

Academy Kids Vision
E. Fountain in Bypass 24 Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80910 719-329-1221
Kid's Optometrist
Welcome Colorado Springs Families!
Here at Academy Kids Vision in Colorado Springs, we are committed to providing exceptional vision care for the children in our community. Our team of vision care specialists create a warm and welcoming environment, ensuring that your child feels comfortable during their appointment.
Pediatric Vision Care
Our optometrists, Dr. Michael Pharris and Dr. Laurie Thompson, are dedicated to ensuring that your child's vision is healthy, allowing them to succeed in school, sports, and life. Our comprehensive eye exams can determine if your child needs glasses or other vision treatments.
Colorado Springs Location, Hours & Insurance
You can find us conveniently located at 2857 E. Fountain Blvd. in the Bypass 24 Plaza on E. Fountain. Our office is open on Monday from 8:00am to 6:00pm, Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. We accept Children's Dental Medicaid, Children's Vision Medicaid, Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), and most insurances.
Schedule an appointment with us today and become a hero to your kids.
Vision
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Monday - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Tuesday - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Wednesday - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Thursday - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Friday - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Saturday - Closed
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Sunday - Closed
OTHER NEARBY LOCATIONS
Our Featured Providers
Dr. Michael Pharris
(Dr. Michael)
- Bachelor of Science - Colorado State University
- Bachelor of Science in Pre-Med - Colorado State University
- Doctorate - Pacific University College of Optometry
I've been married for 25 years to Roxann, we have 4 children, 3 boys, one girl. We own a dog, Winston. I was born in Southern California and I have two younger sisters. We all live in Colorado Springs, along with my mom. I enjoy all things music and all sports. Tennis & Guitar are my favorite.
Dr. Laurie Thompson
(Dr. Thompson)
- Bachelor of Science in Business Management - Macon State College
- Minor in Biology - Macon State College
- Doctor of Optometry - University of Missouri St Louis College of Optometry
- Member of Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society and Gold Key International Optometric Society
I grew up in OK and married my husband of 25 years shortly after graduating high school. My husband served 23 years in the Air Force which took us all over the US before settling in Colorado. I have two sons and one daughter and enjoy spending time with family and friends cooking and watching movies.
Dr. Blake Bender
(Dr. Bender)
In undergrad, I majored in biology and minored in history at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. Then, I earned
my Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry in San
Antonio, Texas.
I met my girlfriend, Dr. Martinez, in optometry school, and we graduated from the same class!
I grew up in a small town called Spencer, Iowa.
My favorite college sports team is the Iowa Hawkeyes!
Even though I’m from Iowa, my favorite professional sports teams are the Denver Broncos and the Denver Nuggets!
My hobbies include golf, biking, hiking, exercising, and playing with my two rescue dogs, Siggy and Isla.
My special talent is that I can solve a Rubik’s Cube.
MEDICAID ACCEPTED
Insurance, we've got you covered.
We welcome Children's Medicaid and most insurance plans. Our mission is to expand care access so that every child has a chance to thrive.
Vision Insurance Accepted
- Colorado Medicaid
- Denver Health
- Co Access
- EyeMed
- Spectera
- Tricare
- UHC (Medical)

The whole staff was so caring and patient. My daughter is three and they were so great with her. Would definitely recommend to everyone!
High Quality, Compassionate Care for Kids
It's What We Do Best!
It's our mission to ensure that every child and family has access to affordable high-quality, compassionate care. Our kid-friendly offices, high-quality staff, flexible scheduling, and a variety of insurance options make us the perfect fit for your family.
Click Below to Learn More
Kid's Optometrist & Vision Care in Colorado Springs
With a kid’s eye doctor, your child’s future is clear!
Regular eye exams are an important way to keep babies, kids, and teens on track for educational, social, and developmental success. Vision issues can impact a child’s experiences with school, sports, peers, and daily activities. A vision check-up is an important way to make sure your child is developing healthily and prepared for success.
Nearsightedness in Colorado Springs
If it’s hard for your child to see far far away, they may have Myopia. Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a refractive disorder that makes it difficult to see distant objects. In contrast, with nearsightedness, it is easy to see things up close. The symptoms can include:
Blurred vision when looking at objects at a distance
Squinting
Eyestrain
Eye fatigue when looking at objects far away
In addition to causing physical issues, nearsightedness can also impact a child’s performance in school and safety. Nearsightedness can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or eye surgery. Routine eye exams can detect potential issues and help kids stay healthy.
Farsightedness in Colorado Springs
Are things too close for comfort? If so, then your child may have Hyperopia, or farsightedness. Hyperopia is a common condition that allows you to see objects far away better than objects that are up close. With farsightedness, the light rays in the eyes focus behind the surface of the retina instead of directly on the retina. This makes close-up objects blurry. The symptoms may include:
Blurred vision
Trouble focusing on things close by
Eyestrain
Eye fatigue
Headaches when performing tasks close-up
Farsightedness can impact self-esteem and educational capabilities, but it is easy to correct with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery. Take your kid for a vision check-up to make sure they are set up for success!
Astigmatism in Colorado Springs
Astigmatism is a common condition that blurs objects both near and far. With astigmatism, your eye isn’t completely round so it is not able to focus. Astigmatism can be difficult to diagnose in kids because they perceive the blurriness as normal. The symptoms include:
Blurred Vision
Distorted Vision
Eyestrain
Headaches
When left unaddressed, astigmatism can impact school performance and safety. Like other common eye issues, astigmatism can be treated with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery. Make an appointment for an eye exam to make sure your child’s eyes are healthy and ready for success!
Lazy Eye in Colorado Springs
A wandering eye is also known as Amblyopia. Amblyopia is a vision condition in which one eye underperforms because it does not properly reflect light. When a child has a lazy eye, their body follows the direction of the normally performing eye. This impacts their ability to perceive depth. Symptoms include;
Issues with depth perception
Frequently squinting or shutting one eye
Tilting head to focus
For the most effective and simple treatment and management, it is important to detect a lazy eye early. Routine eye exams are an important way to take care of your children.
Cross Eyes in Colorado Springs
Strabismus, or cross-eyes, is a common eye condition in which the eyes are not always aligned. With strabismus, the eye muscles are out of sync which causes the eyes to look different ways. Strabismus can lead to a lazy eye or cause other types of vision problems. There are a few different treatment options, depending on the specific nature of the condition.
Fashionable Frames in Colorado Springs
It can be a struggle to get your child to wear eyeglasses. We carry over 350 Medicaid-approved frames to ensure your child can find the perfect pair to suit their age, size, fashion, and lifestyle. We want every child to feel confident and comfortable when wearing glasses!
Insurance Options in Colorado Springs
We don’t want any child to struggle with learning challenges caused by undetected vision problems. If your child is experiencing vision issues, we can help. We accept Medicaid and most insurance plans so that your child can have regular vision check-ups and glasses at little or no cost. Book an appointment today!

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