About

Dr. Jessica Hegewald, O.D.

Dr. J grew up in Idaho where she developed a love and a passion for the outdoors. She attended undergraduate school at Idaho State University, financing her education by working for the BLM as a wildland firefighter in the summers. She completed her doctorate training near Portland, Oregon at Pacific University College of Optometry. She completed an internship in Bethel, Alaska at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Regional Hospital which served the Yupik tribe by taking bush planes into the different fishing villages to provide eye care for the residents. She moved to Colorado in 2008, accepting a job in Colorado Springs with a company who's goal is to provide vision care to the underprivileged and underserved children in the community. Wanting to continue a life/profession of service, she also joined the Colorado Air National Guard and worked for several years as the Chief of Optometry for the 140th Wing at Buckley Air Force Base. She currently serves as the Medical Group Commander. She has represented Colorado and the Air Force on several humanitarian missions including missions to Morocco and Mongolia. She also deployed with a medical team to provide assistance during Hurricane Harvey, and assisted the State in their COVID response.

Dr. J is married to a Colorado Native and has two adult children. She has a lot of hobbies that continually brought them up to Summit County almost every weekend. She and her family enjoy biking, hiking, kayaking and backpacking in the summers and back-country hut trips and resort skiing in the winter. Missing the smaller community and wanting to be in the outdoors that they love, Dr. J and her husband moved up to Silverthorne in 2017. Their mission is to improve the lives in the community through caring and advanced eye care. They are looking to continue the life/profession of service and to become an integral part of this mountain community and a staple in the Town of Silverthorne.

Dr. Megan Schmauder

Dr. Megan Schmauder is a Colorado native who is very excited to be back in the mountains. She spent many years in Reno, Nevada but received her undergraduate degree from CU-Boulder. She received her doctorate from Pacific University College of Optometry and completed a post-graduate fellowship in Seattle in the areas of pediatrics, vision therapy, specialty contact lenses, and anterior segment disease. While at Pacific, she served on the board of AMIGOS, a student group that organized vision service trips abroad. She has also recently completed a fellowship through the American Academy of Optometry.

Dr. Megan and her husband love the outdoors. You might see them competing in the Summit Mouintain Challenge Race Series or skinning up the mountain in the winter time. In her free time, Dr. Megan really enjoys hiking/backpacking, skiing, drinking tea, playing volleyball, and reading the occasional fantasy novel.

Matt Bowman -- Office Manager

Matt is your quintessential Summit County Native. Born and raised here, Matt loves everything outdoors. You can often find him spending his free time fly fishing our amazing Gold Medal rivers, or Jeeping on some of the local trails. His love for fly fishing and travel has taken him to many places across the globe, including the Bahamas, Japan, and Belize, and to several other states here in the US, including Maryland, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and Flordia. And every year, Matt takes time to go to Louisanna to fly fish for Redfish (the photo to the left).

We ran into Matt the first time at Ace Hardware, and were extremely impressed by his knowledge and his customer service. Whether he was helping us work our new chainsaw or teaching me about the Green Egg to suprise my husband, he blew us away with his professionalism and attention to detail. When Ace closed, he came over to work with us at Blue River Vision and he has been with us ever since.

Matt's professionalism and dedication to our patients has been truly impressive. He is committed to providing you with the best care possible in Summit County. He truly has been an asset to our team and has proved himself as a great leader for our newer staff members.

Stop on in and let Matt help you with any of your eye care needs....or just ask about the Colorado Ave's and how their season is going.

Yuli -- Paraoptometric Assistant

Yuli has been with us for about three years now. Born and raised in Summit County, she has a heart for helping people and enjoys making patients feel comfortable and cared for. When she's not at the office, Yuli also works at Target and finds fulfillment in serving people in different ways. She loves spending time with her little Yorkie, exploring the outdoors and staing active in and around Lake Dillion. Whether at work or in her free time, Yuli's caring nature and commitment to others always shines through.

Lynn--Vision Therapist

Lynn joined our team as a Vision Therapist and quickly became an essential part of our patient care family. She completed her certification through Emergent VT and now plays a key role in implementing customiszed vision therapy sessions. Lynn works closely with patients to support training and rehabilitation in areas such as convergence insufficiency, amblyopia, and recovery from traumatic brain injury. Her calm guidance and encouraging approach help patients build confidence while strengthening their visual skills.

Before stepping into the world of vision therapy, Lynn served the Town of Silverthorne as a dispatcher---an experience that sharpened her ability to stay focused, calm, and compassionate under pressure. Those same qualities now shine through in her therapy work.

Outside the clinic, Lynn embraces the life in the great outdoors. She is an avid hiker, sailor and cross-country skier, always finding new ways to enjoy the mountains and waters that inspire her.

Esme--Paraoptometric Technician

A proud Summit County native, esme brings an energetic and positive spirit to the office every day. Her youthful enthusiasm and warm personality make her a natural at connecting with patients and helping them feel comfortable during their visits. Esme's dedication to learning and growing in the field of eye care shines through. We're thrilled to have her as part of our family!

Ty--Paraoptometric Technician

Ty brings a vibrant and welcoming energy to our office! Born in Brazil and raised in Flordia, she is fluent in three languages and loves connecting with people from all walks of life. Ty's adventurous spirit shows both on and off the mountain---though a snowboarding accident left her with two broken ankles last year, she's back on her feet and living life to the fullest. Ty has a genuine passion for helping patients feel at ease and making their eye care experience positive and comfortable. She enjoys being part of a team that helps people see their best and loves building lasting connections with every patient she meets.

Ami-Paraoptometric Technician

Ami has been part of our team for a year and has quickly become a favorite among patients and staff alike. A proud Summit County Native, she loves helping people find the perfect new glasses style to match both their needs and personality. She's especially fascinated by the fact that 80% of what we learn comes through our eyes---something that inspires her work in eye care every day. Outside the office, Ami is a big Denver Nuggets fan, enjoying traveling, and she never turns down a good scary movie. While working with us, she is also pursuing her college education, bringing dedication and curiosity to everything she does.

Diana-Paraoptometric Technician

Diana has also been with us for almost a year. She is excited to grow her knowledge in the world of Eye Care. She has a strong interest in learning more about the medical side of vision and enjoys being part of a team that helps patients protect and improve their sight. Outside the office, Diana loves spending time with her kids, exploring the outdoors, whether it is hiking local trails or biking together. A loyal Broncos fan, she brings the same enthusiasm she has for her team into the care she shows our patients.

Priscilla-Paraoptometric Technician

Priscilla is the newest member of our team, and she already shines with her warm, caring personality. Long time Summit County resident, She loves making sure patients feel both cared for and informed throughout their eye care experience. When she's not in the office, Priscilla enjoys exploring lakes and local trails with her kids---her favorite spot is Sapphire Point at sunset. She also has a creative side, playing the drums and enjoying music (with a special love for Taylor Swift). We're excited o have her energy and compassion on our team!