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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.13


                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT made this 15th day of May, 2002 by and between TLC
Vision Corporation, a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of
New Brunswick, Canada with a principal place of business at 5280 Solar Drive,
Suite 300, Mississauga, Ontario L4W 5M8 (the "Company"), and James C. Wachtman,
an individual residing at 330 Oakwood Avenue, Webster Groves, Missouri 63119
("Employee").

         WHEREAS the Company and Employee are desirous of setting forth in a
definitive employment Agreement their respective rights and obligations with
respect to Employee's employment by the Company.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and
Employee hereby agree as follows:

         1. Employment. The Company hereby agrees to employ Employee, and
Employee hereby agrees to accept such employment upon the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth. Employee represents and warrants to the Company that his
employment by the Company and the performance of his duties as contemplated by
this Agreement do not and will not violate the terms or conditions of any other
agreement or understanding by which Employee is bound or subject and that
Employee knows of no basis for any claim that he is so bound or subject.

         2. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on May 15, 2002
("Effective Date"), and shall continue for a period of two (2) years following
such Effective Date unless otherwise terminated as provided in Section 8 hereof;
provided, however, that under certain circumstances, the provisions of Section 9
hereof shall survive termination. Commencing on the second anniversary of the
Effective Date and at the conclusion of each two-year period thereafter, the
term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended for an additional
two-year period unless Employee's employment is terminated pursuant to Section 8
hereof.

         3. Duties. Employee shall be employed by the Company to serve as
President and Chief Operating Officer. As such, he shall be subject to the
direction of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and
President and perform such duties and tasks as are appropriate for a person in
such position. Employee shall perform his duties hereunder in the Greater St.
Louis metropolitan area or at such other location or locations as are mutually
agreed between Employee and the Company. Employee shall have a private office,
secretarial help, and such other facilities and services as are suitable to his
position and appropriate for the performance of his duties.

         4. Extent of Service. Employee shall devote his full working time,
skills, knowledge and abilities to the business and affairs of the Company, its
subsidiaries and affiliates in promotion of their respective interests, and will
not engage in outside business activities which would interfere with the
performance of his duties hereunder. This provision shall not preclude Employee
from investing his assets in other business activities, provided that such
investment or


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investments do not significantly detract from Employee's responsibilities under
this Agreement and will not require his services in the operation of the affairs
of the companies in which such investments are made.

         5. Compensation.

(a)      Salary. As compensation for the services to be rendered by Employee
         under this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Employee a minimum
         annual salary of three hundred twenty five thousand dollars ($325,000)
         (the "Base Salary"), less such deductions or amounts as may be required
         to be withheld by applicable law or regulations, payable in accordance
         with the payroll policy of the Company as from time to time may be in
         effect. Employee's Base Salary may be adjusted upward from time to time
         in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company, but in
         any event, Employee's Base Salary shall be increased annually by a
         percentage equal to the increase of the Consumer Price Index, all
         commodities, as reported by the Department of Labor.

(b)      Bonus. In addition to the Base Salary specified above, Employee shall
         receive a Bonus. Such Bonus shall be paid annually pursuant to an
         executive incentive bonus compensation plan determined and approved by
         the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company as
         soon as practicable after the Effective Date. Such plan shall provide
         reasonably attainable annual performance targets, consistent with past
         practices, that, if attained, will provide Employee a bonus equal to
         fifty percent (50%) of his Base Salary each year.

(c)      Stock Options. As of the Effective Date, options held by Employee, if
         any, to purchase shares of common stock of Laser Vision Centers, Inc.
         ("Laser Vision") shall be converted into options to purchase shares of
         common stock of the Company in accordance with the terms of the
         Agreement and Plan of Merger among Laser Vision, the Company, and TLC
         Acquisition II Corp. dated as of August 25, 2001 (the "Merger
         Agreement").

         Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in any stock
         option agreement, in the event of Employee's termination of employment
         under Section 8(d) or Section 8(e), any outstanding options of the
         Company held by Employee shall become fully vested and exercisable
         immediately at the time of such termination of employment. In addition,
         notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in any stock
         option agreement, in the event of Employee's termination of employment
         for any reason, any outstanding options of the Company held by Employee
         that are or become exercisable at the time of such termination of
         employment shall continue to be exercisable by Employee for their
         entire term without regard to any provision contained in any such
         agreement that restricts or terminates his exercise rights on account
         of such termination of employment (including any provision that
         accelerates the expiration of the term of such options or warrants).

