Advanced EyeCare assisting with vision needs in Virden!

By Cindy Ladage

Advanced EyeCare is located along Virden’s Square on Springfield Street.  Offering vision assistance to the local community and beyond, their motto is, “Modern EyeCare, Old-Fashioned Caring”!  The website also shares, “Advanced EyeCare has offices in Taylorville, Lincoln, Virden and Carlinville.

There are four doctors that work between the four Advanced EyeCare offices. Optometrist, Dr. Jon Reid who has been with Advanced Eye Care for ten plus years since 2014 shared, “Today the two oldest offices are Taylorville and Virden.  The business was started by Walter Hedrick, and then taken over by Keith Hedrick. The doctors today represent four generations.”

Dr. Reid and Dr. Maxx Craggs are providers at the Virden office. At Advanced EyeCare they offer “Optometry, comprehensive eye exams, optical services selling glasses, contact lenses, frames and more.”

As part of their comprehensive eye exams, Dr. Reid said this includes checking for ocular pathologies including age-related macular degeneration), and pre- and post-operative care, glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic eye exams.

As we age, our eyes have more issues, presbyopia is the term for the normal aging process, which begins around the age of 40.  It is the process in which a person loses the ability to focus up close.  Their website states, “Reading small print and using the computer becomes difficult. Associated symptoms include eyestrain, extending arms far out to read reading material, and inability to read menus in dimly lit restaurants. Treatments for presbyopia include progressive bifocals, reading eyeglasses, multifocal contact lenses, or monovision lenses.”

Besides working with the older generation, they also say to be sure and keep children in mind when it comes to eye care. They recommend a child’s first exam take place before they are one, with their second exam at three, and a third exam before kindergarten.

At the office their roots are local, with their employees hailing from the Girard and Virden area. Dr. Reid calls Carlinville home, and he and his wife have three children ages ten, seven and five. With kids in local schools, at Advanced Eye Care he said they are supportive of the local schools and the local community, “We have supported the Virden Christmas Parade, Homecoming, North Mac sports etc.”

Along with this, Dr. Reid said they also support local soccer and this year, “We hosted our 3rd annual High School soccer game the Advanced EyeCare Cup which is played between North Mac and Carlinville.  This was the 3rd year for the boys.  We played in 2022, 2023 and 2024.”

Girls have also been included as well.  “They began in 2023 Dr. Reid answered, adding, “We always want to encourage youth sports, and we love being part of the local community and supporting a healthy lifestyle.”

Dr. Reid said, “I grew up playing sports, and want to pay it forward to the next generation.”

Dr Reid said, “We love being part of a small business, and small town.  All four of our locations are in small towns, and we know how important it is to shop locally and patronize local businesses. We don’t advertise outside, but work with local advertisers. That is why we are members of the Chamber of Commerce.”

Advanced EyeCare is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., and most Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. until noon. For details, contact them on 217-965-3306 or check out their webpage www.aec2.com!