Meet the Doctors

Dr. Blake Dirks, Dr. Zachary Dirks and Dr. Vonnie Nelson are Optometrists serving Saint Peter, MN and surrounding communities.

Our doctors enjoy caring for the patients at St. Peter Eyecare Center and look forward to the one-on-one interaction involved with solving eye health and vision problems.


Dr. Blake Dirks

Bio coming soon.


Dr. Zachary Dirks

Dr. Zach Dirks was born in Apple Valley, MN; and attended St. Peter High School. He graduated with distinction from the University of Minnesota with a BS in Biology in 2003. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Southern California College of Optometry, in 2007 as class valedictorian. In 2007, Dr. Dirks joined the team of doctors at St. Peter Eyecare Center. In 2019 he purchased St. Peter Eyecare Center from Dr. Blake Dirks.

Dr. Zach Dirks completed clinical externships at the Indian Health Services in Lawton, OK, Ophthalmology Associates of Las Vegas, NV, Center for the Partially Sighted Pasadena, CA, VA Medical Center in Las Vegas, NV, the Fullerton CA Laser Vision Center (TLC), and the Southern California College of Optometry Vision Center in Fullerton, CA. These externships had an emphasis in ocular disease management specifically Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Eye Disease, Dry Eye and post operative care for Cataracts, Corneal Transplants, and Laser Vision Correction. He is a member of the American Optometric Society and the Minnesota Optometric Society.

Dr. Zach Dirks lives in St. Peter with his wife, Rachel, daughter Ella (2009), and son Ben (2012). His hobbies include hunting, fishing, gardening, enjoying the outdoors, wine making, and anything with his family.


Dr. Vonnie Nelson

Dr. Vonnie Nelson was born and raised in the community of Hendrum, Minnesota. She graduated with High Honors from North Dakota State University with a B.A. in economics. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Illinois College of Optometry in 1993 as class valedictorian. She practiced in rural northwestern Minnesota and then Edina, MN before joining St. Peter EyeCare Center in 2001.

Dr. Nelson completed an internship at the Chicago Osteopathic Hospital-Hyde Park in Chicago where she received extensive experience in contact lens fitting and the treatment and management of ocular diseases. She offers comprehensive eye care, including contact lens service, treatment and management of ocular diseases and post-operative care.

Dr. Nelson is a member of the American and Minnesota Optometric Associations. She lives in the St. Peter area with her husband Brian and their two boys. She enjoys gardening, baking and spending time outdoors.