Dr. Cassie Martinson says she likes the technological and material advances in optometry and the benefits these provide to her patients.
By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
Jake and Cassie Martinson and their children, Landon and Lyla, are shown on a recent family trip to Wyoming.
Martinson and her husband, Jake Martinson, who is from Northfield, Minnesota, live at Lake Panorama with their two children, Lyla and Landon. Her large Iowa family all are within 30 minutes or less, living in Coon Rapids, Guthrie Center and Panora.
Martinson completed her undergraduate studies in biology at Saint Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. She continued her education at Southern California College of Optometry, graduating summa cum laude and receiving her doctorate in optometry.
“I always knew I wanted to work in health care, and I was interested in optometry,” Martinson says. “My decision was confirmed after an optometry mission trip to South Africa with Blessman International. I really saw the difference I could make in someone’s life.”
Martinson worked at Eye Care Associates one summer while home from college.
Dr. Trisha Smith graduated from the University of Missouri – St. Louis College of Optometry, receiving her doctorate in optometry with the class of 2020. She joined Eye Care Associates that fall, right after her graduation.
Doctors Koch and Stalder owned Eye Care Associates until Martinson purchased a share in 2016. She became the sole owner in 2018.
“Dr. Koch and Dr. McCauley were wonderful mentors and really helped me learn the business,” she says. “I was lucky to be able to work with them for several years before I purchased the practice.”
Martinson has a second optometrist working with her. Dr. Trisha Smith graduated from Central College in Pella, receiving a bachelor of arts degree. Then she graduated from the University of Missouri – St. Louis College of Optometry, receiving her doctorate in optometry with the class of 2020. Smith is originally from New Hampton. She joined the practice in fall of 2020, right after graduation.
When Martinson first purchased the business, it included locations in Panora, Stuart and Perry. She purchased a fourth location in Jefferson in February 2023.
“Since purchasing the Jefferson office, we have been keeping ourselves very busy. We are hoping to add a new doctor to our team soon,” Martinson says. “With our excellent and devoted staff, we are working on ways to expand our hours to better serve our communities.”
Current hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each weekday in Jefferson and Perry. The Panora location at 102 East Main St. is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with the Stuart location open Tuesday and Thursday.
Dr. Cassie Martinson stands near a display of eyeglass frames in the Panora location of Eye Care Associates. The business offers both medical and vision exams plus a wide range of glasses, contacts and supplies.
“We also offer remote doctor exams in Jefferson to healthy patients needing new glasses or contacts. Patients come into the office and use all the same equipment,” Martinson says. “Every aspect is recorded and a doctor reviews all of the findings and reviews everything with the patient at the time of the exam. If there are any medical findings, patients then are scheduled for an exam with either myself or Dr. Smith.”
Martinson says each Eye Care Associates location offers a wide range of services.
“We provide both medical and vision exams, which include glasses, contacts, evaluation for cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic exams, hypertensive retinopathy and many other diseases,” she says. “An eye exam can diagnose over 170 diseases.”
Martinson and Smith provide options for myopia management, to slow the progression of near-sightedness in children. They also provide treatment and management for dry eye disease.
“We treat many symptoms that come with eye misalignment such as headaches, neck and shoulder pain, dizziness, eye strain and light sensitivity,” Martinson says. “We do not do surgeries, but we do co-manage cataract and glaucoma surgeries with ophthalmologists. This includes Dr. Brandon Menke, an ophthalmologist who sees patients at Guthrie County Hospital, Wolfe Eye Clinic, Des Moines Eye Surgeons and Iowa Retinal. We also work with the University of Iowa in Iowa City when needed.”
Martinson says she likes the technological and material advances in optometry and the benefits these provide to her patients.
“We have several pieces of equipment that allow us to test a patient’s eyes for various things. For instance, Optical Coherence Tomography, known as OCT, allows for non-invasive imaging tests. It uses light waves to take cross-section pictures of a person’s retina,” she says. “This and other tests allow us to follow, manage and treat any disease until it reaches the point where a surgeon is needed.”
While completing her undergraduate degree, Martinson played on the Saint Olaf women’s golf team. She met her husband, Jake, at Saint Olaf. He works in Coon Rapids at ET Products as a sales manager, as well as helping her at the office as an IT man and handyman.
“We purchased our home at Lake Panorama in 2013,” she says. “We love the community. We have met many great people since moving to Panora and enjoy our time on the water.”
Martinson says Eye Care Associates embodies the values she wants for her business.
“It is a family and community-oriented business. Each location is unique. Being a part of and working in a small community allows for a personalized and meaningful experience,” she says. “It allows us the opportunity to give back to and serve these communities, and to know and connect with our patients.”
More information about Eye Care Associates, including locations and phone numbers, is on the company’s website at www.eyecare-associates.com. n