RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—VSP Ventures has announced the acquisition of EYEcenter Optometric, a five-location eyecare practice in Northern California. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The EYEcenter practice—which has locations in the Greater Sacramento region, including Citrus Heights, Rocklin, Folsom, Gold River and Midtown—was founded by an optometrist, Fred Fuerst, OD, in 1960, with a vision to provide quality care and compassion for all patients. With its acquisition of EYEcenter Optometric, VSP Ventures has acquired 47 eyecare locations to date, most of which are located in California.

The legacy Dr. Fred Fuerst built continues to thrive and has been carried forward by his son, Randy Fuerst, OD, FAAO, along with his partner doctors at the practice: Palmer Lee, OD, Scott Gittins, OD, and John Coen, OD.
 
“While we received offers from various practice transition groups, it was clear that the future of our practice would be protected with VSP Ventures,” Dr. Lee said in the announcement. “Together with VSP Ventures, we are set to provide the same trusted patient experience that EYEcenter Optometric is proudly known for.”
 
The practice’s partner doctors have more than 125 years of combined eyecare experience, and they have served in various roles with local and national optometric associations. They also are passionate about giving back and often volunteer in community projects as well as various local and international charitable eyecare efforts. (The practice also has several other optometrists who provide eyecare services across the five locations, according to the EYEcenter website.)
 
“EYEcenter Optometric has served generations of patients in our local community and we have enjoyed a long and rewarding relationship with their practice,” said VSP Ventures president Tiffanie Burkhalter. “The EYEcenter Optometric team have set an incredible standard in patient care delivery and we are honored they selected us as their transition partner.”
 
EYEcenter Optometric was advised and represented by HPC Puckett & Company throughout the acquisition process.
 
VSP Ventures is a unit of VSP Global.