True Visionaries

Viewpointe Vision opens its doors and hearts to families

Gone are the days when doctors make house calls. But providing care for an entire family on a personalized level is still very much alive and well. Viewpointe Vision (formerly Elkhorn Ridge Vision) recently opened its doors in a new location just south of 180th & Dodge. The practice offers additional exam rooms, state-of-the art technology, and a wider range of eyewear options, as well as two more optometrists, but kept its focus on quality, custom eye care for families.

Matthew Klemke, O.D., a native Nebraskan, started his private practice in 2005 with a mission to provide a level of care to patient families that included taking the time to educate them about eye health and explain ways to either prevent or delay problems. He also wanted to provide concierge style care without concierge fees, meaning make himself accessible to patients when they needed him, whether nights or on weekends, and didn’t hesitate to give out his cell number.

That philosophy took on a whole new meaning when Klemke was diagnosed with cancer in 2008. Friends and colleagues, many from a network of private practice optometrists called Vision Source, came to his aide and kept his practice afloat while refusing to be paid in return. “It was a life altering event, and after that you feel a need to pay that forward,” Klemke said. “So I tell every single patient, if you need me, call me. Don’t feel guilty if it’s on a weekend. We’ll take care of you.”

Klemke’s passion for this level of care is shared by his two colleagues, Ariann Brown, O.D., and Daniel Novak, O.D. who recently joined Viewpointe Vision. Both Nebraska natives as well, Brown and Novak appreciate the emphasis the practice places on getting to know patients. “What I love most is the personalized care and the service I can provide here,” Brown said. “I see patients at our kids’ activities, at school, and throughout the community. A patient told me she really likes that we know who you are, and we get to know your family too.”

Viewpointe Vision treats patients from infancy through adulthood and participates in two pediatric programs: the Infant SEE program, which is a free eye exam for infants from six months to one year of age, and the See to Learn program, in which any three-year-old in Nebraska can have a free vision assessment. They have a full range of eye wear for all ages, including sports goggles and sunglasses for kids.

The technology available at Viewpointe Vision also sets the office apart. Novak noted that as a newer graduate, it’s an ideal place to practice. “Technology has changed the industry, and eye care has taken off in the last 15 years,” he said. “The equipment here is state-of-the art, and it’s a fantastic place to be.” Brown added that the equipment allows the doctors to see signs of trouble that they wouldn’t necessarily be able to see in a typical exam, such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and more.

The physicians also take into account an individual’s lifestyle and environment. Klemke pointed out that daily routine impacts a person’s vision. It’s important he and his staff understand that in order to make customized recommendations, such as whether or not someone spends a majority of their day in front of a computer or spends a lot of time outdoors in the sun. He stressed that everything they do in their practice takes into account whether or not it will ultimately be good for their patient families. “We truly love taking care of people and doing it in a way that is above and beyond what you’ve experienced elsewhere,” Klemke said. “We want to educate you, get to know you and your family, and take care of you for the rest of your life.”

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