Julia Johnston is a nationally certified physician assistant with over 12 years of experience in the field of ophthalmology. Her practice at Mountain Eye Associates focuses on kind and compassionate comprehensive eye exams for children and adults. Julia is also leading the clinic’s Valeda light therapy treatment for patients with dry macular degeneration. Julia is excited to bring her experience and attentiveness to help care for you and your eyes.

Julia was born and raised in Michigan on a small family-run apple orchard. She attended Olivet Nazarene University and received her Bachelor’s degree in biology. She then decided to move west to attend the Physician Assistant Program at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. During her time at USC, Julia participated in a medical mission to Nicaragua and organized student run community health fairs. As a result of her excellence in academics and in leadership, she was inducted into the National Pi Alpha Honor Society for physician assistants.

After graduation, Julia spent eleven years in the division of ophthalmology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles where she developed her skills in eye care seeing kids with cataracts, glaucoma, corneal disease, and rare forms of eye cancer. She assisted with complex surgeries and performed numerous procedures. She also spent time mentoring high school and college students who had an interest in careers in healthcare.

Looking for a quieter life away from the hustle of the busy city, Julia and her husband Peter made the big move to Western North Carolina in the summer of 2025. Since their arrival, they’ve loved every minute, from the beautiful mountains to the friendly faces around their neighborhood. In her free time, Julia enjoys reading, baking, and exploring the area with Peter and their two dogs. They look forward to all the adventures to be had in this new chapter of life