EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------


     THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") made and entered into effective
as  of  the  first  day  of  October,  1998,  by  and  between  Visionary Retail
Management,  Inc.,  a  Delaware corporation (the "Company"), or its assigns, and
David  Carrig  ("Employee");

                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                              - - - - - - - - - -

     WHEREAS,  the  Company  desires  to  employ  executive  on  the  terms  and
conditions  set  forth  below;  and

     WHEREAS,  Employee desires to serve in the employment of the Company on the
terms  and  conditions  set  forth  below;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter  set  forth,  the  parties  hereto  agree  as  follows:

     1.     Employment.  The Company hereby employs Employee and Employee hereby
            -----------
accepts  such  employment,  upon  the  terms  and  conditions  set forth herein.

2.     Term.   The  term  of  this  Agreement  shall  commence  on  the  date
       ----
hereof  (the "Effective Date") and shall terminate on December 31, 1999, subject
to  earlier  termination  and  extension  as  hereinafter provided (the "Term").
Thereafter,  and  subject  to  Section  8(d), this Agreement shall automatically
renew  for successive one-year terms unless either party gives written notice of
its election not to renew at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of the then
current  period. In the event of such extension, all of the terms and conditions
of  this  Agreement  shall  remain  in  full  force  and  effect.

     3.     Duties.  During  the  Term,  Employee agrees that he will devote his
            ------
full  business  time,  attention and energies to the business of the Company and
its  subsidiaries  and  affiliates, if applicable, and to the performance of his
duties  hereunder,  and  shall  not engage in any other business, profession, or
occupation  for  compensation  or  otherwise.

4.     Compensation.
       ------------

     (a)     Base  Compensation.  During the term of this Agreement, the Company
             ------------------
shall  pay to Employee a salary at an annual rate of not less than $135,000 (the
"Base  Salary").  The  Base  Salary  shall be reviewed by the Board from time to
time as the Board deems appropriate. The Base Salary shall be payable during the
Term  in  substantially  equal installments not less frequently than monthly in
accordance  with  the  Company's  standard  payroll  policy  or  in  such  other
installments  as  the  parties  may  mutually  agree.

     (b)     Bonus.  Employee  shall  be  eligible  to earn a bonus based upon a
             -----
bonus  plan  to  be  determined from time to time by the Company for each fiscal
year.  For  fiscal  year  1998  Employee  shall be guaranteed a minimum bonus of
$20,000  and shall have the opportunity to ear up to an additional $20,500 above
the  guarantee level based upon objectives shown on the attached bonus addendum.

<PAGE>

     (c)     Reimbursement of Expenses; Automobile.  The Company shall reimburse
             -------------------------------------
Employee,  in  accordance with the Company's policy in effect from time to time,
for all reasonable travel, entertainment and other business expenses incurred by
Employee  in  the  performance  of  his  duties  and responsibilities hereunder.
Employee  will  receive,  at either an automobile allowance of $500 per month or
use  of  an  automobile  under  a  company  lease and will be reimbursed for his
reasonable  automobile  insurance  costs.  The  determination  of  whether  an
automotive lease or an automobile allowance is provided for the employee will be
solely  the  Company's  determination.

(d)     Stock Option Plan.  Employee shall be eligible to participate in the Eye
        -----------------
Care  Centers  of  America,  Inc.'s  1998 Stock Option Plan, and his rights with
respect  to  options  granted  to him thereunder shall be governed solely by the
terms  of  such plan, as it may be in effect from time to time, and the terms of
the  Stock  Option  Agreement  evidencing  the  grant  of  such  options.

(e)     Net  Payments.  The  amount  of  any gross payments provided for in this
        -------------
Agreement  shall  be  paid  net  of  any  applicable  withholding required under
federal,  state  or  local  law.

     5.     Benefits.  Employee  shall  be entitled to receive the benefits made
            --------
available  or  applicable  from  time  to  time to the employees of the Company;
provided,  however,  that  the  receipt  of  such  benefits by Employee shall be
subject  to  the Company's eligibility and enrollment requirements pertaining to
such  benefit  programs.

