Optometrist in Kingsport
Mohammad Mona, O.D., has had a fascination with conditions of the eye for most of his life, initially ignited by his own experience with amblyopia as a child. Today, he delights in helping manage his patients’ eye diseases and conditions to hopefully guide them in enjoying the best quality of life possible. In addition to disease screening and management, Dr. Mona offers comprehensive eye exams, glasses and contact lens prescriptions, and more at Reeves Eye Institute.
Born in Syria, Dr. Mona moved to Florida at the age of 12, which is why he considers himself more of a Florida native. Growing up in the Sunshine State, his favorite hobby was surfing (not exactly a common pastime here in East Tennessee). When he wasn’t “hanging ten” or enjoying other activities growing up, Dr. Mona was often at the eye doctor more than most others his age. That was because he had a condition called amblyopia, more commonly known as lazy eye. Through eye patching and other treatments to strengthen the muscles in his eye, Dr. Mona was able to experience resolution. An unintended outcome was the development of a strong interest in eye care.
An internship in the University of Florida’s ophthalmology department solidified that interest. After working as an ophthalmic technician, he decided to take it to the next level by attending optometry school at Kentucky College of Optometry in Pikeville.
There, he was part of the Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (SVOSH), a non-profit student organization dedicated to providing free vision care and eyewear to underserved communities. To round out his education, Dr. Mona completed a rotation at Bennett & Bloom Eye Centers in Louisville, followed by a rotation at the Kentucky College of Optometry and a primary care rotation at Harper’s Point Eye Associates in Cincinnati, Ohio.
But he says his real “aha moment,” so to speak, happened at Bennett & Bloom, where there was a heavy focus on eye disease management. That included conditions such as glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration, dry eye, and others. Reeves Eye Institute provides the perfect environment in which Dr. Mona can immerse himself in disease management and satisfy his passion for helping those afflicted.
“Reeves has the scope that I’m looking for, so very disease management-heavy,” he said. “I’ve already seen things that some optometrists might not see in their entire career. It’s been very eye-opening, so I really feel like this is a great spot for me.”
One such encounter comes to Dr. Mona’s mind involving a Reeves patient with a ruptured globe. Though Dr. Donny Reeves performed the emergency surgery, Dr. Mona helped manage the patient’s post-op care. He’s also had the opportunity to observe a couple of cases of cranial nerve palsies and was able to rule out more serious conditions that are sometimes associated, such as a stroke or aneurysm. Putting patients’ minds at ease in situations like those helps to affirm Dr. Mona is exactly where he’s meant to be. He also genuinely enjoys getting to know the person in his exam chair and is proud to support Dr. Reeves’ legacy of treating each patient like we all want to be treated…like a human being, not just another patient.
“I’m thrilled to have Dr. Mona as part of the team and support me in serving our patients at the Kingsport office,” said Dr. Reeves. “In addition to the Johnson City office and surgery center, the Kingsport location offers further convenience to serve the eye care needs of the Tri-Cities area. Dr. Mona is an asset in comprehensive eye exams, disease management, pre-/post-op care, and much more at the practice. I invite you to get to know him better. I’m confident you’ll quickly realize he’s someone you can entrust with your vision.” Dr. Mona enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Alexis, and relishes in his role of new father. He also loves spending time with his two golden retrievers and two cats, hiking, kayaking, attending concerts, and is a self-proclaimed “foodie.”
Education
Bachelor of Science
University of North Florida
Medical School
Kentucky College of Optometry
(Member of SVOSH – Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity)
Board Certification
Tennessee Board of Optometry
Injectable Certification
Therapeutic Certification
Treatment Specialties
Disease Screening & Management (Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degeneration, Dry Eye, and more)
Pre- & Post-Operative Management
Comprehensive Eye Exams
Glasses & Contact Lens Prescriptions
