Dave Brown, IDOC's president and CEO.

NORWALK, Conn.—Independent Doctors of Optometric Care (IDOC, LLC), a leading practice development organization dedicated exclusively to making independent optometric practices more successful, said it has acquired PRIMA Eye Group, a top consulting firm and alliance devoted to helping independent optometrists through every stage of their optometric business. With the acquisition, IDOC remains the largest privately-held alliance of independent ODs in the U.S., with approximately 3,100 member optometrists, a statement from the company said.

“IDOC and PRIMA share a passion for helping the independent optometrist be successful in private practice,” said Dave Brown, president and CEO, IDOC. “Together, we will be able to provide even stronger vendor programs, expanded resources and enhanced consulting services to help independent optometrists survive and thrive.”

The two companies will continue to operate as IDOC and PRIMA Eye Group during a phased integration period in 2016, with each maintaining their respective corporate headquarters; PRIMA in Atlanta, Ga., IDOC in Norwalk, Conn. Optometrist members of each group will be receiving information during the transition phase about how to avail themselves of the numerous offerings of each alliance.



Brown will serve as president and CEO, and the senior management team will include Oliver Spandow, current CFO, IDOC, and Neil Gailmard, OD, co-founder and president and COO of PRIMA, both reporting to him. Dr. Gailmard will serve as chief optometric officer of IDOC and will continue as president of PRIMA Eye Group.

“I look forward to working together to develop new strategies and programs to support independent optometrists,” noted Dr. Gailmard. “I am very excited that we will bring even more capabilities and resources to help our members achieve great success in private practice.”

The announcement also said that Jerry Hayes, OD, co-founder and CEO of PRIMA, will retire from the company, effective June 30, 2016. In conjunction with the acquisition, IDOC founder and chairman Mark Feder, OD, will step down from his current role and will continue to remain involved with the company as an advisor to the senior management team.

Funding for the acquisition is being provided by The Riverside Company, a global middle market private equity firm based in Cleveland and a partner with IDOC, LLC. Both Drs. Feder and Gailmard will retain ownership stakes in the new company.

Since 1999, the IDOC alliance has been providing eyecare professionals a competitive advantage through strong vendor programs, business education and networking opportunities.

PRIMA Eye Group, founded in 2011, is a hybrid consulting firm and alliance for vision care professionals that provides one-on-one consulting from a team of experts in optometric management and offers expertise on specialized areas including marketing, human resources and practice financial analysis. PRIMA also hosts national and regional conferences and roundtable groups.