Exhibit 10.31

                              NOVAMED EYECARE, INC.
                       2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

                            (as of February 16, 2000)
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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
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<TABLE>
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                                                                            Page
<S> <C>        <C>                                                           <C>
ARTICLE I     ESTABLISHMENT....................................................1

ARTICLE II    DEFINITIONS......................................................1

ARTICLE III   ADMINISTRATION...................................................5
    3.1       Committee Structure and Authority................................5

ARTICLE IV    SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN...........................................7
    4.1       Number of Shares.................................................7
    4.2       Release of Shares................................................8
    4.3       Restrictions on Shares...........................................8
    4.4       Shareholder Rights...............................................8
    4.5       Anti-Dilution....................................................8

ARTICLE V     ELIGIBILITY......................................................9
    5.1       Eligibility......................................................9

ARTICLE VI    OPTIONS..........................................................9
    6.1       General..........................................................9
    6.2       Grant...........................................................10
    6.3       Terms and Conditions............................................10
    6.4       Termination by Reason of Death..................................12
    6.5       Termination by Reason of Disability.............................12
    6.6       Other Termination...............................................12
    6.7       Cashing-Out of Options..........................................12

ARTICLE VII   CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS....................................12
    7.1       Impact of Event.................................................12
    7.2       Definition of Change in Control.................................13
    7.3       Change in Control Price.........................................13

ARTICLE VIII  MISCELLANEOUS...................................................14
    8.1       Amendments and Termination......................................14
    8.2       Unfunded Status of Plan.........................................14
    8.3       Limits on Transferability.......................................14
    8.4       Status of Options Under Code Section 162(m).....................14
    8.5       General Provisions..............................................15
    8.6       Mitigation of Excise Tax........................................16
    8.7       Options in Substitution for Options Granted by Other Entities...17
    8.8       Procedure for Adoption..........................................17
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    8.9       Procedure for Withdrawal........................................17
    8.10      Delay...........................................................17
    8.11      Headings........................................................18
    8.12      Severability....................................................18
    8.13      Successors and Assigns..........................................18
    8.14      Entire Agreement................................................18
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                              NOVAMED EYECARE, INC.
                            2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

                                    ARTICLE I
                                    ---------

                                  ESTABLISHMENT
                                  -------------

     NovaMed Eyecare, Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, hereby
establishes the NovaMed Eyecare, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Incentive Plan (the
"Plan"). The purpose of the Plan is to promote the overall financial objectives
of the Company, its shareholders and its Affiliates by motivating those persons
selected to participate in the Plan to achieve long-term growth in the
shareholder equity in the Company and by retaining the association of those
individuals who are instrumental in achieving this growth. The Plan is adopted
as of February 16, 2000. No awards shall be made under the Plan after May 16,
2000.

                                   ARTICLE II
                                   ----------

                                   DEFINITIONS
                                   -----------

     For purposes of the Plan, the following terms are defined as set forth
below:

     "Affiliate" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
association or other entity (other than the Company) that directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is
under common control with, the Company, including, without limitation, any
shareholder of an affiliated group of which the Company is a common parent
corporation as provided in Section 1504 of the Code.

     "Agreement" or "Option Agreement" means, individually or collectively, any
agreement entered into pursuant to the Plan pursuant to which an Option is
granted to a Participant.

     "Beneficiary" means the person, persons, trust or trusts which have been
designated by a Participant in his or her most recent written beneficiary
designation filed with the Committee to receive the benefits specified under the
Plan upon such Participant's death or to which Options are transferred if and to
the extent permitted hereunder. If, upon a Participant's death, there is no
designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the term
Beneficiary means person, persons, trust or trust entitled by will or the laws
of descent and distribution to receive such benefits.

     "Board of Directors" or "Board" means the Board of Directors of the
Company.

     "Cause" means, for purposes of whether and when a Participant has incurred
a Termination of Employment for Cause, any act or omission which permits the
Company or an Affiliate to terminate the Participant's employment with the
Company or an Affiliate for "cause" as defined in
<PAGE>

such agreement or arrangement, or in the event there is no such agreement or
arrangement or the agreement or arrangement does not define the term "cause" or
a substantially equivalent term, then Cause means, unless otherwise defined in
the Option Agreement with respect to the corresponding Option:

          (a) any act or failure to act deemed to constitute cause under the
Company's or an Affiliate's established practices, policies or guidelines
applicable to the Participant;

          (b) breach of a covenant made by the Participant in conjunction with
the grant of an Option or the transfer of Shares hereunder;

          (c) the Participant's gross negligence in the performance of his
duties or material failure or willful refusal to perform his duties;

          (d) the determination by the Committee in the exercise of its
reasonable judgment that Participant has committed an act that (i) negatively
affects the Company's or Affiliate's business or reputation or (ii) indicates
alcohol or drug abuse by Participant that adversely affects his performance
hereunder; or

          (e) the determination by the Committee in the exercise of its
reasonable judgment that Participant has committed an act or acts constituting a
felony or other act involving dishonesty, disloyalty or fraud against the
Company or an Affiliate.

     "Change in Control" and "Change in Control Price" have the meanings set
forth in Sections 7.2 and 7.3, respectively.

     "Code" or "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, any Treasury Regulations (including proposed regulations) thereunder
and any subsequent Internal Revenue Code.

