Our Practice in Spartanburg

Dr. Janet Wilson grew up in Columbia, SC, and graduated from the University of South Carolina with honors in 2002 and completed her Doctorate of Optometry from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN. Dr. Wilson is a Board Certified Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD).

Dr. Wilson has practiced in Charleston, SC, and the upstate. Previously, she completed internships in Colorado Springs, CO, and Washington, DC, with an emphasis on pediatrics, ocular disease, and neuro-optometric vision therapy. She also completed a residency in ocular disease and refractive surgery at Omni Eye Specialists in Denver, CO, and completed extensive optometric vision therapy training under the guidance of Dr. Robert Sanet and Dr. Lynn Lowell.

She has served on the board of directors for the South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association (SCOPA), including as President in 2023-24. She is in good standing with the American Optometric Association (AOA), International Sports Vision Association(ISVA), the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), the College of Syntonic Optometry (CSO), and the Optometric Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA). She previously served as the president of the Piedmont Optometric Society. Locally, Dr. Wilson has been involved in the Junior League of Spartanburg and is an active member of her church.

Moving to the upstate to be closer to family and starting Bella Vision in 2014 has been a true blessing. In her free time, Dr. Wilson enjoys cheering on her South Carolina Gamecocks, working out, and spending time with family and friends.

Originally from Lilburn, Georgia, Dr. Rachel Tanner has called the Upstate of South Carolina home since 2015. She joined the Bella Vision team as our associate doctor in January of 2022.

Dr. Tanner earned a Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) and is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO). She also holds a Master’s of Public Health from UAB and a Bachelor’s in Biochemistry from Berry College in Rome, Georgia. She is a member of the South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association (SCOPA), the American Optometric Association (AOA), and the American Academy of Optometry (AAO).

Dr. Tanner specializes in ocular disease management, specialty contact lenses, and primary care with a particular interest in pediatric care and glaucoma management.

Prior to joining Bella Vision, Dr. Tanner completed clinical rotations at Vestavia Eye Care (AL), Alabama Family Eye Care and McGregor and Associates (SC). She completed residency training in primary care and ocular disease at the Greenville VA Outpatient Clinic in Greenville, SC. Dr. Tanner most recently practiced at Pelham Vision Center.

On practicing optometry, Dr. Tanner shared, “as an optometrist, I have the opportunity to not only care for the ocular and visual health of my patients but also to get to know them and their families personally. I enjoy being part of my patients’ lives; we celebrate successes and mourn losses together. I care deeply about providing the best care for my patients. The better we know each other, the better we can work together to get the best results.”

Dr. Tanner enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 young children—reading stories, bike riding, playing sports, gardening, and playing board games. She also enjoys playing the piano, cycling, hiking, and running. She is an active member of Jesus Our Risen Savior Catholic Church.

Originally from the Midlands of South Carolina, Alyssa is an accomplished leader in optometry, bringing over two decades of diverse experience and a deep commitment to exceptional patient care.

As a seasoned manager, Alyssa has excelled in driving performance and quality in both private and corporate optometry practices, ensuring that our mission of providing exceptional eye care in our community is consistently delivered. Her extensive background spans all areas of optometry, allowing her to skillfully navigate the complexities of our specialty eye care practice.

Alyssa’s leadership is defined by her ability to inspire teams through effective communication, emotional intelligence, and a forward-thinking approach. Her hands-on experience in overseeing clinic operations underscores her dedication to optimizing both patient care and operational efficiency. Her proven track record in managing and developing high-performing teams ensures that our patients are in great hands.

When not leading the Bella Vision team, you will likely find Alyssa outdoors hiking and kayaking, or volunteering with the Palmetto Project and Special Olympics.

After spending most of her life in California, Olga moved to South Carolina to be closer to family. She got her start in eye care shortly after high school and quickly found her passion helping people with their vision needs.

Starting out as an optometric technician, Olga held other optical roles, including managerial roles, before focusing on opticianry. Since 2011, Olga has been an ABO-certified optician and brings over 20 years of experience to our practice.

When not working with patients, you will find Olga spending time outdoors with her family and also enjoys her time cooking with friends and family.

What does she love most about eye care? “I love helping patients select frames that not only fit their style and meet their needs, but also putting a huge smile on their face.

Originally from Pacolet, Abby is a lifer in the Upstate of South Carolina. She enjoys working with our team, serving our patients every day, and is always excited to meet new people. She and her husband are the proud parents of 2 beautiful daughters. 

In her free time, Abby enjoys spending time with her family, going to the lake, and visiting the mountains.

Alona came to Spartanburg after growing up in Vancouver, Washington. She studied legal and medical applications at Cascadia Technical Academy and medical billing and coding at Clark College.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and is involved with her church’s youth program and choir. Speaking of family, Alona grew up on a farm and is the second in a family of 11 children (10 girls and 1 boy)! She also enjoys reading, swimming, and boating on the lake.

