Briley B. Hearn, O.D
Optometrist
Dr. Briley B. Hearn knew from a young age that she wanted to be an optometrist. “Having worn glasses since I was in middle school, I was greatly inspired by my optometrist. He always made his patients feel so welcome and at ease,” Dr. Hearn says. “I can still remember the moment I put on my glasses for the very first time. I was blown away by all I could see!”
As she grew up, Dr. Hearn always wanted to recreate that feeling for others. So, after graduating from Avery High School, she studied at Ouachita Baptist University and then attended optometry school at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. Now, she is an optometrist with ArkLaTexEyes in Texarkana and New Boston. “While I loved the hill country, I’m very excited to be back home!” Dr. Hearn says. “I love being able to give back to the community that raised me. Even after moving off, I have always considered Northeast Texas my home.”
Through her work as an optometrist, Dr. Hearn can help and treat the people from her community by preserving their vision and managing ocular diseases. “Our clinics serve patients with a wide variety of needs, so my days are always interesting,” Dr. Hearn says. “Working in our New Boston office is extra special to me since I was previously a patient of that office for years.”
Dr. Hearn’s proudest achievement is accomplishing the life goal she set in seventh grade to become an optometrist. “If that little girl could see me now, she’d be so excited!” Dr. Hearn says. “Graduating from optometry school with honors and coming back to work in the very office I was inspired in as a kid is such an awesome, full-circle feeling.” Looking back, Dr. Hearn sees so many unrelated things that pushed her towards a career in optometry. “It’s clear to me that God has orchestrated it all to put me in the position I am in today,” Dr. Hearn says. “That is the biggest inspiration of all – knowing I’m doing what He wants me to do and striving every day to be the best example of Him I can.”
Every day at work, Dr. Hearn’s goal is to provide the best quality patient care possible. “From the moment their exam begins, I want my patients to feel welcome and at ease. Everyone should leave with an understanding of their health and be excited to come back,” Dr. Hearn says. “I believe that this is an area that can constantly improve, and I am being very intentional to improve daily.”
One of the biggest lessons that Dr. Hearn has learned is that she cannot know everything. When she first started seeing patients, Dr. Hearn says that she would be tough on herself if she could not pinpoint the exact cause of something she was seeing, no matter how rare or obscure it may have been. She felt like she had to have every single answer. “I’ve learned from more seasoned doctors that, even with 30-plus years of experience, there will be things I won’t have the answer for. That’s when we rely on the support of other professionals. By all the different healthcare fields working together, we are able to have each other’s backs and provide the highest quality of patient care,” Dr. Hearn says. “We have an entire network of professionals we can rely on who all have different specialties, and the healthcare system works together as a team.”
Dr. Hearn believes that careers in healthcare, including optometry, are essential because they directly impact the health and well-being of our community. “Optometrists play a crucial role in diagnosing and managing eye conditions, preserving vision, and improving the quality of life for patients,” Dr. Hearn says. “As a result, careers in healthcare have a significant and lasting impact on individuals and communities, and they offer the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives every day.”
In the future, Dr. Hearn believes that healthcare will place a greater emphasis on preventative measures, early detection of conditions, and personalized treatment plans enabled by technological advancements. “Virtual and augmented reality will make patient education much more interactive and engaging,” Dr. Hearn says. “All in all, I think the future is going to be all about giving patients more control over their health in a convenient and accessible way.”
When she is not working, Dr. Hearn enjoys spending time with her husband, Dalton, who she married in 2020. “It’s a very fitting anniversary for an optometrist!” Dr. Hearn says. “Dalton and I met while I was in college. He’s an Arkansas guy who quickly converted me into a Razorback fan. We don’t have any children or fur babies yet, and we are enjoying the freedom that comes with that! We spend our time traveling, supporting the Hogs, playing board games, seeing friends and family, and streaming too much Netflix.”
Fun Facts:
1. I am involved in the Texarkana community through First Baptist Church of Texarkana and the Junior League of Texarkana.
2. My favorite place to eat in Texarkana is Texas Roadhouse, and I always order the ribeye and fill up on their delicious rolls.
3. The best tip I know for staying healthy is meal prep! Planning what you’ll eat ahead of time helps you avoid unhealthy meals and keeps you on track for your health goals.
4. If I could create a magical prescription drug, it would cure Age-related Macular Degeneration because AMD can be very visually devastating and affects many people.
5. Most people don’t know that I am a HUGE fan of Marvel.