed to delivering the best personal patient care. So, it was an easy decision to add Dr. Kimberly Orr to the team. All of her patients appreciate her warm friendly personality and thorough examination process.

Harper Eye Care was founded and proudly continues a business culture that is based on community, family, and faith. Their involvement in the community extends from the business awards they have received from the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce to Overton’s active involvement in the Kernersville Rotary Club, where he served as the chapter’s President from 2012 to 2013. As a practice, they have supported many local groups such as the Lion’s Club efforts to improve children’s vision as well as non-profit organizations like the YMCA and Körner’s Folly.

What will always set Harper Eye Care apart is the underlying passion for helping everyone who walks through their door. As Dr. Amy Harper reflects, “Each day, it is our desire and focus to add something to the health of every person we come in contact with.”

To learn more about Harper Eye Care visit: www.HarperEyeCare.com or call 336-993-3930.

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Tips for Maintaining Healthy Eyes and Good Vision

• Eat a balanced diet. Choose foods rich in antioxidants, like leafy, green vegetables and fish.

•Do not smoke. Smoking exposes your eyes to high levels of noxious chemicals and increases the risk for developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts.

•Get regular exercise. Exercise improves blood circulation, increases oxygen levels to the eyes and helps remove toxins.

•Protect your eyes from the sun. The sun emits harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays that can damage your eyes over the long term. Choose sunglasses with UV-A and UV-B protection with adequate coverage. Additionally, use sunscreen around the delicate skin around your eyes, and wear a hat or visor in addition to sunglasses to improve protection.

•Protect your eyes from short-wavelength visible light. Most digital devices and newer LED and fluorescent lights emit more wavelengths near the shorter, or bluer, part of the spectrum. High and continual exposure to these wavelengths can cause slow damage to the retina, which may result in problems like age-related macular degeneration later in life and interrupt your sleep cycle, causing insomnia. Special glasses and lens coatings are available to block short-wavelength visible light.

•Get annual eye examinations.