Our Team at Eye Care Center of Virginia

Eye Care Center of Virginia was founded by Garth Stevens, Jr. MD, in 2000 to help serve the eye care needs of the greater Richmond Metro community. As a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in cataract, cornea, and glaucoma surgeries, Dr. Stevens recognized the need for high-quality eye care and wanted to increase its accessibility to the people in his community. Since founding the practice more than 20 years ago, he has built an extraordinary team of professionals to fulfill the practice’s mission: to improve the lives of our patients by delivering the highest quality eye care in an environment that emphasizes clinical expertise, compassion, kindness, and trusting relationships.

At ECCVA, you will find the use of advanced technology and state-of-the-art equipment to provide our patients with excellence in clinical care. As a pioneer in his field, Dr. Stevens continues to support growth and learning in ophthalmology through mentorships and residency programs.

Garth Stevens, Jr., M.D.

Dr. Steven’s is a board-certified ophthalmologist who specializes in anterior segment surgery such as cataract, glaucoma and cornea procedures. He is well known in Richmond and throughout Virginia for his work with corneal transplantation. In 2001, Dr. Stevens was the first in Virginia to perform a new cutting edge type of corneal transplantation – replacing just the back layer of the cornea. Later, he was the first to perform DSEK, DMEK, and DWEK surgical procedures.

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Andrew Patrick Plaxco, OD

After graduating from the Southern College of Optometry, Dr. Plaxco received residency training in ocular disease through the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee. He then moved from Tennessee to join The Eye Care Center of Virginia in 2023. His professional interests include all ocular disease, with an emphasis on geriatric care, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and other retinal pathologies, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Dr. Plaxco is the principal provider at the the Southside office in Chesterfield.

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Andrew L. Freeman, PA-C

Andrew is a national board-certified Physician Assistant with thousands of hours of general medical training. He has completed an Ophthalmology fellowship under the direction and mentorship of Dr. Garth Stevens. Andrew is one of approximately 100 PAs specializing in ophthalmology in the United States. He is currently completing his Doctor of Medical Science degree through the University of Lynchburg.

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George E. Sanborn, M.D.

Dr. Sanborn is a board-certified ophthalmologist, specializing in medical retina. He has authored and/or co-authored of dozens of scientific articles and one book, The Civil War in West Virginia: Political Origins and Military Strife in a Divided Region. Authors: Joseph W.A. Whitehrone & George E. Sanborn. With more than 50 years of experience in his field, Dr. Sanborn has served on the full-time faculty of two university medical centers and is currently a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the Retina Society of Virginia and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. Sanborn enjoys playing golf, traveling, and gardening and is fluent in French.

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Eye Care Center Of Virginia Is Proud To Be A Teaching Site

Dr. Stevens is a skilled surgeon and clinical professor. He has trained throughout his medical career:

Cornea and Refractive Ophthalmology Fellows
Eye Surgery Residents
Family Practice Residents

Currently, Dr. Stevens and his Staff provide at EYE CARE CENTER OF VIRGINIA.

Specialty surgical training for Ophthalmologists Fellows in Cornea and Refractive Surgery
Training for Family Practice Residents in Eye Diseases
Optometry Senior Student training for 3 months Rotation in the comprehensive clinical assessment of diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases
Fellowships in Ophthalmology for Physician Assistants