Center Vision & Contact Lens Clinic has been caring for families of the greater Tri-Cities area for more than 40 years. Our mission is to provide each of our patients with individualized, high quality eye care to perfect your vision and enhance your quality of life. We strive to deliver cutting edge eye care to preserve the vision and health of our patients with our own personal touch. Schedule an appointment today and experience care you can trust from doctors who treat you like family.
 Dr. Gerald Berges has been practicing optometry in the Tri-Cities since 1977. After he graduated from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, he married Cathy Barclay, his High School sweetheart, and they moved to Alexandria, Virginia to start his Army Career as an Optometric Physician. After spending time at Dewitt Army hospital in Virginia, and then Madigan Army Hospital in Tacoma, Washington, He and his wife and first child moved to Kennewick and joined Dr. Phil Berman’s practice.
Dr. Berges’ wife Cathy is a past Teaching Leader for Bible Study Fellowship, and enjoys being a wife, mother and now a Grandmother to 4 Grandchildren. They have 4 children; Geoff (a Captain with Continental Express airlines, Krista (Wife, and mother of three children), David (an Elementary teacher) and Hannah (student at Liberty Christian High School).
Dr. Berges was selected as Washington state JayCee of the year, Kennewick Man of the Year, past president of Kennewick Kiwanis club, past board member of the Kennewick Hospital Foundation, Past President of the Tri-Cities Optometric Society, Past Trustee to the Optometric Physicians of Washington, Member of Columbia Community Church, participant in Bible study Fellowship since 1984 and is presently the Teaching Leader of the Men’s BSF class in the Tri-Cities, plus many other community projects that have been instrumental to the growth of the Tri-Cities.
“The Bible is an instruction manual for our business. If we care for our patients and employees as the Lord instructs us to do, then He will be glorified and our patients will have the best care that we can possibly give them.”
 Dr. Luehrs grew up in Vancouver, Washington. He graduated from Hudson’s Bay High School and was a letterman in football, basketball, and baseball. He had the privilege of playing on the 1964 state championship basketball team. He then went to the University of Puget Sound where he received a BS in biology with a secondary teaching certificate. During his final year at UPS, Dr. Luehrs got interested in optometry. That interest took him to the Pacific University, College of Optometry, in Forest Grove, Oregon where he received his doctor of optometry degree.
Wanting to travel before settling down to practice, Dr. Luehrs joined the US Air Force as an optometrist. He was stationed in Oklahoma, South Korea, Germany, California, England, and South Carolina. Dr. Luehrs retired from the USAF in 1993. He and the family drove across the USA to join Dr. Gerry Berges at Center Vision and Contact lens Clinic.
Dr. Luehrs married his wife, Susie, in 1976 and they have 2 daughters, Laura and Leanne. Both daughters graduated from high school I Kennewick. Laura from Kamiakin H.S., and Leanne from Southridge H.S. Laura graduated from Washington State University in 2002, she married Scott Berggren in May 2008, and they live in Charleston, S.C. Leanne received her bachelors degree from Central Washington University in 2005, and the following year received her masters degree in education. Leanne married Mat Purcell in July 2008, and they live in Ventura, California.
Dr. Luehrs and his wife are both involved in leadership positions in bible Study Fellowship. In his free time Dr. Luehrs enjoys golf, travel, and keeping the yard looking good, while his wife Susie enjoys reading, walking and travel.
 Dr. Banta is a Tri-Cities native that grew up right here in Richland. After attending the University of Washington and receiving his doctorate from Pacific University College of Optometry, he served our country proudly as an optometric physician for the United States Air Force. While on active duty, Dr. Banta was the Chief of Optometry Services at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. He also served as an adjunct clinical professor for the University of Houston College of Optometry, Indiana University School of Optometry and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Following the conclusion of his commitment to the Air Force, Dr. Banta returned home to the Tri-Cities in 2006 to join Center Vision & Contact Lens Clinic.
Dr. Banta practices full scope primary care optometry with an emphasis on medical eye care and complex contact lens fittings. He especially enjoys children’s vision examinations and loves the family-centered focus of the office. Dr. Banta is an active member in the American Optometric Association, the Optometric Physicians of Washington, Rotary International and is currently the President of Tri-Cities Business Connection.
Dr. Banta married his wife, Jennifer, in 2000 and they have two children, Katie and Connor. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, coaching his daughter’s soccer team, serving at his church, fly fishing and backpacking with his dog, Toby.
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