         Employee and the Company hereby acknowledge and agree that Employee's
         options and warrants to purchase shares of common stock of the Company
         shall be subject to the approval of The Toronto Stock Exchange and the
         shareholders of the Company. In the



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         event any such approval is not obtained, the Company shall indemnify
         Employee on a mutually-acceptable basis (or if the parties so agree,
         with a cash payment) for any losses resulting from such failure on an
         after-tax basis.

(d)      Reimbursements for Premiums for Extended Health Care Coverage. In the
         event that Employee's employment terminates pursuant to Section 8 of
         this Agreement, the Company shall provide health care coverage for a
         period of two (2) consecutive years following the date of such
         termination. Such health care coverage shall be no less generous than
         that under the Company's health care plan (as such plan may exist from
         time to time) for Employee, Employee's spouse (if any) and Employee's
         dependents (if any). Employee shall pay the applicable COBRA premiums
         which are charged to the Company's former employees from time to time;
         provided however that the Company agrees to reimburse Employee for such
         premiums plus any additional "gross-up" amounts equal to any taxes
         (including, without limitation, any income taxes) on such amounts.

(e)      Automobile Allowance. The Company shall pay to Employee an automobile
         allowance ("Automobile Allowance") of seven hundred dollars ($700) per
         month, less such deductions or amounts as may be required to be
         withheld by applicable law or regulations, payable in accordance with
         the payroll policy of the Company as from time to time may be in
         effect. Employee's Automobile Allowance may be adjusted upward from
         time to time in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the
         Company, but in any event, Employee's Automobile Allowance shall be
         increased annually by a percentage equal to the increase of the
         Consumer Price Index, all commodities, as reported by the Department of
         Labor.

         6. Fringe Benefits. Employee shall be entitled to participate in any
employee benefit plan maintained by the Company for its employees as of the
Effective Date, including any accident or health insurance plan and any pension
or profit sharing plan subject to the same requirements and limitations as are
applicable to other employees of the Company holding positions comparable to
that held by Employee. At a minimum, the Company will provide, at the Company's
expense, a family medical and dental plan, a life insurance policy comparable to
the policy in effect with Laser Vision as of the Effective Date and a disability
plan to protect Employee's income. In addition, Employee shall be entitled to
four (4) weeks of vacation during each twelve (12) month period hereof. Employee
shall also be covered under the Company's liability insurance policy for
directors and officers under the same terms and conditions that apply to other
directors and officers of the Company.

                  In addition, Employee shall be entitled to all other fringe
benefits not enumerated specifically in this Agreement which are no less
favorable than those that are provided to management employees of Laser Vision
generally from time to time.

         7. Reimbursement of Business Expenses. Subject to the provisions of
Section 5 of this Agreement with respect to automobile expenses, the Company
agrees to reimburse Employee for other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred in connection with Company business including, without limitation,
travel and accommodations for all authorized business



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trips, provided vouchers therefor, or other supporting information as the
Company may reasonably require, are presented to the Company. The Company agrees
to reimburse Employee for all such expenses within ten (10) days of
presentation.

         8. Termination.

(a)      Death. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of
         Employee's death. Upon such termination, the Company shall pay to
         Employee's beneficiary, within thirty (30) days of such termination, an
         amount equal to two (2) times Employee's Base Salary specified in
         Section 5(a) (as in effect as of the date of such termination) plus an
         additional amount equal to the greater of (i) two (2) times Employee's
         Bonus for the previous year or (ii) the average of Employee's Bonus for
         each of the two (2) years immediately preceding the date of such
         termination.

         Employee shall have the right to designate a beneficiary to receive the
         amounts payable after his death as provided under this Section 8(a).
         Such designation shall be in writing, signed by Employee, and delivered
         to the Company while Employee is alive.

         In the event that Employee does not designate a beneficiary to receive
         amounts payable after his death as provided under this Section 8(a),
         but Employee is married as of the date of his death, such amounts shall
         be paid to his spouse; provided that if Employee is not married as of
         the date of his death, such amounts shall be paid to Employee's estate.

(b)      Disability. This Agreement may be terminated, at the option of the
         Company, in the event Employee becomes permanently physically or
         mentally disabled, subject to the terms and conditions below:

         (i)      Disability Defined. Employee shall be deemed permanently
                  disabled if (a) Employee is unable to provide the Company at
                  least thirty (30) hours per week of continuous service of the
                  work time which would be normally be given by him during a
                  continuous six (6) month period; and if (b) at the expiration
                  of said six (6) month period insofar as can be reasonably
                  foreseen Employee will thereafter be unable to give at least
                  thirty (30) hours per week of normal effective working time.