     6.     Confidentiality  and  Competitive  Activities.
            ---------------------------------------------

     (a)     Confidentiality.  Employee  acknowledges that during his employment
             ---------------
with  the  Company,  the  Company  has  and will continue to disclose to him the
confidential  affairs  and  proprietary  information  of  the  Company  and  its
subsidiaries and affiliates which is developed by and belongs to the Company and
its  subsidiaries and affiliates, including matters of a business nature such as
information  about  costs,  profits,  markets,  sales,  trade secrets, potential
patents  and  other  business  ideas, customer lists, supplier and vendor lists,
plans  for future developments and/or acquisitions, and information of any other
kind  not  known  within  the  optical  retail industry generally (collectively,
"Confidential  Matters").  Employee  further acknowledges that the Company would
not hire Employee or disclose these Confidential Matters to Employee without the
promises  made  by  Employee  in  this  Section  6.  In  light of the foregoing,
Employee  agrees:

          (i)     To  keep secret all Confidential Matters of the Company and of
any  subsidiaries  and  affiliates  of  the Company, and not to disclose them to
anyone  outside  of  the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, or otherwise
use  them or use his knowledge of them for his own benefit or for the benefit of
any  third party, including, without limitation, use of the trade secrets, trade
names or trademarks of the Company, either during or after the Term, except with
the  Company's  prior  written  consent;  and

          (ii)     To  deliver promptly to the Company at the termination of the
Term,  or  at any time the Company may request, all memoranda, notices, records,
reports and other documents (and all copies thereof) relating to the business of
the Company or any of its

                                        2
<PAGE>

subsidiaries or affiliates, including, but not limited to, Confidential Matters,
which  he may then possess or have under his control. Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing,  the term "Confidential Matters" does not include information which (
)  is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of any
disclosure  by  Employee or ( ) Employee is compelled to disclose by judicial or
administrative  process;  provided,  that in the case of any such requirement or
purported requirement Employee shall provide written notice to the Company prior
to  producing  such  information,  which notice shall be given at least ten (10)
days  prior  to  the  producing  such  information,  if practicable, so that the
Company  may  seek  a  protective  order  or  other  appropriate  remedy.

     (b)     Competitive  Activities.  Employee  expressly  recognizes  and
             -----------------------
acknowledges that the terms and condition of this Section 6(b) are reasonable as
to  time,  area  and  scope  of  restricted  activity,  necessary to protect the
legitimate  interests of the Company, and are not unduly burdensome to Employee.
For  a  period  commencing  on  the  Effective  Date  and ending nine (9) months
following  the effective date of a termination of Employee's employment (for any
reason  whatsoever other than termination by the Company without Cause or if the
Company  elects not to renew the Term as provided in Section 2 hereof), Employee
shall  not,  without  the written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly
(whether  for  compensation  or  otherwise),  alone  or  as  officer,  director,
stockholder (excepting not more than 1% stockholdings for investment purposes in
securities of publicly held and traded companies), partner, associate, employee,
agent, principal, trustee, salesman, consultant, capacity, take any action in or
participate  with  or  become  interested  in  or  associated with the companies
commonly  referred  to  as  Cole/Pearl, Lenscrafter or Walmart (or any successor
thereto).  (Such  activities  are  hereinafter  referred  to as the "Competitive
Activities").

     (c)     Antisolicitation.  Employee  agrees  that  during  the Term of this
             ----------------
Agreement,  and  for a period of two (2) years thereafter, he will not influence
or  attempt  to influence customers (including customers with respect to managed
care plans), vendors or suppliers of the Company or any of its present or future
direct or indirect subsidiaries or affiliates, either directly or indirectly, to
divert  their  business  from  the  Company  or  any  of  its direct or indirect
subsidiaries  or affiliates to any individual, partnership, firm, corporation or
other  entity  then  in  competition  with  the  business  of the Company or any
subsidiary  or  affiliate  of  the  Company; provided this prohibition shall not
apply  to  general  advertisements  in  newspaper  or  other  widely distributed
publications,  media,  or  mail,  whether  electronic  or  otherwise.

     (d)     Soliciting Employees.  Employee agrees that during the Term of this
             --------------------
Agreement,  and  for a period of two (2) years thereafter, he will not, directly
or  indirectly, contact or solicit to employ, or employ, any of the then current
or  past  employees of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company
unless  such  person  shall  have  ceased to be employed by the Company and such
cessation  of  employment  shall have occurred at least twelve (12) months prior
thereto.

