Personalized Eye Care. Trusted Expertise. Close to Home.
At Lowcountry Eye Specialists, we provide comprehensive medical and surgical eye care with the expertise of a specialty practice and the personal attention of an independent, physician-owned office.
Proudly serving the Lowcountry since 2008, our practice is locally owned and operated—not owned by private equity. Conveniently located in Ladson, we welcome patients from Summerville, North Charleston, Goose Creek, Moncks Corner, and surrounding communities.
- Mon - Thu
- 7:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Fri
- 7:30 am - 12:00 pm
Since 2008 Proudly serving the Lowcountry
Dedicated Eye Care Team Personalized care from experienced eye care professionals.
Patient-Focused Care Compassionate, personalized attention
100% Physician-Owned Independent. Locally operated. No private equity ownership.
Comprehensive Eye Care Focused on You
Your vision is an essential part of everyday life, and protecting it requires experienced, attentive care.
Our ophthalmologists and optometrist provide comprehensive medical and surgical eye care, including the diagnosis and treatment of cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye disease, eyelid disorders, and other conditions affecting your vision.
When Should You See an Eye Specialist?
Some eye conditions develop gradually, while others cause noticeable changes in your vision or comfort. Consider scheduling an eye examination if you experience any of the following:
- Cloudy, blurry, or faded vision
- Difficulty driving at night or increased glare and halos around lights
- New spots, flashes, or floaters in your vision
- Persistent redness, dryness, burning, or irritation
- Drooping or heavy eyelids that interfere with your vision
- Diabetes requiring routine monitoring of your eye health
- A referral from your primary care physician, endocrinologist, or optometrist
Important: Sudden vision loss, new flashes or floaters, a curtain or shadow across your vision, or a serious eye injury may require immediate evaluation. Seek urgent medical attention rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Eye Care Services in Ladson, SC
Our team treats a wide range of eye conditions, with a special focus on cataract surgery, glaucoma, and eyelid care.
Cataract Surgery
Cataracts can make everyday activities such as driving and reading more difficult. Our experienced surgeons offer advanced surgical techniques and personalized lens options to help restore clearer vision.
Glaucoma Diagnosis and Management
Glaucoma often develops without noticeable symptoms and can lead to permanent vision loss. We offer comprehensive evaluation, ongoing monitoring, and advanced treatment options to help preserve your sight.
Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration affects central vision, making activities like reading and recognizing faces more difficult. We provide evaluation, monitoring, and guidance to help you manage your condition.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes can damage the blood vessels in your eyes, often before symptoms appear. Regular medical eye exams help detect changes early and protect your long-term eye health.
Dry Eye Disease
Dry eye disease can cause burning, irritation, redness, and excessive tearing. We evaluate the underlying causes and recommend treatment options to improve comfort and eye health.
Comprehensive Medical Eye Exams
Comprehensive medical eye exams help detect, diagnose, and monitor conditions that may affect your vision and overall eye health.
Evaluation of Floaters and Flashes
New or changing floaters and flashes of light may indicate an underlying retinal condition. Prompt evaluation can help identify potentially serious problems.
Red Eye Evaluation and Treatment
Eye redness can result from irritation, infection, inflammation, or other conditions. We identify the underlying cause and recommend appropriate treatment.
Eyelid Conditions & Treatments
We evaluate and treat a variety of eyelid conditions, including styes, chalazions, eyelid lumps, and growths or lesions. Treatment options may include lesion removal, chalazion treatment, Kenalog injections, and eyelash epilation to relieve irritation and improve eyelid health.
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty removes excess eyelid skin that may interfere with your field of vision, helping improve eyelid function and visibility. We evaluate drooping or sagging eyelids to determine whether surgery may help improve your vision and comfort.
Thyroid Eye Disease
Thyroid eye disease can cause eye irritation, swelling, bulging, and changes in vision. Our team provides evaluation and guidance to help patients understand their condition and available treatment options.
Physician-Owned. Patient-Focused. Proudly Independent.
At Lowcountry Eye Specialists, we’re proud to be an independent, physician-owned practice—not part of a hospital system or private equity group. Our doctors make decisions based on what’s best for our patients, not corporate expectations.