         (ii)     Disability Payments. Until the expiration of the six (6) month
                  period of disability, Employee shall be entitled to receive
                  his regularly established salary and bonus, less any monthly
                  disability income insurance payments.

         (iii)    Determination as to Disability. In the event the parties
                  hereto are unable to agree on the existence of a disability or
                  the date on which the aforesaid six (6) month period of
                  disability began, the Company and Employee shall each
                  designate a physician and the two physicians so designated
                  shall then select a third physician, which third physician
                  shall then determine whether permanent disability exists
                  within the meaning of this Agreement and when the disability
                  commenced if it



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                  does exist. The determination of the said third physician
                  shall bind the parties hereto. For convenience of determining
                  the rights of the parties under this provision, a permanent
                  disability shall be deemed to begin on the first day of the
                  month which immediately follows the date on which the
                  disability actually occurred, or is judged by the aforesaid
                  third physician to have occurred. If the said third physician
                  determines that Employee is not capable of performing the
                  services required of him hereunder, the Company shall have the
                  right to require Employee to submit to additional periodic
                  examinations (not to exceed one per month), at the Company's
                  expense, by that physician for so long as Employee purports to
                  be disabled.

         (iv)     Termination of Disability. The foregoing to the contrary
                  notwithstanding, in the event the Company terminates the
                  employment of Employee due to the disability of Employee and
                  if, after such termination and prior to the normal termination
                  date of this Agreement (or any extension or renewal hereof)
                  Employee is judged by the aforesaid third physician to be able
                  to return to his normal duties, then the Company shall hire
                  Employee as a consultant to the Company for the balance of the
                  term of this Agreement (or any extension or renewal hereof),
                  at Employee's salary as of the date of termination and subject
                  to all other terms and conditions of this Agreement.

(c)      Termination by the Company for Cause. The Company may, upon written
         notice to Employee, terminate Employee's employment for proper cause.
         Employee shall have no right to receive any compensation or benefit
         hereunder on or after the effective date of such termination, except
         for compensation then due and payable (or accrued for Employee's
         benefit) but remaining unpaid.

         As used herein "proper cause" shall mean that Employee has been
         convicted of any crime involving larceny, embezzlement, conversion or
         any other act involving the misappropriation of Company funds in the
         course of his employment.

         For a period of one year following the Effective Date, the Employee
         shall not be deemed to have been terminated for proper cause unless and
         until there has been delivered to the Employee a copy of a resolution
         duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than 80% of the entire
         membership of the board of directors of the Company (excluding the
         Employee if the Employee is at the time a director of the Company) at a
         meeting of the board called and held for the purpose (after reasonable
         notice to the Employee), finding that in the good faith opinion of the
         board the Employee's conduct constituted proper cause and specifying
         the particulars thereof. The date on which such resolution is given to
         the Employee shall be the effective date of any termination pursuant to
         this section 8(c).

(d)      Termination by the Company Without Cause. Employee's employment under
         this Agreement may be terminated without cause by the Board of
         Directors of the Company upon written notice to Employee. In the event
         of such termination without cause or the expiration of the term of this
         Agreement without renewal by the Company, the Company



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         shall pay to Employee, within thirty (30) days of such termination, an
         amount equal to two (2) times Employee's Base Salary specified in
         Section 5(a) (as in effect as of the date of such termination) plus an
         additional amount equal to the greater of (i) two (2) times Employee's
         Bonus for the previous year or (ii) the average of Employee's Bonus for
         each of the two (2) years immediately preceding the date of such
         termination (collectively, the "Severance Entitlement"). In the event
         of such termination without cause, the covenants of Employee contained
         in Sections 9(a) and 9(b) hereof shall be null and void. Also, Employee
         shall have no duty or any other legal obligation to find alternative
         employment in order to mitigate the amounts that become due and payable
         under this Section 8(d) of the Agreement. At the end of the initial
         term, the provisions of this Section 8(d) are amended to provide (i)
         that the Employee shall receive a severance payment equal to the
         greater of (a) the Severance Entitlement or (b) the longest time period
         for purposes of calculating severance that Elias Vamvakas, as Chief
         Executive Officer, was entitled to receive at any time during the term;
         and (ii) the Employee will be subject to the covenants contained in
         Sections 9(a) and 9(b) for the period of time equal to the period of
         time, and the same circumstances, that Elias Vamvakas is subject to
         similar covenants.