            (e)     Comments  Regarding  Employer.  Employer  and Employee agree
                    ------------------------------
that  during  Employee's  employment  and  following  Employee's separation from
employment  with  Employer,  Employee  will  not defame, disparage or in any way
malign  Employer,  its  officers,  directors  or  past  and present employees to
anyone, including but not limited to prospective employers, competitors, vendors
or  suppliers  to the employer, and current or former employees

                                        3
<PAGE>

of  the  Employer.  Employer agrees that it will not defame, disparage or malign
Employee  in  any  way  to  any  third  party.

     7.     Remedies  for  Breach.  In  addition  to  the  rights  and  remedies
            ---------------------
provided  in  Section  14, and without waiving the same if Employee breaches, or
threatens  to breach, any of the provisions of Section 6, the Company shall have
the  following  rights  and  remedies,  in addition to any others, each of which
shall  be  independent  of  the  other  and  severally  enforceable:

      (i)     The right and remedy to have such provisions specifically enforced
by  any  court  having  equity  jurisdiction together with an accounting for any
benefit  or  gain  by  Employee  in  connection  with any such breach.  Employee
specifically acknowledges and agrees that any breach or threatened breach of the
provisions  of  Section  6 will cause irreparable injury to the Company and that
money  damages  will  not  provide  an  adequate  remedy  to  the Company.  Such
injunction shall be available without the posting of any bond or other security.

     (ii)     The  right  and  remedy to require Employee to account for and pay
over  to  the Company all compensation, profits, monies, accruals, increments or
other  benefits  (hereinafter  collectively the "Benefits") derived or received,
directly or indirectly, by Employee as a result of any transactions constituting
a  breach  of  any  of  the provisions of Section 6, Employee hereby agreeing to
account  for  and  pay  over  the  Benefits  to  the  Company.

     (iii)     The  right to terminate Employee's employment pursuant to Section
8(c).

     (iv)     Upon  discovery  by  the  Company  of  a  breach  or immediate and
material  threatened  breach  of  Section  6,  the  right to immediately suspend
payments  to  Employee  under  Section  8,  pending a resolution of the dispute.

     If  any covenant contained in Section 6 or any portion thereof is hereafter
construed  to  be  invalid  or  unenforceable,  the  same  shall  not affect the
remainder  of  the covenant or covenants contained therein, which shall be given
full  effect,  without  regard  to  the  invalid  portions, and any court having
jurisdiction  shall  reform  the  covenant  to the extent necessary to cause the
limitations  contained  therein  as  to  time,  geographical  area  and scope of
activity to be restrained to be reasonable and to impose a restraint that is not
greater  than  necessary  to protect the goodwill and other business interest of
the  Company and to enforce the covenant as reformed.  The parties hereto intend
to  and hereby confer jurisdiction to enforce the covenants contained in Section
6 upon the courts of any state or other jurisdiction in which any alleged breach
of any such covenant occurs.  If the courts of any of one or more of such states
or  other  jurisdictions  shall  hold  such  covenants not wholly enforceable by
reason  of  the  scope  thereof or otherwise, it is the intention of the parties
hereto  that such determination not bar or in any way affect the Company's right
to  the relief provided above in the courts of any other states or jurisdictions
as  to  breaches  of  such  covenants  in  such  other  respective  states  or
jurisdictions,  and  the  above  covenants  as  they  relate  to  each  state or
jurisdiction  being,  for  this  purpose, severable into diverse and independent
covenants.

     8.     Termination  of  Agreement.
            --------------------------
     (a)     Death.  This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the death
             -----
of Employee.  During the Term, if Employee's employment is terminated due to his
death,

                                        4
<PAGE>

Employee's  estate  shall  be  entitled  to receive the Base Salary set forth in
Section  4  accrued  through  the  date  of death; provided, however, Employee's
estate shall not be entitled to any bonus payments (except as otherwise provided
in the applicable bonus plan) or any other benefits (except as provided by law).

