Meet Our Eye Care Professionals

The dedicated staff at Gibbons Optical ensures that every patient receives personalized care and attention. Conveniently situated at the Miracle Mile Shopping Center, Gibbons Optical has been serving the Rochester area since 1950 and has been at this location since 1980. As a locally owned business, they offer a welcoming environment from the moment you arrive.

Dr. Karen Bjorngaard, Dr. Blair Seelhammer and Dr. Carly Van Keulen provide thorough eye exams tailored to your lifestyle needs. Known for its vast selection of high-quality frames, its customer service team, comprised of highly experienced and ABO (American Board of Opticianry) certified and licensed opticians makes choosing stylish eyewear enjoyable. Making you look and see great is what we do!

Meet Dr. Karen Bjorngaard

Dr. Karen Bjorngaard was born and raised in rural southeastern Minnesota. She loves being an optometrist and helping her patients see their best and counsel them about making healthy decision about the care of their eyes. Karen enjoys seeing multiple generations of the same family and is honored by the trust they have in her.

Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband and adult daughter. Her hobbies include traveling, playing word games, gardening (so much garlic), hula hooping and being a sous chef for her husband Brent, so they can create amazing and healthy meals together. Her words to live by - Take the path less traveled, it makes all the difference.

Meet Dr. Karen Bjorngaard

Meet Dr. Blair Seelhammer

Dr. Blair Seelhammer prides himself as a companionate, comprehensive eye care provider for patients of all ages and welcomes multi-generational families. Born and raised in the great state of Minnesota, he enjoys listening, examining and advising patients on their journey toward healthy eye care. He finds true joy in excellent patient care and the healthcare relationships that are forged with each visit.

Dr. Seelhammer is the oldest of 5 siblings and father of 3 wonderful teenagers and has been married to his amazing wife of over 20 years. In his free time, he is passionate about health and fitness; hence the reason for having a hard time sitting still. Dr. Blair loves to cook, travel and test his handiwork skills on all types of indoor/outdoor projects. He also volunteers and enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as taking his dog and faithful companion "Nikko" on walks, hikes or just being a copilot wherever he goes. Two of his favorite quotes are: "Enjoy the little things in life because one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things" AND "Life is like a candle - you're only here for a flicker."

Meet Dr. Blair Seelhammer

Meet Dr. Carly Van Keulen

Born and raised in Rochester Minnesota, Dr. Carly is excited to be returning

after graduating from Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Her optometry training has brought her across the country from the cities of Pennsylvania to the tundras of Alaska and places in between. She is looking forward to being back home in Rochester and providing quality eye care for all generations and building connections within the community.

In her free time, Dr. Carly enjoys reading, baking, traveling, and hiking with her family and their dogs. Since moving back to Rochester she has adopted some fur babies of her own. She is also a lover of music and has travelled

internationally with concert band and chamber choir as well as most recently reconnecting with her piano and ukulele. Her quote to live by is “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” by Ghandi.

Our Reviews

I would highly recommend Gibbons. I've been going here for the past few years and am so impressed with the employees here, from the doctor to the women at the front, it really is top notch. This is my favorite place to shop for glasses, I value the ladies opinion on frames and they never disappoint. I won't shop anywhere else because of this, they have such great taste and know what looks good on who. Never disappointed!

- Kristin H.

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After moving to Rochester, this optical shop was highly recommend from multiple people I met. I love the atmosphere of the smaller, but very well stocked optical options. I will definitely be coming back for regular eye appointments and glasses selection.

- Andrea B.

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I'm a 32 year old woman who has had glasses since she was four years old. That being said, I can say that this is hands down the best eye clinic I've been to in my entire life. Dr. Karen is incredibly thorough and explores all aspects of your prescription. She had me wear a few trial lenses until she was completely satisfied with the outcome. Also, they had my vision insurance details pulled up upon arrival at my appointment and after my exam, discussed all of my options and ways to use my allowance for contacts and glasses. I've never understood my insurance so completely and been so well informed of my options as a patient. I typically buy my contacts online from discount websites and was open with Dr. Karen about this. She was extremely understanding and even went through the prices with me, found special rebates, and beat prices of several online competitors. This place is doing it right with their customer service and willingness to go the extra mile. I wish them all the best and will send everyone I know their way.

– Melissa

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The crew from Brent to Dr. Karen are amazing. One if the best experiences of any service I've had in Rochester. Very helpful and happy. It just shows. Was recommended by a colleague of mine and I'd be happy to recommend to anyone in the local area as well!

– Brett G.

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Great experience getting fit for contact lenses for the first time. Highly recommend!

– Katie A.

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Very friendly! Extremely helpful and just a great quiet atmosphere. Highly recommended going here! You can tell they actually care about your needs and that your time with them matters. Will continue to come to them!

– Cori S.

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Everyone was very kind and prompt. I am on disability and had to use medicare/medicaid card to get my glasses. I was treated very well! I highly recommend this business.

– Trudi W.

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Everyone at Gibbons Optical was super nice, helpful and personable. They were not pushy and we're very easy to work with. I highly recommend.

– Nick M.

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Prompt and friendly service. Employees are helpful and not pushy. Dr. Bjorngaard is knowledge and friendly.

– Stacie Z.

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