Being locally owned allows us to focus on what matters most: providing personalized, high-quality eye care, building lasting relationships with our patients, and remaining accountable to the community we serve.
Meet Your Eye Care Team
Our ophthalmologists and optometrist work together so your care stays connected from exam to follow-up.
Jay Thompson, MD Board-certified Ophthalmologist and Practice Owner
Dr. Thompson is a board-certified comprehensive ophthalmologist specializing in cataract surgery, including astigmatism-correcting and advanced technology intraocular lenses. He also diagnoses and treats a wide range of medical eye conditions, including glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and macular degeneration. As the sole owner of Lowcountry Eye Specialists, Dr. Thompson is dedicated to preserving the practice's independence and commitment to personalized patient care.
Meet Jay Thompson, MD
Rachel Ellyn, MD Board-certified Ophthalmologist, Glaucoma Specialist
Dr. Ellyn is a board-certified ophthalmologist with advanced fellowship training in glaucoma and cataract surgery. Her expertise includes minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), traditional glaucoma procedures, and cataract surgery with advanced technology intraocular lenses. She also provides comprehensive medical eye care.
Meet Rachel Ellyn, MD
Phelan Piehota, DO Board-certified Ophthalmologist, Oculoplastic Surgery
Dr. Piehota is a board-certified comprehensive ophthalmologist specializing in cataract surgery, advanced technology intraocular lenses, and the treatment of eyelid conditions. His surgical expertise includes blepharoplasty and eyelid lesion removal. He also diagnoses and manages a wide range of medical eye conditions.
Meet Phelan Piehota, DO
Tanner Semones, OD Optometrist
Dr. Semones provides comprehensive medical eye care, including the evaluation and management of dry eye disease, eye infections, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and macular degeneration. He works closely with our ophthalmologists to provide coordinated, ongoing care for our patients.
Meet Tanner Semones, ODReferring a Patient?
We value our relationships with referring optometrists, primary care physicians, endocrinologists, and other healthcare professionals throughout the Tri-County area. Our secure online referral form makes it easy to submit patient information and coordinate care with our team.
Patient Resources
We're here to help make your visit as convenient as possible. Access new patient forms, review insurance and payment information, or log in to our patient portal.
We accept many major medical insurance plans, including Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, TRICARE, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. Coverage and participation vary by plan. We do not participate in vision insurance plans.
What Our Patients Say
We're grateful for the trust our patients place in us. Their feedback reflects our commitment to providing knowledgeable, compassionate eye care in a welcoming environment.
This is a placeholder review. A short, approved quote from a patient about their experience of care will appear here once reviews are connected.
This is a placeholder review. A short, approved quote from a patient about their experience of care will appear here once reviews are connected.
This is a placeholder review. A short, approved quote from a patient about their experience of care will appear here once reviews are connected.
FAQs
We are at 9565 US-78, Suite 200, in Ladson, SC 29456, and we serve patients in North Charleston, Summerville, Goose Creek, Moncks Corner, and the greater Tri-County area.
Lowcountry Eye Specialists specializes in medical and surgical eye care. We accept most major medical insurance plans but do not participate in vision insurance plans or provide routine contact lens fitting.
Use the Schedule an Appointment button on this site or call 843-553-2477. Our office is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm and Friday from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm.
Our team evaluates a variety of urgent eye concerns. If you are experiencing an eye emergency, call our office promptly for guidance. Sudden vision loss, serious eye injuries, or other severe symptoms require immediate medical attention
Yes. You can log in to our patient portal (opens in a new tab) from the Patient Resources section of this site.
Your Vision Deserves Expert Care
Whether you're experiencing changes in your vision, managing an ongoing eye condition, or considering cataract surgery, our team is here to help.
Contact Lowcountry Eye Specialists to schedule an appointment and take the next step in caring for your vision.
- Phone 843-553-2477
- Address 9565 US-78, Suite 200, Ladson, SC 29456
- Hours Mon - Thu: 7:30 am - 4:30 pm, Fri: 7:30 am - 12:00 pm