Director, Optometric Services
Residency Trained in Ocular Disease Management
Continuing Education Program Development
Specialties
- Referral Optometric Care
- Clinical Research
- Cataract Evaluations
- Dry Eye
- Ocular Allergies
- Glaucoma Management
- Ocular Infections
- Diabetic Eye Examinations
- Retina Evaluations
About Dr. Walter
Dr. Walter Whitley is the director of optometric services at Virginia Eye Consultants and serves several important roles including consultative eye care, clinical research, practice development and the supervision of an extensive referral network. He is a 2002 graduate of Pacific University College of Optometry and completed a residency in ocular disease, refractive and ocular surgery at Eye Care Associates of Nevada. In 2009, he completed his master’s in business administration for the University of Nevada, Reno. Prior to joining Virginia Eye Consultants, Dr. Whitley served as medical optometrist for Eye Care Associates of Nevada in the Reno and Las Vegas offices and helped develop one of the largest optometric referral centers in Nevada.
Dr. Whitley joined Virginia Eye Consultants because of their reputation in clinical innovation, clinical research and clinical education. As a VEC optometrist, he provides diagnosis and treatment for a number of conditions, including dry eye disease, ocular allergies, ocular infections, glaucoma and diabetes-related vision problems, as well as conducting evaluations for cataract surgery, refractive surgery and retinal disorders.
Dr. Whitley serves as the liaison between VEC and optometrists in the community, which means he is the primary point of contact for all patients who are referred for the advanced specialty services offered at the center. He works closely with optometrists and primary care providers to coordinate patient care and provide continuous communication between providers. In addition, Dr. Whitley is responsible for developing continuing education programs for local optometrists on topics ranging from pre- and post-operative cataract care to LASIK and glaucoma.
Dr. Whitely is a nationally recognized lecturer and has given over 200 lectures on topics ranging from ocular disease, surgical co-management, pharmaceuticals and practice management topics. As an author, he has written numerous articles for all of the major optometric publications. Currently, he serves as co-chief medical editor of Advanced Ocular Care and on the editorial boards for the Review of Optometry and Optometry Times.
Dr. Whitley is actively involved with the local, state and national optometric associations. Locally, he serves on the board of trustees for the Tidewater Optometric Society. On the state level, he serves as the legislative chair, the education co-chair and the board of trustees for the Virginia Optometric Association. Nationally, he serves on the American Optometric Association’s Education committee. In 2012, he was named the Young OD of the Year for the Virginia Optometric Association.
Dr. Whitley and his wife Lindsay are proud to call Virginia Beach their home. They have three boys, Beckam , Brock and Brady. In their free time, they enjoy going to the gym, hanging out at Chuck E. Cheese and spending time with their friends.