Front Range Retina Opens New Grand Junction Office, Expanding Retina Specialty Care to Colorado's Western Slope
Front Range Retina welcomed its first patients in Grand Junction on November 6, 2026, following an ambitious four-month expansion and office renovation.
GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO — November 2026 — Front Range Retina is pleased to announce the opening of its newest office in Grand Junction, Colorado, expanding access to specialized medical and surgical retina care for patients throughout the Western Slope.
Located at 1120 Wellington Avenue Ste 106 in Grand Junction, the new office officially welcomed its first patients on Friday, November 6, 2026. The expansion marks Front Range Retina's fourth Colorado location, joining its established offices in Castle Rock, Colorado Springs, and Littleton.
Responding to a Critical Need for Retina Care in Western Colorado
The decision to expand to Grand Junction came in July 2026, when Front Range Retina's founder and vitreoretinal surgeon, Steven Christiansen, MD, learned of the upcoming retirement of William Waterhouse, MD, and the planned October 30 closure of the Retina Center of Western Colorado.
Dr. Waterhouse founded the Retina Center of Western Colorado more than 30 years ago and provided specialized retina care to generations of patients throughout the region.
The closure raised concerns about continued access to specialty care for patients with retinal conditions, many of whom require ongoing monitoring, treatments, and regular follow-up appointments.
Without sufficient local retina specialty services, some patients could face traveling three to four hours to receive care in Denver, Durango, or Salt Lake City.
"Recognizing the tremendous burden this would place on patients, we made the decision to step up and help serve the Grand Junction and Western Slope communities," said Dr. Christiansen.
From Vision to Opening Day in Just Four Months
What followed was an extraordinary four months of planning, preparation, and construction.
With assistance from his wife, Erika Christiansen, a commercial real estate broker, Dr. Christiansen identified and purchased the former medical office of the late ophthalmologist Allen Grey, MD.
Preparing the new location involved securing insurance credentialing, hiring five new local staff members, expanding patient phone services, adding virtual administrative support, and integrating the new office into Front Range Retina's existing scheduling, practice management, and electronic medical record systems.
The practice also invested in ophthalmic equipment, including a Heidelberg Engineering Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) system and a retinal laser, to support specialized retinal evaluations and treatments.
On October 16, 2026, with financing from Wings Credit Union, Front Range Retina closed on the approximately 4,200-square-foot medical office condominium.
An ambitious three-week renovation immediately followed.
The project included new flooring, fresh paint, remodeled examination rooms, custom counters, updated technology, and improvements throughout the office to create a welcoming and functional environment for patients and staff.
The goal was simple but challenging: Open the doors and begin seeing patients during the first week of November.
A Late Night, an Early Morning, and 35 Patients
On the evening of Thursday, November 5, just hours before the scheduled opening, the office was still a work in progress.
Painters were finishing their work while contractor Brian Briggs, who has assisted with renovations at Front Range Retina's other offices, completed the final countertops.
Dr. Christiansen and Briggs worked together until 2:30 AM, preparing examination rooms, cleaning the office, and mopping floors before the first patients arrived at 7:30 AM.
Despite the demanding timeline, the new office opened as planned.
On Friday, November 6, Front Range Retina welcomed 20 new patients. Another 15 patients were seen on Saturday, November 7.
In its first two days, the practice provided specialized retina care to 35 patients, less than one week after Dr. Waterhouse's retirement.
Building a Long-Term Future for Retina Care on the Western Slope
The Grand Junction expansion represents more than the opening of another medical office. It reflects Front Range Retina's commitment to improving access to specialty care in communities where patients might otherwise face significant travel distances.
Dr. Christiansen will initially provide care in Grand Junction while continuing to see patients at Front Range Retina's Castle Rock, Colorado Springs, and Littleton offices.
The practice is also actively recruiting a full-time retina specialist to help meet the long-term needs of the Grand Junction and Western Slope communities.
Although a few finishing touches remain on the office renovation, the Grand Junction location is fully operational and accepting new patients.
"It's been an exhausting few months, and I know there is more hard work ahead," said Dr. Christiansen. "But it's a good kind of tired. The kind that comes from knowing you're making a difference, that your work matters, and that you're making an impact for good."
Dr. Christiansen expressed his gratitude to the employees, contractors, business partners, and family members who helped make the expansion possible.
"It has taken an extraordinary amount of work, teamwork, and faith to get here. We're incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this possible, and we're excited to become part of the Grand Junction community."
Front Range Retina Grand Junction — Now Accepting New Patients
Front Range Retina's Grand Junction office is now open and welcoming patients seeking specialized retina care.
Grand Junction, Colorado 81501 Phone: 720-828-3937
Front Range Retina also serves patients at its Castle Rock, Colorado Springs, and Littleton locations.
Patients and referring providers are encouraged to contact Front Range Retina for appointment scheduling and referral information.
Grand Junction and Colorado's Western Slope, we're here, we're open, and we're excited to serve you!