At Richland vision clinic, eye care is a family affair

Some families talk sports over the dinner table. Or, if they’re particularly brave, perhaps politics or religion.

But in the Heaston family, the conversation often turns to optometry. It’s inevitable, really.

Nearly everyone at the table is an optometrist.

There’s William Heaston, the patriarch, who started practicing in Richland decades ago. He’s retired now, but his son Dale followed him into the profession. Dale’s two daughters, Elizabeth Heaston Thompson and Karen Heaston Helms, also became optometrists.

And Liz’s husband, Trent Thompson? You guessed it — optometrist, too.

Dale, Liz, Karen and Trent work together at Heaston & Thompson Vision Clinic on Aaron Drive in Richland, carrying on the practice William Heaston started when he came to the Tri-Cities from the west side in 1950, intending to fill in for another eye doctor for a short time.

William ended up staying, and this year the family business celebrates its 65th anniversary.

It’s not the only milestone the family is marking. Recently, Dale and Karen both were recognized by Optometric Physicians of Washington — the father was named 2014 Optometric Physician of the Year and the daughter 2014 Young Optometric Physician of the Year.

In announcements sent out about the awards, the professional group highlighted Dale’s and Karen’s career accomplishments and community service. But both are quick to say the recognition is a credit to their practice and to the team — the family — of optometrists and other staff members who make the place run.

“If we weren’t all together in this ...” Dale said.

“It wouldn’t happen,” Karen jumped in.

Along with Dale, Liz, Karen and Trent, another optometrist also is on staff. Daniel Plesha grew up in Sunnyside. Although he’s not a relative, he does share the Heaston-Thompson philosophy of putting the patient first, Dale and Karen said.

It’s a philosophy that’s been at the center of the family business since the start, they said.

Dale, 64, remembers visiting his dad at work as a boy. “We were in the office all the time. You really got to see the patient care — how he cared for patients, the benefit he provided,” Dale Heaston said. That’s what inspired Dale to go into optometry.

Liz, 37, also was committed to the field early on — pretty much from the time she could talk, said her dad.

Meanwhile, Karen, 34, planned to go into veterinary surgery, logging hours in the operating room before ultimately switching paths.

She realized she wanted to care for human patients “in the way that my family had,” she said.

The practice moved to its current home on Aaron Drive several years ago.

To mark the 65th anniversary, the practice plans some promotions and events, including a Facebook contest that runs through Valentine’s Day in which people are encouraged to post a photo of themselves in their oldest and most outdated glasses. The winner will receive a free pair of frames and lenses.

Dale and Karen Heaston said it’s fun to come to work with so many members of their family — that there’s a trust level and collaboration that elevates their patient care.

Dale’s wife, Suzanne, said she’s proud to see her daughters follow their father’s path yet bring their own expertise and passion to the field and the family business. Suzanne doesn’t work in optometry; she’s a public affairs official at Bechtel.

Dale said it’s something special to see your children want to do what you do. “It’s one of the best things that can happen to a dad,” he said. “It makes a father proud.”

Although Dale’s father is retired, he’s still a presence at the clinic, coming in sometimes on the weekends to help out with projects.

The littlest members of the family stop by a lot, too.

Liz and Trent have three young kids. Karen and her husband, Jason, have a 4-year-old girl.

“(My daughter) says, ‘I’m going to be an eye doctor, Mommy,’” Karen said with a laugh. “She said to Liz, ‘You’re going to need some help later.’”

This story was originally published January 12, 2015 at 5:00 PM with the headline "At Richland vision clinic, eye care is a family affair."