(e)      Termination by Employee for Good Reason.

         (i)      Employee, upon at least ninety (90) days' written notice to
                  the Company, may terminate his employment with the Company
                  upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

                  (A)      The Company relocates Employee's principal office out
                           of the Greater St. Louis, Missouri area which shall
                           be defined as St. Louis, Jefferson, St. Charles and
                           Franklin counties in Missouri;

                  (B)      There is a material, adverse change in Employee's job
                           responsibilities following a "change in control" (as
                           defined below) of the Company;

                  (C)      There is a ten percent (10%) reduction or a series of
                           reductions, that in the aggregate, amount to a ten
                           percent (10%) reduction by the Company of the greater
                           of (i) Employee's Base Salary in effect as of the
                           Effective Date or (ii) the Base Salary as may be
                           increased by the Company from time to time under this
                           Agreement;

                  (D)      There is (i) a substantial diminishment of Employee's
                           responsibilities, duties or authority or (ii) a
                           change in the Employee's responsibilities, duties or
                           authority which, in Employee's reasonable judgment,
                           substantially diminishes his responsibilities, duties
                           or authority;

                  (E)      The current Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Elias
                           Vamvakas, is removed or voluntarily resigns as CEO;
                           or

                  (F)      A material breach of this Agreement by the Company.



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         (ii)     Upon such termination, the Company shall pay to Employee,
                  within thirty (30) days of such termination, an amount equal
                  to two (2) times Employee's Base Salary specified in Section
                  5(a) (as in effect as of the date of such termination) plus an
                  additional amount equal to the greater of (i) two (2) times
                  Employee's Bonus for the previous year or (ii) the average of
                  Employee's Bonus for each of the two (2) years immediately
                  preceding the date of such termination.

         (iii)    For purposes of this Agreement, "change in control" shall
                  mean:

                  (A)      Any sale of more than fifty percent (50%) of the
                           common stock of the Company by one or more
                           stockholders of the Company to a nonaffiliated
                           person, such percentage being determined on an
                           undiluted basis without regard to options and
                           warrants then outstanding and unexercised;

                  (B)      Any sale, lease or other disposition (but not a
                           mortgage or pledge in a bona fide borrowing
                           transaction) of all or substantially all of the
                           assets of the Company to a nonaffiliated person;

                  (C)      Any merger or consolidation of the Company with or
                           into any other nonaffiliated corporation, where more
                           than fifty percent (50%) of the equity securities of
                           the surviving or resulting corporation (by value or
                           voting power) are directly or indirectly controlled
                           by persons other than the stockholders of the Company
                           or their affiliates immediately prior to such merger
                           or consolidation; or

                  (D)      Any merger or consolidation of the Company with or
                           into any other nonaffiliated corporation, even if
                           less than fifty percent (50%) of the equity
                           securities of the surviving or resulting corporation
                           (by value or voting power) are directly or indirectly
                           controlled by persons other than the stockholders of
                           the Company or their affiliates immediately prior to
                           such merger or consolidation, if the individuals who
                           constituted the Board of Directors of the Company
                           immediately before such merger or consolidation, and
                           any individual becoming a director subsequent to such
                           date whose election, or nomination for election by
                           the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of
                           at least three-quarters of the directors who
                           constituted the Board of Directors of the Company
                           immediately before such merger or consolidation, for
                           any reason no longer constitute at least one-half of
                           the members of the Board of Directors of the
                           surviving or resulting corporation at any time within
                           one year after such merger or consolidation.


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         9. Non-Solicitation Agreement.

(a)      Employee shall not, during the term of his employment by the Company
         and for a period of one (1) year thereafter:

         (i)      directly or indirectly, either as an individual for Employee's
                  own account, or as a partner or joint venturer, or as an
                  advisor, consultant, representative, employee, officer,
                  director or shareholder of any corporation or other business
                  organization, or in any other capacity, engage in, enter into
                  or participate in any way in any business or enterprise that
                  diverts or attempts to divert or solicit the business of TLC
                  Vision Corporation from or for clients, customers, or accounts
                  of the Company. In connection with the foregoing, Employee
                  acknowledges that the market for the Company's services is
                  international in scope and that the foregoing covenant shall
                  extend to any business or enterprise which provides or intends
                  to provide competing services. It is expressly understood that
                  the foregoing covenant shall not prohibit Employee from owning
                  less than five (5%) percent of the equity of any publicly held
                  corporation;

         (ii)     directly or indirectly hire away or attempt to hire away or
                  otherwise engage any employee, key advisor, or consultant of
                  the Company; or

         (iii)    directly or indirectly interfere or attempt to interfere in
                  any way with the Company's relationships with any of its
                  suppliers, including, without limitation, inducing or
                  attempting to induce any supplier of the Company to terminate
                  or to change the terms of its dealings with the Company.

