Doctor's ValuVision has opened in Cape Girardeau.

The new, retail optical center offers eye examinations, eyeglasses and contact lenses at its 4,500-square-foot store at 3042 William, across from West Park Mall.

"We're excited about coming to Cape Girardeau," said Dr. Jerry Bizer, president of Doctor's ValuVision headquartered in Louisville, Ky.

The Cape Girardeau store is the 17th store for the ValuVision group; the 18th will open soon in Elizabethtown, Ky. Half of the stores are in Kentucky.

The Bizer family has been providing professional eye care for more than 54 years and currently operates five full-service optometry centers in the Louisville area under the name of Dr. Bizer's VisionWorld. Other Kentucky locations include Dr. Bizer's ValuVision in Lexington, and Doctor's ValuVision in Paducah and Bowling Green.

Four ValuVision operations are in the Nashville, Tenn. area. Others are in Murfreesboro and three in the Tri-City area of East Tennessee.

Customers will have a selection of almost 3,000 frames, including traditional and contemporary styles as well as several designer names.

Bizer said the company has a complete contact-lens department.

Customers can have most glasses within an hour after examination, said Ron Miller, manager of the Cape Girardeau store. The store has its own lab on premises.

Miller also said patients can receive a complete eye examination without appointment. "We'll have doctors of optometry on staff at the office at all times," he said.

Doctor's ValuVision will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Doctor's Valuvision accepts most forms of insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid.