Why Hope Mills Families Choose Eye Medics
I've been practicing optometry in Fayetteville since 2004, and over the years, Hope Mills has become one of our most loyal patient communities. I think I know why. Hope Mills families are busy — a lot of dual-income households, a lot of kids in multiple activities, and a lot of people who don't have time for a 10-minute exam at a chain optical store where they feel like a number.
At Eye Medics, a comprehensive exam takes 45 to 60 minutes. That's not because we're slow. It's because I actually look at everything — your retina, your optic nerve, your tear film, your eye pressure, your binocular vision. I use a Topcon retinal camera and an Optos ultra-widefield imager on most patients. If something looks off, I tell you exactly what I see and what it means. No vague "come back in a year."
We're located at 1952 Skibo Road — about 5 minutes from Hope Mills via US-301 N. Free parking, easy access, and we're right in the middle of the Skibo corridor so you can combine your appointment with other errands. Our hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9AM–4PM, and Tuesday 1–5PM.
Eye Medics Optometry · 1952 Skibo Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28314 · 5 minutes from Hope Mills
Eye Care Services Available Near Hope Mills
Here's the thing — most of the services Hope Mills families need aren't available locally. Myopia management, Ortho-K, dry eye treatment, keratoconus care. You have to drive somewhere for those. We've built our practice around being the place you drive to when you want it done right.
Comprehensive Eye Exams
Full vision and eye health evaluation using Topcon retinal imaging and Optos ultra-widefield photography. Adults, seniors, and children.
Pediatric Eye Exams
Children's exams from 6 months through high school. We specialize in detecting amblyopia, strabismus, and vision problems that affect school performance.
SleepSEE® Ortho-K
Overnight contact lenses that reshape the cornea while your child sleeps. No glasses or daytime contacts needed. FDA-cleared for myopia control.
Myopia Control
Clinically proven treatments to slow nearsightedness progression in children — including MiSight contacts, atropine drops, and Ortho-K.
Dry Eye Treatment
Comprehensive dry eye evaluation including meibomian gland assessment. We offer LipiFlow thermal pulsation and personalized treatment plans.
Contact Lens Fittings
Standard, toric, multifocal, and specialty contact lens fittings. We carry a wide range of brands and offer trial lenses at your appointment.
Pediatric eye care is one of our core specialties — we see children from Hope Mills and throughout Cumberland County.
Myopia in Cumberland County: The Numbers
I want to talk about myopia for a minute, because it's the single biggest vision health issue I see in kids from Hope Mills, Fayetteville, and Cumberland County schools. Myopia — nearsightedness — isn't just about needing glasses. When it progresses unchecked, it increases the lifetime risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic macular degeneration. These are serious, sight-threatening conditions.
A 2016 study published in Ophthalmology by the Brien Holden Vision Institute projected that by 2050, nearly 50% of the world's population will be myopic — up from about 23% in 2000. In the United States, the numbers are even more striking. The National Eye Institute reports that myopia prevalence in Americans aged 12–54 jumped from 25% in the early 1970s to nearly 42% by the early 2000s. Today's estimates put it closer to 58% in school-age children.
Myopia Prevalence in American Children — Then vs. Now
Source: National Eye Institute, Brien Holden Vision Institute (2016 projection study)
By 2050, researchers project nearly 3 in 4 American children will be nearsighted.
What's driving this? Screen time plays a role, but the bigger factor is reduced outdoor time. Natural light exposure triggers the release of dopamine in the retina, which helps regulate eye growth. When kids spend most of their day indoors — at school, on screens, doing homework — their eyes grow longer than they should, causing myopia.
The good news: we can slow this down. Myopia control treatments — Ortho-K, MiSight contact lenses, and low-dose atropine — have been shown in multiple randomized controlled trials to reduce myopia progression by 30–60%. If your child's prescription is changing every year, please come see us. Stronger glasses are not the answer.
Insurance & TRICARE Coverage
We accept most major vision and medical insurance plans. Here's a quick reference:
Not sure if we take your plan? Call us at (910) 426-3937 and our front desk team will verify your benefits before you come in. No surprises. We also offer detailed insurance information on our insurance page.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
A lot of patients — especially those who've only been to chain optical stores — are surprised by how different a visit to Eye Medics is. Let me walk you through it.
Pre-testing (10–15 min)
Our technician runs preliminary tests — visual acuity, eye pressure, corneal topography, and retinal imaging with our Optos ultra-widefield camera. This gives me a complete picture before I even walk in the room.
