Important Notice: Okatie Location to Close September 18

After nearly two decades of proudly serving our patients in Okatie, Georgia Eye Institute announces the upcoming closure of our Okatie office on September 18. We are deeply grateful for the trust and relationships built across our community over the years.

As we mark this transition, we also celebrate the retirement of Dr. Kimberly Hinson. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to both Dr. Hinson and Dr. Susan DiSario for their years of dedicated service and meaningful contributions to our patients and the Georgia Eye Institute community, and we wish Dr. Hinson the very best in her well-deserved retirement.

Okatie Optical Shop – Important Deadlines

To ensure all eyewear orders are completed and ready for pickup before our doors close:

Final Day to Order: The last day to place new prescription eyewear orders at our Okatie Optical location is Friday, August 29.

Order Pickup: All completed eyeglasses and contact lens orders can be picked up at the Okatie office through our final day on September 18. Any orders uncollected after closing will be securely transferred to our nearest regional office for pickup.

Continuity of Your Eye Care

Patient care remains our highest priority. All patient medical records remain safe, confidential, and accessible within the Georgia Eye Institute network.

Scheduling & Ongoing Care: Patients can continue receiving comprehensive care at our nearby regional locations, including our Bluffton Parkway and Savannah-area offices.

Appointments & Questions: To schedule your next visit, transfer your records, or speak with our care team, call us at 912.629.5825 or access the Patient Portal.

 

Georgia Eye Institute Welcomes Dr. Alison Pott

February 11^th, 2026 – Savannah, GA – Georgia Eye Institute (GEI) announces the arrival of Dr. Alison Pott to the practice. She is an optometrist with a focus on comprehensive eye care, including disease management services.

 

Dr. Pott earned a Bachelors of Science in Intergrative Physiology at the University of Colorado, Boulder before completing her Doctor of Optometry at Midwestern University in Arizona. She has experience working with patients of all ages, including managing myopia progression, strabismus amblyopia, and keratoconus in children as well as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma management in adults. She is now accepting patients at the Savannah location.

 

 

Georgia Eye Institute provides primary care, optical retail locations, and sub-specialty eye care in 10 locations throughout Southeast Georgia and South Carolina. Subspecialty eye care includes cataract evaluations, retinal care, glaucoma management, functional cosmetic eye surgery, and LASIK laser vision correction.

Dr. Brandon Fram Joins Georgia Eye Institute

October 6th, 2025 – Savannah, GA – Georgia Eye Institute (GEI) announces the arrival of Dr. Brandon Fram to the practice. He is an Ophthalmologist specializing in retinal diseases and surgery.

Dr. Fram received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia before attending Mercer University School of Medicine for his doctorate. From there, he completed his residency in Ophthalmology at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System in Richmond, Virginia, where he served as Chief Resident, and his surgical Retina Fellowship at Retina and Vitreous of Texas, in Houston. His research has been published in multiple medical journals, including the Journal of Vitreoretinal Diseases, the American Journal of Ophthalmology, and Retina Today. Dr. Fram is now accepting patients in Savannah, Pooler, Hinesville, and Statesboro.

Georgia Eye Institute provides primary care, optical retail locations, and sub-specialty eye care in 11 locations located throughout Southeast Georgia and South Carolina. Subspecialty eye care includes cataract evaluations, retinal care, glaucoma management, functional cosmetic eye surgery, and LASIK laser vision correction.

Dr. Christopher Richmond Joins Georgia Eye Institute

June 28, 2023 – Savannah, GA – Georgia Eye Institute (GEI) announces the arrival of Dr. Christopher Richmond to the practice. Dr. Richmond is an Ophthalmologist specializing in cataract and refractive surgery.

 

Dr. Richmond received his undergraduate degree from Clemson University before attending the University of South Carolina School of Medicine for his doctorate. He completed his internship in General Surgery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and his residency in Ophthalmology at the Naval Medical Center San Diego. Dr. Richmond is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Society of Military Refractive Surgeons.

 

Prior to joining Georgia Eye Institute, Dr. Richmond served as an officer and a flight surgeon in the United States Navy. Most recently, he was the Department Head of Ophthalmology at the Naval Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. Dr. Richmond is currently accepting patients at the Savannah campus.

 

Georgia Eye Institute provides primary care, optical retail locations, and sub-specialty eye care in 11 locations located throughout Southeast Georgia and South Carolina. Subspecialty eye care includes cataract evaluations, retinal care, glaucoma management, functional cosmetic eye surgery, and LASIK laser vision correction.

Dr. Nicolle Oberlin Joins Georgia Eye Institute

April 5, 2022 – Savannah, GA – Georgia Eye Institute (GEI) announces the arrival of Nicolle Oberlin to the staff. Oberlin is an Optometrist with special interests in primary care, including pediatrics and disease, as well as military optometry.

 

Oberlin received her Bachelor of Science-Vision Science degree and her Doctor of Optometry degree from the College of Optometry at Ferris State University, in Big Rapids, Michigan. She is an active member of the Armed Forces Optometric Association, Michigan Optometric Association, and the American Optometric Association.

 

Oberlin has previously done an externship at a Special Needs Vision Clinic in Michigan, and most recently was active-duty Assistant Chief of Optometry at Winn Army Community Hospital in Fort Stewart, Georgia. She is now accepting patients in the Hinesville location.

