The Advanced Family Eye Care Team

Dr. Brad Boyle

Owner, Optometrist

Dr. Brad Boyle, O.D., Owner of Advanced Family Eye Care,  has been an optometrist in the Cedar Valley since 2016. He services their 2 practice locations in Waterloo, IA and Independence, IA with leading eye care.

His primary focus is on medical optometry. He specializes in diagnosing and treating eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration and dry eye. He also enjoys successfully fitting patients in difficult contact lens fits, including bifocal contact lenses.

Dr. Boyle is an active member of the Iowa Optometric Association and American Optometric Association. Dr. Boyle likes to spend time with his wife Michelle and three kids, Cora, Julian, and Bennett. Two of his greatest passions outside family and work are the New England Patriots and elk hunting in the Rockies.

Dr. Carrie M.M. Kearns

Optometrist

Dr. Carrie Kearns, OD was born and raised in Ottumwa, IA. She graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1999 and attended Loras College in Dubuque, IA. There she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics in 2002. She graduated from Indiana University School of Optometry four years later and did a primary care residency at Danville VAMC in Danville, IL. She co-authored an article in Optometry –Journal of the American Optometric Association titled Two differing presentations, treatments, and outcomes of Malignant Choroidal Melanoma. Dr. Kearns returned to Iowa in 2007. She is a member of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), the American Optometric Association, Iowa Optometric Association, and Independence Chamber of Commerce. In 2014 she completed a 100 hour course in vision therapy in San Diego given by Dr. Robert Sanet, OD. She enjoys readings, gardening, and spending time with her husband, Adam, and three children Kahlan, Noah, and Gryffin.

Dr. Carrie Menet

Optometrist

Dr. Carrie Menet, OD has been serving the Cedar Valley since 2017. She believes that healthy eyes are key to a person’s overall health and feels blessed for the opportunity to enhance people’s quality of life. She specializes in conditions including cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, iritis, and ocular emergencies.

Dr. Menet received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Oklahoma State University in 2005, then attended Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2009.

Andrea

Director of Operations

Born and raised in Cedar Falls, IA, Andrea earned her Bachelors in Business Administration from Coe College and Masters in Business Administration from UNI. Andrea is passionate about eye care providing preventative care for your body as a whole. She is married to her husband, Brad, and they have 3 children. Andrea enjoys family time, watching her husband coach the Columbus Sailor football team and their kids learn and grow, seasonally decorating their all-year-around Christmas tree, staying active and reading.

Ann

Patient Care Coordinator | Independence

Ann grew up on a farm in rural Jesup surrounded by a large family – 6 sisters and 4 brothers. This is where she and her husband, Denis, raised their two children, Danielle and Scott (wife, Brenna). Now it’s where she loves spending time with her grandchildren, Paisley & Dawson. Ann shared her farm upbringing with the community in the local farm store before joining the Advanced Family Eye Care team. Prior to joining the AFEC team Ann had been a longstanding patient and now enjoys providing patients with the same experience she’s had.  

April

Patient Care Coordinator | Independence

April is originally from North Texas, making her way to Iowa as her family grew. She and her husband, Mike, have 3 children – Kasey (husband, Matt), Clay & Matthew. Lily and Sophie, their cocker spaniels, rule the roost. Spending time with family, camping, cruising and cooking are some of April’s favorite pastimes. The majority of April’s professional career has been spent impacting the lives of young children in school. Now, she is motivated by what the AFEC team can do to positively impact patient lives through the eyes.

Ariel

Office Manager | Independence

The Cedar Valley has always been home for Ariel. Now Ariel and her husband, Nate, share a home with their 2 dogs – Mosi, the sweetest chiweenie and Cato, the very spicy chihuahua. The Bengals fan enjoys music, cooking, baking, movies, football and heading out of town to visit family and friends. Before Advanced Family Eye Care, Ariel served the Cedar Valley in the financial industry. She’s connected with AFEC’s reality of eye care beyond the prescription and is motivated to provide this experience to patients and team members.  

