NC Born, Independently Owned, Nationally Recognized
Truly Comprehensive
Eye Care
Eyewear That Matches Your Vision and Style at The Eye Institute
Welcome to The Eye Institute, Where Healthy Vision is in Fashion™.
At The Eye Institute, we believe your glasses are more than just devices for better vision—they’re an extension of your style and personality. That’s why we offer an extensive selection of fashion-forward frames from both world-renowned designers and unique independent brands.
Whether you’re looking for sleek, modern designs, classic elegance, or bold, trendsetting styles, our eyewear collection has something for everyone. We carry a wide range of frames for men, women, teens, and children, ensuring that every member of the family can find their perfect fit.
Our frames are crafted from a variety of premium materials, including lightweight plastics, durable metal alloys, and even unique options like wood and buffalo horn, allowing you to choose the perfect blend of comfort and style. Whether you want to make a fashion statement or opt for a more understated look, you’ll find your ideal pair at The Eye Institute.
Come visit us today and explore our stunning eyewear collection, where form and function meet to elevate your vision and your style!
Precision Lenses Tailored for Every Vision
Neurolens®: Relief Beyond Clarity
Neurolens is a groundbreaking solution for eye strain and discomfort caused by digital screens or prolonged focus. These lenses use cutting-edge technology to correct subtle eye misalignments, alleviating headaches, neck pain, and eye fatigue. Perfect for modern lifestyles, Neurolens combines innovation with comfort to redefine your visual experience.
Shamir Lenses: Advanced Optics for Superior Vision
As a world-renowned designer of ophthalmic lenses and coatings, Shamir offers the most advanced optics available. With unparalleled clarity and precision, Shamir lenses provide customized solutions for everyday needs, ensuring crisp, clear vision tailored to you.
Etnia Barcelona
Since 2001, Etnia Barcelona has created glasses with natural materials and mineral glass lenses. Art, culture, and creativity inspire our colorful designs and our way to see the world. Our experience and know-how stretches over 70 years. For 20 of those years, we have been using artisan techniques to create the highest-quality glasses on the market.
Tom Davies
Tom Davies is a prestigious eyewear brand without parallel, built on the principles of fit, form and function. Tom Davies was created in London in 2002, and offers customers a fully bespoke service using the highest quality materials, principally Silver 925, natural horn, pure titanium and cotton acetate. Tom Davies produces all frames by hand, so every step of the process is meticulously controlled. This ensures flawless quality and the highest level of craftsmanship.
Erkers
Founded in Saint Louis, MO in 1879 by A.P. Erkers, Erkers Eyewear is a family company who looks into the past to build a future. Our heritage brand reflects the passion and hard work we’ve been dedicating for years to the optic profession. For over 140 years and 5 generations, our name has been synonymous with fine eyewear. Still headquartered in Saint Louis, we are proud to service boutiques across the world.
Ørgreen Optics
Founded in 1997 by friends Henrik Ørgreen, Tobias Wandrup, and Gregers Fastrup, Ørgreen Optics is Danish design at its best. Ørgreen’s success not only derives from color, but it is also the result of a long journey of persistence and hard work to develop superior designer eyewear. Ørgreen eyewear is designed in Denmark and made by hand in Japan, known and respected for impeccable standards and quality. Individually crafted with more than 100 processes, each frame can take up to six months to achieve its penchant for perfection.
Matsuda

In a world that emphasizes immediacy, we choose to anchor ourselves in traditions of craftsmanship and thoughtful execution. The distinctly Japanese approach of combining handcrafted techniques and innovative technology guides our philosophy of experimentation and is unmistakably ‘Matsuda.’ Each finished creation is an art object unto itself — as pleasing to the hand as it is to the eye. Innovation and experimentation have been a part of Matsuda’s DNA since Mitsuhiro Matsuda founded his fashion house in Tokyo over 50 years ago.
Red Bird Raleigh

The Red Bird Raleigh collection is a small eyewear brand created in 2018 by one of our owners, Adam Palo, OD. It was designed to not only express our individuality as a private, local practice but also, to provide more control over what we can offer our patients. In other words, style meets affordability. Each frame is inspired by classic styles of the past, while adapting to the trendy styles of the present and future. The name “Red Bird” is the nickname that Dr. Palo’s late mother gave to our state bird, the Cardinal, which she lovingly used to feed.
Maui Jim

Maui Jim got its start in 1980 as a small company selling sunglasses on the beach in Lahaina, Hawaii. Seeing a need in the market for technology that could combat intense glare and harmful UV while bringing the brilliant colors of the island life, we engineered the revolutionary PolarizedPlus 2 lens. Incorporated into seven new sunglass styles, our Classic Collection was introduced. We now offer over 125 styles of sunglasses, 100% of which are polarized and protect from 100% of UVA and UVB rays.
Tom Ford

Tom Ford is among the most highly respected and successful designers today. The winner of numerous design awards, his rise in fashion began in 1994. After different collaborations with legendary fashion houses, in April 2005, he announced the creation of the Tom Ford brand. In that same year, Tom Ford signed his partnership with Marcolin Group to produce and distribute optical frames and sunglasses. Predecessor of trends, Tom Ford has long been a style icon who continues to lead and mold the mood of the moment.
State Optical Co.

In 2014, Marc Franchi, Jason Stanley, Scott Shapiro & Jerry Wolowicz set out to create the world’s first truly American brand of luxury eyewear. The result — STATE Optical Co. STATE was built from the ground up in Chicago — our hometown. Our frames are meticulously handcrafted to be a genuine expression of one’s personal style and distinct personality.
Why Choose The Eye Institute?
When it comes to your vision, we know that you want a provider who offers more than just basic eye care. That’s why we focus on delivering a comprehensive, patient-centered experience with the latest innovations in optometry. Here’s why The Eye Institute is the right choice for you:
- Always on Trend: We believe in keeping our patients at the top of their fashion game. By offering a variety of the latest fashions, you’ll never need to worry about stepping through every door brimming with confidence.
- Personalized Care: We know that no two patients are the same, which is why we take the time to understand your unique vision needs. We work closely with you to create a treatment plan that fits your lifestyle. Your comfort and well-being are always our top priorities.
- Experienced, Caring Team: We strive to make your experience as comfortable and welcoming as possible, from the moment you walk through our doors to the moment you leave, with clearer and more comfortable vision.
- Trusted Expertise: When you choose us, you’re choosing a practice that is dedicated to offering the best care possible. When you choose us, you’re choosing a practice that is dedicated to offering the best care possible.
Eyewear Reviews: What Our Patients Are Saying
We’ve helped countless patients find relief from the discomforts of eye misalignment through Neurolens®. Here’s what some of them have to say:

Testimonials