     "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor
agency.

     "Committee" means the person or persons appointed to administer the Plan,
as further described herein.

     "Common Stock" means the regular voting common stock, $0.01 par value per
share, of the Company, whether presently or hereafter issued, and any other
stock or security resulting from adjustment thereof as described hereinafter or
the equity of any successor to the Company which is designated for the purposes
of this Plan.

     "Company" means NovaMed Eyecare, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and includes
any successor or assignee entity or entities into which the Company may be
merged, changed or consolidated; any entity for whose securities the securities
of the Company shall be exchanged; and any assignee of or successor to
substantially all of the assets of the Company.


                                      -2-
<PAGE>

     "Covered Employee" means a Participant who is a "covered employee" within
the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

     "Disability" means a mental or physical illness that entitles the
Participant to receive benefits under the long term disability plan of the
Company or an Affiliate, or if the Participant is not covered by such a plan or
the Participant is not an employee of the Company or an Affiliate, a mental or
physical illness that renders a Participant totally and permanently incapable of
performing the Participant's duties for the Company or an Affiliate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Disability will not qualify under this Plan if
it is the result of (i) a willfully self-inflicted injury or willfully
self-induced sickness; or (ii) an injury or disease contracted, suffered, or
incurred, while participating in a criminal offense. The determination of
Disability will be made by the Committee. The determination of Disability for
purposes of this Plan will not be construed to be an admission of disability for
any other purpose.

     "Effective Date" means February 16, 2000.

     "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

     "Fair Market Value" means, unless otherwise determined by the Committee,
the closing sale price per share reported on a consolidated basis for stock
listed on the principal stock exchange or market on which Common Stock is traded
on the date as of which such value is being determined or, if there is no sale
on that date, then on the last previous day on which a sale was reported.

     "Grant Date" means the date as of which an Option is granted pursuant to
the Plan.

     "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option to purchase shares of Common Stock
granted under this Plan which satisfies the requirements of Section 422 of the
Code.

     "NASDAQ" means the Nasdaq Stock Market, including the Nasdaq National
Market.

     "Nonqualified Stock Option" means an Option to purchase Shares granted
under this Plan, the taxation of which is pursuant to Section 83 of the Code.

     "Option" or "Stock Option" means an option or right granted to a
Participant (under Article VI hereof) to purchase Shares at a specified price
during specified time periods.

     "Option Period" means the period during which an Option shall be
exercisable in accordance with the related Agreement and Article VI.


                                      -3-
<PAGE>

     "Option Price" means the price at which Shares may be purchased under an
Option as provided in Section 6.3.

     "Participant" means a person who satisfies the eligibility conditions of
Article V and to whom an Option has been granted by the Committee under this
Plan, and in the event a Representative is appointed for a Participant or
another person becomes a Representative, then the term "Participant" shall mean
such Representative. The term shall also include a trust for the benefit of the
Participant, a partnership the interest of which is held by or for the benefit
of the Participant, the Participant's parents, spouse or descendants, or a
custodian under a uniform gifts to minors act or similar statute for the benefit
of the Participant's descendants, to the extent permitted by the Committee and
not inconsistent with the Rule 16b-3 or the status of the Option as an Incentive
Stock Option, to the extent intended. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term
"Termination of Employment" shall mean the Termination of Employment of the
person to whom the Option was originally granted.

     "Plan" means the NovaMed Eyecare, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Incentive Plan,
as herein set forth and as may be amended from time to time.

     "Representative" means (a) the person or entity acting as the executor or
administrator of a Participant's estate pursuant to the last will and testament
of a Participant or pursuant to the laws of the jurisdiction in which the
Participant had the Participant's primary residence at the date of the
Participant's death; (b) the person or entity acting as the guardian or
temporary guardian of a Participant; (c) the person or entity which is the
Beneficiary of the Participant upon or following the Participant's death; or (d)
any person to whom an Option has been transferred with the permission of the
Committee or by operation of law; provided that only one of the foregoing shall
be the Representative at any point in time as determined under applicable law
and recognized by the Committee. Any Representative shall be subject to all
terms and conditions applicable to the Participant.

     "Retirement" means the Participant's Termination of Employment after
attaining either the normal retirement age or the early retirement age as
defined in the principal (as determined by the Committee) tax-qualified plan of
the Company or an Affiliate, if the Participant is covered by such plan, and if
the Participant is not covered by such a plan, then age 65, or age 55 with the
accrual of 10 years of service.

     "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3, as from time to time in effect and
applicable to the Plan and Participants, promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

     "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

     "Shares" means shares of Common Stock.


                                      -4-
<PAGE>

     "Termination of Employment" means the occurrence of any act or event,
whether pursuant to an employment agreement or otherwise, that actually or
effectively causes or results in the person's ceasing, for whatever reason, to
be an officer, independent contractor, board member, consultant, director or
employee of the Company or of any Affiliate, or to be an officer, independent
contractor, board member, consultant, director or employee of any entity that
provides services to the Company or an Affiliate, including, without limitation,
death, Disability, dismissal, severance at the election of the Participant,
Retirement, or severance as a result of the discontinuance, liquidation, sale or
transfer by the Company or its Affiliates of all businesses owned or operated by
the Company or its Affiliates. With respect to any person who is not an employee
with respect to the Company or an Affiliate, the Agreement will establish what
act or event shall constitute a Termination of Employment for purposes of the
Plan. A transfer of employment from the Company to an Affiliate, or from an
Affiliate to the Company, shall not be a Termination of Employment, unless
expressly determined by the Committee. A Termination of Employment shall occur
for an employee who is employed by an Affiliate if the Affiliate shall cease to
be an Affiliate and the Participant does not immediately thereafter become an
employee of the Company or an Affiliate.

