DALLAS—Unifeye Vision Partners (UVP), a leading network of comprehensive eyecare providers, has completed a strategic partnership with Regional Eye Center, a practice based in Hutchinson, Minn., according to an announcement on Tuesday. This represents UVP's fourth practice in the state of Minnesota and the 12th member of the growing UVP community. The terms of the new partnership were not disclosed. UVP is a portfolio company of Waud Capital Partners. Founded in 1990 by Drs. Michael Merck and Christopher Wallyn, Regional Eye Center has a team of 35 professionals, including two ophthalmologists and two optometrists.

Together, the team delivers full-service, family eyecare through a wide range of medical and surgical treatment options, including pediatrics. The practice includes an optical retail center, the ophthalmology clinic, and an ambulatory surgery center. All three services operate out of the same building, located 60 miles west of downtown Minneapolis, the announcement noted.
 
“We are exceptionally proud of the practice we've built, offering state-of-the-art ophthalmic treatment and care, including laser-assisted vision surgery for members of our small community—such that they get high quality local care, without having to drive 60 miles into Minneapolis," said Dr. Merck, a co-founder of Regional Eye Center.
 
Added Dr. Wallyn, also a co-founder of Regional Eye Center, “Our partnering and collaboration with UVP is a significant mile marker for Regional Eye Center and will ensure that our team can continue to provide excellence in eyecare into the future.”
 
Martin Rash, CEO of Unifeye Vision Partners, said the addition of Regional Eye Center further demonstrates UVP’s commitment to the patients and people of Minnesota. “When we set out to build the UVP community, we didn't seek to be the biggest, but rather the best,” Rash said in the announcement. “This comes from partnering with exceptional ophthalmic practices and physicians—who lead the industry in communities large and small.”
 
With the addition of Regional Eye Center, UVP extends its operations to a network of 108 providers, 38 clinic locations and eight ambulatory surgery centers.