Dr. Robinson is originally from Harrisburg, PA and now lives with her husband in Charlottesville. She is passionate about optometry and health care. Dr. Robinson finds the most rewarding part of her day is being able to connect deeply with patients and their families. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology at Old Dominion University and her Doctorate of Optometry from SUNY College of Optometry in New York.

Dr. Robinson is excited to continue the tradition of excellent patient care at Crozet Eye Care. She will start seeing patients in January. As we grow, Crozet Eye Care remains a patient-focused, locally-owned practice that prides itself on treating our patients and team members the way we would all want to be treated ourselves.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Robinson to the team.

Blessings,
Dr. Shannon Franklin

After a lot of hard work by the Crozet Eye Care Team and many others, we are in our new location in Old Trail. Thank you to all of the individuals that made this possible. I am forever grateful.

The Crozet Eye Care Team thanks YOU for your support since 2006. Check out this video of the new office.

Sincerely,

Dr. Shannon Franklin

Despite these constant detrimental effects on quality of life, many dry eye sufferers are not aware that they’re suffering from dry eye disease or that real treatments exist. Instead, they just live with the discomfort.

We’re passionate about providing our patients with effective and accurate dry eye disease diagnosis and treatment. With top-of-the-line instruments, our practice uses several diagnostic tools to uncover any potential issues and make recommendations on the best treatments available. 

One of these possible treatments is OptiLight by Lumenis. We’re proud to be the only practice in the area to offer this option specially designed for dry eye disease management.

What Is OptiLight by Lumenis?

OptiLight IPL by Lumenis is a light-based, non-invasive treatment performed on the area below the eyes to manage dry eye disease. It is the first and only IPL FDA-approved for dry eye management.

The treatment is safe, gentle, and is backed by more than 20 clinical studies.

How Does It Work?

OptiLight uses precise pulses of light to reduce the inflammation that is typically associated with dry eye disease. OptiLight is able to attack dry eye disease from many different angles:

• Improve the tear film
• Decrease the number of bacteria and mites around the eyes
• Eliminate unwanted pro-inflammatory blood vessels
• Increase the tear oil gland secretions

What to Expect 

Before Your Treatment

To determine if you are a candidate for OptiLight IPL, you will have a Dry Eye Disease Evaluation, during which the doctor will prescribe customized treatments for your dry eye disease. If OptiLight IPL is one of those treatments, our team will perform a test of OptiLight on your cheek before booking your full treatment.

To prepare for your full OptiLight IPL treatment, you will fill out an online questionnaire to identify any possible contraindications and a consent form. We recommend avoiding sun exposure or artificial tanning for 3 to 4 weeks before the appointment date. For your appointment, don’t apply any makeup or face cream. 

During Your Treatment

The treatment is fast and simple. All OptiLight IPL candidates should watch this video to see what to expect.

During the treatment, the IPL technician will cover your eyes with protective eye shields and apply a coupling gel to your face on the treatment area. As light is applied to the skin, you may experience a warm or snapping sensation depending on the size of the light applicator needed for your type of dry eye disease. The treatment itself will only take 5–10 minutes.

After Your Treatment

Be sure to follow the post care instructions to decrease the possibility of skin flaking, discomfort, redness, bruising, and swelling. These complications are not common, but your next treatment can be altered to minimize them if they do occur.

A complete course of treatment typically includes 4 sessions, spaced 2-4 weeks apart. A single maintenance session may be indicated at the one-year mark.

You Don’t Have to Live with Dry Eye Disease Anymore

Our dedication to helping our patients extends further than one dry eye disease treatment method. We offer several options for your eye health, including over-the-counter and prescription eye drops, punctal plugs, nutritional supplements, blepharitis treatments, and oral medications.  

Everyone’s eyes are unique, so we create customized treatment plans for each person we serve. During the initial Dry Eye Disease Evaluation, we will recommend the best care for your needs. 

If you experience dry eyes and are looking for relief, contact us today. 

The one thing in life that is constant is change. Some people love it, others resist it. I personally love change as long as I am the one initiating it. The Crozet Eye Care Team has two changes happening this Summer. The first is that Dr. Julia Katsev and her fiancé will be moving to San Francisco for him to pursue an orthopedic fellowship. The second is the addition of Dr. Ashwynn Halbert to our team. You can guess which one of the changes I am resisting.

