At Asheville Vision and Wellness, Dr. Lisa M. Greene brings decades of expertise and a practice philosophy centered on educating patients about how their overall health impacts their vision throughout every stage of life.
Located at 559 Long Shoals Road in Arden, NC, our practice is just minutes from South Asheville, Biltmore Park, Fletcher, and communities throughout the greater Asheville area. Whether you're experiencing vision changes during pregnancy, dealing with dry eyes related to menopause, or simply looking for a thorough and compassionate eye care experience, our team is here to support you.
Why Women's Eye Health Deserves Special Attention
Women face a disproportionately higher risk of vision problems compared to men. Research from Prevent Blindness America indicates that women account for approximately two-thirds of blindness and visual impairment cases worldwide. While part of this disparity is due to the fact that women tend to live longer than men, there are also biological and hormonal factors that make women uniquely vulnerable to certain conditions.
Understanding these risks isn't meant to cause worry — it's a reason to be proactive. When you know what to watch for and when to seek care, you're in a much stronger position to protect your vision for the long term.
Hormonal Changes and Your Eyes
One of the most significant factors in women's eye health is the role that hormones play throughout a woman's life. Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone can directly affect the structures of the eye, tear production, and even the shape of the cornea.
During pregnancy, hormonal surges can cause temporary changes in vision, including blurred sight and increased sensitivity to light. These changes typically resolve after delivery, but sudden or severe vision changes during pregnancy should always be reported to your healthcare provider, as they can sometimes signal complications like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia.
Menopause brings its own set of challenges. As estrogen levels decline, many women experience a noticeable decrease in tear production, leading to dry eye syndrome — characterized by irritation, redness, a gritty or scratchy sensation, and blurred vision. Women are significantly more likely than men to develop dry eye, and the risk increases substantially after menopause.
At Asheville Vision and Wellness, we offer comprehensive dry eye treatment options, including LipiFlow, a gentle heat treatment that addresses the root cause of dry eye disease by clearing blockages in the meibomian glands. Our team can evaluate your symptoms and create a personalized treatment plan that brings lasting relief.
Conditions That Affect Women More Often
Several serious eye conditions affect women at higher rates than men. Being aware of these can help you take preventive steps and seek timely care:
- Dry eye syndrome: Women are roughly twice as likely as men to develop dry eye disease, particularly during and after menopause when hormonal shifts reduce the eye's natural lubrication
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): Women represent a significant majority of AMD cases in the United States, largely because they tend to live longer and the risk of this condition increases with age
- Glaucoma: While open-angle glaucoma affects men and women at similar rates, women are more likely to develop angle-closure glaucoma, a more acute and serious form of the disease
- Cataracts: Women are slightly more likely than men to develop cataracts, potentially due to a combination of hormonal factors and longer life expectancy
- Autoimmune-related eye conditions: Women are significantly more likely to develop autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Sjogren's syndrome, all of which can lead to serious eye complications including chronic dry eye and inflammation
These statistics underscore why regular comprehensive eye exams are especially important for women. Many of these conditions develop gradually without obvious early symptoms, and early detection through routine testing is often the best path to preserving your vision.
Meet Dr. Lisa M. Greene
When searching for a female eye doctor in Asheville, many women find their way to Dr. Lisa M. Greene at Asheville Vision and Wellness. Dr. Greene has been caring for patients in western North Carolina since 1996 and became the practice owner in 2008. She holds her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and is a member of the American Optometric Association, the North Carolina Optometric Society, the Mountain District Optometric Society, Leadership OD, and the Optometric Nutrition Society.
Dr. Greene's practice philosophy focuses on educating patients about how their overall health impacts their vision throughout their lifetime. Each year she attends conferences on health and wellness as part of her continuing education, and she maintains the latest diagnostic technology to help identify developing issues before they affect your functional vision. Learn more about Dr. Greene and the full care team at Asheville Vision and Wellness.
Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Greene is deeply committed to giving back. She has participated in 10 international eye care clinics with OneSight and founded Almas Unidas-Hearts United, a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian aid to vulnerable girls in El Salvador and educational support for children in Ecuador.
Dr. Greene is joined at Asheville Vision and Wellness by Dr. Sid Morse and Dr. Adam Greene, ensuring that patients always have access to experienced and compassionate care.
Comprehensive Eye Care for Every Stage of a Woman's Life
Your vision needs change as you move through different stages of life, and the eye care you receive should reflect that. At Asheville Vision and Wellness, we offer a full range of services designed to support women's eye health from young adulthood through the senior years.
Eye Exams Tailored to Your Needs
Our comprehensive eye exams go far beyond checking your prescription. Using advanced diagnostic technology, our doctors evaluate the overall health of your eyes and screen for conditions that may not yet be causing noticeable symptoms. Key tests that may be part of your exam include:
Visual Fields Test
Maps your peripheral vision and identifies blind spots that could indicate conditions like glaucoma.
