About Us

When Dr. Valerie Arnold decided to open River Mountain Eye Care, she did so with the desire to provide the best optometric care possible for her patients. She does this by scheduling adequate time with each patient to ensure their complaints and problems are properly addressed and by staying knowledgeable on the best treatment options and approaches through consistent continuing education. Dr. Arnold has a heart for helping others, especially by improving their vision and quality of life but also by improving eye comfort and function.

More About Dr. Arnold

Dr. Valerie Arnold grew up in Crossett, AR.  She graduated from Crossett High School in 2006 and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, AR.  After college, she decided to work and gain experience in the eye care field.  She worked for Texarkana Eye Associates (now The Eye Guys) in Texarkana, TX before starting optometry school.  She received her Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry in 2017 and decided to come home to Arkansas.  After practicing in a medical eye care practice with other optometrists and ophthalmologists for a few years and working in various other practice settings as a fill-in doctor, she decided to open her own clinic, and thus.  
Dr. Arnold has a wealth of experience with the diagnosis, treatment, and management of various ocular diseases and conditions.  She particularly has an interest in eye conditions caused by systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and other autoimmune disorders.  She is also passionate about treating and managing dry eye syndrome and ocular surface disease, as she has personally dealt with these conditions for many years.  Dr. Arnold says:
 “I have found that dry eye management is all about consistency.  Developing good eyelid hygiene and healthy eye habits is one of the main ways I treat dry eye syndrome personally and form my patients.  I tell my patients all the time that it is not normal to need eye drops several times a day, so I try to find more natural ways to treat the condition.”

Dr. Arnold is also very passionate about pediatric eye health and wellness.  She enjoys seeing children and young adults as well and is an InfantSEE provider.  She says:
“Most serious eye conditions that affect visual ability and function can be detected in early childhood.  It is important that all children are examined early on to diagnose conditions such as amblyopia, strabismus, high refractive error, and other more serious eye diseases.  Early detection gives us the chance to intervene and allow for more healthy eye development, which can have a very positive impact on future skills such as reading, writing, sports, and more.”  

She sees patients as young as 6 months old and recommends children over 3 years old be seen annually, especially if eye conditions such as nearsightedness, strabismus, or other eye diseases run in the family.  
Dr. Arnold is a member of the Arkansas Optometric Association, the National Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association, and the American Academy of Optometry. She completed the AROA’s LEAD program in 2019 and now serves on the organization’s membership committee. 
Outside of eye care, Dr. Arnold is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.  She also sits on the Southern Arkansas University Alumni Association Board of Directors.  During her college years, she was a Miss Arkansas contestant and performed vocal opera pieces for her talent.  She now enjoys singing with the Arkansas Chamber Singers.  She spends most of her time watching her son, Kale, grow and learn.  She enjoys taking him hiking, going to museums together, and learning as much as he will share about dinosaurs.  They are also members of Saint Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock.

To find out more, follow her on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctor.val.AR
Instagram: @doctor.val.od