PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• American Optometric Association
• Texas Optometric Association
• East Texas Optometric Association​
• Leadership Longview Class of 2018

EDUCATION

• High school: Fort Bend Baptist Academy, 2000
• Undergraduate: University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, 2004
• Graduate: University of Houston College of Optometry, 2008
• Low Vision Residency: University of Houston College of Optometry, 2009

Get to know Dr. Justin

Justin grew up in Sugarland, Texas. He attended the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor in Belton, Texas, where he graduated with a BS in Business. There he was involved in many campus organizations. Justin then graduated from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 2008. While in optometry school he led the weekly meetings for the Fellowship of Christian Optometrists, and he was in the Gold Key International Optometric Honor Society.

​Upon graduation from optometry school, Justin completed a residency in Low Vision Rehabilitation. This specialized training focused on enhancing the functional vision of patients with a visual impairment from developmental and progressive eye diseases. He worked at the Baylor Medical Center, The Institute for Rehabilitation Research, and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas.

He currently provides Low Vision services for multiple Educational Service Centers for the state of Texas, for the areas surrounding Lufkin/Nacogdoches, Longview, Mount Pleasant, and Texarkana. Dr. Ward is also involved with Under the Same Sun, which provides eye care and low vision services to children with ocular albinism in Tanzania, Africa.
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In his free time, he enjoys running, traveling with his family, and playing electric and acoustic guitar. He and Sarah lead a small group and are involved in the worship ministry at Fellowship Bible Church. He loves having Nerf fights and building forts with his sons, Crosby (6), and Crockett (3).

Dr. Justin recently completed Leadership Longview through the Chamber of Commerce. In this leadership program, he learned about many aspects of our community and services.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• American Optometric Association
• Texas Optometric Association
• East Texas Optometric Association

EDUCATION

• High school: MacArthur High School, 2002
• Undergraduate: Dallas Baptist University, 2006
• Graduate: University of Houston College of Optometry, 2010

Get to know Dr. Sarah

Sarah grew up in Irving, Texas, and is the youngest of five children. She graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2006 with a BS in Biology. In college, Sarah was involved in many campus activities including Resident Assistants, leading New Student Orientation, Baptist Student Ministry, and Alpha Chi academic honor society. She then attended the University of Houston College of Optometry and graduated in 2010. While in optometry school, Sarah received several letters of excellence on her clinical performance.

She and Justin Ward married in 2008, and have two sons: Crosby and Crockett. Together they enjoy traveling, camping, and teaching tricks to their dog, Wyatt. Dr. Sarah loves to travel! She's been to South Africa, Kenya, France, Italy, Austria, Ireland, and different regions of Canada. She and Dr. Justin also love to take trips to Disneyworld.
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Sarah and Justin attend Fellowship Bible Church where they are involved in the worship ministry and host a small group. In her free time, she loves to make homemade ice cream and dreams of opening a small-batch ice cream shop in downtown Longview. ​In the meantime, you may see her ice cream push-cart around town!

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Texas Optometric Association
• American Optometric Association
• East Texas Optometric Association
• Applicant for Fellow of American Academy of Optometry

EDUCATION

• High School: Birdville High School, North Richland Hills, TX 2010
• Undergraduate: University of Mary-Hardin Baylor, 2014
• Graduate: University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg College of Optometry, 2018

Get to know Dr. Pratt

Kristen grew up in West Texas before completing her education in Central and South Texas. After high school, she attended the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX where she graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Biology. She was involved in many science clubs and pre-health organizations. She then completed her optometric education in San Antonio.

During optometry school, Kristen completed an externship at The Contact Lens Institute of San Antonio and Ft. Sam Houston. Both of these sites offer medical and visually necessary contact lens training to improve the lives of patients with a variety of eye diseases. While in school she was Vice President of the Contact Lens Society, Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society, and Secretary/Treasurer of the Student Government Association.