     "Voluntary Termination of Employment" means a Termination of Employment at
the election of the Participant, including, with limitation, resignation by the
Participant, but excluding Retirement.

     In addition, certain other terms used herein have definitions given to them
in the first place in which they are used.

                                   ARTICLE III
                                   -----------

                                 ADMINISTRATION
                                 --------------

     3.1 Committee Structure and Authority. The Plan shall be administered by
the Committee, which shall be composed of one or more members of the Board of
Directors, each of whom is a "non-employee director" within the meaning of Rule
16b-3 of the Exchange Act and an "outside director" for purposes of the
deduction of compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee shall
be the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, unless such committee
does not exist or the Board establishes a committee whose purpose is the
administration of this Plan. In the absence of an appointment of a Compensation
Committee or another specific committee, the Board shall constitute the
Committee. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum at any meeting
thereof (including by telephone conference) and the acts of a majority of the
members present, or acts approved in writing by a majority of the entire
Committee without a meeting, shall be the acts of the Committee for purposes of
this Plan. The Committee may authorize any one or more of its shareholders or an
officer of the Company to execute and deliver documents on behalf of the
Committee. A member of the Committee shall not exercise any discretion
respecting himself or herself under the Plan. In the event that the Compensation
Committee of the Board no longer is the Committee, the Board shall have the
authority to remove, replace or fill any vacancy of any member of the Committee
upon notice to the Committee and the affected member.


                                      -5-
<PAGE>

Any member of the Committee may resign upon notice to the Board. The Committee
may allocate among one or more of its members, or may delegate to one or more of
its agents, such duties and responsibilities as it determines.

     Among other things, the Committee shall have the authority, subject to the
terms of the Plan:

          (a) to select those persons to whom Options may be granted from time
     to time;

          (b) to determine whether and to what extent Options are to be granted
     hereunder;

          (c) to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Option
     granted hereunder;

          (d) to determine the terms and conditions of any Option granted
     hereunder (including, but not limited to, the Option Price, the Option
     Period, any exercise restriction or limitation and any exercise
     acceleration, forfeiture or waiver regarding any Option and the Shares
     relating thereto);

          (e) to adjust the terms and conditions, at any time or from time to
     time, of any Option, subject to the limitations of Section 8.1;

          (f) to determine under what circumstances an Option may be settled in
     cash or Shares;

          (g) to provide for the forms of Agreement to be utilized in connection
     with the Plan;

          (h) to determine whether a Participant has a Disability or a
     Retirement;

          (i) to determine whether and with what effect an individual has
     incurred a Termination of Employment;

          (j) to determine what securities law requirements are applicable to
     the Plan, Options, and the issuance of Shares and to require of a
     Participant that appropriate action be taken with respect to such
     requirements;

          (k) to cancel, with the consent of the Participant or as otherwise
     provided in the Plan or an Agreement, outstanding Options;

          (l) to interpret and make final determinations with respect to the
     remaining number of Shares available under this Plan;


                                      -6-
<PAGE>

          (m) to require as a condition of the exercise of an Option or the
     issuance or transfer of a certificate for Shares, the withholding from a
     Participant of the amount of any federal, state or local taxes as may be
     required by law;

          (n) to determine whether the Company or any other person has a right
     or obligation to purchase Shares from a Participant and, if so, the terms
     and conditions on which such Shares are to be purchased;

          (o) to determine the restrictions or limitations on the transfer of
     Shares;

          (p) to determine whether an Option is to be adjusted, modified or
     purchased, or is to become fully exercisable, under the Plan or the terms
     of an Agreement;

          (q) to determine the permissible methods of Option exercise and
     payment, including cashless exercise arrangements;

          (r) to adopt, amend and rescind such rules and regulations as, in its
     opinion, may be advisable in the administration of the Plan; and

          (s) to appoint and compensate agents, counsel, auditors or other
     specialists to aid it in the discharge of its duties.

     The Committee shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such
administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall,
from time to time, deem advisable, to interpret the terms and provisions of the
Plan and any Option issued under the Plan (and any Agreement) and to otherwise
supervise the administration of the Plan. The Committee's policies and
procedures may differ with respect to Options granted at different times or to
different Participants.

     Any determination made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the
Plan shall be made in its sole discretion, and in the case of any determination
relating to an Option, may be made at the time of the grant of the Option or,
unless in contravention of any express term of the Plan or an Agreement, at any
time thereafter. All decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions
of the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons, including the Company and
Participants. No determination shall be subject to de novo review if challenged
in court.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                                   ----------

                             SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN
                             ----------------------

     4.1 Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Section 4.5, the total
number of Shares reserved and available for distribution pursuant to Options
under the Plan shall be 500,000 shares of Common Stock, as authorized for
issuance on the Effective Date and thereafter from time


                                      -7-
<PAGE>

to time. Such Shares may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and
unissued Shares or shares of treasury stock.

