GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—Blue Sky Vision, a unit of the investment group Sterling Partners, announced today that it has made a partnership investment in VisionCare Associates of East Lansing, Mich. VisionCare Associates is “a leader in the field of optometry with over 50 years of combined experience,” according to the announcement. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. It is the third majority partnership investment that Blue Sky Vision has announced this month, as VMAIL reported. 

Previously this month, Blue Sky Vision announced investments in EyeCare Associates of Haslett and Perry, Mich., and Sussex Vision Center, a three-location optometry practice in southwest Michigan. (Blue Sky Vision, a management services organization, was initially named Great Lakes Management Services Organization but renamed itself Blue Sky Vision to reflect “the organization’s commitment to industry leadership, innovation and quality vision care,” according to a March 2018 announcement.)

VisionCare Associates said its new partnership reflects its commitment to “research, state-of-the-art technology, and collaboration with other leading specialists to provide patients the highest standard of care,” the announcement noted. “We are certain that partnering with Blue Sky Vision will benefit our doctors, our staff, and, most importantly, our patients,” Cheryl Vincent-Riemer, OD, president of VisionCare Associates, said. “We look forward to assimilating Blue Sky Vision’s support and resources to continue our mission of providing unsurpassed patient care and superior products in a private, personal setting.”

VisionCare Associates offers a full line of optical services, including comprehensive eye exams, medical eye exams, contact lenses, pediatric eyecare, vision therapy, dry eye, and an extensive array of eyeglass frames.

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome VisionCare Associates to the Blue Sky Vision family of nearly 60 high-quality eyecare providers across the Central and West Michigan regions,” Blue Sky Vision chief executive officer Bill Hughson said in the announcement. “Drs. Vincent-Riemer, [Sarah] Knapp, [Colleen] Keiper, [Andrew] White, and [Andrea] Shank share our passion for vision and personalized, compassionate service.”

Blue Sky Vision, which was created in early 2017 and is a partnership among doctors, members of the leadership team and Sterling Partners, has partnered to date with the following practices: EyeCare Associates, Sussex Vision Centers, Vitreo-Retinal Associates, Michigan Optical, Shoreline Vision, Walker Surgical Center, Lakeshore Eye, Surgical Care Center of Michigan and Grand Rapids Ophthalmology.