Kristen, and her husband Logan, were blessed to have a son named Kase in July of 2020. She loves “simple living” and decluttering homes. Their family enjoys outdoor hobbies such as co-ed sports, hunting, fishing, etc. On any given weekend you may see Dr. Pratt and her husband at the ATV parks in their side-by-side.

EDUCATION

• High School: High Island HS 1996
• Undergraduate: Baylor University 2000
• Graduate: University of Houston College of Optometry 2004

Get to know Dr. Josh

Born in Beaumont, raised in Shelby County, graduated high school in Galveston County, completed college in Waco, and finished up with a graduate school in Houston, Dr. Josh owes his entire education and upbringing to Texas. And he's proud of it! He couldn't be more excited to now be a part of the wonderful eye care team known as Longview Eye Associates.

He majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry at Baylor. During Optometry School, Dr. Josh participated in student government as the vice president and then president of the Student Texas Optometric Association, as well as a member of the Golden Key Honor Society. His externships to finish up his optometry degree were a high volume primary care clinic in Plano and two inner-city, low-income clinics focusing on medical eye care in Houston. Dr. Josh has practiced optometry throughout the East Texas area, primarily in Tyler, since his graduation in 2004.

When not at the office, Dr. Josh spends the majority of his time with his family. He is blessed to married to his gorgeous wife Lara and father to two wonderful teenage children, Jacob and Lily. As a family, they enjoy traveling, hiking, and volunteering, sprinkled in with an occasional round of golf.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Texas Optometry License - Active
• Louisiana Optometry License - Active
• Willis-Knighton Eye Institute Medical Staff Member

CIVIC AFFILIATIONS

• City of Longview Zoning Board of Adjustment - Board Member
• One Hundred Acres of Heritage - Board Member
• Texas Shakespeare Festival Foundation - Board Member
• Longview Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Board - Board Member
• Longview Chamber of Commerce
• Total Resource Campaign - Longview Chamber of Commerce
• President - ETXCPAC
• National Rifle Association - Member

EDUCATION

• High School: Lufkin High School, 2006
• Undergraduate: Texas Christian University, 2010
• Doctorate: UIW Rosenberg College of Optometry, 2014

Get to know Dr. Williams

Dr. Williams was born and raised in Lufkin, Texas as a 5th generation East Texan with East Texas roots dating back to the late 1800s, and is the proud great-great-great-grandson of former Texas State Representative Joe Thomas. He graduated in the top 1 percent of his class from Lufkin High School while receiving All-District honors in District 15 5A baseball. After high school, Dr. Williams was recruited to play collegiate baseball by Jim Shelton at Southwestern University where he was named to the All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference First Team. After the 2008 season, he transferred to Texas Christian University where he majored in Biology and Chemistry.

During his 4 years of Doctoral training, Dr. Williams received extensive training in the areas of Glaucoma, Retina, and Ocular Surface Disease where he completed clinical rotations through the VA Hospital System in Orlando, Florida, Bond-Wroten Eye, and outpatient clinics in San Antonio. After graduating with his doctorate in 2014, he was recruited to come back and practice in East Texas where he has served patients in Longview, Carthage, and Henderson.

Blake attends New Beginnings Baptist Church in Spring Hill and has a passion for hunting, fishing, Crossfit Longview, and all things East Texas. He is frequently caught saying that he was born in Lufkin, but couldn’t get to Longview fast enough. Dr. Williams has a big heart for serving East Texas and looks forward to supporting the community for decades to come.

One of Dr. Williams's favorite quote is by John Maxwell. “What is a dream? A dream is an inspiring picture of the future, that energizes you to do everything you possibly can to achieve it. You know it's your dream when you start betting on yourself and begin to take ownership”. Blake has always envisioned his dream as pursuing an avenue in life where he can add lasting value, cultivate lifelong relationships, improve the quality of life for East Texans, and leave a lasting footprint that will support and carry the test of time for future generations. This starts with transformational leadership, servanthood, and a sincere level of intentionality. Pursuing a career in Optometry has allowed him to make a difference by positively impacting patient’s lives as there is no greater joy in life than the gift of giving sight.