About Uptown Eyes

Uptown Eyes Mission Statement

Serving all of Northwest Arkansas, our mission is to provide exceptional and personalized eyecare services and curated customized eyewear for the needs and style of each individual.

Uptown Eyes is where elite eye care meets exclusive eyewear. Our goal is to promote optimal ocular health and wellness and provide precise spectacle and contact lens prescriptions and care plans for all your visual needs.

We strive to offer exclusive, customized, fashionable eyewear in a warm inviting environment to you and your friends and family. We carry eyewear from around the world, representing a global family of independent designers that center their lives on craftsmanship, fashion, technology, and community – just like us.

Megan Baureis, O.D.

Dr. Baureis is a graduate from the University of Arkansas here in Fayetteville with a degree in Kinesiology/Exercise Science. She went on to attend The Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, where she graduated Valedictorian and magna cum laude. She has had experience in primary care, contact lenses, ocular disease, and post-operative care. Dr. Baureis is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Arkansas Optometric Association as well as the Arkansas Alumni Association and Tri Delta Alumni Association. She is a graduate of Leadership Fayetteville, hosted by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, as well as the LEAD Program, hosted by the Arkansas Optometric Association. She and her husband, Joe, have two children, Luke & Naomi. When not working at Uptown Eyes, she enjoys spending time with her family, boating on Beaver Lake, attending concerts and other local Fayetteville events such as Farmers’ Market, and traveling.

Holly Andersen, O.D.

Dr. Andersen grew up in Yukon, Oklahoma and graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a bachelors in Biology. She was accepted to Northeastern State University of Oklahoma College of Optometry where she completed her Optometric Doctorate. Dr. Andersen continued her education and was accepted in the Primary Eye Care Residency program through NSUOCO with Fayetteville VAMC Eye Clinic. After completion of her residency, she continued working for the VA as a staff optometrist. Dr. Andersen then went onto work for McDonald Eye Associates as the Refractive Surgery Optometrist for five years, where she met Dr. Megan Baureis. Together they founded Uptown Eyes and opened their doors in 2011. Dr. Andersen still practices optometry and is a proud supporter of Uptown Eyes. She is also a member of the American Optometric Association, Arkansas Optometric Association and the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians. When she is not working at Uptown Eyes, she enjoys helping with marketing with her husband’s company and spending time with her family. Dr. Andersen enjoys backpacking, running, painting, photography, graphic design/marketing and traveling.

Samantha Harrod

Samantha grew up in Marvell, Arkansas where her love for fashion and design started early. She spent many afternoons in her grandparents’ department store, Davidson’s, dressing up in hats and shoes. Samantha graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a degree in Health Sciences with an emphasis in Community Health Promotion. She began her Optical career in 2004 as an Optician and Buyer bringing both the sharp fashion sense she honed in her grandparents’ store and her interest in healthcare to the benefit of patients and customers. Samantha joined our team in January 2017 as our insurance and accounts receivable guru. When outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering, cooking, and trying new culinary experiences.

Traci Wyatt, Licensed Optician

Traci is a licensed optician who has been successfully providing fashionable, exclusive frame options since 1991 in Fayetteville. Many of you were clients of hers from Eye Fashions and we welcome you to Uptown Eyes! We are so fortunate to have her expertise in frames, lenses, coatings and style here at Uptown Eyes. Traci graduated from University of Missouri-St. Louis with her BS in Biology. She is licensed as an Optician in Arkansas. She is a member of the Opticians Association of Arkansas and Opticians Association of America. When not working at Uptown Eyes, she works with people who have low vision and spends time with her husband and two children.

Dana Jennings, Optician

Dana is an ABO certified optician that began her optical career in central Missouri in 2002. She’s been part of the Uptown Eyes team since early 2018, when her family relocated to Arkansas. Dana has a passion for glasses and enjoys helping others feel great in their eyewear, too. She and her husband, Doug, are nearly empty-nesters, but still have a handful of furry family members. They reside in nearby Prairie Grove, and when not at work, Dana enjoys spending time exploring all the food and fun NWA offers, hanging out with family & friends, every opportunity she gets to travel, and crafting in her she-shed.

Mariel Rodriguez

Mariel joined the Uptown Eyes team in May of 2020. She has prior experience in the optical field and is delighted to be back. As a technician, she enjoys all the aspects of getting to know the patients and constantly learning new things. Mariel is currently attending Harding University, where she plans to graduate with a degree in Elementary Education. When she is not working or studying, Mariel enjoys spending quality time with friends and family.

Sara Burns

Sara joined Uptown Eyes in July of 2021 when she relocated to NWA. She has prior experience in the optical field and is delighted to be part of our team. Sara has passion for health care and providing the best customer service to patients, she enjoys all the aspects of getting to know the patients and learning more about NWA people and culture. Sara and her fur babies reside in Bentonville, when she is not working she enjoys spending time exploring the NWA area with her family or hanging out at home with her dog and cat reading her books. Sara is also involved with nature photography and is loving Arkansas The Natural State with all the beauty it has to offer.

Baylee Wells

Baylee became a member of the Uptown Eyes team in May 2022. With a prior passion for patient care and correspondence, she fell in love with the world of eye care for it’s ability to combine the importance of ocular health to a person’s overall well being, as well as the fun and excitement of crafting your image through eye wear! Having worn glasses since the age of 2, she can’t imagine herself without “four eyes,”
and takes delight in watching patients “find themselves” with our optical department. When she’s not behind the front desk, she’s spending quality time with her lucky black cat and rambunctious 70lb dog (probably with a craft project close by).

Ezra Andersen

Ezra began helping Uptown Eyes with some limited, behind-the-scenes scheduling in October 2021. She has since joined the team as a part-time Optometric Assistant and has been trained in shipping/receiving, optical and contact lens inventory and even more administrative tasks. She is a quick learner and we can’t wait to see her grow at Uptown Eyes, her smile brightens the office and her laugh is infectious! When Ezra is not working at our office, she is babysitting, working at her dad’s office, reading, painting, and playing with her dog Cash or her new kitten, Nala. She will be a senior this coming year and is excited for the future!

Darby Byrne

Darby joined the Uptown Eyes team in summer 2022 after moving back to Fayetteville. She graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in biomedical engineering, as inspired by her dad who is an electrical engineer. Originally from Little Rock, she fell in love with the NWA area when in college and is a die-hard Hogs fan (as every Arkansas native / UARK graduate is). Darby has former experience in the eye care world as an optician assistant and contact lens technician. Her mom works in cataract surgical sales and is the reason she is now working in eye care! When she is not at work, you can find Darby at a concert with her friends, exploring a new city with her boyfriend, or spending time with her parents and built-in best friends (AKA her 2 younger sisters).