     (b)     Disability.  If  Employee  is  unable  to  perform  his services by
             ----------
reason  of  mental  or  physical Disability (as herein defined), the Company may
terminate  this Agreement at any time. Upon termination of Employee's employment
due  to  Disability,  Employee  shall be entitled to receive the Base Salary set
forth in Section 4 accrued through the date on which Employee is  first eligible
to  receive  payment  of disability benefits under the employee benefit plans as
then  in  effect, and if no such plan is in effect, through the month ending one
hundred  eighty  (180) days after onset of Disability and Employee shall not be
entitled  to  any bonus payments (except as otherwise provided in the applicable
bonus  plan)  or  any  other  benefits  (except  as  provided by law).  The term
"Disability"  shall  mean  an  infirmity preventing Employee from performing his
duties  for  a  period  of  more  than  three  (3)  consecutive  months where no
reasonable  accommodation is available or where a reasonable accommodation would
create  an undue burden on the Company.  Any question as to the existence of the
Disability  of  Employee as to which Employee and the Company cannot agree shall
be  determined  in  writing  by  a  qualified  independent  physician  mutually
acceptable  to Employee and the Company.  If the Employee and the Company cannot
agree  as  to  a  qualified  independent  physician,  each  shall appoint such a
physician  and  those  two  physicians  shall select a third who shall make such
determination  in  writing.  The  determination of Disability made in writing to
the  Company  and Employee shall be final and conclusive for all purposes of the
Agreement.

     (c)     Termination For Cause.  The Company may terminate this Agreement at
             ---------------------
any  time  for  "Cause"  in  accordance  with  the  procedures  provided  below.
Termination  of  this  Agreement for "Cause" shall mean termination upon (i) the
breach  of  any  material  provision of this Agreement by Employee which has not
been  rectified  or  cured  within  30  days  after notice by the Company to the
Employee  containing  in  reasonably specific detail the violation or breach and
the  necessary  corrective  action  to rectify or cure such violation or breach,
(ii)  commission  of an act punishable by imprisonment, (iii) willful failure to
substantially  perform  his duties hereunder (other than as a result of total or
partial  incapacity  due  to  physical  or  mental  illness)  which has not been
rectified  or  cured  within 30 days after notice by the Company to the Employee
containing in reasonably specific detail the acts or omissions complained of and
the necessary corrective action to rectify or cure the matters set forth in such
notice;  provided,  however, if the actions or omissions that are the subject of
such notice are substantially similar to acts or omissions with respect to which
the Employee has received notice hereunder within the prior 12 months and had an
opportunity  to  cure  or  rectify,  the  Employee shall not be entitled to such
notice and opportunity to cure, (iv) the engaging by Employee in conduct that is
materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise, including, without
limitation,  embezzlement,  fraud,  theft,  dishonesty,  misfeasance,
insubordination,  malfeasance,  and  neglect  of  duties,  (v)  violation of the
Company's  code  of  conduct or any material violation or repeated violations by
Employee  of  the other policies and procedures promulgated from time to time by
the Company, or (vi) current alcohol or drug abuse by Employee.  In the event of
termination  of  Employee's  employment for Cause, Employee shall be entitled to
receive  only the Base Salary set forth in Section 4 accrued through the date of
termination and he shall not be entitled to any bonus payments or other benefits
(except  as  provided  by  law).

                                        5
<PAGE>

     (d)     Other  Termination  by the Company.  The Company may terminate this
             ----------------------------------
Agreement  at  any time without "Cause" by providing written notice to Employee.
If  the Company terminates this Agreement at any time without Cause (i.e., other
than pursuant to Section 8(b) or 8(c) above), or the Company elects not to renew
the  Term  as  provided  in  Section 2 hereof, the Company shall continue to pay
Employee  his  Base  Salary  for  a  period of nine-months following the date of
termination  of  employment,  the  timing  and  manner of such payments to be in
accordance  with  the  salary payment arrangements in effect at the time of such
termination. Employee shall be required to comply with Section 6.  It shall be a
condition  precedent  of payment to Employee of such continued payments pursuant
to  this subsection (d) that the Employee execute a full and complete release of
the  Company,  each  of  its subsidiaries, affiliates and their respective past,
present  and  future  officers,  directors,  employees,  consultants, attorneys,
agents  and  shareholders,  in  form  and substance reasonably acceptable to the
Company, of any claims Employee may have against any of them, to the extent such
claims  arise  from  Employee's  employment  hereunder.  Notwithstanding  any
provision  in  this Agreement to the contrary, the Company's obligations to make
payments  pursuant to this Section 8(d) shall immediately terminate in the event
that  the Employee engages in any of the Competitive Activities (even if Section
6(b)  is  not  applicable  due  to  termination  of  employment  without Cause).

