Residents of Troy, Luverne and Union Springs will have additional optometrists at the Advanced Family Eye Care Center.

Drs. Bryan and Crisse Holman have joined Dr. Jane Lamb at the Eye Center to further service the communities.

The husband-wife team graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and both are certified optometrists and members of the Alabama Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association.

Dr. Bryan Holman graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biology and a minor in chemistry. While he was completing his undergraduate studies at UAB, he also worked as a board-certified optician, which led to his passion and interest for optometry.

“The more I learned, the more I wanted to know (about optometry),” said Dr. Bryan Holman.

Bryan was a junior in high school when he worked under Dr. Hertzl Heiman, who was the root of his inspiration to become an optometrist.

He says that optometry is not for everyone, but offers to allow anyone to shadow him to see if the job is really right for him or her.

Dr. Holman recalls a memorable patient when he visited the Alabama School for the Deaf and Blind.

“His name was Shannon; he was blind in both eyes, but he was very independent,” said Holman.

“He had vision until he was seven years old…but he ran track, he could cook so he reminded me a lot of myself…he wrestled in high school and so did I, so we bonded pretty well.”

Dr. Holman takes great pride in his work as he has traveled to third-world countries to help the less fortunate to see better.

“The people over there say it’s a miracle that they can see,” said Dr. Holman.

Even though he has passion for what he does and has rewards, there are moments that are difficult to deal with.

“The hardest thing is having to tell someone that they have a vision-threatening condition…and that they might never see again,” said Holman.

“And unfortunately, we get those at least once or twice a month.”

However, Dr. Holman says that the most rewarding part of his work is meeting new patients.

“It’s always nice to meet a new face and then help them with better vision by wearing glasses if they hadn’t before.”

Bryan also says that having a good staff makes his job worthwhile.

“I couldn’t work without these ladies,” said Dr. Holman, talking about the receptionists and assistants who work in the office.

But there is one lady that he is particularly fond of and that is, of course, his wife.

Dr. Crisse Holman went to Wallace Community College in Dothan on an academic scholarship before heading to UAB to pursue a career in the medical field.

From there, her adviser encouraged her to observe many of the medical professions that they had to offer, from dental and emergency to optometry.

“It was an immediate attraction,” said Crisse.

Crisse originally wanted to do something in the emergency room or OB/GYN.

“I feel like I chose a much calmer field,” said Crisse.

She spent time with private practices of optometrists and changed courses at UAB to get into optometry school.

“It’s good to do something you love that is in the medical field and you still get to see your family,” she added.

Drs. Holman have been married since June and enjoy in their spare time grilling, spending time with family and friends, going to church, seeing movies and even playing video games.

Crisse also likes to spend time with her eight-year-old daughter, Emma and spending the day doing “girly stuff.”

“They (Drs. Holman) are confidant and nice people,” said Dr. Jane Lamb.

Dr. Lamb was looking for younger people since her practice has gotten so busy; however, she is not looking into retirement just yet.

“We wanted young people that would come and take good care of patients and be loved…that’s something that is important and they both have that,” Dr. Lamb said.