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What is Somers Eye Center?
Somers Eye Center is an eye care practice in North Kansas City, Missouri, offering both ophthalmology and optometry services — from routine vision exams for glasses and contact lenses through to cataract surgery. It is located at 2790 Clay Edwards Drive, Suite 1240, in the Pavilion building at North Kansas City Hospital, and accepts new appointments by phone or through an online request form.
Who it may suit
- Adults needing a routine eye exam, a new glasses or contact lens prescription, or a contact lens fitting.
- Patients with eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma or diabetes-related eye concerns who want evaluation and treatment options, including surgery.
- People who prefer to choose frames in person: the practice's optical dispensary has been expanded and updated with additional designer frame lines.
Practical details to know
- Office hours run 9:00am–5:00pm Monday through Thursday, 8:00am–2:00pm Friday, and it is closed on weekends.
- The practice is led by Dr. Audrey Blacklock, who took over ownership after founder Dr. Michael Somers retired in January 2023; Dr. Stephen Loughman, an optometrist with over 30 years of Kansas City experience, joined the same year.
- Services listed include eye and vision exams, contact lens exams, cataract surgery, designer frames and sunglasses.
A useful next step: if you are unsure whether you need a routine exam or a medical evaluation, call (816) 842-2015 and describe your symptoms — that will determine whether you are booked for a vision exam or a diagnostic visit. For broader context on eye conditions and treatment options, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is a reliable independent resource.
How do I schedule an appointment at Somers Eye Center?
You can schedule an appointment at Somers Eye Center by calling (816) 842-2015 or by using the Request an Appointment option on their website. The site also lists a Contact page and an Appointments page where you can submit a request online.
According to the page information, the office is at 2790 Clay Edwards Dr #1240, Kansas City, MO 64116, inside the Pavilion building at North Kansas City Hospital. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00am–5:00pm, Friday 8:00am–2:00pm, and closed Saturday and Sunday.
If you prefer to call, it helps to have your insurance information and a general idea of what you need—routine exam, contact lens exam, cataract surgery consultation, or a medical eye problem such as diabetes, cataracts, or glaucoma. The practice says it accepts new appointments, so you can ask for the first available opening.
For a practical next step: call during weekday hours and say whether you need a routine vision exam or a medical visit. That distinction matters because the practice provides both ophthalmology and optometry services, from glasses and contacts to cataract surgery, and the staff can route you to the right type of appointment.
What insurance plans are accepted at Somers Eye Center?
Somers Eye Center's website does not list specific insurance plans it accepts. The page mentions a "No Surprises" section and a "Good Faith" page, which typically relate to billing transparency, and it offers a "Pay Online" option, but no insurer names appear in the available content.
How to confirm coverage before booking
Because accepted plans aren't published, the practical step is to ask the office directly. Call (816) 842-2015 or use the Request an Appointment form and ask two questions: whether they are in network for your specific plan, and whether the visit you need (routine exam, contact lens exam, or cataract surgery) is covered under that plan.
Why this matters for different visits
- Routine vision exams may fall under a separate vision plan rather than medical insurance.
- Medical visits for conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, or diabetes-related eye issues are usually billed through medical insurance instead.
- Cataract surgery is a common source of coverage questions, so confirm authorization requirements in advance.
A useful comparison to keep in mind
| Visit type | Likely billing route | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Vision exam for glasses/contacts | Vision plan | Frame and lens allowances |
| Disease diagnosis or monitoring | Medical plan | Referral or authorization rules |
| Cataract surgery | Medical plan | Facility and surgeon network status |
If you're comparing eye care options in the Kansas City area, it also helps to check whether a practice is affiliated with your hospital network, since Somers Eye Center is located in the Pavilion building at North Kansas City Hospital.
What should I expect during cataract surgery at Somers Eye Center?
Somers Eye Center performs cataract surgery as part of its ophthalmology services, alongside routine eye exams, contact lens fittings, and an on-site optical dispensary. The practice is in the Pavilion building at North Kansas City Hospital in North Kansas City, Missouri, and is led by Dr. Audrey Blacklock, with Dr. Stephen Loughman providing optometric care.