     4.2 Release of Shares. If any Shares that are subject to an Option cease to
be such, if any Shares that are subject to any Option are forfeited, if any
Option otherwise terminates without issuance of Shares being made to the
Participant, or if any Shares are received by the Company in connection with the
exercise of an Option or the satisfaction of a tax withholding obligation, such
Shares, in the discretion of the Committee, may again be available for
distribution in connection with Options (other than Incentive Stock Options)
under the Plan. If any Shares could not again be available for Options to a
particular Participant under any applicable law, such Shares shall be available
exclusively for Options to Participants who are not subject to such limitations.

     4.3 Restrictions on Shares. Shares issued upon exercise of an Option shall
be subject to the terms and conditions specified herein and to such other terms,
conditions and restrictions as the Committee in its discretion may determine or
provide in an Option Agreement. The Company shall not be required to issue or
deliver any certificates for Shares, cash or other property prior to: (i) the
Participant executing any agreement that the Committee has required the
Participant to execute as a condition for the grant of Shares; (ii) the listing
of such shares on any stock exchange or NASDAQ (or other public market) on which
the Shares may then be listed (or regularly traded), (iii) the completion of any
registration or qualification of such Shares under federal or state law, or any
ruling or regulation of any government body which the Committee determines to be
necessary or advisable, and (iv) the satisfaction of any applicable withholding
obligation in order for the Company or an Affiliate to obtain a deduction with
respect to the exercise of an Option. The Company may cause any certificate for
any Shares to be delivered to be properly marked with a legend or other notation
reflecting the limitations on transfer of such Shares as provided in this Plan
or as the Committee may otherwise require. The Committee may require any person
exercising an Option to make such representations and furnish such information
as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of
the Shares in compliance with applicable law or otherwise. Fractional shares
shall not be delivered, but shall be rounded to the next lower whole number of
shares.

     4.4 Shareholder Rights. No person shall have any rights of a shareholder as
to Shares subject to an Option until, after proper exercise of the Option or
other action required, such Shares have been recorded on the Company's official
shareholder records as having been issued and transferred. Upon exercise of the
Option or any portion thereof, the Company shall have thirty (30) days in which
to issue the Shares, and the Participant will not be treated as a shareholder
for any purpose whatsoever prior to such issuance. No adjustment shall be made
for cash dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the
date such Shares are recorded as issued and transferred in the Company's
official shareholder records, except as provided herein or in an Agreement.

     4.5 Anti-Dilution. In the event of any Company stock dividend, stock split,
reverse stock split, combination or exchange of shares, recapitalization or
other change in the capital structure of the Company, corporate separation or
division of the Company (including, but not limited to, a split-up, spin-off,
split-off or distribution to Company shareholders other than a normal cash than


                                      -8-
<PAGE>

dividend), sale by the Company of all or a substantial portion of its assets
(measured either on a stand-alone or consolidated basis), reorganization, rights
offering, a partial or complete liquidation, or any other corporate transaction
or event involving the Company and having an effect similar to any of the
foregoing, then the Committee may adjust or substitute, as the case may be, the
number of Shares available for Options under the Plan, the number of Shares
covered by outstanding Options, the exercise price per Share of outstanding
Options, and any other characteristics or terms of the Options as the Committee
shall deem necessary or appropriate to reflect equitably the effects of such
changes to the Participants; provided, however, that the Committee may limit any
such adjustment so as to maintain the deductibility of the Options under Section
162(m) of the Code, and that any fractional shares resulting from such
adjustment shall be eliminated by rounding to the next lower whole number of
shares with appropriate payment for such fractional share as shall reasonably be
determined by the Committee.

                                    ARTICLE V
                                    ---------

                                   ELIGIBILITY
                                   -----------

     5.1 Eligibility. Except as herein provided, the persons who shall be
eligible to participate in the Plan and be granted Options shall be those
persons who are directors, officers, employees, independent contractors or
consultants with respect to the Company or any Affiliate, who are in a position,
in the opinion of the Committee, to make contributions to the growth,
management, protection and success of the Company and its Affiliates. Of those
persons described in the preceding sentence, the Committee may, from time to
time, select persons to be granted Options and shall determine the terms and
conditions with respect thereto. In making any such selection and in determining
the form of the Option, the Committee may give consideration to the functions
and responsibilities of the person's contributions to the Company and its
Affiliates, the value of the individual's service to the Company and its
Affiliates and such other factors deemed relevant by the Committee. The
Committee may designate as ineligible to participate in the Plan any person who
would otherwise be eligible to participate.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                   ----------

                                     OPTIONS
                                     -------

     6.1 General. The Committee shall have authority to grant Options under the
Plan at any time or from time to time. Options may be either Incentive Stock
Options or Nonqualified Stock Options, provided that no Incentive Stock Options
may be granted if the Plan is not approved by the Company's stockholders within
twelve (12) months after the date the Plan has been adopted. An Option shall
entitle the Participant to receive Shares upon the exercise of such Option,
subject to the Participant's satisfaction in full of any conditions,
restrictions or limitations imposed in accordance with the Plan or an Agreement
(the terms and provisions of which may differ from other Agreements) including
without limitation, payment of the Option Price. During any three-calendar-


                                      -9-
<PAGE>

year period, Options for no more than 500,000 shares of Common Stock shall be
granted to any Participant.