Elissa

Vision Therapist & Patient Care Coordinator | Independence & Waterloo

Elissa grew up in Indiana where she graduated from Tippecanoe Valley High School in 2001. She continued her education at Indiana Wesleyan University and then went on to receive her masters from Asbury Theological Seminary. She moved to Independence in 2010 to work as the Assistant Pastor at Hope Wesleyan Church. Elissa began at Advanced Family Eye Care in October of 2014. She is our vision therapist and loves working with her patients.  She has been married to her husband, Ben since 2012. In her spare time, Elissa enjoys music, crafting and cooking but more than anything she loves spending time with her family and friends.

Jacey

Paraoptometric Technician | Independence

Jacey was born and raised in Rowley, IA and now has a house full of her own. Tom, her high school sweetheart turned husband, and Jacey love their 3 dogs (Copper, Mayo & Shelby) and 2 outdoor cats (Karen & Dutches). Being in nature, spending time with family & friends, hunting and crafting are some of Jacey’s happiest places. Prior to Optometry, Jacey has a degree in Dental Assisting. After 5 years in the dental world she joined AFEC in Optometry. Getting to know patients in a way that feels like family is one of the best parts of Jacey’s day.

Katelyn

Optician | Independence

Spending most of her life in Illinois Katelyn moved to Iowa in 2022. Katelyn and her longtime significant other have a 15-year-old cat named Oliver. They spend a lot of their time traveling to visit family on the weekends but enjoy exploring all Iowa has to offer. Katelyn has been in many different facets of Optometry in the last few years – patient care coordination, working with patients on the medical side and now becoming an expert in the optical world. She’s settled into the optical side, loves personal patient connections, and thrives on finding the perfect pair of glasses for her patients.  

Kenzie

Optician | Independence

Born & raised on a dairy farm in Iowa, Kenzie grew up with her parents, Jeff and Kelley, older sister, Josie, and 2 black labs names Piper and Preston. Kenzie played sports growing up and now shares her athletics passion through coaching. When she’s not at AFEC or coaching you can find her at HomeGoods or Target, working on DIY projects or spending time on the farm. Graduating from Kirkwood and Upper Iowa with Business Administration and Management degrees, Kenzie spent some time in the Human Resources world before joining the AFEC team. Now she thrives on helping people feel confident in a new pair of glasses and learning everything she possibly can about the optics of Optometry. 

Megan

Optician | Waterloo

Megan grew up in the small town of Hinton, IA, graduated from Hinton High School and moved to the Cedar Valley to attend college at the University of Northern Iowa. Upon graduating with her Bachelors degree she started working in eyecare. She has experience as an optician, surgical coordinator, ophthalmic technician and in specialized testing. Megan loves to be outside as much as possible, especially with her (very bossy) Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Bandit. She enjoys running, hiking, biking, kayaking, and horseback riding as well as traveling with family/friends and exploring new places.

Paige

Office Manager | Waterloo

Paige is from Dunkerton, IA, graduating from Dunkerton High School and Hawkeye Community College. Her and her husband, Alec, have a son, Mason, and Cavapoo named Lola. She has been working in the eye industry for many years and has experience as an optician and technician. Paige loves eye care because she has the ability to provide patients with the gift of sight. She also enjoys working behind the scenes to investigate & understand insurance benefits for our patients. Some of her favorite hobbies include weekends on the river, working out, podcasting, & spending time outside with family and friends.

Sarah

Paraoptometric Technician | Waterloo

Sarah grew up in Goldfield, IA. She’s the oldest of 5 – 3 younger brothers and 1 younger sister – and loving owner of her orange cat, Kitty. After a competitive dance career Sarah continues to pursue her passion through teaching the sport. Sarah recently graduated with her undergraduate Biology degree from UNI. She loves to learn, taking every opportunity to understand why something is the way it is and how it can make her better at what she’s doing. All there is to learn and the people she can help motivates her at AFEC every day.

Wendy

Lab Operations | Independence

Wendy grew up in Ames, IA and attended Iowa State before moving to eastern Iowa. She eventually made her way to Independence with her family. She joined the team at Advanced Family Eye Care in 2015 as a Technician and earned her Certified Paraoptometic certification in 2016. At AFEC she loves seeing the difference that can be made for someone who may not be seeing very well or has a particular job, hobby or activity that requiring a special prescription or lens. In her free time she enjoys gardening, visiting family, reading, and watching Star Wars & Marvel with her son and husband.