Dr. Sasse joins staff at First Insight Eyecare

    First Insight Eyecare has welcomed a new doctor to their practice, Dr. Michaela Sasse.
    Sasse grew up on a farm in north central Kansas, near Gaylord, so is no stranger to small town life.
    She completed her undergraduate studies at Fort Hayes State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. While at FHSU, Sasse was named a Torch Award finalist, recognizing her as an outstanding senior.
    She obtained her doctorate from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis Tennessee, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2020, and was named to the Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric honor society.
    She was also selected as a member of the Gold Key International Honor Society, a membership designation based upon leadership, scholarship and value to the class, college and profession of optometry.
    After graduating with her doctorate, Sasse worked at a practice in Lincoln. She desired to return to small town life, which brought her to First Insight.
    “I just really love the idea of practicing in a small community and becoming involved in a small community,” she said.
    “I really missed that lifestyle, and I love optometry and the idea of growing here and being a member of the community.”
    Sasse said she enjoys interacting with patients and getting to know them on a more personal level, which is part of the reason she was drawn to a smaller community.
    She is passionate about her field, and cares deeply for her patients, factors which contribute to her being an active member of the Nebraska Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development.
    “I’d say as an optometrist, it’s not only our duty to serve patients, but also the greater community as a whole,” Sasse said.
    One of the aspects she values about her job is people knowing they are being heard, and strives to be the person who will take care of them.
    Sasse was awarded the COVD Award for Excellence in Vision Therapy due to her passion for working with children and treating developmental and acquired visual deficits.
    “Vision therapy is essentially physical therapy for your eyes, and that’s something I advocate for,” Sasse explained.
    “A lot of the times, children or people who have experienced traumatic brain injuries can have difficulty with their vision, and getting their eyes to team together properly,” she said.
    “Someone could be struggling with something and they don’t know how to articulate what they’re struggling with. Having a little bit of a challenge excites me, as does seeing how it benefits someone’s quality of life afterwards,” she added.
    By addressing vision disorders and focusing on issues, she added, it can really impact a person’s quality of life, whether that’s making it a little easier to read or helping with someone’s job performance.
    Sasse was welcomed at a “meet and greet” in the Grant office July 2. She was very impressed with how friendly and kind everyone was.
    Sasse will have office hours in Imperial, as well as the two other First Insight Eyecare locations in Ogallala and North Platte.
    “I’m just happy to be here,” Sasse said. “And I’m really grateful to everyone for the kindness that has been extended to me.