Get in Touch with Eye Doctors in North Charleston, SC

Erik M. Happ, MD, FACS has joined the Facial Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery team at Carolina Eyecare Physicians as an Oculoplastic Surgeon. Dr. Happ has already established an impressive career and is recognized nationally as a leader in the field of Oculoplastic & Orbital surgery. Upon graduation from Hahnemann University, Dr. Happ embarked on a path of excellence beginning with his internship in General Surgery at “the President’s Hospital”, the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. He then entered active duty service as a US Naval Flight surgeon garnering multiple awards including the prestigious Navy Commendation Medal and participating in multiple deployments around the world. One of Dr. Happ’s proudest moments was being selected by NASA to provide launch medical support for two Space Shuttle missions, STS 98 and STS 106.

After honorable discharge from the Navy, Dr. Happ continued his training in Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Eye and Ear Institute where he served as the chief resident and was presented with the Jay G. Lynn Award as the most outstanding resident. He then trained under the internationally known, John S. Kennerdell, MD in Neuro-ophthalmic, Oculoplastic, and Orbital Surgery at the Allegheny General Hospital campus of Drexel University School of Medicine in Pittsburgh.

After taking a brief private practice position in Bainbridge Island, Washington, Dr. Happ was offered the opportunity to replace his mentor, Dr. Kennerdell back in Pittsburgh at Allegheny General Hospital. His career has been marked by several innovations in orbital and neuro-ophthalmic surgery culminating in the development of a trans-orbital approach to the skull base to treat aneurysms and tumors. A natural leader, Dr. Happ was named the Director of Neuro-ophthalmic trauma followed by being named the Department Chairman and System-wide division director of Ophthalmology for Allegheny Health Network.

Dr. Happ has always excelled in the area of functional and cosmetic oculoplastics and has pivoted his career in this direction, having started his own solo private practice and stepped away from academic medicine for the last several years. He performs a broad range of surgeries and treatments such as blepharoplasty, ptosis repair, entropion, and ectropion repair, dacryocystorhinostomy, functional botulinum toxin for blepharospasms and management of thyroid eye disease. He is also well versed in facial aesthetics and performs facial cosmetic surgery as well as injections of both Botox and dermal fillers and skin resurfacing procedures.

Dr. Happ enthusiastically accepted the position at Carolina Eyecare Physicians and is poised to provide state-of-the-art facial plastic surgical care in the Charleston area.

Locations Served: Mt. Pleasant, North Charleston, West Ashley I, Murrells Inlet

Dr. Paul Herring, MD is a board-certified ophthalmologist and ophthalmic surgeon. After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology (with high honors) at the University of Florida, he attended medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina. He completed an internship at Greenville Memorial Hospital and his residency at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was named chief resident.

Dr. Herring is currently active in several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the South Carolina Society of Ophthalmology, and the Charleston Ophthalmology Society. He was also inducted into the AOA Honors Society.

Dr. Herring is a Charleston native who attended Porter Gaud. He currently resides in Mount Pleasant. In his free time, enjoys boating, fishing, riding bikes, going to the beach, and playing squash. 

Of his career at Carolina Eyecare Physicians, he explains, “I enjoy being part of a team that is passionately committed to delivering the best possible care to each and every patient.”

Location Served: North Charleston

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Kimberly Carter, OD is a board-certified optometrist at Carolina Eyecare Physicians. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, and her Doctor of Optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN.

Dr. Carter is experienced in the areas of vision therapy, specialty contact lenses, and dry eye disease treatments using IPL, Lipiflow and more. At Carolina Eyecare Physicians, she performs comprehensive eye exams, ocular disease management, glaucoma treatment, dry eye care, as well as family eye care and contact lens fittings.

Dr. Carter is a member of the American Optometric Association and South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association. She is passionate about providing quality eye care that can improve and enhance her patients’ lives.

In her spare time, Dr. Carter enjoys exploring new restaurants around town and traveling. She is excited to experience the lifestyle and amenities of the Lowcountry.

Dr. Carter will be seeing patients in our Nexton and North Charleston offices.

Cole Milliken M.D. is an ophthalmic surgeon specializing in Cataract and Refractive Surgery (LASIK, PRK, ICL), Corneal Transplantation, Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, and Anterior Segment Reconstruction. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Clemson University where he graduated with honors prior to receiving his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. He completed residency training at the Storm Eye Institute in Charleston, SC where he was selected to serve as Chief Resident for his final year. Dr. Milliken then went on to complete a fellowship in corneal, refractive, and complex anterior segment surgery at the prestigious Moran Eye Center, widely recognized as one of the premier surgical training programs in the country. Throughout his education and training Dr. Milliken has received numerous awards including the Presidential Scholar Award for interprofessional and academic achievement, as well as, the Richard A. Saunders Award for Surgical Excellence, and Promise in Surgical Teaching. 

Dr. Milliken is one of the only surgeons in the state whose training includes premium and complex cataract surgery, advanced corneal transplantation techniques, minimally invasive glaucoma, and vision correction procedures. His broad surgical expertise allows him to tailor the latest technology to a range of eye diseases with the goal of achieving the best possible patient outcomes. Dr. Milliken is active in several professional committees and has presented his research on refractive technology and novel surgical techniques at conferences around the country. His research efforts strive toward advancing our understanding of the field, while offering top-tier surgical eye care to residents of the Lowcountry. 

Dr. Milliken is proud to be a member of the Carolina Eyecare Physicians team, and looks forward to welcoming you with a compassionate, patient centered approach.

Locations Served: North Charleston, West Ashley I, Mt. Pleasant