I want to say thank you to Dr. Katsev for the care she has provided to our patients and the contributions she has made to our team. She says, “this will be a hard move since I absolutely adore Crozet Eye Care. My fiancé, Eric, has an incredible opportunity at UCSF Orthopedic Hospital for his Hand Fellowship. I will miss this team as it has become my family, and I will miss our wonderful patients.” Although we don’t want her to go, the Crozet Eye Care Team is so excited for her next journey. We wish Dr. Katsev and Eric all the best!

As for the second change, when one door closes, another one opens. Dr. Halbert will be joining our practice on July 1^st. Dr. Katsev’s last day will be July 13^th. They will overlap a couple of weeks to make the transition a smooth one for our patients and team. If you have an appointment scheduled after July 13th with Dr. Katsev, you will be rescheduled with Dr. Halbert.

A little bit about Dr. Halbert. She has been practicing since 2009 after graduating salutatorian of her class from Southern College of Optometry. She went to N.C. State for her undergraduate degree. Originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina, she moved to this area in 2018 after visiting for a birthday weekend and falling in love with the landscape. She and her husband, Burt, just bought a house in Crozet and enjoy walking with their two French bulldogs, Lambic and Cru. Dr. Halbert is interested in nutrition and fitness, particularly weightlifting. She looks forward to bringing her expertise about dry eye management to the practice. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Halbert to the team.

With these changes, one thing will not change. Crozet Eye Care remains a patient-focused, locally-owned practice that prides itself on treating our patients and other team members the way we would all want to be treated ourselves.

Warm regards,

Dr. Shannon Franklin

Shhh…… While the doctors are away, the staff will play!

December 21st, 22nd, & 23rd we will be having an exclusive sale,
one that you can’t tell the doctors about!

Select Frames are 30% off!*

*This special sale cannot be combined with insurance or other offers

This is a great opportunity to take advantage of your FSA or HSA dollars before they expire at the end of the year. Most insurance benefits expire at the end of the calendar year too, don’t miss out!

You must call our office to schedule an appointment in our Optical Shop to take advantage of this special sale!

When you arrive for your scheduled appointment time, you do not need to call the office. Simply come to the door, and a team member will greet you and take your temperature. Protective face coverings are required. 

Our office will be closed December 24th & 25th in observance of the Christmas holiday. We wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Call us today at 434-823-4441! We can’t wait to “see” you

Some of you may already know our Licensed Optician, Dena Birckhead, as she worked at a practice in Charlottesville for over 18 years. In fact, she and Dr. Franklin worked together at that practice. For those of you who don’t know her, she is an Optical Rockstar. You may wonder how one becomes an Optical Rockstar. It starts with a great eye for style, add in a ton of experience and knowledge, and finish with a sincere interest in helping others.

Dena’s Optical Rockstar Stats:

• License: 1993 received her optical license in the mail right after coming back from her honeymoon
• Family: husband Ed (a Charlottesville native), daughter (studying forensic science at VCU), son (handsome and smart), dog (Otis-definitely in charge)
• Likes: hiking, camping, being outdoors, traveling
• Future plans: going to the soccer Women’s World Cup in 2023 with her daughter
• Likes prism in glasses as much as Dr. Franklin

Of course, the question is… how do I meet this Rockstar? Call 434-823-4441 to make an appointment for Dena to find the perfect glasses for your lifestyle!

I thought I would write an update (not about COVID-19), but about how thankful I am for the Crozet Eye Care Team. Dr. Julia Katsev has been with the practice now for ten months, and patients have been delighted. I already knew she was great (and probably smarter than I since she is residency trained at Hopkins), but to have so many patients stop me to tell me how wonderful she is confirms that she is a great fit for our patients and team. Be sure to check out her bio here.

It has also been fantastic having her and our amazing team recently through this pandemic. Some of you know that I recently had surgery on my thyroid and have not been seeing patients. In my absence, Dr. Katsev and team continue to provide the same high quality eye care you expect from Crozet Eye Care. I look forward to getting back to patient care, but until I can, please schedule your appointment with Dr. Katsev. You will be in great hands. If you have not met Dr. Katsev yet, I know that you will love her!

I hope all of you are doing well!

Blessings,
Dr. Shannon Franklin

It is so easy! No login. No passwords. Just a better experience! Here is a short video on how it works.

No need to come in the office to pick up contact lenses, glasses*, MacuHealth vitamins, Alaway allergy drops, and Cliradex lids wipes.

Just parallel park next to our building on the Radford Lane side. There will be a sign. Call the office (434-823-4441), and a team member will bring your items to your car.

*Glasses adjustments will not be performed through curbside pickup. You must schedule an appointment instead.