     6.2 Grant. The grant of an Option shall occur as of the date the Committee
determines. Each Option granted under this Plan shall be evidenced by an
Agreement, in a form approved by the Committee, which shall embody the terms and
conditions of such Option and which shall be subject to the express terms and
conditions set forth in the Plan. Such Agreement shall become effective upon
execution by the Company and the Participant. Only a person who is a common-law
employee of the Company, any parent corporation of the Company or a subsidiary
(as such terms are defined in Section 424 of the Code) on the date of grant
shall be eligible to be granted an Option which is intended to be and is an
Incentive Stock Option. To the extent that any Option is not designated as an
Incentive Stock Option or even if so designated does not qualify as an Incentive
Stock Option, it shall constitute a Nonqualified Stock Option.

     6.3 Terms and Conditions. Except to the extent determined to be appropriate
by the Committee and consented to by the Participant, an Option granted pursuant
to the Plan shall be subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined
by the Committee, including the following:

          (a) Option Period. The Option Period of each Option will be fixed by
     the Committee; provided that the Option Period of a Nonqualified Stock
     Option shall not exceed ten (10) years from the date the Option is granted.
     In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Option Period shall not
     exceed ten (10) years from the date of grant or five (5) years in the case
     of an individual who owns more than ten percent (10%) of the combined
     voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, a corporation which is
     a parent corporation of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company (each
     as defined in Section 424 of the Code). No Option which is intended to be
     an Incentive Stock Option shall be granted more than ten (10) years from
     the date this Plan is adopted by the Company or the date this Plan is
     approved by the shareholders of the Company, whichever is earlier.

          (b) Option Price. The Option Price per share of Common Stock
     purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee. If an
     Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, the Option
     Price per share of Common Stock shall be not less than the Fair Market
     Value per share of Common Stock on the date the Option is granted, or where
     granted to an individual who owns or who is deemed to own stock possessing
     more than ten percent (10%) of the combined voting power of all classes of
     stock of the Company, a corporation which is a parent corporation of the
     Company or any subsidiary of the Company (each as defined in Section 424 of
     the Code), not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of such Fair Market
     Value per share.

          (c) Exercisability. Subject to Section 7.1, Options shall be
     exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions
     as shall be determined by the Committee. If the Committee provides that any
     Option is exercisable only in installments, the Committee may at any time
     waive such installment exercise provisions, in whole or in


                                      -10-
<PAGE>

     part. In addition, the Committee may at any time accelerate the
     exercisability of any Option. If the Committee intends that an Option be an
     Incentive Stock Option, the Committee may, in its discretion, provide that
     the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the Grant Date) of an
     Incentive Stock Option which is exercisable for the first time during the
     calendar year shall not exceed $100,000.

          (d) Method of Exercise. Subject to the provisions of this Article VI,
     a Participant may exercise Options, in whole or in part, at any time during
     the Option Period by the Participant's giving written notice of exercise on
     a form provided by the Committee (if available) to the Company specifying
     the number of Shares subject to the Option to be purchased. Such notice
     shall be accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price by cash or
     check or such other form of payment as the Company may accept. If approved
     by the Committee, payment in full or in part may also be made (i) by
     delivering Shares already owned by the Participant for a period of at least
     six (6) months prior to payment having a total Fair Market Value on the
     date of such delivery equal to the Option Price; (ii) by the execution and
     delivery of a note or other full recourse evidence of indebtedness (and any
     security agreement thereunder) satisfactory to the Committee; (iii) by the
     delivery of cash or the extension of credit by a broker-dealer to whom the
     Participant has submitted a notice of exercise or otherwise indicated an
     intent to exercise an Option (in accordance with Part 220, Chapter II,
     Title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations, so-called "cashless"
     exercise); (iv) by certifying ownership of shares owned by the Participant
     to the satisfaction of the Committee for later delivery to the Company as
     expected by the Committee and (v) by any combination of the foregoing. No
     Shares will be issued until full payment therefor has been made and the
     Participant has executed any and all agreements that the Company may
     require the Participant to execute. A Participant will have all of the
     rights of a shareholder of the Company holding the Shares that are subject
     to such Option (including, if applicable, the right to vote the Shares and
     the right to receive dividends), when the Participant has given written
     notice of exercise, has paid in full for such Shares, executed all relevant
     agreements, and such Shares have been recorded on the Company's official
     records as having been issued and transferred.

          (e) Non-transferability of Options. Except as provided herein or in an
     Agreement, no Option or interest therein shall be transferable by the
     Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution
     or by a designation of Beneficiary effective upon the death of the
     Participant, and all Options shall be exercisable during the Participant's
     lifetime only by the Participant or the Participant's Representative. If
     and to the extent transferability is permitted by the Committee as provided
     by an Agreement, the Option shall be transferable only if such transfer
     does not result in liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the
     Participant or other Participants and is consistent with registration of
     the Option and sale of Common Stock on Form S-8 (or a successor form) or is
     consistent with the use of Form S-8 (or the Committee's waiver of such
     condition) and consistent with an Option's intended status as an Incentive
     Stock Option (if applicable).


