Our Eye Doctors and Staff

Eye care professionals specialize in understanding how the human eye really works, as well as diseases and conditions that affect your vision – many of which do not have obvious symptoms. Eye doctors know how age and risk factors affect vision over time for young and old, and they understand the benefits and features of corrective lenses including eyeglasses and contacts.

Our optometrists take the time to explain the results of your eye exam, describe your options and listen to your eye care needs. Because maintaining good eye health is an ongoing partnership, we encourage you to ask questions and share your health information, which could be vital to monitoring, diagnosing and treating potential vision problems.

Dr Coy A Brown

Dr. Coy A. Brown

Dr. Coy A Brown is an Optometrist proudly serving Waynesville, NC and the surrounding communities since 1981.

Dr. Brown attended UNC Chapel Hill for his Undergraduate and Pre-Med studies, then transferred to Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN.  Within a few months of graduating from SCO, Dr. Brown began working for Dr. Hugh Daniels in Waynesville. After working with Dr. Daniel’s for four years, Dr. Brown was given the opportunity to strike out on his own and purchace Dr. William “Willy” Nance’s practice in 1985.

Several years later the name of his practice was changed from Coy A. Brown, OD to Smoky Mountain Eye Care and since has only moved location twice. Each time Dr. Brown has relocated his practice it has been to move to a larger, more adapt facilty allowing him to handle a consistant patient growth over the years.

Even though Dr. Brown is not a native of Haywood County, he is native to North Carolina. He grew up on dairy farm in Andrews, working the land with his grandfather, father, brothers, uncles and cousins. In high school, Dr. Brown played basketball and was a star player on his high school football team. During his first year at UNC-CH he was a walk-on for the football team. However, his dreams of playing football throughout college were dashed by a terrible football injury near the end of his first season. Even though we was given great odds of never being able to run again, he never let this stop him. The same drive and determination to regain strength and return to enjoying life is the strength and determination that has driven Dr. Brown to provide the greatestcare possible to his patients over the past 30+ years.

When Dr. Brown is not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Patricia, and his three children. He is an avid cyclist, currently volunteers with Tuscola High School Marching Band, is a team member for Relay for Life, and loves playing golf…when the staff lets him out of the office to do so that is. Dr. Brown has served on several committees and boards over the years including the Board of Health, Rotary, and the local Mountain District Board of Optometry.

Dr. Brown is very passionate about caring for his patients at Smoky Mountain Eye Care and looks forward to the one-on-one interaction involved with solving eye health and vision problems.  Dr. Brown and the entire staff at Smoky Mountain Eye Care are 100 percent committed to providing first class eye care services.

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Patricia Brown, Practice Administrator

Patricia has an Associates Degrees in Psychology, Social Work and Substance Abuse Counseling and is currently working towards and Bachelors Degree in Psychology & Counseling. She also serves on the Board for Medical Office Administration at Haywood Community College and has done so since 2014.  Her favorite things about working at Smoky Mountain Eye Care are finding ways to help people, beyond just their eyes. Patricia especially enjoys helping the elderly to understand their insurance and teaching them how not to be taken advantage of by other doctors offices or hospitals. Over the years Smoky Mountain Eye Care has worked hard to develop partnerships with Haywood Pathways Center, the Haywood County School System and other nonprofits to provide services and exams for adults and children in need and this is a cause near and dear to Patricia.g seen annually for proper eye exams.

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Lora Turner, Optomeric Technician

Lora Turner is our ophthalmic technician & contact lens specialist here at the office and is a CNA. She also participates in annual contact lens and eye drop training. Her favorite thing about working at Smoky Mountian Eye Care is learning new things from the patients and Dr. Brown. When asked what her favorite fake holiday was she said she would have to go with hammock day. Lora is from Canton and one of her favorite things about the area is hiking and camping. The most amazing eye care trivia that she had to share with us was that there is an in-office treatment for dry eyes called puncture plugs.