Working in eye care and helping people has been her dream since she was in 2nd grade and says she is “happy to be able to work with such an amazing team serving my community.”

Prior to joining the Bella Vision team, Alona worked in eye care, the medical billing services industry, and retail.

Her favorite part of working at Bella Vision is, “helping our patients see better and seeing the smiles on their faces. I love how much the optometry field is expanding and love learning new things that will help me better serve our patients.”

Ashley brings a blend of eye care experience, compassion, and a commitment to excellence to our team, aligning with our mission to provide exceptional eye care to our community.

Originally from North Carolina, Ashley pursued her education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she double-majored in Biology and Medical Anthropology. This academic background, combined with her previous experience in eye care, gives her a unique understanding of the science behind vision and health.

Whether guiding patients through retinal imaging or helping them find the perfect frames, Ashley is always focused on enhancing the overall patient experience. Her natural curiosity and genuine desire to learn make her a valuable member of our team, dedicated to protecting and enhancing our patients’ eye health.

In her free time, you may find Ashley reading, enjoying board games with friends, or cheering on UNC basketball.

Originally from Pickens, S.C., Somer, her husband and daughter now call Chesnee home. 

Somer earned her associate’s degree in science, studying medical assisting and has worked in healthcare for over 15 years. When not caring for our patients, you’re likely to find Somer spending time with her extended family. She also lives the “farm life,” as she says, spending time with their animals – goats, chickens, sheep, turkeys and, of course, their dogs. 

When asked what she loves about working at Bella Vision, she said, “I love to be able to make a patient laugh and put a smile on their face. Anytime I am able to do that, it makes me happy.”

Stephanie joined the Bella Vision team in 2022, bringing her passion for education and service to the field of optometric vision therapy. Originally from Rockford, Illinois, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Aurora University, where she also minored in Special Education. Before transitioning into the field of optometry, Stephanie was a dedicated preschool and kindergarten teacher, where she honed her skills in lesson planning, classroom management, and individualized support for students.

Her deep desire to make a positive impact in others’ lives led her to pursue a career in optometric vision therapy. Stephanie joined a very distinct group by earning her Certified Optometric Vision Therapist (COVT) designation through the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA). The certification process included rigorous training in the assessment and treatment of visual disorders that impact learning, development, and daily functioning. This included thousands of hours in patient care, ongoing education, clinical seminars, scholarly research, and panel interviews.

As a COVT, Stephanie is dedicated to helping our patients improve their visual skills, which in turn enhances their quality of life and supports a wide range of developmental needs.

When Stephanie isn’t working with Bella Vision’s patients, you can find her exploring local markets, spending time with family and friends, and enjoying the scenic beauty of Spartanburg.

A strong advocate for community service, Stephanie has previously volunteered for over a decade with Mission Emanuel, a non-governmental organization in the Dominican Republic. During her time there, she participated in house-building projects, led mission groups, and co-taught Vacation Bible School classes for children and adults, further demonstrating her commitment to serving others.

“I love being part of such a wonderful community like Spartanburg,” says Stephanie. “Being at Bella Vision has given me such a great opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives every day.”

Shawn has been part of the Bella Vision team since opening in February of 2014. He currently serves as our “Chief Everything Else Officer” (CEEO). This unique title reflects Shawn’s versatile role within our practice—one that supports both our doctors and team. He brings a wealth of experience from his career in management, marketing, coaching and operations, all of which contribute to the exceptional care and service we provide at Bella Vision.

Shawn previously served as Director of Admission & Enrollment Management at Spartanburg Day School, where he was responsible for overseeing admissions, enrollment, financial aid and scholarships. His experience in managing complex systems, along with a proven ability to implement strategic marketing and retention programs, laid a strong foundation for his work at Bella Vision. His focus on efficiency and student experience perfectly aligns with our mission.

His diverse background also includes coaching and leadership roles in athletics, where he developed region and state championship-winning teams and cultivated strong, results-driven programs. His experience in coaching and team-building has translated seamlessly into his work with the Bella Vision team.

As “CEEO,” Shawn works behind-the-scenes at Bella Vision in everything from business strategy to facilities to marketing. He works diligently to streamline processes, enhance the patient experience, and implement innovative solutions that align with our commitment to providing exceptional eye care. Shawn’s focus on continuous improvement plays a large part in ensuring that Bella Vision remains at the forefront of specialty optometric care and excellence.

Outside of work, you will find Shawn spending time with his family and friends. Growing up in Spartanburg, he is deeply committed to our growing community serving on local boards and committees in support of The Charles Lea Center Foundation, Girls on the Run of Spartanburg, Palmetto Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) and the Cleveland Opportunity Foundation, among others.