What the page tells you
- Cataract surgery is listed as one of the practice's core services, so it is handled in-house rather than only referred out.
- The practice describes a diagnostic-first approach: a thorough exam to identify the problem, then a discussion of treatment recommendations.
- Surgery is presented as the next step when a simple glasses or contact lens change won't solve the problem.
- The practice also treats related conditions such as diabetes, glaucoma, and cataracts, which matters if your eye health is more complex than a single cataract.
What the page does not tell you
The site does not describe the specific surgical technique, the type of lens implant used, whether both eyes are done on separate days, or what the recovery timeline looks like. It also does not list pre-operative instructions or follow-up scheduling. Those details come from the surgeon during your consultation, not from the website.
A practical next step
Call the office at (816) 842-2015 and ask three specific questions before you book:
- Which intraocular lens options are available, and how do they affect near, distance, and astigmatism correction?
- How are the two eyes scheduled, and how much time off work should I plan for?
- What does post-operative care involve, and who handles it?
If you want to compare the practice's general approach with another local provider, you can look at EyeCare America for questions to ask any cataract surgeon, or check whether your health system lists a similar service at North Kansas City Hospital, since the office sits in that hospital's Pavilion building.
Whose experience to weigh
The page includes a patient testimonial section but the excerpt provided does not contain the individual comments, so there is no specific patient observation to report here. As a practical matter, ask to speak with a past cataract patient of Dr. Blacklock's, or ask during consultation how many cataract procedures she performs in a typical month.
Who are the doctors at Somers Eye Center?
Dr. Audrey Blacklock and Dr. Stephen Loughman are the two doctors named on the Somers Eye Center site. Dr. Blacklock took over ownership of the North Kansas City practice after founder Dr. Michael Somers retired in January 2023; she had worked alongside him for years and continues to provide surgical and medical eye care. Dr. Loughman joined in January 2023 and brings over 30 years of experience as an optometrist in the Kansas City area.
That split is worth noting if you are choosing a provider: an ophthalmologist handles surgery and medical eye disease, while an optometrist focuses on vision exams, glasses and contact lenses. For routine vision care or a contact lens fitting, either doctor may suit you; for cataract surgery or a condition such as glaucoma or diabetic eye disease, ask which doctor handles your case when you book. The practice also lists an expanded optical dispensary with designer frames, so a single visit can cover both the exam and eyewear.
Next step: call (816) 842-2015 or use the online appointment request, and state whether you need a routine exam, a contact lens fitting or a surgical consultation. The office is at 2790 Clay Edwards Drive, Suite 1240, in the Pavilion building at North Kansas City Hospital; weekday hours run 9:00am–5:00pm, with Friday closing at 2:00pm. You can read more at Somers Eye Center.
Does Somers Eye Center offer designer frames and sunglasses?
Yes. Somers Eye Center runs an on-site optical dispensary with designer frames and sunglasses, and the practice says the dispensary has been expanded and updated with new designer frame lines. You can browse frames in person at the North Kansas City office, and the site also lists online options for ordering contacts and paying optical bills.
If you are choosing between buying there and elsewhere, the practical advantage of an in-office dispensary is that your prescription, measurements and frame fitting happen with the same practice that handles your eye health. That matters most for progressives, high prescriptions or prism, where a small measurement error is noticeable. The trade-off is selection: a single practice, even an expanded one, carries fewer brands and shapes than a large retailer or an online seller, so if you want a very specific designer model, call ahead to ask whether they stock or can order it.
A concrete example: you have a new progressive prescription and want sunglasses for driving. Booking the exam and frame selection in one visit lets the optical staff take measurements while your prescription is fresh and adjust the tint and lens options to your driving needs. If you instead want a rare frame from a specific designer, confirm availability before making the trip.
To move forward, call the office at (816) 842-2015 or use the site's appointment request to ask which designer frame lines and sunglass brands are currently in the dispensary. Hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00am–5:00pm and Friday 8:00am–2:00pm, closed weekends.
For broader context on frame and sunglass brands, you can also check Warby Parker or LensCrafters, though neither is affiliated with this practice.
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