 

Georgia Eye Institute provides primary care, optical retail locations, and sub-specialty eye care in 12 locations located throughout Southeast Georgia and South Carolina. Our subspecialty eye care includes cataract evaluations, retinal care, glaucoma management, functional cosmetic eye surgery, and LASIK laser vision correction.

Dr. William Degenhart Receives Beacon of Hope Award from Georgia Lions Lighthouse

  

October 19, 2018 – Savannah, GA – Dr. William Degenhart, board-certified ophthalmologist and founding partner of Georgia Eye Institute, received the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Beacon of Hope Award last night at their annual Evening in the End Zone event held in Atlanta.

The Georgia Lions Lighthouse Beacon of Hope Award honors a medical professional who demonstrates an unwavering commitment to vision or hearing care for the uninsured in his or her community. Dr. Degenhart has been providing eye care since 1982 and his volunteer efforts and support of those in need throughout Savannah and Southeast Georgia continue to inspire and encourage many.

Georgia Eye Institute provides primary eye care, optical retail locations and sub-specialty eye care in 13 locations conveniently located throughout Southeast Georgia and the South Carolina. The sub-specialty eye care includes cataract evaluation and management, retinal care, glaucoma management, functional cosmetic eye surgery and LASIK laser vision correction.

Dr. Thomas James Kandl Joins Georgia Eye Institute

September 6, 2018 – Savannah, GA – Georgia Eye Institute (GEI) announces the addition of Dr. Thomas James Kandl to their staff. Kandl has completed a fellowship in Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He is seeing patients at the main office in Savannah and specializes in Oculoplastics and Reconstructive Surgery.

Kandl received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Wofford College; a Doctor of Medicine Degree from the Medical University of South Carolina; and was awarded a Doctor of Ophthalmology Degree from Rutgers University.

Georgia Eye Institute provides primary eye care, optical retail locations and sub-specialty eye care in 13 locations conveniently located throughout Southeast Georgia and the South Carolina. The sub-specialty eye care includes cataract evaluation and management, retinal care, glaucoma management, functional cosmetic eye surgery and LASIK laser vision correction.

Georgia Eye Institute is Working To Promote Eye Exams in Southeast Georgia and the Low Country

May 2018 – Millions of people in the United States have undetected vision problems that can cause vision loss and even blindness. Unfortunately, many eye diseases have no early warnings signs or symptoms so you may be affected without even noticing it. Visiting your eye care professional for a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to know if your vision is at its best and your eyes are healthy.

A comprehensive dilated eye exam is a painless procedure in which drops are placed in your eyes to dilate, or widen, the pupil. This allows your eye care professional get a good look at the back of your eyes and examine them for any signs of damage or disease. Georgia Eye Institute recommends that you put a visit to your eye care professional on your “to do” list. Detecting eye diseases in their early stages can help save your sight.

Comprehensive dilated eye exams are important for maintaining good eye health.  Healthy vision can help keep you safe when you are behind the wheel, while you are participating in sports, or during recreational activities. It can also help you perform your best on the job and ensure that you maintain a healthy and active lifestyle well into your golden years.

Take care of your eyes and they will help take care of you. Find a window of time to schedule an eye exam today.

Dr. Shari Carney Joins Georgia Eye Institute

28 February 2017 – Savannah, GA – Georgia Eye Institute (GEI) announces the addition of Dr. Shari A. Carney to their staff. Carney, a medical ophthalmologist, will begin seeing patients at the main campus of GEI on February 19^th.

 

Carney received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Clarkson University and a Doctorate of Medicine from Upstate Medical University where she was later Chief Resident in Ophthalmology. Most recently, she was Clinical Assistant Professor of Medical Education for Mercer University School of Medicine, at Memorial University Medical Center. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

 

Georgia Eye Institute provides primary eye care, optical retail locations and sub-specialty eye care in 13 locations conveniently located throughout Southeast Georgia and the South Carolina. The sub-specialty eye care includes cataract evaluation and management, retinal care, glaucoma management, functional cosmetic eye surgery and LASIK laser vision correction. For more information, visit gaeyeinstitute.com.

Eye Safety for the Solar Eclipse

By Mark Manocha, M.D.

During August 21st’s solar eclipse, it is important to take the proper ocular safety precautions. Looking directly at the sun is never a good idea, so there are a few ways to view it and minimize risk. Savannah will only experience a partial solar eclipse (around 90%), but you can look online to see where totality occurs.

• At no point in Savannah will it be safe to look directly at the sun because it will never be fully covered. Even when the sun is partially covered, it is just as bright, and is equally unsafe.
• Put on your glasses immediately after the sun emerges as looking at it directly, however brief, can cause long-term retinal damage.
• Make sure to look away from the sun before putting on and removing your protective glasses; rapid adjustment to light can also cause severe eye damage.
• You can purchase specially certified glasses (ISO 12312-2) for viewing, which you can find online or in certain stores.
• Regular sunglasses, cameras, binoculars, and telescopes are not safe for viewing the eclipse.
• Alternatively, you can use the pinhole method to project an image of the eclipse on another material. You can do this by poking a hole in a piece of cardboard, and putting a piece of paper behind it, changing the distance until the image is projected clearly onto it.

The solar eclipse is one of the greatest events nature can offer, and it happens rarely in United States. Don’t let this opportunity to witness history pass you by, but make sure to be safe and protect your eyes while viewing this grand spectacle.