Meet the Optometrist

Dr. Larsen is a board certified optometrist by the American Board of Optometry. As a caring eye care professional, Dr. Larsen provides patients with complete primary eye care.  He specializes in comprehensive medical eye exams including the diagnosis and treatment of medical eye conditions, as well as eyeglasses and contact lens consultations and prescriptions. As a rigid gas permeable contact lens wearer himself, he enjoys the vision and health benefits this type of contact lens provides.  Because of this personal experience, he specializes in all rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lens fittings, including large scleral lenses and other specialty RGP contact lenses. Dr Larsen also fits all types of soft contact lenses. With careful assessment, he helps patients determine which type of lens is best for their medical condition, lifestyle and individual needs.

Dr. Larsen received his undergraduate degree in Zoology from Brigham Young University and went on to earn his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Houston.  Following graduation, Dr. Larsen spent the next 18 years working in offices with both Optometrists and Ophthalmologists, providing comprehensive medical eye care for a wide range of medical eye conditions.  These years included an ophthalmology practice in Yreka, CA for 15 years,  and 3 years in an ophthalmology practice in Eagle and Glenwood Springs, Colorado.  These years helped to refine and expand Dr. Larsen's diagnostic and treatment skills.

After 3 years in Colorado, he and his family were missing the Pacific Northwest.  Dr. Larsen and his family moved back to the area joining Apple Valley Eye Center in March of 2017.

Most important to Dr. Larsen is his family. Dr. Larsen and his wife Taunya have 6 children, 5 boys and 1 girl.

Dr. Larsen is an avid photographer. He photographs mainly landscapes and wildlife, but also enjoys portrait work for families, seniors in high school and weddings. His photography can be seen on his website at http://www.JasonLarsenPhotography.com. Dr. Larsen’s other main hobby is cycling, both road and mountain.  Since moving to Yakima, he has enjoyed riding with the cycling group, Yakima Basin Velo. Music plays an important part in his life as well. He plays the piano and sings Barbershop.  In Yreka, he sang with the barbershop acapella chorus the Siskiyous Serenaders, singing both lead and tenor. 

Dr. Ed LaBissoniere was born right here in Yakima.  He has spent most of his life here the Yakima Valley.  He attended St Paul’s Grade School and graduated from Marquette High School in 1964.

After high school, he attended Seattle University on a full ride baseball scholarship as a pitcher for the Chieftains. He graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

In the fall of 1969, he attended the University of Houston Optometry School where he began his Optometric studies.  He married Denise Gamache September 26, 1970 and moved to Berkeley where he transferred to the School of Optometry at the University of California at Berkeley.

He graduated in June of 1973 and moved to Sunnyside, WA, where he joined Dr. Warren Meadowcroft’s practice.  In January 1976, he moved to Yakima and opened his own practice on 40th Avenue.

Dr. Mark Ward is excited to be seeing patients again in Yakima!  He has missed his Yakima patients this past year, but has grown as an Optometric Physician serving the underprivileged and homeless population at YNHS community health center in Sunnyside. 

After high school, Dr. Ward learned so much from living in the Philippines for 2 years, serving a mission among the people there.  He then graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Weber State University and received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University.  He has had many unique experiences as an Optometrist serving a wide variety of patients, gaining great insight, skill and knowledge.  As part of his school externships, he was able to serve the great Veterans of our country at the US Veteran’s Hospital in Portland Oregon.  He also enjoyed working at the Chemawa Indian Health Services in Salem Oregon and gained great experience at the Eye Foundation, a surgical center in Utah.

He moved to Yakima in 2005, and has enjoyed the great patients he’s had the opportunity to interact with over the past 15 years.  He loves spending time with his wife and 5 children, planning adventures, enjoying the beautiful outdoors, gardening, camping, archery and various projects around his home.

Dr. Ward has a welcoming and friendly personality.  He is a gentle and caring family eye doctor and has had experience serving children with special needs, patients with complex medical needs, as well as the elderly.  He loves that moment when patients look out the window and can see the individual leaves on the trees, and the blades of grass. This beautiful world is something to see, you don’t want to miss it!