Dr. Prater retires after 27 years serving Grove

Dr .Thomas Prater made his final official visit to Moore Family Eyecare in Mountain Grove on June 10, bringing to an end his 27 years of serving the location. Dr. Prater will still be performing scheduled surgeries, but will no longer visiting to the location  at 1902 W. 19th St. This is because of his plans to officially retire on Aug. 20.
Since 1999, Dr. Prater has partnered with Dr. Doug Moore to provide care to area patients needing cataract surgery.
His Mattax Neu Prater Springfield practice, which also opened in 1999, specializes in cataract and refractive surgery.
In total, Dr. Prater has served the Springfield area for 39 years.
“What I think I will miss most is all of the patients I’ve become friends with over the years and I’m really going to miss the staff  and doctors like Dr. Moore and Dr. Pieper,” Dr. Prater said.
His career began with medical school at Washington University and residency at Boone Hospital in St. Louis.
He’s a member of the Greene Cpounty Medical Society, Missouri State Medical Association, American Academy of Ophthamology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeries. He’s also served on the Springfield City Council, was president of the Springfield Board of Education, and was appointed by Gov. Mike Parson in 2024 to the Missouri State Board of Education.