PHILADELPHIA—Vantage EyeCare LLC, which now calls itself the largest private ophthalmology group in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware with 45 locations and more than 100 ECPs staffing its portfolio practices, this week announced it has agreed to acquire three additional eyecare groups in its mid-Atlantic operating area. The three additions are: Horizon Eye Care (six locations in southern New Jersey), Kay, Tabas, Niknam, DiDomenico Ophthalmology Associates (two locations in the Philadelphia area), and Ophthalmic Associates (one location in Lansdale, Pa.).

Vantage EyeCare was formed earlier this year with the intention of becoming the largest, private ophthalmology group in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, Julia Lee, chief executive officer, told VMAIL in October. Lee noted that there are no private equity investors involved in any of the Vantage EyeCare transactions, and that the company is 100 percent physician-funded.

In the transactions announced this week, Vantage EyeCare noted that two practices will “go live” (Horizon Eye Care and Kay, Tabas, Niknam, DiDomenico Ophthalmology Associates) under the Vantage EyeCare portfolio on Jan. 1, 2019, while Ophthalmic Associates will go live on Feb. 1, 2019. The three groups join Century Eye Care, Northern Ophthalmic Associates and South Jersey Eye Physicians (which were acquired in previous deals this year) in the “next wave of skilled providers to expand the geographic and service line diversity of Vantage EyeCare,” the announcement noted. VMAIL reported on the previous Vantage EyeCare acquisitions here.

The group was originally comprised of 45 providers, 25 service locations and 300 employees. Over the past year, Vantage EyeCare has grown to 107 providers, 45 service locations and 700 people filling out its support staff, according to its announcement this week.

“Clearly, our patient-focused, physician-led integration model is resonating with our peers,” Dr. Richard Prince, president of Vantage EyeCare, said in the announcement. “Our phenomenal growth is the best proof of concept—that quality physicians can come together to achieve scale without giving up the ability to continue making business and clinical decisions that are in the best interest of our patients.”

Even as momentum swings toward physicians, on a national basis, selling their practices to large health systems, hospitals or even private investment companies, Vantage EyeCare is working to ‘ensure that doctors and staff continue to thrive in an environment of success which, in turn, best serves their patients,” the announcement noted.

The newest practices joining Vantage EyeCare include:

Horizon Eye Care
• Principal ophthalmologists: Howard Gross, MD; Matthew Perez, MD, PhD.
• Ophthalmologists: Nicole Pritz, MD; Robert Nunn, MD; Joel Spielberg, MD.
• Optometrists: Andrea Mazur, OD; Jill Rodio-Vivadelli, OD; Dean Shissias, OD; Nickolas Shissias, OD; Sara Shissias, OD.
• Offices: Cape May, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway, Manahawkin, Margate, Ocean City (New Jersey)

Kay, Tabas, Niknam, DiDomenico Ophthalmology Associates
• Principal Ophthalmologists: Kristin DiDomenico, MD; Michael Kay, MD; Rachel Niknam, MD.
• Ophthalmologists: Britt Parvus, MD; Robert Penne, MD; Janine Tabas, MD.
• Optometrists: Amanda Ehrgood Perry, OD.
• Offices: Bala Cynwyd and Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)

Ophthalmic Associates
• Principal Ophthalmologists: Colleen Christian, MD; Thaddeus Nowinski, MD; Thomas O'Connor, MD; Geoffrey Schwartz, MD.
• Ophthalmologist: Melissa Siebert, MD.
• Optometrist: Robert Gladnick, OD.
• Office: Lansdale, Pa.