Prairie Eye Clinic is proud to welcome Dr. Travis Larson to its physician team in Vermillion, South Dakota. A 2025 graduate of Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry, Dr. Larson brings a strong foundation in clinical care as well as a special connection to the area.
Born and raised in Norfolk, Nebraska, Dr. Larson is no stranger to Vermillion. He earned his undergraduate degree in Health Sciences from the University of South Dakota, where he was also recognized as a standout student-athlete. As a high jumper on the USD Track & Field team, he helped lead the Coyotes to national prominence—being part of the top-ranked high jump squad in the country in both 2019 and 2021. He achieved a personal best of 2.10 meters and finished as runner-up at the 2021 Summit League Championships. His academic and athletic excellence earned him multiple Academic All-American honors.
During medical school, Dr. Larson gained extensive experience caring for the local Cherokee Nation population, working with a wide variety of unique ocular diseases. He chose NSUOCO specifically for its leading scope of practice as well as advanced laser procedures, including selective laser trabeculoplasty, peripheral iridotomy and YAG capsulotomy.
Dr. Larson is excited to return to the community that helped shape him. "South Dakota has always been very special to me, and I'm looking forward to calling it home again. I'm grateful for the opportunity to return and give back to a place that has given me so much."
"I've known Travis since his undergraduate days when he served as an intern with our practice," said Dr. Steve Ferguson, optometrist and owner of the practice. "His stellar performance as a student and intern left a lasting impression on all of us. We're thrilled to be adding another exceptional clinician to our team, which will further expand the services and specialized care available at Prairie Eye Clinic."
Dr. Larson joins Dr. Clarence Vanderlei at Prairie Eye Clinic, where he will offer a full scope of general optometric services, as well as the diagnosis, treatment and management of a variety of vision-medical conditions. His professional interests include ocular disease, myopia management, glaucoma care, laser and specialty surgical procedures, dry eye treatment, specialty contact lenses, acute ocular disease and comprehensive family eye care.
When he's not in the clinic, Dr. Larson enjoys spending time outdoors—especially waterfowl hunting and fishing for walleye and bass.
Dr. Larson will begin seeing patients August 1, 2025, and is currently accepting new patients. Appointments can be scheduled by calling the clinic at (605) 624-2020 or visiting prairieeyeclinic.com. He looks forward to reconnecting with the USD community and serving patients across southeastern South Dakota with compassionate, cutting-edge eye care.
About Prairie Eye Clinic
Prairie Eye Clinic is a comprehensive eye care practice located in Vermillion, South Dakota, dedicated to preserving patients' vision and eye health. The clinic combines cutting-edge technology with compassionate care, offering everything from routine exams and pediatric care to specialized treatments including diabetic eye exams, glaucoma management, dry eye treatment, myopia management, neurolens® treatment for migraines and LASIK referrals. Committed to investing in the latest technology while keeping costs affordable, Prairie Eye Clinic serves patients throughout southeastern South Dakota with same-day optical services and the philosophy that there's so much to see in life that you can't afford to miss.
For more information about Prairie Eye Clinic, visit prairieeyeclinic.com or call 605-624-2020.