     (e)     Termination  by  Employee.  Employee  may  terminate this Agreement
             -------------------------
upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Company.  Termination shall be
effective  at  the  expiration  of  the  notice  period.  All obligations of the
Company  under this Agreement shall end on the effective date of termination and
the  Company  shall have no further obligations under this Agreement, including,
but  not  limited  to  payment of salary, bonuses or any similar compensation or
benefits.  Notwithstanding  the notice provided by Employee, the Company, in its
sole  discretion,  may  choose to accept Employee's resignation immediately.  In
that  event,  the  Company's only obligation to Employee will be to pay the Base
Salary  Employee  would  have  received  during  the  notice  period.

     (f)     Mitigation.  Employee  shall not be required to mitigate the amount
             ----------
of  any payment or benefit to be provided pursuant to Section 8(d) ("Severance")
by  seeking  other  employment.  However,  anything  in  this  Agreement
notwithstanding,  if Employee provides services for other than de minimus pay to
anyone  other  than the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates ("Third
Party  Services")  during  a period in which he is receiving such Severance (the
"Severance Period"), the amount of Severance to be paid to Employee with respect
to  such  Severance  Period  shall, beginning on the date such payment for Third
Party  Services  is  received by employee, be reduced by the lesser of (i) fifty
percent  (50%)  of  such  Severance payment, or (ii) fifty percent (50%) of such
payment  for  Third  Party  Services  rendered.

     9.     Effect  of  Termination.  Upon  the  termination  of this Agreement,
            -----------------------
whether  by  the  expiration  of  the Term specified in Section 2 or pursuant to
Section  8, the rights of Employee which shall have accrued prior to the date of
such  termination  shall  not  be  affected  in  any way.  Except as provided in
Section  8(d),  Employee  shall  not  have  any rights which have not previously
accrued  upon  termination  of  this  Agreement.

10.     Communications.  All  notices  and  other  communications  under  this
        --------------
Agreement

                                        6
<PAGE>

shall  be  in  writing  and  shall  be  deemed  to have been duly given when (a)
delivered  by  hand (with written confirmation of receipt), (b) when received by
the  addressee,  if  sent  by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service
(receipt  requested),  in each case to the respective addresses set forth below,
or  to  such  other addresses as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing  in accordance herewith, except that notice of a change of address shall
be  effective only upon actual receipt; to the Company:  the Company, at c/o Eye
Care Centers of America, Inc., 11103 West Avenue, San Antonio, Texas 78213-1392,
for  the  attention  of  Bernard  Andrews,  President;  and  to Employee:  David
Carrig,  160  West  Everett,  Scottsburg,  IN  47170.

     11.     Amendments  or  Additions.  No  amendments  or  additions  to  this
             -------------------------
Agreement  shall  be binding unless in writing and signed by all parties hereto.

     12.     Binding  Effect;  Assignability.  This  Agreement  shall be binding
             -------------------------------
upon,  and  shall inure to the benefit of, Employee; the obligations of Employee
hereunder are personal and this Agreement may not be assigned by Employee.  This
Agreement  is  completely assignable by the Company without notice to or consent
of  Employee.  This  Agreement  shall  be  binding  upon, and shall inure to the
benefit  of,  the  Company  and  shall also bind and inure to the benefit of any
successor  of  the  Company by merger or consolidation or any assignee of all or
substantially  all  of  its  properties.

     13.     Headings;  References.  The  headings  used  in  this Agreement are
             ---------------------
included  solely  for convenience and shall not affect, or be used in connection
with, the interpretation of this Agreement.  References to a "Section" when used
without  further  attribution  shall  refer  to  the particular sections of this
Agreement.

     14.     Binding  Arbitration.  Subject  to  the rights of any party to seek
             ---------------------
injunctive  relief pursuant to Section 7 above and without waiving the same, the
parties  agree  that  all disputes, controversies or claims that may arise among
them  (including their agents and employees), arising out of or relating to this
Agreement,  or the breach, termination or invalidity thereof, shall be submitted
to, and determined by, binding arbitration.  Such arbitration shall be conducted
before  a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules then in
effect  of the American Arbitration Association, except to the extent such rules
are inconsistent with this Section 14. Any arbitration between the parties shall
take  place  at  a location agreeable to the parties but located in the state of
Kentucky.  The  arbitrator  shall  apply the laws of the State of Texas (without
regard  to  conflict  of law rules) in determining the substance of the dispute,
controversy  or  claim  and  shall decide the same in accordance with applicable
usages  and terms of trade.  The fees of the arbitration initially shall be paid
one-half  by  the  Company and one-half by Employee; provided, however, that the
prevailing  party  in  any  such  arbitration  shall  be entitled to recover its
reasonable  attorneys'  fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
arbitration.  Any  award pursuant to such arbitration shall be final and binding
upon  the  parties,  and  judgment on the award may be entered in any federal or
state court sitting in any court having jurisdiction.  The obligations set forth
in this Section 14 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.  THE COMPANY
AND EMPLOYEE EACH KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY GIVE UP ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY
IN  CONNECTION  WITH  ANY  DISPUTE, CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE BETWEEN
THEM.