                                      -11-
<PAGE>

     6.4 Termination by Reason of Death. Unless otherwise provided in an
Agreement or determined by the Committee, if a Participant incurs a Termination
of Employment due to death, any unexpired and unexercised Option held by such
Participant shall thereafter be fully exercisable for a period of one (1) year
following the date of the appointment of a Representative (or such other period
or no period as the Committee may specify) or until the expiration of the Option
Period, whichever period is the shorter.

     6.5 Termination by Reason of Disability. Unless otherwise provided in an
Agreement or determined by the Committee, if a Participant incurs a Termination
of Employment due to a Disability, any unexpired and unexercised Option held by
such Participant shall thereafter be fully exercisable by the Participant for
the period of one (1) year (or such other period or no period as the Committee
may specify) immediately following the date of such Termination of Employment or
until the expiration of the Option Period, whichever period is shorter, and the
Participant's death at any time following such Termination of Employment due to
Disability will not affect the foregoing. In the event of Termination of
Employment by reason of Disability, if an Incentive Stock Option is exercised
after the expiration of the exercise periods that apply for purposes of Section
422 of the Code, such Option will thereafter be treated as a Nonqualified Stock
Option.

     6.6 Other Termination. Unless otherwise provided in an Agreement or
determined by the Committee, if a Participant incurs a Termination of Employment
due to Retirement, or the Termination of Employment is involuntary on the part
of the Participant (but is not due to death or Disability or for Cause), any
Option held by such Participant shall thereupon terminate, except that such
Option, to the extent then exercisable, may be exercised for the lesser of the
ninety (90)-day period commencing with the date of such Termination of
Employment or until the expiration of the Option Period, whichever period is
shorter. If the Participant incurs a Termination of Employment which is either
(a) for Cause or (b) a Voluntary Termination of Employment on the part of the
Participant, the Option will terminate immediately. The death or Disability of a
Participant after a Termination of Employment otherwise provided herein will not
extend the time permitted to exercise an Option.

     6.7 Cashing-Out of Options. Unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, on
receipt of written notice of exercise, the Committee may elect to cash-out all
or part of the portion of any Option to be exercised by paying the Participant
an amount, in cash or Shares, equal to the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value
of the Shares that are subject to the portion of the Option being cashed-out
over (b) the Option Price, such difference multiplied by (c) the number of
Shares subject to the portion of the Option being cashed out, all as of the
effective date of such cash-out.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                                   -----------

                          CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS
                          ----------------------------

     7.1 Impact of Event. An Agreement may provide that in the event of a Change
in Control (as defined in Section 7.2):


                                      -12-
<PAGE>

          (a) Any Options outstanding as of the date of such Change in Control
     and not then exercisable shall become fully exercisable to the full extent
     of the original grant.

          (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless the
     Committee shall provide otherwise in an Agreement, in the event of a Change
     in Control, a Participant shall have the right, whether or not the Option
     is fully exercisable or may be otherwise realized by the Participant, by
     giving notice to the Company during the sixty (60)-day period from and
     after a Change in Control, to elect to surrender all or part of the Option
     to the Company and to receive cash, within thirty (30) days of such notice,
     in an amount equal to the amount by which the "Change in Control Price" (as
     defined in Section 7.3) per share of the Shares on the date of such
     election shall exceed the amount which the Participant must pay to exercise
     the Option per share of Shares under the Option (the "Spread") multiplied
     by the number of Shares granted under the Option. Notwithstanding the
     foregoing, if any right under this Section would cause a transaction to be
     ineligible for pooling of interest accounting that would but for the right
     hereunder be eligible for such accounting treatment, the Committee may
     modify or adjust the right so that pooling of interest accounting shall be
     available, including the substitution of Shares having a Fair Market Value
     equal to the cash otherwise payable hereunder for the right which caused
     the transaction to be ineligible for pooling of interest accounting.

     7.2 Definition of Change in Control. For purposes of this Plan, unless
otherwise specified in the Agreement with respect to the corresponding Option, a
"Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if (a) any corporation,
person or other entity (other than the Company, a majority-owned subsidiary of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or an employee benefit plan (or related
trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or an Affiliate), including a
"group" as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, becomes the beneficial owner of Shares representing more than fifty
percent of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding
securities; (b)(i) the Company approves, in any transaction or series of related
transactions, a definitive agreement to merge or consolidate the Company with or
into another entity other than a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company, or to
sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Company's assets,
and (ii) the persons who were the members of the Board of Directors prior to
such approval do not represent a majority of the Board of Directors of the
surviving, resulting or acquiring entity or the parent thereof; or (c) the
shareholders of the Company approve a plan of liquidation of the Company.

     7.3 Change in Control Price. For purposes of the Plan, unless otherwise
specified in the Agreement with respect to the corresponding Option, "Change in
Control Price" means the higher of (a) the highest reported sales price of a
Share in any transaction reported on the principal exchange on which such Shares
are listed or on NASDAQ during the sixty (60)-day period prior to and including
the date of a Change in Control or (b) if the Change in Control is the result of
a tender or exchange offer, merger, consolidation, liquidation or sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company (in each case a "Transaction"),
the highest price per Share paid in such Transaction. To the extent that the
consideration paid in any Transaction consists all or in part of securities or


                                      -13-
<PAGE>

other non-cash consideration, the value of such securities or other non-cash
consideration shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                  ------------

                                  MISCELLANEOUS
                                  -------------

     8.1 Amendments and Termination. The Board may amend, alter or discontinue
the Plan at any time, but no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be
made which would impair the rights of a Participant under an Option theretofore
granted without the Participant's consent, except such an amendment (a) made to
avoid an expense charge to the Company or an Affiliate, (b) made to cause the
Plan to qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 or (c) made to permit
the Company or an Affiliate a deduction under the Code. In addition, no such
amendment shall be made without the approval of the Company's shareholders to
the extent such approval is required by law or agreement.

