Nestled on Fremont Street between Green Dog Pet Supply and Umpqua Bank, Beaumont Vision found a comfortable storefront from which to offer comprehensive eye care and high-quality eyewear. The vision care-focused boutique was launched nearly 12 years ago by optometrist Dr. John Lewis O.D., who chose the site when he noticed the building under construction–and because it was near his home and in a neighborhood he enjoyed.
“Beaumont Village has a strong community feel that’s nice. In general, I think Portland’s neighborhoods separate it from other large cities,” Lewis says.
Lewis, at the helm of Beaumont Vision, acknowledges the importance of his staff, including fellow optometrist Dr. Sarah Pajot, O.D., longtime Office Manager Shenyah Webb, and six other staff members who tend to the needs of Beaumont Vision’s patients. In addition to conducting routine eye exams and providing both eyeglasses and contact lenses to meet the vision needs of patients of all ages, Lewis and Pajot also diagnose and treat several eye diseases with the help of state-of-the-art equipment, including advanced retinal imaging, OCT scanning, and visual field testing. It’s not uncommon for them to co-manage and provide follow-up care for eye surgeries such as cataract or LASIK.
“Think of us as primary care doctors for your eyes,” said Lewis. “If we diagnose an eye problem that needs the help of a surgeon or specialist, we provide a kind of triage, referring our patients to the best resource. We then provide follow-up care after any procedure.”
Webb added that Beaumont Vision provides a higher level of service and greater quality in eye wear products than patients will find at big-box stores or chain stores, or when they buy eyewear via the Internet, where prescription accuracy is not a given.
“Our glasses are not made in China,” says Webb. “And as a smaller shop, we’re able to give our patients more time and attention to ensure a proper prescription and good fit. We also work through insurance details to ensure patients get the most out of their vision benefits.”
Lewis received his Doctorate in Optometry from Indiana University in 1996. He later relocated to Portland, where he accepted a position with Pacific University’s Optometry School as a clinical professor. Today, due to the time requirement of his business, Lewis teaches just part-time at Pacific.
Family-life is busy for Lewis: He and his wife are raising two daughters, ages 10 and 12, who attend Alameda Elementary School and Beaumont Middle School, respectively. Soccer coaching for the girls’ teams largely fills his remaining free time.
“Although,” he says with a smile, “I do manage to squeeze in a little time for guitar lessons.”
Find Beaumont Vision, a valued advertiser and supporter of this newsletter, at 4331 NE Fremont Street. For more information visit www.beaumontvision.com, or call (503) 331-3937.