– Centers for Disease Control
Meet Our Doctors
Our talented team of highly trained doctors are absolutely committed to providing the highest standard of eyecare available. From protecting the health of your eyes, to ensuring the best vision possible, our doctors deliver the care you and your eyes deserve.
Richard C. Wilson, O.D.
About Dr. Wilson
Dr. Wilson was one of the first optometrists to pass the American Board of Optometry’s Board Certification examination and has participated as principal investigator in dozens of clinical research projects regarding contact lenses, lens care solutions, and myopia reduction in children.
In addition to being a past president of the Missouri Optometric Association Board of Directors, Dr. Wilson also is the proud recipient of the MOA’s 2001 Young Optometrist of the Year award and in 2003 the MOA named him their Optometrist of the Year. While serving as Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor at the UM – St. Louis College of Optometry, Dr. Wilson has helped educate and prepare the next generation of optometrists for their work in the profession.
Outside of optometry, Dr. Wilson enjoys playing trombone and piano and other areas of church music. Recently, he and his wife, Janie, have opened their Christmas tree and energy farm, Wilson’s Whispering Pines – including bed and breakfast, beekeeping, Christmas trees, pumpkins, chickens, obstacle course, hiking trails, observatory, tae kwon do studio, and retreat and wedding venue. Currently Dr. Wilson holds the designation, Journeyman Beekeeper, as he works through the Midwestern Master Beekeeping Program.
Dana J. Krause, O.D.
About Dr. Krause
Dr. Krause joined Advanced Eyecare/Blue Springs Optical in 2006. Her areas of special interest include family eye care, pediatrics, and contact lenses. Dr. Krause is a member of the American Optometric Association and Missouri Optometric Association. She is also a member of the Optometric Society of Greater Kansas City of which she is past-president. Most recently, Dr. Krause has been appointed Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri – St. Louis College of Optometry. Dr. Krause and her husband, Aaron, enjoy spending time outside, traveling, water activities and spending time with their son and twin girls.
Jeffrey A. Harter, O.D.
About Dr. Harter
His fourth-year external rotations included the Optometric Clinic in Honolulu, Hawaii as well as Choate Eye Associates in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Harter received his Doctor of Optometry degree in 2009. Similarly to the other doctors of Advanced Eyecare/Blue Springs Optical, Dr. Harter is a member of the American Optometric Association, Missouri Optometric Association as well as the Optometric Society of Greater Kansas City. Dr. Harter joins Advanced Eyecare/Blue Springs Optical in 2010 after completing a Primary Care Residency at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Harter’s optometric interests include primary care and low vision rehabilitation. Dr. Harter has additionally been appointed as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri – St. Louis College of Optometry.
Melissa Enevoldsen, O.D.
About Dr. Enevoldsen
Dr. Enevoldsen’s areas of interest include pediatrics and contact lenses. She is an active member of the Kansas Optometric Association, Missouri Optometric Association, American Optometric Association and the Optometric Society of Greater Kansas City. Dr. Enevoldsen and her husband, Jeffrey, enjoy traveling, cooking, and spending time with their pug puppy, Gracie.
Julie R. Lafreniere, O.D.
About Dr. Lafreniere
Dr. Lafreniere joined Advanced Eyecare after completing a Primary Care Residency at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis. In November 2018, Dr. Lafreniere earned fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry. She has also participated in mission trips to Ecuador and Colombia to provide eye care to those in need. She joined the Kansas City Free Eye Clinic board in 2020, providing eye care to low income individuals.
Dr. Lafreniere provides full scope optometry including management of ocular diseases, co-management of cataract and refractive surgery, contact lens fitting, dry eye disease and pediatric care. She is an active member of the American Optometric Association, Missouri Optometric Association as well as the Optometric Society of Greater Kansas City. Currently, she reside in Kansas City, MO with her husband John Burton, O.D., who she met while attending school in Chicago. They enjoy traveling, hiking and trying new restaurants.
Melanie Linderer, O.D.
About Dr. Linderer
Dr. Linderer specializes in family eye care and contact lenses. She loves helping people obtain their best vision to allow them to read text messages and emails or be able to drive again. In high school, she became very interested in the medical field and had the opportunity to observe a variety of medical specialties – optometry sparked a fire her soul. It was an awe-inspiring experience for Dr. Linderer the first time she saw a child’s face light up when they put on eyeglasses to see the world around them. She remembers it as the moment she knew that she wanted to be an optometrist.
In her free time, Dr. Linderer enjoys traveling and attending musical events with her two daughters. She is an ultramarathon runner and enjoys running races on trails and roads. Currently Dr. Linderer has completed 56 marathons and 18 ultramarathons – including a 100-mile race! She also enjoys volunteering at animal shelters helping them find their “fur”ever homes!
Brian Eveland, O.D.
About Dr. Eveland
Brian Eveland, O.D. received his Doctor of Optometry from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, with Honors. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Health Professions from Northwestern College of Iowa.