     The Committee may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan or an Option at any
time on the same conditions and limitations (and exceptions to limitations) as
apply to the Board's authority to amend the Plan and further subject to any
approval or limitations the Board may impose.

     Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, if any right under
this Plan would cause a transaction to be ineligible for pooling of interest
accounting that would, but for the right hereunder, be eligible for such
accounting treatment, the Committee may modify or adjust the right so that
pooling of interest accounting shall be available, including the substitution of
equity interests having a Fair Market Value equal to the cash otherwise payable
hereunder for the right which caused the transaction to be ineligible for
pooling of interest accounting.

     8.2 Unfunded Status of Plan. It is intended that the Plan be an "unfunded"
plan for incentive and deferred compensation. The Committee may authorize the
creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under
the Plan to deliver Shares or make payments; provided, however, that, unless the
Committee otherwise determines, the existence of such trusts or other
arrangements is consistent with the "unfunded" status of the Plan.

     8.3 Limits on Transferability. Unless otherwise provided in this Plan or in
an Agreement, no Option shall be subject to the claims of Participant's
creditors and no Option may be sold, transferred, assigned, alienated,
encumbered, hypothecated, gifted, conveyed, pledged or disposed of in any way
other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or to a
Representative upon the death of the Participant.

     8.4 Status of Options Under Code Section 162(m). It is the intent of the
Company that Options granted to persons who are Covered Employees within the
meaning of Code Section 162(m) after the Plan has been approved by the Company's
stockholders shall constitute "qualified performance-based compensation"
satisfying the requirements of Code Section 162(m).


                                      -14-
<PAGE>

Accordingly, the provisions of the Plan shall be interpreted in a manner
consistent with Code Section 162(m). If any provision of the Plan or any
agreement relating to such an Option does not comply or is inconsistent with the
requirements of Code Section 162(m), such provision shall be construed or deemed
amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.

     8.5 General Provisions.

          (a) Representation. The Committee may require each person purchasing
     or receiving shares pursuant to an Option to represent to and agree with
     the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the shares without a
     view to the distribution thereof. The certificates for such shares may
     include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any
     restrictions on transfer.

          (b) No Additional Obligation. Nothing contained in the Plan shall
     prevent the Company or an Affiliate from adopting other or additional
     compensation arrangements for its employees.

          (c) Withholding. No later than the date as of which an amount first
     becomes includable in the gross income of the Participant for income tax
     purposes with respect to any Option, the Participant shall pay to the
     Company (or other entity identified by the Committee), or make arrangements
     satisfactory to the Company or other entity identified by the Committee
     regarding the payment of, any Federal, state, local or foreign taxes of any
     kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such amount required in
     order for the Company or an Affiliate to obtain a current deduction. Unless
     otherwise determined by the Committee, withholding obligations may be
     settled with Shares, including Shares that are part of the Option that
     gives rise to the withholding requirement, provided that any applicable
     requirements under Section 16 of the Exchange Act are satisfied. The
     obligations of the Company under the Plan will be conditional on such
     payment or arrangements, and the Company and its Affiliates will, to the
     extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any
     payment otherwise due to the Participant. If the Participant disposes of
     shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Incentive Stock Option in
     any transaction considered to be a disqualifying transaction under the
     Code, the Participant must give written notice of such transfer and the
     Company shall have the right to deduct any taxes required by law to be
     withheld from any amounts otherwise payable to the Participant. The
     obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditional on such
     payment or arrangements, and the Company and its Affiliates shall, to the
     extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any
     payment otherwise due to the Participant.

          (d) Representative. The Committee shall establish such procedures as
     it deems appropriate for a Participant to designate a Representative to
     whom any amounts payable in the event of the Participant's death are to be
     paid.

          (e) Controlling Law. The Plan and all Options made and actions taken
     thereunder will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
     the State of


                                      -15-
<PAGE>

     Delaware (other than its law respecting choice of law). The Plan shall be
     construed to comply with all applicable law and to avoid liability to the
     Company, an Affiliate or a Participant or loss of a deduction, including,
     without limitation, liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

          (f) Offset. Any amounts owed to the Company or an Affiliate by the
     Participant of whatever nature may be offset by the Company from the value
     of any Shares, cash or other thing of value under this Plan or an Agreement
     to be transferred to the Participant, and no Shares, cash or other thing of
     value under this Plan or an Agreement shall be transferred unless and until
     all disputes between the Company and the Participant have been fully and
     finally resolved and the Participant has waived all claims to such against
     the Company or an Affiliate.

