Doctors & Staff

Trent Cole, O.D.

Doctor of Optometry

Trent Cole, O.D. received his Doctor of Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry in 1999 and completed his undergraduate studies at Luther College. Dr. Cole is a member of the American Optometric Association, the Minnesota Optometric Association, the College of Optometrists in Vision and Development, and the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association.

Dr. Cole serves as a vision consultant resource for numerous local school districts and is a resource for Children’s Hospital Occupational Therapy services. He is co-founder of the Minnesota Vision Coalition, which works to improve children’s vision through legislation in Minnesota. Locally, Dr. Cole also serves on the Executive and Education board of the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Cole provides patients of all ages with comprehensive eye care and is passionate about providing neuro-optometric rehabilitative vision therapy to adult and pediatric patients who experience binocular vision dysfunction.

In his time away from the office, Dr. Cole loves spending time with his children, being outdoors, and traveling.

Eric Thiem, O.D.

Doctor of Optometry

Eric Thiem, O.D. received his Doctor of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and completed his undergraduate studies at the College of St. Scholastica.

In practice since 1999, Dr. Thiem specializes in contact lens fitting. He enjoys interacting with a wide range of patients each day and especially loves being able to provide his patients with clearer vision and offer them unique solutions that also improve the overall health of their eyes.

In his time away from the office, Dr. Thiem enjoys spending time with his family and staying active by doing yard work, skiing, cycling, and playing golf.

Taylor Lauermann, O.D.

Doctor of Optometry

Dr. Taylor Lauermann received his Doctor of Optometry from Pacific University in 2020 and received his Bachelor of Arts from Concordia College in Moorehead, MN.

Dr. Lauermann decided to become an optometrist after shadowing and working in optometric practices and seeing just how they can manage and treat patients’ eye health throughout their life. Dr. Lauermann feels that seeing patients yearly provides him the opportunity to help them function to the best of their visual potential and make everyday life easier for them. He can also direct patients to the proper physician if a systemic condition is discovered.

Dr. Lauermann says his career in optometry is very rewarding and intriguing, and he is constantly motivated to provide the best care to every patient he sees. He particularly enjoys seeing his patients smile when they get their first pair of glasses allowing them to see how clear the world can be.

Kim Nguyen, O.D.

Kim Nguyen, O.D. received her Doctor of Optometry from New England College of Optometry in 2013 and earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota in 2006.

Dr. Nguyen specializes in contact lenses. Her experience with myopia, also known as nearsightedness, began at an early age where she struggled to see at a distance and had to stand next to the whiteboard to take notes. She soon was fitted for glasses and contacts, which immensely improved her vision and quality of life. Dr. Nguyen’s personal experience with myopia developed into a passion for optometry giving her the opportunity to incorporate her love for both medicine and science. Optometry allows Dr. Nguyen to detect, treat and manage various ocular conditions to help patients achieve and maintain their maximal visual potential and ocular health.

In her free time, Dr. Nguyen enjoys traveling, drawing, and staying active through outdoor activities and sports.

Contact Any One of Our Four Convenient Locations

Cottage Grove Eyecare Clinic
7430 80th St S, Suite 103
Cottage Grove, MN 55016-3035
Phone: 651.459.9000
Fax: 651.459.3113
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