Alabama Vision & Hearing Center

Dr. Velazquez is a board certified, fellowship trained ophthalmologist specializing in blade-free all laser Custom LASIK laser vision correction, "no stitch" cataract laser and surgery, refractive lens exchange with bifocal implants, phakic IOL surgery and advanced corneal transplantation surgery. He was born in Orange, CA and raised in Atlanta. He completed an Ophthalmology residency at the University of Florida and a Cornea and Refractive Surgery Fellowship at Duke University. Most recently he served as Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Director of Cornea and External Disease and Director of Refractive Surgery at The Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Clinical Assistant at the Eye Foundation Hospital.

Education and Training
•B.S. Auburn University (with honors)
•M.D. University of South Alabama School of Medicine
•Residency in Ophthalmology, University of Florida
•Fellowship, Cornea, Duke University School of Medicine
•LASIK certification by VISX, Intralase femtosecond laser, YAG

Professional Achievements
•Board Certified, American Board of Ophthalmology
•Fellow, American Academy of Ophthalmology
•Fellow, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons
•Board Member, Alabama Academy of Ophthalmology
•Clinical Assistant, Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital

Dr. Audrey Lyons is an Optometrist with the Alabama Vision Center. She received her undergraduate B.S. degree in Biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and her Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, the Alabama Optometric Association, the Birmingham Optometric Society, and the Fellowship of Christian Optometrists. Dr. Lyons joined our staff in January 2011.

Dr. Lyons specializes in Primary Eye Care including comprehensive adult and pediatric eye examinations for the detection of medical eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetes. She fits all types of contact lenses and provides preoperative and postoperative care for cataract surgery and LASIK.

Dr. Lyons is the adviser for the UAB School of Optometry’s Fellowship of Christian Optometrists, coordinating Bible studies, lunch meetings, and service projects. Each summer, she takes a group of optometrists and optometry students on an international mission trip. She resides in Hoover with her husband and step son.

Dr. Britiany Pierson cares for our patients' hearing at the Alabama Vision & Hearing Center. She received her undergraduate B.S. degree in Communication Disorders from Auburn University and her Doctorate of Audiology from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. The honor societies that Dr. Pierson holds membership are Pi Kappa Phi and Alpha Eta. In the year 2010, she received the Marjorie Faircloth Award for Outstanding Clinical Performance in Audiology. The University of South Alabama awarded her as Outstanding Doctor of Audiology for 2012.

Dr. Pierson specializes in hearing technology and balance disorders in patients of all ages. Her services range from complete audilogical evaluations including hearing profile and treatment of various reductions in hearing and balance, as well as cerumen management. The Alabama Vision & Hearing Center uses the latest in hearing technology and provides personalized care for every patient through our in-house audiologist.

In her personal life, Dr. Pierson works with charitable organizations with a focus on children and special needs. She is an active member of Shades Mountain Baptist Church. Her hobbies include spending quality time with her family and friends, raising two gregarious dogs, scuba diving and other outdoor adventures.

We look forward to you meeting Dr. Britiany Pierson, for a custom hearing experience to make sure you are not missing out on any of life's most important conversations and moments due to reduced hearing.

Dr. Brittany Mitchell is an Optometrist at the Alabama Vision & Hearing Center. She went to the University of Kentucky for 3 years and then graduated with a B.S. in Biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She received her Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is a member of the American Optometric Association and Alabama Optometric Association. Dr. Mitchell did an externship at our office during her clinical rotations during optometry school.

Dr. Mitchell specializes in Primary Eye Care including comprehensive adult and pediatric eye examinations for the detection of medical diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetes. She fits all types of eyeglasses and contact lenses and provides preoperative and postoperative care for cataract surgery and LASIK.

Dr. Mitchell married her husband, Clay and they enjoy spending time with their dog, Liko. She also enjoys training for half races, working with kids, decorating her home and traveling.

Dr. Holly Young is an Optometrist with the Alabama Vision & Hearing Center. She received her undergraduate B.A. degree in Biology from the University of Mississippi and her Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Alabama School of Optometry in Birmingham, Alabama. She is a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society and the American Optometric Association. After an externship with our practice, she joined our staff in June 2010.

Dr. Young specializes in Primary Eye Care including comprehensive adult and pediatric eye examinations for the detection of medical eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetes. She fits all types of eyeglasses and contact lens and provides preoperative and postoperative care for cataract surgery and LASIK.

Dr. Young and her husband Tice are members of Trinity United Methodist Church. Her hobbies include spending quality time with the family and gardening and raising her two children Ticer and Elizabeth.

Dr. Pitts is a board certified, ophthalmologist specializing in "no stitch" cataract laser and surgery, refractive lens exchange with bifocal implants, and the diagnosis and management of eye diseases. He received his ophthalmology residency training at the University of Alabama School of Medicine and served as Chief of Ophthalmology at Noble Army Hospital in Fort McClellan, Alabama. He has been in private practice in Birmingham since 1975. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a member of the Alabama Academy of Ophthalmology.

Education and Training
•B.A. Birmingham Southern College
•M.D. University of Alabama School of Medicine
•Residency in Ophthalmology, University of Alabama
School of Medicine

Professional Achievements
•Board Certified, American Board of Ophthalmology
•Fellow, American Academy of Ophthalmology
•Fellow, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons
•Chief of Ophthalmology, Noble Army Hospital, AL
•Staff Ophthalmologist, Fort Gordon, GA

Dr. Kloess is a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist specializing in blade-free all laser Custom LASIK laser vision correction, "no stitch" cataract laser and surgery, refractive lens exchange with bifocal implants, phakic IOL surgery, and corneal transplantation surgery. He served as Cornea Chairman and Consultant to the USAF Surgeon General for refractive surgery for several years before returning home to Birmingham in 1994 as the founder and Medical Director of the Alabama Vision & Hearing Center. He is a Principal Investigator for the Alcon FDA Phakic IOL Study and a clinical consultant for several pharmaceutical and surgical companies. Dr. Kloess is a clinical assistant for the Eye Foundation Hospital in Birmingham. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and served as President of the Alabama Academy of Ophthalmology.

Education and Training
•B.S. University of Alabama (with honors)
•M.D. University of Alabama School of Medicine
•Harvard Basic Sciences Course in Ophthalmology
•Residency in Ophthalmology, Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center
•Fellowship, Cornea, Emory University School of Medicine
•LASIK certification by NIDEK, VISX, Summit, Autonomous LADAR Vision

Professional Achievements
•Alabama Academy of Ophthalmology, President
•American Board of Ophthalmology, Board Certification
•American Academy of Ophthalmology, Fellow
•American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, Fellow
•Baptist Montclair Hospital, Chief, Division of Ophthalmology