          (g) No Rights with Respect to Continuance of Employment. Nothing
     contained herein shall be deemed to alter the relationship between the
     Company or an Affiliate and a Participant, or the contractual relationship
     between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate if there is a written
     contract regarding such relationship. Nothing contained herein shall be
     construed to constitute a contract of employment between the Company or an
     Affiliate and a Participant. The Company or an Affiliate and each of the
     Participants continue to have the right to terminate the employment or
     service relationship at any time for any reason, except as provided in a
     written contract. The Company or an Affiliate shall have no obligation to
     retain the Participant in its employ or service as a result of this Plan.
     There shall be no inference as to the length of employment or service
     hereby, and the Company or an Affiliate reserves the same rights to
     terminate the Participant's employment or service as existed prior to the
     individual's becoming a Participant in this Plan.

          (h) Fail-Safe. With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the
     Exchange Act, transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all
     applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3, as applicable. To the extent any
     provision of the Plan or action by the Committee fails to so comply, it
     shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed
     advisable by the Committee. Moreover, in the event the Plan does not
     include a provision required by Rule 16b-3 to be stated herein, such
     provision (other than one relating to eligibility requirements or the price
     and amount of Options) shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into
     the Plan with respect to Participants subject to Section 16.

          (i) Right to Capitalize. The grant of an Option shall in no way affect
     the right of the Company to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise
     change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidation,
     dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or
     assets.

     8.6 Mitigation of Excise Tax. Subject to any agreement with a Participant,
if any payment or right accruing to a Participant under this Plan (without the
application of this Section 8.6), either alone or together with other payments
or rights accruing to the Participant from the Company or an Affiliate ("Total
Payments"), would constitute a "parachute payment" (as defined


                                      -16-
<PAGE>

in Section 280G of the Code and regulations thereunder), such payment or right
shall be reduced to the largest amount or greatest right that will result in no
portion of the amount payable or right accruing under the Plan being subject to
an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code or being disallowed as a deduction
under Section 280G of the Code. The determination of whether any reduction in
the rights or payments under this Plan is to apply shall be made by the
Committee in good faith after consultation with the Participant, and such
determination will be conclusive and binding on the Participant. The Participant
shall cooperate in good faith with the Committee in making such determination
and providing the necessary information for this purpose. The provisions of this
Section 8.6 shall apply with respect to any Participant only if, after reduction
for any applicable federal excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code and
other federal income tax imposed by the Code, the Total Payments accruing to
such Participant would be less than the amount of the Total Payments as reduced
(i) if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of this Section 8.6 and any
similar provisions under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate to
mitigate the applicable federal excise tax, and (ii) by federal income taxes
(other than such excise tax).

     8.7 Options in Substitution for Options Granted by Other Entities. Options
may be granted under the Plan from time to time in substitution for options held
by employees, directors or service providers of other entities who are about to
become officers, directors, shareholders or employees of the Company or an
Affiliate. The terms and conditions of the Options so granted may vary from the
terms and conditions set forth in this Plan at the time of such grant as the
majority of the shareholders of the Committee may deem appropriate to conform,
in whole or in part, to the provisions of the Options in substitution for which
they are granted.

     8.8 Procedure for Adoption. Any Affiliate of the Company may by resolution
of such Affiliate's board of directors with the consent of the Board of
Directors and subject to such conditions as may be imposed by the Board of
Directors, adopt the Plan for the benefit of its employees as of the date
specified in the resolution.

     8.9 Procedure for Withdrawal. Any Affiliate which has adopted the Plan may,
by resolution of the board of directors of such Affiliate, with the consent of
the Board of Directors and subject to such conditions as may be imposed by the
Board of Directors, terminate its adoption of the Plan.

     8.10 Delay. If at the time a Participant incurs a Termination of Employment
(other than due to Cause) or if at the time of a Change in Control, the
Participant is subject to "short-swing" liability under Section 16 of the
Exchange Act, any time period provided for under the Plan or an Agreement to the
extent necessary to avoid the imposition of liability will be suspended and
delayed during the period the Participant would be subject to such liability,
but not more than six months and one day and not to exceed the Option Period.
The Company shall have the right to suspend or delay any time period described
in the Plan or an Agreement if the Committee shall determine that the action may
constitute a violation of any law or result in liability under any law to the
Company, an Affiliate or a shareholder in the Company until such time as the
action required or permitted will not constitute a violation of law or result in
liability to the Company, an Affiliate or a shareholder of the Company. The
Committee shall have the discretion to suspend the application of the provisions
of


                                      -17-
<PAGE>

the Plan required solely to comply with Rule 16b-3 if the Committee determines
that Rule 16b-3 does not apply to the Plan.

     8.11 Headings. The headings contained in this Plan are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Plan.

     8.12 Severability. If any provision of this Plan is for any reason held to
be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not
affect any other provision of this Plan, and this Plan will be construed as if
such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted.

     8.13 Successors and Assigns. This Plan shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon each successor and assign of the Company. All obligations imposed
upon a Participant, and all rights granted to the Company hereunder, shall be
binding upon the Participant's heirs, legal representatives and successors.

     8.14 Entire Agreement. This Plan and the Agreement constitute the entire
agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, provided that
in the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and the Agreement, the terms
and conditions of this Plan shall control.

Executed effective as of the 16(th) day of February, 2000.

                                                  NovaMed Eyecare, Inc.

                                                  By: /s/ Stephen J. Winjum
                                                      ---------------------

                                                  Its:  President


                                      -18-