News & Events

Latest News

• Ribbon Cutting at Short Pump
  We’re excited to celebrate the grand reopening of our Short Pump location! The newly renovated space now offers expanded services, including a state‑of‑the‑art Dry Eye Center, Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) technology, LASIK surgery, and a refreshed Aesthetic Suite — all designed with patient comfort and advanced care in mind. This marks a major step forward in bringing comprehensive eye and aesthetic services to the heart of the Short Pump community.
• Dr. Schneider’s Dry Eye Interview
  Dr. Schneider was interviewed by RVA Today on Channel 12, sharing expert insight on Dry Eye symptoms, treatment options, and how VEI’s Dry Eye Center is helping patients find lasting relief.
• Dr. West at Bon Secours Health Fair
  Dr. West connected with the community at the Bon Secours Cookout & Health Fair in Petersburg, discussing hearing health and sharing information about services available at The Hearing Center.

Upcoming Events

What to Expect Before, During, and After Cataract Surgery – With Dr. Steven Tucker

Friday, September 4th at 12pm

More information on the webinar is coming soon.

Artist of the Month

Congratulations to our Artist of the Month for JuLy 2026, Susan Singer!

The Eyes Project which is on display here began with the fervent wish that people could get along better. That led to the query:

How would the world be if we would look each other in the eyes, if we could allow others to truly see us and if we could truly see and know them?

What prompted the query was the political situation at the time – Polarization was beginning to rear its ugly head, but Singer believed that, at our core, we all just want to be loved and known. We are more similar than we are different. If we just take the time to talk to each other, we can find more that we do agree on than we don’t.

The Eyes Project was conceived from these beliefs in 2019, and it gestated, ironically during COVID, when, because most folks wore masks, all we could see of each other was our eyes. Singer painted most of these pictures while she was isolated at home, alone. It brought her comfort and a feeling of connection with these beautiful souls when she rendered their eyes.

An additional aspect of the Eyes Project, meant to help people see and know each other better, is interviews Singer conducted with the participants in the same session when she photographed them. She asked the following questions:

• What matters to you?
• What is meaningful to you?
• What is it like to be you?
• If you could tell the world one thing, what would it be?

Some of the model’s responses are included below their pictures. These words offer an entree into the hearts and minds of these lovely people. Perhaps you will recognize your own experiences or thoughts or feelings in some of their words.

Singer hopes you will leave this exhibit with the sensation of having just encountered a group of people at a soul level, beneath the surface niceties, and that you will feel enriched from the experience. Perhaps you will feel led to be bold and see others and be seen at this level if you don’t already. And maybe those encounters truly will change the world?!

Susan Singer is a full time professional artist who not only creates art but also teaches classes from her home studio and frames artwork for herself and others. She has a MIS (Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies) from VCU and has had many one-person and group exhibitions both nationally and internationally since she began putting her artwork out into the world some 30+ years ago. Her current project is called Beyond Barbie, Aging. She is looking for models who are aging and who would like to be seen and known at this stage of life with all its complexities. If you would like to know more, you can contact her at SusanSingerArt@msn.com.