Did you hear? We just dropped our first retail announcement!
Get ready to welcome Mertins Eye & Optical to the downtown Bentonville neighborhood. Originally located in Fayetteville, Mertins’ new location gives Bentonville residents easy access to state-of-the-art eyecare, luxury eyewear (oo-la-la!), and concierge-level service.
Once Mertins opens, you’ll be able to find their new clinic in the first floor breezeway. We’re excited for Mertins to be a part of Ledger and asked Dr. Allyson Mertins to discuss her passion for eyecare and why she’s excited about Ledger.
Here’s what she had to say:
Why did you choose Ledger for your new location?
Ledger is a beautiful, modern building in the heart of downtown Bentonville. The architecture and design perfectly complement our aesthetic and our collection of premium eyewear. On top of that, my family is full of cyclists and bike racers, so the fact that the Ledger is the world’s first bikeable building sealed the deal for me.
Tell us about your background in optometry.
I spent the first ten years working for Dr. Jay McDonald, an internationally renowned leader in refractive eye surgery and an incredible mentor. I then launched Mertins Eye & Optical to bring luxury eyewear and concierge level service to Northwest Arkansas and create a better work-life balance for myself.
What makes you passionate about this field?
That’s simple—sight is our most important sense and we rely on it for nearly everything in our daily lives. Helping people live their best lives by giving them great vision and protecting their eye health is incredibly rewarding. I also love the fashion side of this field—nothing is more transformative or inspires more self-confidence than wearing the perfect pair of glasses or sunglasses.
What’s the experience patients can expect when visiting your new location?
Since opening our original location 16 years ago, our goal has been to exceed the expectations of everyone who comes to see us, whether they’re coming in as a patient or simply to check out our selection of handcrafted eyewear and sunglasses.
Why did you choose to specialize in handcrafted and premium eyewear brands?
When we first started buying eyewear, we fell in love with the style, craftsmanship, and attention to detail in the frames and sunglasses from small independent companies. Over the years, we’ve just developed a following of patients and eyewear clients looking for quality eyewear. Even though some cost more than mass-produced discount eyewear, we believe our premium eyewear brands are actually a better value.
How do you guide people in finding the perfect pair (or pairs!) of glasses?
We make it easy to find the perfect pair by removing all the headache, guesswork, and risk from the selection process. Our friendly, talented staff starts by pulling frames they know will work well based on one’s face shape, style, preferences, and budget. We then work with the patient (or eyewear client) to land on the perfect pair or pairs. We offer this service to patients and non-patients alike.
What other services does your clinic provide in addition to routine vision exams?
We are a full service optometry clinic that provides comprehensive eye health care. We fit contact lenses and treat eye infections, eye diseases (such as glaucoma and diabetes), dry eyes, eye allergies, and even the removal of foreign bodies from the eye.
Why is it so important to get regular eye health and vision exams?
20/20 vision is no guarantee that your eyes are healthy. Many eye diseases have no symptoms before they cause irreversible vision loss. Early detection and treatment are critical for protecting your eyesight for life, which is why annual eye exams are so important.
Your clinic provides state-of-the-art care. Do you have any technology you geek out about?
Yes! We have an ultra-wide-field camera and an Optical Coherence Tomography device that provide incredibly detailed images of the retina and optic nerve. This imaging allows us to check eye health on the day of the exam and also allows us to watch for changes by comparing images over time.
Final Thoughts
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