Meet The Optometrist

Dr. James Helmers grew up in Kenmare, ND and after graduating high school he attended college at NDSU. From NDSU, he attended Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago and graduated there before returning to North Dakota. Dr. James started his practice in Mandan and shortly after his brother, Dr. John, joined the practice the offices expanded to Hazen and Washburn.

Dr. James has been involved in numerous organizations over the past 30 years, he has been President of the North Dakota Optometric Association twice, President of the North Central Council of Optometry, and has served on committees for the American Optometric Association. He has also been on numerous boards, and by spending time on the boards he has had some of his most valuable learning experiences. Dr. James looks forward to seeing new patients, as well as seeing his established patients, who he has been taking care of through the years. He likes to work with people of all ages and enjoys getting to know everyone. Dr. James specializes in general optometry, diagnosing and treating ocular diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma. He also enjoys fitting contact lenses as well as glasses and looks forward to seeing you as his patient. On a more personal note, Dr. James and his wife Tami have lived in the Mandan community for over 30 years and they have 3 children, Kristen, Nicholas, and Michael. Over the years he has enjoyed watching his children as they participated in speech, plays, and numerous sports (football, baseball, soccer, hockey). As they are now grown, Dr. James now looks forward to getting back into hunting and fishing and refreshing his golf skills. He would also like to take the time to travel in the future.

Dr. John Helmers was born and raised in Kenmare, ND. After leaving his hometown, he attended NDSU. Then, moving out of state, he attended and graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry in 1984.

Dr. John, now an optometrist, moved back to ND and started in practice with his brother, Dr. James Helmers, and Dr. Daniel Long (retired) in Mandan. The practice has satellite offices in Washburn and Hazen.

Dr. John enjoys seeing everyone from infants through seniors and thoroughly helping each patient with their individual needs. He is a member of the American Optometric Association and the North Dakota Optometric Association. He participates in the Infant See and Vision USA programs. Dr. John also enjoys his membership on the Mandan Ducks Unlimited committee, Pheasants Forever, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Dr. John and his wife Mary have raised three daughters in Mandan. Two of their daughters, Dr. Emily Zinke and Dr. Anna Helmers have now joined the practice. As a family, the Helmers' enjoy the outdoors, anything from fishing to hunting. They are also avid supporters of the Mandan Braves. And nowadays, they enjoy spending time with their grandchildren.

Emily Zinke, OD, is an optometrist at her family’s practice, Eyecare Professionals, in Hazen, Mandan, and Washburn, North Dakota. She grew up in Mandan, North Dakota, developing an interest in optometry while watching her father, John Helmers, OD, and uncle, James Helmers, OD, practice as optometrists for the community.

After graduating high school in Mandan, Dr. Zinke moved to Fargo, North Dakota, to attend North Dakota State University for her undergraduate education in nursing. She soon switched paths to pursue optometry, moving west to Forest Grove, Oregon, to attend Pacific University College of Optometry and graduated with honors in 2019.

She and her sister, Anna Helmers, OD, moved back to their hometown to practice at Eyecare Professionals at the same time. She takes a genuine interest in getting to know each of her eye care patients and in assessing and treating cases of dry eye disease. 

When Dr. Zinke is away from the three Eyecare Professionals offices, she loves spending her time exploring the outdoors and adventuring with her husband, Grant, and their children, Nolan and Elise. 

Anna Helmers, OD, is an experienced optometrist at her family’s practice, Eyecare Professionals, in Hazen, Mandan, and Washburn, North Dakota. She grew up in Mandan, North Dakota, and is passionate about serving her home community and surrounding areas. 

Dr. Helmers completed her undergraduate education at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. There, she majored in biology and earned a minor in chemistry. Degree in hand, she moved to Forest Grove, Oregon, to attend Pacific University College of Optometry. 

After graduating with her optometry degree in 2019, she moved back home to join her father, John Helmers, OD, her uncle, James Helmers, OD, and her sister, Emily Zinke, OD, in working at Eyecare Professionals.

Dr. Helmers enjoys getting to know her patients better with each visit and takes a special interest in diagnosing and treating dry eye disease. When she isn’t examining eyes and answering patients’ questions at one of the three Eyecare Professionals locations, she loves to spend time outdoors hunting and fishing with her family. She leads an active lifestyle and is always eager to play sports of any kind.