DENVER—Vision Care Specialists reported Wednesday that it has acquired Accent Optics, a longtime private optometry practice operating here. The addition of Accent Optics gives Vision Care Specialists (VCS) a total of six offices in the Denver area under its management. Frederick "Rick" Hurlbut Jr., OD, a leading Denver optometrist who's been in private practice for more than 25 years, is the founder of Accent Optics, according to the announcement.

“This is an exciting time for everyone in the VCS family,” Vision Care Specialists chief executive officer Jeff Poe said in the statement. “Dr. Hurlbut's vision is to merge the best clinical eyecare with the best retail optics to create an exceptional eyecare experience for customers and patients alike. This is identical to what we work toward every day, which is why this new practice will fit so well within our group."

Hurlbut and his staff, including optician Stacy Vasquez, will continue to provide vision care and personalized optometric service to patients at the office on South Colorado Boulevard in the southeast section of Denver. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

VCS, which was founded in 1974, also operates Colorado offices in Aurora, Highlands Ranch, Lakewood, Parker and downtown Denver, according to the announcement. It is the largest privately held doctor practice in Colorado, a spokeswoman told VMail.

“I'm thrilled about the opportunity to join such an illustrious practice,” Hurlbut said. “This is a perfect fit for Stacy and me, since Jeff Poe and his team share our vision of making patient care our top priority. Their large network of doctors and staff will help us offer even more services to our patients."

In its announcement, VCS said it “believes strongly in physician-defined standards of care” as an option to “the industry trend of private equity buyouts or … join[ing] franchises and hospital-owned physician groups to gain advantages of scale.” The firm added that its dedication to an independent medical-practice model “allows VCS to invest in state-of-the-art technologies,” such as the laser cataract procedures it was the first practice to offer in Denver.