                                        7
<PAGE>

     15.     Miscellaneous.  No  provision  of  this  Agreement may be modified,
             -------------
waived  or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to
in  writing  and  signed  by  Employee  and  such officer as may be specifically
designated  by  the  Board.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any
breach  by  the  other  party  hereto  of,  or compliance with, any condition or
provision  of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed
a
waiver  of  similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any
prior  or subsequent time.  No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise,
express  or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by
either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.  The validity,
interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed
by  the  laws  of  the  State  of  Texas  without regard to its conflicts of law
principles.

     16.     Surviving Provisions.  The obligations of the Company under Section
             --------------------
8,  of  Employee  under  Section  6,  and of both the Company and Employee under
Section  14  shall  survive  the  expiration  of  the  Term  of  this Agreement.

     17.     Entire  Agreement.  This  Agreement  shall  constitute  the  entire
             -----------------
agreement  between  the  parties  superseding all prior agreements and all other
negotiations, letter of intent, memoranda of understandings, and representations
(if any) made by and among such parties, and may not be modified or amended, and
no  waiver shall be effective, unless by written document signed by both parties
hereto.  Notwithstanding its foregoing, the parties agree that the provisions of
Section  6  shall be in addition to, and shall not supersede, similar provisions
contained  in  the Stock Purchase Agreement.  The Company and Employee have each
had  an  opportunity to consult with counsel of their choice regarding the terms
and  conditions  of  this  Agreement,  and  each understands the consequences of
entering  into  and  complying  with  the terms and conditions of the Agreement.

     18.     Pronouns.  In this Agreement, the use of any gender shall be deemed
             --------
to  include  all  genders, and the use of the singular shall include the plural,
wherever  it  appears  appropriate  from  the  context.

     19.     Enforcement  Costs.  If  any  legal  action  or  other  proceeding,
             ------------------
including  arbitration,  is  brought  for  the enforcement of this Agreement, or
because  of  an  alleged  dispute,  breach,  default  or  misrepresentation  in
connection  with  any  provisions  of  this  Agreement,  the prevailing party or
parties shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs and
all  expenses  even  if  not  taxable as court costs, incurred in that action or
proceeding,  in  addition to any other relief to which such party or parties may
be  entitled.

     20.     Severability.  The  provisions  of  this  Agreement shall be deemed
             ------------
severable  and  the  invalidity  or  unenforceability of any provision shall not
affect  the  validity  or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.  Except
that  to  the  extent  any  court  determines  that  Section  6  is  invalid  or
unenforceable,  in  this  event  the  Company  shall  be relieved of its payment
obligations  to  Employee  under  Section  8.

     21.     Indemnification.  Employee shall be entitled to indemnification, in
             ---------------
has  capacity  as an officer of the Company in accordance with the provisions of
the  Company's  certificate of incorporation, bylaws or actions of the Board, as
the same shall be in effect from time to time, and Employee shall be entitled to
the  protection  of  any  insurance  policies  the Company may elect to maintain
generally  for  the  benefit  of  its  officers  or  directors.

                                        8
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     22.     Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in  one  or more
             ------------
counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which,
taken  together,  shall  constitute  one  and  the  same  instrument.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective as of the
day  and  year  first  above  written.


                                  Eye  Care  Centers  of  America,  Inc.


                              By:  ___________________________
                                   Bernard  W.  Andrews
                                   Chairman  &  Chief  Executive  Officer


This  signatory  hereto  on behalf of Company warrants and represents that he is
duly  authorized  to execute this Agreement and that all necessary corporate and
legal  formalities  have  been  complied  with.

                                  EMPLOYEE:


                                 _______________________________
                                  David  Carrig
                                  VP  Operations

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