Why Spring Lake & Fort Bragg Families Choose Eye Medics
I've been practicing optometry in Fayetteville since 2004, and military families from Spring Lake and Fort Bragg have been some of my most loyal patients. I understand why — when you're managing a household with a deployed spouse, multiple kids in different schools, and a schedule that changes constantly, you need an eye doctor who's efficient, thorough, and doesn't waste your time.
We're located at 1952 Skibo Road — about 15 minutes from Spring Lake via US-87 S, and easy to reach from Fort Bragg's main gate. We accept TRICARE Prime and Select, and our front desk team is experienced with military insurance. We'll verify your benefits before you come in so there are no surprises.
Here's what I tell every military family: don't wait until something's wrong. The best time to establish care with an eye doctor near your duty station is before you need urgent care. We can build a complete eye health history for your whole family and make sure any vision problems are caught early.
Eye Medics Optometry · 1952 Skibo Rd, Fayetteville, NC · 15 min from Spring Lake
TRICARE Eye Care — What Military Families Need to Know
TRICARE is more complicated than it should be. Let me break it down in plain language.
TRICARE vision benefits cover routine eye exams for active duty family members and retirees. Under TRICARE Prime, routine exams are typically covered at no cost when you see a TRICARE-authorized provider like Eye Medics. Under TRICARE Select, you'll have a copay for routine care.
TRICARE medical benefits cover eye care that's medically necessary — treatment for dry eye disease, glaucoma management, diabetic eye exams, and similar conditions. This is separate from vision benefits and typically has different cost-sharing.
The chart below shows approximate coverage rates by service type. These are general guidelines — your actual coverage depends on your specific plan, enrollment status, and whether you have a referral where required.
TRICARE Eye Care Coverage — Typical Coverage Rates by Service Type
Approximate coverage rates for TRICARE Prime beneficiaries. Actual coverage depends on your specific plan and enrollment status.
Source: Defense Health Agency TRICARE benefits documentation. Call us to verify your specific coverage.
The bottom line: call us at (910) 426-3937 before your appointment and we'll verify exactly what's covered for your family. We do this every day for Spring Lake and Fort Bragg patients.
Eye Care Services Near Spring Lake
We offer a full range of eye care services for military families and civilians alike. Here's what Spring Lake patients come to us for most often:
Comprehensive Eye Exams
Full vision and eye health evaluation using Topcon retinal imaging. Adults, seniors, and children. 45–60 minutes with the doctor.
Pediatric Eye Exams
Children's exams from 6 months through high school. We specialize in detecting amblyopia, strabismus, and learning-related vision problems.
SleepSEE® Ortho-K
Overnight contact lenses for myopia correction and control. No glasses or daytime contacts needed. FDA-cleared and popular with military kids.
Myopia Control
Proven treatments to slow nearsightedness in children — MiSight contacts, atropine drops, and Ortho-K. Especially important for military kids who change schools frequently.
Dry Eye Treatment
Comprehensive dry eye evaluation and treatment. We offer meibomian gland assessment and personalized treatment plans.
Contact Lens Fittings
Standard, toric, multifocal, and specialty contact lens fittings. Trial lenses available at your appointment.
Pediatric Eye Care for Military Children
Military kids face a unique challenge when it comes to eye care. They move. A lot. And every time they move, they start over with a new doctor who doesn't know their history. I've seen kids come into my practice at age 10 who've never had a proper eye exam — not because their parents didn't care, but because things fell through the cracks during a PCS move.
Here's what I recommend for every military family: get a comprehensive eye exam for your children as soon as you arrive at a new duty station. Don't wait for the school screening. Don't assume the last exam at the previous duty station is current enough. Vision changes fast in kids — especially between ages 8 and 14.
Pediatric eye care for military families — we see children from 6 months through high school.
We also offer myopia management — a set of treatments designed to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children. This matters for military kids because high myopia (above -6.00 diopters) significantly increases the lifetime risk of retinal detachment and other serious eye conditions. Ortho-K and MiSight contact lenses have been shown in clinical trials to reduce progression by 30–60%.
TRICARE covers routine pediatric eye exams. Call us and we'll verify your child's specific benefits before the appointment.
Insurance Accepted
Not sure if we take your plan? Call (910) 426-3937. See our full insurance information page.
How Eye Medics Compares
Military families have options. Here's how we stack up against a typical chain optical store.
| Feature | Eye Medics Optometry | Chain Optical Store |
|---|---|---|
| TRICARE Prime & Select | ✓ Accepted | Varies by location |
| Exam time with doctor | 45–60 minutes | 10–15 minutes |
| Myopia control / Ortho-K | ✓ Full program | ✗ Not offered |
| Pediatric specialty training | ✓ Dr. Singletary & Dr. Shiau | General OD only |
| Military family experience | ✓ 20+ years serving Fort Bragg | No specialty |
| Dry eye treatment | ✓ Full protocol | ✗ Not offered |
| Google reviews | 1,500+ · 5.0 stars | Varies |
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 Spring Lake, NC?
We're at 1952 Skibo Road in Fayetteville — about 15 minutes from Spring Lake via US-87 S. We're easy to reach from Fort Bragg's main gate as well. Free parking right at the office.
Does Eye Medics accept TRICARE for Spring Lake military families?
Yes. We accept TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select for active duty family members, retirees, and their dependents. We've been serving Fort Bragg and Spring Lake military families for over 20 years. Please call us at (910) 426-3937 to verify your specific plan before your visit.
Do I need a referral for an eye exam with TRICARE Prime?
For routine vision exams (glasses and contacts), TRICARE vision benefits typically don't require a referral. For medical eye care — like treatment for dry eye, glaucoma, or diabetic eye disease — TRICARE Prime may require a referral from your PCM. Call us and we'll help you figure out what's needed for your situation.
My child has been at multiple duty stations and has never had a proper eye exam. Is that a problem?
It's more common than you'd think. Military kids often fall through the cracks — they move, they switch schools, they miss the routine screenings. I see this a lot in my practice. The good news is that a comprehensive exam gives us a complete baseline. If there's a vision problem, we'll find it and address it.
Can you see my whole family at one appointment?
We can schedule back-to-back appointments for family members on the same day, which a lot of military families find convenient. Call us at (910) 426-3937 and we'll do our best to accommodate everyone in a single visit.
What is Ortho-K and is it good for military kids?
Ortho-K (orthokeratology) uses specially designed rigid contact lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea. When your child wakes up, they can see clearly all day without glasses or daytime contacts. It's especially popular with military kids who play sports or participate in activities where glasses are inconvenient. It also slows myopia progression — which is important for long-term eye health.
Reference Resources
TRICARE Vision Benefits — Defense Health Agency
Official TRICARE documentation on vision care benefits for beneficiaries.
American Optometric Association — Pediatric Eye Care
AOA guidelines on children's eye exams and vision development.
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