Comprehensive exam with Dr. Singletary or Dr. Shiau (30–40 min)
I review your history, check your prescription, assess your binocular vision and eye coordination, examine your retina and optic nerve, and discuss any findings with you in plain language. No rushing.
Discussion & plan (10 min)
We talk about what I found, what it means, and what we're going to do about it. If your child needs myopia management, I explain the options. If you have dry eye, I explain the protocol. You leave with a clear plan.
Glasses or contact lens selection (optional)
If you need new glasses or contacts, our optical team can help you select frames or order lenses. No pressure — you're always welcome to take your prescription elsewhere.
New patients: please arrive 10 minutes early to complete paperwork. Bring your insurance card, a list of any medications you're taking, and your current glasses or contacts if you have them. If your child is under 18, a parent or legal guardian must be present.
How Eye Medics Compares to Chain Optical Stores
I'm not going to trash the competition. But I do think Hope Mills families deserve to know what they're getting — and what they're not getting — at a chain optical store versus an independent specialty practice like ours.
| Feature | Eye Medics Optometry | Chain Optical Store |
|---|---|---|
| Exam time with doctor | 45–60 minutes | 10–15 minutes |
| Myopia management / Ortho-K | ✓ Full program | ✗ Not offered |
| TRICARE accepted | ✓ Prime & Select | Varies by location |
| Pediatric specialty training | ✓ Dr. Singletary & Dr. Shiau | General OD only |
| Dry eye treatment (LipiFlow, etc.) | ✓ Full protocol | ✗ Not offered |
| Keratoconus / scleral lenses | ✓ Specialty fittings | ✗ Not offered |
| Google reviews | 1,500+ · 5.0 stars | Varies |
| Same-day urgent appointments | ✓ When available | Limited |
* Chain optical store data based on general industry practices. Individual locations may vary.
Free Download
"Is My Child's Vision Affecting Their Grades?" — Parent Checklist
A 12-point checklist I give to every parent in my practice. Download it, go through it tonight, and bring it to your child's next eye exam. It takes 3 minutes and could change everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Eye Medics from Hope Mills, NC?
We're at 1952 Skibo Road in Fayetteville — about 5 minutes from Hope Mills via US-301 N. There's free parking right at the office. Most Hope Mills patients tell me the drive is easier than they expected, especially since we're right off the main road.
Does Eye Medics accept insurance for Hope Mills patients?
Yes. We accept TRICARE Prime and Select, Blue Cross Blue Shield, VSP, EyeMed, Aetna, Cigna, Medicaid, and NC Health Choice. HSA and FSA cards are accepted. Call us at (910) 426-3937 and we'll verify your benefits before you come in.
What age should my child have their first eye exam?
The American Optometric Association recommends a child's first eye exam at 6 months of age. I know that sounds early, but we can assess a baby's eyes without them needing to read a chart. We use preferential looking tests and retinoscopy — no guessing required. Early detection of amblyopia (lazy eye) makes treatment dramatically more effective.
What is myopia management, and does my Hope Mills child need it?
Myopia management is a set of treatments designed to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children. We use Ortho-K lenses, MiSight daily contacts, and low-dose atropine drops — all with strong clinical evidence. If your child's prescription is changing every year, that's a sign they need more than just stronger glasses. I see this constantly in kids from Cumberland County schools.
Do you offer same-day or urgent eye care appointments?
We try to accommodate urgent eye concerns when we can. If you have a sudden red eye, eye injury, or sudden vision change, call us first at (910) 426-3937. We'll do our best to get you in the same day or direct you to the appropriate level of care.
What's the difference between a vision screening and a comprehensive eye exam?
A vision screening — like the one at school or the DMV — only checks distance vision. It misses nearsightedness at close range, farsightedness, astigmatism, eye coordination problems, early glaucoma, and diabetic eye changes. A comprehensive exam with me takes 45–60 minutes and checks all of that. A passing screening is not the same as a healthy eye exam.
Reference Resources
American Optometric Association — Myopia (Nearsightedness)
Clinical guidelines and patient education on myopia management from the AOA.
Brien Holden Vision Institute — Global Myopia Prevalence Study (2016)
Holden BA et al. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology. 2016.
National Eye Institute — Myopia Facts
NIH resource on refractive errors including myopia prevalence data.
Last reviewed: March 2026 · Written by Dr. Dwight Singletary, OD · Eye Medics Optometry, Fayetteville, NC
