Dr. John Thayer began life as an Army brat and lived in many different places in both the United States and Germany. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, graduating on the Superintendent’s List (Top 5%) in 1980. He then served as a Field Artillery officer (155mm Howitzer) before attending medical school on an Army scholarship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI.

During medical school, he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society in recognition of superior academic achievement. Following medical school, he did an internship and residency in Ophthalmology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, and then served as an ophthalmologist in the Army for four years while fulfilling his scholarship service obligation.

After leaving the Army, Dr. Thayer moved to Massachusetts, working at various practices before opening the Westfield Eye Center in 2001. Since that time, Dr. Thayer has established an outstanding reputation for diagnostic and surgical excellence in the community. He specializes in general ophthalmology, including cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment and surgery, diabetic retinopathy treatment, and medically oriented eye examinations.  Dr. Thayer has developed particular expertise in cataract surgery and the implantation of custom Intraocular Lenses to correct astigmatism and presbyopia.

Dr. Thayer is blessed to be married to Dr. Nathalie Rioux, M.D., a glaucoma specialist and native of Quebec, Canada. They are the proud parents of James and Julia, whose pictures you will see all over the exam lane walls.

Dr. Thayer also proudly served as a Flight Surgeon with both the 102nd Fighter Wing (F-15A/B) at Cape Cod, and the 104th Fighter Wing (F-15C/D) at Barnes ANGB in Westfield, and retired from the Air Force with over 20 years of military service.  “Turning and burning” with some of those amazing pilots will always be one of the highlights of his life.