Riverside EyeCare provides comprehensive vision care to patients in and around Athabasca. Services include eye examinations, contact lens fitting and training, and the diagnosis and management of ocular diseases. A modern and varied collection of lenses, frames, contacts, and sunglasses are offered to suit every need and style.
On May 1, Riverside Eyecare will be operating out of a new location. The new office is located on Main Street in Athabasca in the old Boven’s Jewellery Store (4910A 50th Street Athabasca). The grand opening sale on May 5 features extended hours from 9 am -7 pm. The sale is 35% off on a complete set of frames for either single vision or progressive lenses. Some exclusions apply. The sale price will be only honoured on May 5, 2023.
Dr. Theresa Checkley, optometrist and owner, purchased the practice from her former employer, Dr. Wally Cummings in 2021 and rebranded the business to Riverside EyeCare.
“I do a lot of management of glaucoma, diabetes, and macular degeneration,” says Dr. Checkley. “I have the necessary machines to monitor these diseases. This helps patients have access to care in Athabasca – we try to prevent unnecessary trips to Edmonton. I monitor a disease until it’s necessary to send a patient to an ophthalmologist for surgery or other treatments.”
The focus on care in a local setting has been a huge benefit in the community. Dr. Checkley explains, “The main contributing factor to our success is having a team that works well together and who cares for the well-being of their community. Giving patients compassionate care is what sets us apart. We strive to give everyone the best patient care possible.”
She continues, “We work within your budget. We have glasses packages that are cost-effective and competitive to the big box stores, and we also carry high-end brands of frames and lenses with the highest quality optics.”
Many patients don’t realize that medical issues and emergencies like eye infections, scratched corneas, or foreign bodies in the eye are currently covered by Alberta Health Care. Should such an emergency arise, Dr. Checkley encourages patients to come to Riverside.
Preventative maintenance is equally important.
“Regular eye exams are important because we do more than check for glasses,” says Dr. Checkley. “We check the health of eyes. This is important because many ocular diseases begin without any symptoms and if left untreated, will damage your vision. In other words, you won’t notice anything is wrong until it is too late. A few things we screen for are glaucoma, macular degeneration, and retina changes that may be associated with diabetes and high blood pressure.”
When the team is not busy helping patients see their best, they are very active in the community supporting clear vision locally and beyond.
“We support the Lions Club’s program Lions Recycle for Sight. We collect and donate old glasses for them, and they redistribute them to foreign countries in need, Dr. Checkley says.
Dr. Checkley looks forward to expanding Riverside EyeCare’s dry eye treatment using the latest in emerging technology, and she also looks forward to expanding the clinic’s team.
“I encourage everyone to shop local, it makes a difference for a small business in a small town,” she concludes. “The greatest reward is having patients return every year for their care and allowing us to give them their best vision possible. We would like to thank our patients; we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you! I would like to also to thank our team at Riverside EyeCare for working hard and for providing excellent patient care.”