Working with Family Eyecare since 1990, Dr. Eveland sees patients at the Camdenton, Lake Ozark, Osage Beach, and Laurie locations.
Dr. Eveland specializes in contact lenses and medical eye care. He has been a principal investigator in many contact lens and solution studies.
He is a member of the American Optometric Association, the Missouri Optometric Association, and the Heart of America Contact Lens Society. He is an adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry and Southern College of Optometry.
Dr. Eveland and his wife, Nancy, have two children, Luke and Emily. When he isn’t treating patients, he is active in coaching, Rotary, and church and enjoys boating, basketball, biking, skiing, and SCUBA diving.
Tom Dettmer, O.D.
About Dr. Dettmer
Dr. Dettmer served in the United States Navy Medical Service Corps at Naval Hospital Groton, Connecticut, and Naval Medical Center Great Lakes, Illinois, before moving back to Missouri to establish his practice. Dr. Dettmer has practiced optometry in his home state for over 20 years.
Specializing in contact lenses and medical eye care, Dr. Dettmer has served as an investigator in multiple contact lens studies, including studying the use of contact lenses as a means for drug delivery in eye injury and disease.
Dr. Dettmer resides in Osage Beach with his wife, Jennifer, and their three sons. When he is not treating patients, he and his family enjoy outdoor sports, including fishing on the Lake of the Ozarks and watching the Cardinals baseball games, Mizzou football, and Blues hockey.
Rachel Engelbarts, O.D.
About Dr. Engelbarts
Rachel Engelbarts, O.D. received her Doctor of Optometry with Honors from the University of Missouri–St. Louis College of Optometry. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Missouri State University, graduating summa cum laude.
Dr. Rachel is trained in all aspects of primary care optometry and especially enjoys seeing pediatric patients, diagnosing and managing ocular diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts, and fitting contact lenses. She has been in practice since 2014 and sees patients at the Camdenton, Lake Ozark, and Laurie offices.
Dr. Rachel became an optometrist because the health field has always fascinated her. Her strong desire to help people and care for her family inspired her decision to become an optometrist. She enjoys giving a child their first pair of glasses or contacts and improving their quality of life.
When she is not treating patients, Dr. Rachel and her husband, Dr. Brad Englebarts, are working hard to raise five tiny humans into caring and compassionate people. Dr. Rachel says it is much work but watching them grow and learn is fascinating and wonderful. The family enjoys camping, traveling (when time allows!), and riding in their “land boat,” AKA golf cart.
Brad Engelbarts, O.D.
About Dr. Engelbarts
Brad Engelbarts, O.D. received his Doctor of Optometry from the University of Missouri- St. Louis. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Health Communications from the University of Illinois.
Highly trained in contact lenses, pediatrics, and medical eye care, Dr. Engelbarts remembers walking out to the parking lot after receiving his first pair of glasses and was amazed at his new world! This experience inspired Dr. Engelbarts to become an optometrist. Prescribing a child their first pair of glasses or fitting a patient into contact lenses for the first time is what Dr. Engelbarts enjoys most.
Dr. Engelbarts served in the United States Navy Medical Service Corps at Beaufort Naval Hospital and Recruit District Parris Island, South Carolina, before moving back to Missouri to join Family Eyecare.
Residing in Sunrise Beach with his wife, Dr. Rachel Engelbarts, and their five children,
Dr. Engelbarts and his family enjoy the outdoors and love their dog, Rusty, and two cats, Iris and Rio. Dr. Brad also enjoys camping, hiking, golfing, brewing beer, and smoking meat.
Lisa Masters-Groves, O.D.
About Dr. Groves
St. Louis. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the College of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri.
Her blind great-grandmother inspired Dr. Groves to pursue the improvement and preservation of people’s vision. She especially enjoys diagnosing and managing ocular diseases such as dry eye, meibomian gland dysfunction, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts, as well as fitting contact lenses.
Dr. Groves feels considerably fulfilled as an optometrist by helping patients of all ages achieve the highest quality vision and helping them retain that level of sight by providing thorough ocular health examinations and preventative measures.
Dr. Groves experienced a life-changing event when she traveled to Mexico on a mission trip to help provide eye care and glasses for 29,000 people. She is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry and is a member of the American Optometric Association, the Missouri Optometric Association, and the Ocular Wellness and Nutrition Society.
She enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, boating, camping, and traveling.
Kathleen Wilhelmus, O.D.
About Dr. Wilhelmus
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Dr. Wilhelmus provides general eye care to all patients while specializing in the cornea and specialty contact lenses for scleral. She always knew she wanted to be in healthcare and decided to become an Optometrist after shadowing one and seeing how helping someone see can change their life. Dr. Wilhelmus’s favorite part of being an Optometrist is forming relationships with each patient, learning from them, and helping to improve their quality of life.
Dr. Wilhelmus is a Kansas City native, and in her free time, you can find her spending time with her husband and their boxer, Fondu.