(b)      Employee shall not, during the term of his employment hereunder and for
         the duration of any unexpired term of this Agreement:

         (i)      divulge, or cause to be divulged, communicate or cause to be
                  communicated, publish or cause to be published, or otherwise
                  disclose or cause to be disclosed to any person, firm,
                  corporation, association, or entity, any of the Company's
                  systems, designs, procedures, pricing and marketing
                  strategies, concepts, technical information, trade secrets,
                  know-how, customer lists, customer contacts, customer
                  prospects, fee schedules, business and financial records and
                  such other information regarded by the Company as confidential
                  and of a proprietary nature (the "Proprietary Information").
                  For purposes hereof, the term Proprietary Information shall
                  not include information which (x) at the time of disclosure to
                  or by Employee was generally known to the relevant trade so as
                  to no longer be a protectable trade secret, or (y) was
                  lawfully received by Employee from a third


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                  party who independently, without prompting or assistance by
                  Employee, developed or acquired such Proprietary Information
                  and was under no obligation, express or implied, to the
                  Company with respect thereto or (z) at the time of disclosure
                  was already properly in Employee's possession or otherwise
                  known by Employee.

(c)      Employee hereby acknowledges that the Company's remedy at law for
         breach or threat of breach of the provisions of this Section 9 is
         inadequate and that the Company shall have the right to seek injunctive
         relief in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, in
         addition to any other remedy available. If any provision of this
         Section 9 shall be invalid or unenforceable to any extent or in any
         application, then the remainder of this Section and of such term and
         condition, except to such extent or in such application shall not be
         affected thereby, and each and every term and condition of this Section
         shall be valid and enforced to the fullest extent, and in the broadest
         application provided by law. If the invalidity or unenforceability is
         due to the unreasonableness of the time or scope or geographic extent
         of any covenant and restriction, said covenant and restriction shall
         nevertheless be effective for such a period of time or within such
         scope or geographical area as may be determined to be reasonable by a
         court of competent jurisdiction.

         10. Waiver of Breach. The failure of any party at any time or times to
require the performance of any provision hereof shall in no manner affect the
party's right at a later time to enforce the same. No waiver by any party of the
breach of any term or covenant contained in this Agreement, whether by conduct
or otherwise, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be, or construed
as, a further or continuing waiver of any such breach, or a waiver of the breach
of any other term or covenant contained in this Agreement.

         11. Assignment. This Agreement and Employee's rights and obligations
hereunder may not be assigned by Employee. This may not be assigned by the
Company without Employee's written consent. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns and shall
be binding upon Employee, his heirs, executors and administrators.

         12. Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement constitutes the entire
Agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and,
unless otherwise provided herein, supersedes all prior agreements or
understandings written or oral in respect thereof. This Agreement may be
amended, modified, superseded, cancelled, renewed, or extended, and the terms or
covenants hereof may be waived only by a written instrument signed by all the
parties hereto, or in the case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance.

         13. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid
or unenforceable to any extent or in any application, then the remainder of this
Agreement and of such term and condition, except to such extent or in such
application, shall not be affected thereby and each and every term and condition
of this Agreement shall be valid and enforced to the fullest extent and in the
broadest application permitted by law.



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         14. Construction and Interpretation. This Agreement, and all questions
arising in connection therewith, shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri. In the event that Employee or
the Company commence litigation against the other party to enforce any provision
of this Agreement, venue shall at all times lie in the Circuit Court of St.
Louis County, St. Louis, Missouri. For any and all disputes between Employee and
the Company arising under this Agreement, each party shall be responsible for
its own legal fees and expenses, and neither party shall be entitled to recover
its legal fees and expenses from the other party.

         15. Headings. The section headings contained herein are for convenience
and reference only, and shall be given no effect in the interpretation of any
term or condition of this Agreement.



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


"COMPANY"                                         "EMPLOYEE"

TLC VISION CORPORATION


By:
   -----------------------------------            ------------------------------
Name:                                             James C. Wachtman
      --------------------------------
Title:
       -------------------------------



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