Karah-Leigh Hancock
The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA —
There’s a little green car driving around Valdosta, and its called the EyePod.
Wilson Eye Center, which was founded in 1981 by Dr. Steven Wilson, began using the EyePod the week of Aug. 23 for making personal deliveries to patients.
According to Wilson, Wilson Eye Center has tried to find other ophthalmic offices that offer delivery services such as the EyePod, but its staff has been unable to find one.
“We believe we are the first ophthalmic office to offer personal delivery in the United States,” Wilson said.
Heather Gaskins, medical manager for Wilson Eye Center, noted that many patients have expressed excitement over the new service.
“... we spent the (first) week getting the word out. We delivered a few last week,” she said. “I don’t know the exact numbers, but the response as been good.”
The idea for the EyePod came from Wilson’s son, Colin.
“It sounded good, with the ‘Eye’ being very natural and the ‘Pod’ standing for Personal Optical Delivery,” Wilson said.
“We’ve been planning it for a year and a half. It’s been a long planning process to make sure we got everything worked out,” Kristian Keesling, Wilson Eye Center chief executive officer, said.
According to Gaskins, the company wanted a car that suited the EyePod’s needs — something small and cute.
Wilson Eye Center purchased a 2009 Pontiac G3 to become the EyePod.
The EyePod begins delivering at 1 p.m. each day and continues until all deliveries have been completed. The car is driven by Calvin Henry, a retired UPS driver.
According to Wilson, Wilson Eye Center was looking for a way to improve service.
“We knew what busy and hectic lives everyone has now, so we thought that we could provide a service to decrease one task that our patients often must schedule time off from work to do — that is, pick up their contact lenses,” Wilson said.
Gaskins agrees with Wilson.
“The reason behind the EyePod is a hundred percent customer service,” she said.
According to Keesling, who has been with Wilson Eye Center for seven years, the EyePod will deliver within a 5-mile radius from Wilson Eye Center.
“We’re looking at probably the first of the year, the first of 2011, expanding the delivery area (and) delivering to the outside areas like Hahira, Lake Park, Quitman, Moody,” Keesling said. “Once we see the demand we have for it, then that will determine how much we expand it or whether we need to add more vehicles.”
According to Gaskins, the EyePod primarily delivers contact lens. Glasses can be delivered once an optician has adjusted and approved them or as long as the patient knows that they need to have their glasses adjusted.
“For patients who are getting a year supply of contacts, it’s free delivery,” Keesling said. “We’re not charging any fee. We’ll even deliver trial contacts if people run out and need them, for just a small fee. In most cases, if there’s a situation where someone really needs their glasses, it’s free delivery too.”
Call Wilson Eye Center at (229) 244-3000 or visit its 2108 N. Patterson St. location to learn more.
