Our Practice in the Des Moines Metro Area

Jeff Neighbors was raised in Eagle Grove, IA. He attended Iowa Central Community College and the University of Iowa before going to The Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, IL, and graduated in 2005.

After practicing in Massachusetts for a year, Dr. Neighbors returned to his hometown and practiced for 8 years before moving with his family to Johnston and joining Dr. Schroder in practice.

Dr. Neighbors sees patients in all locations: Altoona, Johnston, and Ankeny . He’s an active member of the Iowa Optometric Association and currently serves as President-Elect.

Dr. Neighbors is also active in many community organizations, including the Johnston and Altoona Chambers of Commerce, Johnston Rotary Club, the Freemasons, local networking groups, and the Johnston School District. In early 2017, Dr. Neighbors was part of an optometry mission trip to Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.

Dr. Neighbors has a wife, Liz, and 3 daughters, Paige, Julia, and Lexi. In his free time, Dr. Neighbors enjoys golf and other sports.

Jay Petersma is originally from Newton, IA. He graduated from Central College in Pella, IA, in 1983 and the Illinois College of Optometry in 1987. He completed his residency in ocular disease and blindness rehabilitation at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, in 1988.

His wife Janet is a classroom instructor and creative team member at Memory Bound Scrapbooking, Ankeny. They have a daughter named Bailey, a graduate of Indiana University and a high school and middle school band director in east Texas.

Dr. Petersma is past president of the Iowa Optometric Association, was OD of the Year in 2013, and served as a clinical skills examiner for the Optometric Management National Board of Examiners in Optometry from 1999–2012. He sits on the American Optometric Association editorial board.

Dr. Petersma is active in his community. He is the chair of the Johnston Planning and Zoning Commission and has been on the City of Johnston Comprehensive Planning board since 2011. He is a current board member and past president of the Johnston Chamber of Commerce. He is also a drumline instructor for JHS Marching Band and the praise band drummer at Meredith Drive Reformed Church–The Bridge Campus.