Dr. Kent Dobbins is not your ordinary optometrist. After completing his Bachelor of Science at Kansas University, where he was an All Big Eight Gymnast and was on the Academic Honor Roll, he went on to receive his Doctor of Optometry from the Southern College of Optometry where he took a special interest in General Optometry. Dr. Dobbins has been in practice for 38 years, and is a member of the Kansas Optometric and American Optometric Society.
Growing up on a farm in Lawrence, Kansas, where he also attended high school, Dr. Dobbins competed in football, gymnastics and track.
Dr. Dobbins served in the United States Marine Corps as infantry and a tank platoon commander for 4 years. He was awarded a Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart for wounds received in action.
Says Dr. Dobbins, “As soon as I got out of the Marine Corps, I knew I wanted to find a job where I could be my own boss, as well as help others. That's why I chose this field.” Dr. Dobbins enjoys the simple pleasures that come with knowing that his patients are happy with how he helps them maintain long term eye health.
When not in the office, Dr. Dobbins avidly follows KU sports of all types, and enjoys travel, staying active and participating in Triathlons, where he has won first place in his age group in both national and international competitions.
Dr. Dobbins is also proud of his family, “My wife, Liz, is an accomplished athlete. I have one son, 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren. Every one of them is smarter and better looking than me.”
Dr. Letourneau, originally from Concordia, Kansas, attended the University of Kansas as an undergraduate and student-athlete playing football for the Jayhawks. He received his bachelor's degree in Human Biology in 2003. After graduating from KU, Dr. Letourneau went on to study optometry at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, one of the top optometry schools in the country.
Dr. Letourneau enjoys all areas of eye health care, especially treating ocular diseases such as diabetes, dry eye/ocular surface disease, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. He has written on the importance of early detection of macular degeneration, most recently in Review of Optometric Business.
Dr. Letourneau has a special interest in fitting specialty contact lenses, especially for patients with corneal diseases such as ectasia, keratoconus, and high astigmatism. “To literally change a patient’s visual experience, after years of them struggling with their everyday vision, is one of the most rewarding moments we enjoy as physicians.” He is a member of the Scleral Lens Education Society.
He is passionate about myopia management. “With our creation of Mighty Eyes, our myopia management clinic, we are treating at the highest level, improving the quality of life and future opportunities for children with myopia.” Dr. Letourneau is a member of the American Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia control, as well as a certified Brilliant Futures Myopia Management prescriber.
The most rewarding part of Dr. Letourneau’s profession is assisting those in need through SEE International. He travels annually with a group of eye surgeons to Milot, Haiti at Hospital Sacre’ Coeur providing medical and surgical care to thousands of patients in need.
Dr. Letourneau’s greatest accomplishment is being a husband to Karla, and a father to their 5-year-old daughter, Isla. Their family enjoys exercising, traveling, watching Isla participate in sports, always looking for new and memorable experiences.
Dr. Lisa Tomasu, originally from Wichita, Kansas, received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Kansas. She is very excited to re-join the practice she worked at during her time at KU! She then earned her Doctorate of Optometry from NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and was recognized with a certificate of Clinical Excellence. Dr. Tomasu completed two optometric mission trips to Roatán, Honduras in 2018 and 2019, and she continues to give back to the community through the Lawrence Lions Club.
Dr. Tomasu enjoys seeing patients of all ages and offers a wide range of services. She provides comprehensive eye exams, manages ocular disease, and provides cataract and LASIK evaluations. She also has a particular interest in dry eye disease and specialty contact lenses, including scleral lenses, to treat diseases such as keratoconus. Dr. Tomasu is an active member of the American Optometric Association and the Kansas Optometric Association.
In her free time, Dr. Tomasu enjoys traveling, staying active, and spending time with family and friends. She also loves cheering on the Jayhawks and the Chiefs year round!