Our History

Royal Jester, M.D. came to Kearney in 1958 and later founded our practice. Dr. Jester opened Kearney Eye Associates in 1967 on Avenue A. In October 1995, Kearney Eye Associates became Kearney Eye Institute and moved to its current building on 39^th Street in Kearney. Dr. Jester retired in 2002.  He was very active in the Kearney community until his death in 2018.

Steve Shefte, M.D., joined Kearney Eye in 1989 after spending eleven years at Midwest Eye Care in Omaha. Dr. Shefte graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska College of Medicine where he also performed his internship and residency. He was board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. Dr. Shefte and his wife, Patty, were instrumental in expanding the Eye Bank for cornea transplants in Greater Nebraska. He practiced at Kearney Eye until his death in March 1998.

Jan V. Jensen, M.D. joined Kearney Eye Institute in 1976.  He was an undergraduate at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln and obtained his Medical Degree from University of Nebraska College of Medicine in Omaha.  He was Board Certified in Ophthalmology with associations in the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Nebraska Association of Eye Physicians and Surgeons.   Dr. Jensen performed Eye Surgeries until 2011 but continued to see his immense number of clinic patients until his retirement in 2022.  In his 46 years with Kearney Eye Institute, he was dedicated to his work and his patients. 

Jerry Vaughan, O.D. joined Kearney Eye Institute in 2008.  He attended Kearney State College from 1969 to 1973 and graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry in 1977.  Dr. Vaughan founded Prairie Eye Care Center in Broken Bow, Nebraska, and was one of the first optometrists in the nation to become board certified by the American Board of Optometry in 2012. 

The awards, accomplishments and contributions to Optometry in the State of Nebraska are vast.  Dr. Vaughan spent the last 13 years with KEI until his retirement in 2021.