Robert H. Dickey, O.D.
Dr. Dickey is a native of Murphy, North Carolina.  Following high school he attended Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee where he majored in Chemistry and played basketball.  After an injury which he calls "the luckiest break of his life" his basketball dream ended.  During this time he asked his Dad, the Dentist, for some advice on what he should do with his future.  His Dad's reply was, “would you rather look down their throat all day long or at their blue eyes".  This was the first step in choosing optometry as his professional career.  

Because of a birth injury Dr. Dickey has always had uncorrectable vision in his right eye.  He started wearing glasses at age 4 and recalls that no one ever explained why he could not see clearly, even with his glasses.

These two events led Dr. Dickey to the Illinois College of Optometry.  He graduated in 1974 and subsequently started a private solo practice in Black Mountain, North Carolina.  This successful practice grew into an eight doctor optometric practice serving patients in Western North Carolina in seven locations. 

Dr. Dickey has always been an advocate of patient education.  He places much emphasis on comprehensive eye care and taking adequate time to communicate with his patients to insure they understand their present visual status, options of care,  and how their visual condition will likely change throughout their lives.  Dr. Dickey specializes in routine family eye care and contact lens fittings.

Dr. Dickey likes to spend time with his son, Ryan, while staying fit with activities such as snow skiing, hiking, fishing, and step aerobics. 

Dr. Dickey is a past president of the Black Mountain Chamber of Commerce, served on the Haywood County Board of Health, and is a member of numerous professional organizations.