RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—Via the joint venture between VSP Ventures and Optometric Management Group (OMG), three Ohio practices have joined VSP Ventures. These include Hocking Eye Care, Oakley Square Eye Associates and Pickerington Eyecare. Led by Dr. Douglas Hocking, Hocking Eye Care is in St. Clairsville, Ohio; Oakley Square Associates is in Cincinnati, led by Dr. Phillip Apfel and Dr. Anthony Dirr; and Pickerington Eyecare in Pickerington, Ohio, helmed by Dr. Brian Tracy, Dr. Douglas Ryen and Dr. Travis Storm.

“We’re excited to add Hocking Eye Care, Oakley Square Eye Associates and Pickerington Eyecare to our growing family,” said OMG chief visionary officer Timothy D. Fries, OD, MBA, MPH, FAAO. “These practices have been long-standing pillars in their communities and share the same core values we firmly believe in. We enjoy the responsibility of preserving their legacy and look forward to the future growth we will achieve together.”

President of VSP Ventures Kathleen Steele said, “As doctors themselves, OMG is uniquely in tune with the needs of their fellow optometrists, which provides the foundation for our joint venture that’s committed to supporting the needs of Ohio private practices. We’re honored that these great practices have entrusted us to support their continued success.”

Dr. Hocking founded Hocking Eye Care in 1979. A native of St. Clairsville, Dr. Hocking and his team have built a reputation of providing personalized, technology-driven patient care.
 
Drs. Apfel and Dirr of Oakley Square Eye Associates have served the Cincinnati area for over 20 years. As a team alongside their staff, they have welcomed generations of families into their state-of-the-art office with a commitment to building lifelong relationships with their patients and making their visual well-being a priority.

Dating back to the 1950s, Pickerington Eyecare was originally located in Whitehall and East Columbus, Ohio. In 1998, Dr. Tracy took ownership of the practice and moved it to its first Pickerington location. After experiencing tremendous growth over the years with the additions of partners Drs. Ryen and Storm, they have since settled into their current location, which provides the much-needed space to serve the local community.
 
Along with the support of their associate doctors, Dr. Todd Chontos, Dr. Jim Pipo, and Dr. Emily Rausch, the team has come to be known for providing the highest level of eyecare and eyewear for the entire family, the announcement said.

OMG is currently comprised of 15 practices across Ohio. The joint venture between OMG and VSP Ventures was reported in early 2021 by VMAIL. VSP Ventures is a part of VSP Vision.