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Magruder Laser Vision extends a warm welcome to Dr. Kara M. Bachus, O.D., F.A.A.O., an optometric physician who joins the practice as Director of Optometric Services starting November 16, 2026. A Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a past Florida Board and National Board examiner, Dr. Bachus has spent nearly three decades guiding patients through cataract and refractive surgery. She is also certified in the Light Adjustable Lens, which gives cataract patients the chance to fine-tune their vision after surgery. Whether you are exploring vision correction, preparing for cataract surgery, or looking for a trusted partner in ongoing eye health, you will have a doctor who brings that depth of knowledge and peer-trusted rigor to every visit.

“Dr. Bachus has earned the respect of her peers at the highest levels of the profession,” said Dr. G. Brock Magruder, Founder & CEO of Magruder Laser Vision. “I have always believed that patients who trust a doctor with their vision deserve the very best, and that belief guides every physician I bring into this practice. Dr. Bachus meets that standard, so patients can feel confident they are in exceptional hands.” 

Experience that guides every step of your vision journey

Dr. Bachus has spent more than 25 years caring for patients in high-volume refractive and cataract surgical settings. That experience gives patients a guide who knows the full path, from the first consultation and candidacy evaluation through surgery and recovery. She is highly skilled in evaluating and caring for patients considering LASIK, PRK, SMILE, ICL, refractive lens exchange, and cataract surgery, and she is certified in the Light Adjustable Lens, an advanced option that lets patients fine-tune their vision after cataract surgery.

A Fellow and examiner who has helped shape the profession

Dr. Bachus has been a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry since 2000. The F.A.A.O. designation reflects a lasting commitment to clinical excellence and continuing education, so patients receive care informed by the latest advancements and best practices in the field.

Her service as a Florida Board and National Board examiner included work as a consultant and writer for the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. She is a past president of the Central Florida Society of Optometric Physicians and has served as a preceptor for Nova Southeastern University’s College of Optometry. Patients benefit from a doctor who has helped set the standards of her profession and mentored the next generation of optometric physicians.

“Magruder Laser Vision is known for its leadership in cataract and refractive care, and I bring the same high standard to every exam,” said Dr. Bachus. “Years of evaluating clinical skills as a Board examiner taught me how much careful, evidence-based decision making matters to patient outcomes, and patients here benefit from that discipline at every step.”

Florida roots, enriched by experience across the country

A native Floridian, Dr. Bachus was born and raised in Gainesville. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Stetson University and her Doctor of Optometry from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. She then spent a quarter century in a Florida cataract and refractive surgery practice. Her path continued with three years at Key-Whitman Eye Institute in Texas, where she deepened her experience in cataract and refractive care and became certified in the Light Adjustable Lens, followed by three years in primary care optometry with National Vision, where she served as an Area Doctor overseeing two districts in Florida. This blend of surgical co-management and everyday eye care gives patients a doctor who understands every stage of their eye health.

Away from the exam room, Dr. Bachus enjoys running. She is married and the mother of two children, and she is delighted to be serving patients in the Florida community she calls home.

Schedule your visit with Dr. Bachus

Come meet Dr. Bachus and discover which vision options fit your lifestyle and goals. Appointments are available by visiting https://magruderlaservision.com/schedule/ or calling 407-843-5665.