Vancouver Contact Lens & Vision Clinic

With over 70 years of combined experience, and having provided thousands of patients with compassionate life long eye care, Vancouver Contact Lens and Vision Clinic is at the leading edge of eye health care.  Serving the community since 1950, their practice has steadily developed a dependable reputation among patients as a trusted source of excellence.  With offices in downtown Camas and downtown Vancouver, their clinic continues to be the largest optometric clinic in Southwest Washington.

The spacious downtown Vancouver location is their flagship office.  It boasts a beautiful reception area with spectacular 4 feet x 8 feet photographs of the Columbia River Gorge and Coastline.  Aside from exam rooms and frame gallery, what makes this practice truly unique is the number of high tech diagnostic equipment, one of a kind Gas Permeable Contact modification lab, and eyeglass fabrication lab all under one roof.

Their Camas office opened its doors in the 1950’s.  It has a very relaxing atmosphere and the charm of unhurried life.  Beautiful watercolor paintings of downtown Camas and Lacamas Lake, adorn the walls.  “One of our patients paints these and we are so proud to display them.  People say many complimentary things about them” says staff member Julie Post.  Patients have also responded favorably to their new expanded hours.   

“It’s remarkable to see the changes that have occurred in eye care over the last 30 years”, says Dr. Rick Payne.  Since Dr. Payne took over the practice in 1971, he has embraced change.  Over the decades, the clinic has grown and taken on two partners, Dr.Valerie Itamura and Dr. Raj Patel. Their staff of 15 shares a similar commitment to providing the highest quality patient care with a focus on educating patients using advanced technology.   “We have been early adaptors to new technologies and procedures, and it speaks volumes that hundreds of patients refer their family and friends to us for long term eye care”, says staff member Judy Goff who has been with the practice for 19 years.

Vancouver Contact Lens and Vision Clinic has recently become one of a few practices in the Portland / Vancouver area to incorporate Optomap retinal imaging into their practice.  This revolutionary technology is the world’s first system that allows almost the entire retina to be scanned and viewed through an undilated pupil.  This allows for early detection and management of eye disease.  Using the latest in scanning laser technology and using low powered red and green laser beams to capture an image of virtually the entire retina, the Optomap provides a permanent digital record of an individual’s eye health and also provide clinicians with an ultra-widefield view into the retina.  “The image is captured in a central screening area by the technician, and then displayed on a computer screen in one of our 7 exam rooms.  We are then able to analyze and review this with the patient, store the image document permanently for recording purposes and even email the image to their primary care doctor or retinal specialist”, explains Dr. Valerie Itamura.

“Not only are diagnostic technologies changing, but so are the materials and designs of contact lenses over the last few years”, explains Dr. Raj Patel.  A few of these advances include Corneal Reshaping Therapy (CRT) lenses, and Nike MAXSIGHT Sport Tinted Contact Lenses.

“CRT lenses are specially designed contact lenses worn during sleeping hours to reshape the cornea without permanently altering its physiology. This has become a safe and healthy alternative for children and teens”, says Patel.  “The patient simply wears the lenses at night and takes them out in the morning, and the result is clear vision all day”.  Patel goes on to explain that parents that have heard “I left my glasses on the bus” to “I dropped a contact at school” are excited to hear of this alternative.  CRT is a non-surgical and reversible procedure to give kids a convenient vision correction option.

The MAXSIGHT Sport-Tinted Contact Lenses are designed to aid visual performance in athletic settings.  “Bausch and Lomb states that it uses patented optics to selectively filter specific wavelengths of light to enhance key visual elements such as a ball or background while reducing distracting sun glare during outdoor activities.  This enables the wearer to see a ball or selected objects with greater clarity” explains Patel.  

Michael Perman, who has been one of the clinics’ opticians for 10 years, explains, “new technologies and procedures certainly make the everyday practice of eye care more interesting, but it is truly our staff and the long term relationships with our patients that have made it so enjoyable all these years.”

With their focus on serving patients for a lifetime, the clinic has recently volunteered for the “INFANTSEE” program.  A no-cost public health program developed to provide eye care for infants nationwide.  In an effort to encourage infant eye and vision assessments and ensure that they are accessible to everyone, through INFANTSEE, optometrists will provide a one-time comprehensive eye assessment to infants in their first year of life.  Dr. Itamura further describes, “This is an opportunity for early detection of potential eye and vision problems that can significantly impact their quality of life.”

“This program is in line with our philosophy of being the family eye doctor”, says Payne.  “We feel privileged that our patients stay with us for so many years.  It’s honoring to see that patients continue to see us even after they move out of the area.”

Staff member Jane Gutridge shares patient’s letters that makes it easy to see why patients enjoy coming back.  Karen W., a Vancouver Contact Lens and Vision Clinic patient writes, “I have been very impressed with your clinic.  Everyone from the receptionist to you (Dr. Itamura), including the optical department has gone beyond their job to help my family and me.”

As their clinic grows they have added, Dr. Derek McTyier, their fourth optometrist to the group.  The clinic explains that having Dr. McTyier allows more access to primary eye care and is in response to the growing population in the area.  “Dr. McTyier comes to us from Tennessee and it’s his relaxed style that patients enjoy” says one staff member.  “This practice has been part of the community for so long, and to see medical charts from patients that have been with us for 30 years is really amazing.  Having four doctors and the differing experiences we all bring is a real asset to our practice and to the patients we serve” say McTyier.

“We are proud of the level of service we provide, and our commitment to continue to improve” says Payne.  “Our greatest strength is our staff and together we look forward to many more years of seeing our friends and neighbors in our practice.”

Vancouver Contact Lens and Vision Clinic accepts most insurance plans, and sees same day urgent care patients.  The next time you are in their offices, look around and see how eye care has evolved.

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