Tonometry
Measures the fluid pressure inside your eye to assess glaucoma risk.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
Creates detailed cross-sectional images of your retina to detect early signs of macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other retinal diseases.
Optomap Ultra-Widefield Retinal Imaging
Captures a panoramic image of more than 80% of your retina in a single shot.
Rabin Cone Contrast Test (RCCT)
This advanced color vision test detects disease-related changes with exceptional sensitivity in patients with glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and macular degeneration — used alongside OCT and Visual Fields testing for the most complete diagnostic picture.
Slit Lamp Examination
Provides a highly magnified view of the eye's structures to help diagnose cataracts, dry eyes, corneal issues, and more.
AdaptDx Pro for AMD
Measures your dark adaptation speed, which can indicate the presence of age-related macular degeneration up to three years earlier than many other tests.
Dry Eye Treatment
If you're struggling with the burning, irritation, and blurry vision that come with dry eyes, our team offers multiple treatment approaches. From evaluation and diagnosis to advanced options like LipiFlow thermal treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction, we work with you to find lasting relief. We also carry nutritional supplements such as EyePromise EZ Tears and ScienceBased Health HydroEye that can support healthy tear production from the inside out.
Diabetes Eye Health
Women with diabetes face additional risks to their eye health, including diabetic retinopathy, increased glaucoma risk, and earlier development of cataracts. Our diabetes eye health services use advanced retinal imaging to monitor for changes caused by elevated blood sugar and help you stay ahead of potential complications.
Eyewear That Fits Your Life
Looking great while seeing clearly matters. Asheville Vision and Wellness carries a wide selection of designer eyeglasses from brands like Tom Ford, Kate Spade, Jimmy Choo, Silhouette, Maui Jim, Ray-Ban, and more. Whether you need progressive lenses, prescription sunglasses, or a stylish pair of everyday frames, our experienced opticians will help you find the perfect fit. We also carry a full line of contact lenses, including dailies, multifocal, and toric lenses for astigmatism.
Proactive Steps for Protecting Your Vision
You don't have to wait for symptoms to appear before taking care of your eyes. Here are steps every woman can take to support long-term eye health:
- Schedule a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year, or more frequently if you have diabetes, a family history of glaucoma or AMD, or are experiencing hormonal changes
- Eat a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, C, and E, and leafy green vegetables to support healthy eyes
- Wear sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays to reduce your risk of cataracts and macular degeneration
- Manage chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure in close coordination with both your primary care provider and your eye doctor
- Report any vision changes during pregnancy to your healthcare provider promptly
- Talk to your eye doctor about dry eye symptoms, especially if you're going through menopause or taking hormone-related medications
Frequently Asked Questions
Do women really need different eye care than men?
Not necessarily different — but women face a higher statistical risk for several eye conditions, including dry eye, AMD, and autoimmune-related eye problems. A knowledgeable eye doctor will take these risks into account during your exam and tailor monitoring accordingly.
How do hormonal changes affect my eyes?
Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone can affect tear production, corneal shape, and light sensitivity. Many women notice vision changes during pregnancy and around menopause. These are worth discussing with your eye doctor, who can recommend appropriate treatment or monitoring.
What should I do if my eyes feel dry and irritated after menopause?
Don't dismiss it as a minor inconvenience — dry eye syndrome can worsen over time if left untreated. Schedule a dry eye evaluation at Asheville Vision and Wellness. We offer several treatment options, including LipiFlow, that provide lasting relief rather than just temporary symptom management.
How often should women have comprehensive eye exams?
Most women should have a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year. If you have diabetes, a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration, or are going through hormonal changes, your doctor may recommend more frequent visits.
Why Women in Asheville Choose Asheville Vision and Wellness
Since 1989, Asheville Vision and Wellness has been the trusted eye care provider for families throughout western North Carolina. With a 4.8-star rating across nearly 960 reviews, our patients consistently recognize the warmth, professionalism, and thoroughness of our team. Our modern facility in Arden features the latest diagnostic technology, a welcoming atmosphere — including our therapy dog Gus — and a curated selection of designer frames to complement every personal style.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Your eyes deserve care that's as unique as you are. Whether you're looking for a female eye doctor in Asheville, need a thorough annual exam, or are dealing with a specific concern like dry eyes or hormonal vision changes, the team at Asheville Vision and Wellness is ready to help.
Schedule your appointment online or visit our contact page to learn more. We're conveniently located at 559 Long Shoals Road in Arden, NC, just minutes from downtown Asheville and the surrounding communities of South Asheville, Biltmore Park, Fletcher, and beyond.