Our Doctors

Dr. Thao Tran received her doctorate from Inter American University of Puerto Rico, School of Optometry. There she learned to perform Spanish exams. She is certified through the National Boards of Examiners in Optometry and has a high interest in primary care, as well as the treatment and management of ocular disease. Her and her husband, an engineer and entrepreneur, have a philanthropic goal of inventing a device that will help better vision for people in underprivileged countries. Dr. Tran was born and raised in Indiana. As a first-generation Vietnamese-American, she can also speak Vietnamese. Leisurely, she loves spending time with her family. She and her husband have a toddler and a rescue dog.

Undergraduate Education: University of Houston. Optometry School: University of Houston College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? Providing the highest quality vision care for all patients by educating and counseling them on their ocular health. Hobbies/Interests: spending time with my wife, enjoying Houston sports teams (Rockets and Texans) or sports activities, working on cars, exploring different restaurants and hanging out with friends.

Undergraduate Education: Biochemistry BS at Northeastern University. Optometry School: MCPHS optometry school 2019. Clinical Certifications and Specialties: CL fitting; Ocular disease; Glaucoma treatment. The reason I became an optometrist is: Help people see better. My favorite part of helping my patients is: Seeing their smile and how happy they are when I help them. In my spare time, I enjoy: Chess.

Dr. Tran attended the University of Texas at Dallas where she received her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2015. She then attended the University of Houston College of Optometry and graduated as valedictorian of her class in 2019. At her internships during optometry school, she was able to expand her knowledge in primary care optometry, ocular pathology, and specialty contact lenses. Dr. Tran is currently involved in the Texas Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association. Outside of optometry, she likes to spend her free time with her family and friends. Her hobbies include baking and watching Netflix.

Undergraduate Education: University of Michigan. Optometry School: Michigan College of Optometry. Professional Achievements/Associations: American Optometric Association; Michigan Optometric Association. Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Primary Eye Care; Pediatrics; Ocular Disease. Hobbies/Interests: In her free time, Dr. Tran loves spending time with her family, playing tennis, traveling to different countries, and trying all sorts of new foods!

Undergraduate Education: University of Texas at Austin. Optometry School: University of Houston. Certifications/Awards: Paragon CRT Orthokeratology, CooperVision Misight, Therapeutic Optometrist, Glaucoma Specialist. Hobbies/Interests: Cool Cars, Golfing Trips, BBQing, Friends, and Family, and Giving back to the community.

Undergraduate Education: Southern New Hampshire University. Optometry School: University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Optometry. Certifications/Awards: Laser Procedures for the Anterior Segment - Oklahoma State Board Certified, Navy Achievement Medal, Honorable Discharge USN. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? Focusing on high-quality patient-centered care leads to exceptional visual outcomes. Furthermore, providing care with state-of-the-art technologies and procedures, backed by the latest research, aimed at exceeding the ocular health needs of our patients. Hobbies/Interests: Lacrosse, fitness/training, video games, and spending time with family & friends.

Undergraduate Education: Bryan College of Health Sciences, Lincoln, NE. Graduated in 2019 with B.S. in Biomedical Sciences. Optometry School: University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Optometry Class of 2023 Certifications/Awards: Certified by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. Certified in laser therapy for the anterior segment and surgical procedures for the optometric physician by Northeastern State University College of Optometry. Residency trained in Ocular Disease - completed at Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical center in Muskogee, OK in affiliation with Northeastern State University, Oklahoma College of Optometry. Hobbies/Interests: Fitness and nutrition, weightlifting, gardening, traveling, spending time with my husband and our cat.

Undergraduate Education: Michigan State University, B.S. Optometry School: Illinois College of Optometry. Clinical Certifications and Specialties: Primary Eyecare. The reason I became an optometrist is: So I can make a positive impact in people's lives. In my spare time, I enjoy: Traveling and photography.

Undergraduate Education: Brown University; Optometry School: Southern College of Optometry; Professional Achievements/Associations: American Optometric Association, Virginia Optometric Association, American Academy of Myopia Control; Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Myopia Management, Pediatrics, Complex contact lens fittings, Cases that involve challenges or different approaches; What drives your passion for optometry? There's always room to learn! How are you helping patients live their best lives? I help them select eye wear and eye care that enable them to enjoy their lives. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? Ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of all patients. How are you impacting your local community? I enjoy providing eye care to those in need whether locally or internationally. Hobbies/Interests: Dance- I've done or tried most forms!/Dance fitness classes/Dancing at parties; Music; Other Fine Arts; Cultures.

Undergraduate education: University of Maryland, College Park ¬¬– B.S. in Physiology and Neurobiology. Optometry school: Illinois College of Optometry. Certifications/Awards: Residency (Ocular Disease/ Primary Care): Flaum Eye Institute at the University of Rochester Medical Center/ SUNY College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community and helping patients live their best lives? I value helping patients thrive by maximizing their visual potential; vision is integrated into almost everything we do. Every patient interaction is an opportunity to meet the needs of my community by improving eye health and overall health. Hobbies/ Interests: I find joy in staying active by running and Pilates and exploring nature and visual arts.

Dr. Tuel has spent the last 28 years building an independently owned eye care practice that outshines the rest. His mission is to provide outstanding quality of care, service, and state-of-the-art technology to meet the demands of today’s patient. In an age where time spent with a doctor is rapidly diminishing, he feels it is vital to spend time with you, discussing health issues, vision and product trends, and addressing your needs. Dr. Tuel is a native of Joliet. He attended Joliet Central High School and Joliet Jr. College. After receiving an A.S. from JJC, he went to the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where he graduated with a Bachelors degree in Biology. He received his Doctor of Optometry Degree from the Indiana University School of Optometry in Bloomington, Indiana in 1989. Dr. Tuel is married with two sons and loves all things sports! His favorites, The Fighting Illini, Bears, and the Chicago Cubs!

Undergraduate Education: University of Houston – BS in Mathematics, Minor in Chemistry, c/o 2003 Optometry School: Pennsylvania School of Optometry, c/o 2010 Certifications/Awards: National Optometric Student Association Academic Excellence Award, Golden Key International Honour Society, Publications: NATURE International Weekly Journal of Science “The finished DNA sequence of human chromosome 12”, vol. 440, pgs 346-351 How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? By providing comprehensive eye exams for adults and children, diabetic eye exams, contact lens fitting, binocular visual dysfunctions, and ocular disease management. Hobbies/Interests: Traveling

Undergraduate Education: Ferris State University. Optometry School: Nova Southeastern University. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? By providing comprehensive eye exams for children and adults, diabetic eye exams, contact lens fitting/exams, and ocular disease management. Hobbies/Interests: Sports (Detroit Lions Fan), working out, traveling, and exploring new areas and restaurants in downtown Cincinnati.

Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Optometry School: Southern College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? I have lived in the area for almost twenty years. I’ve enjoyed being a part of the community, from being a VBS volunteer at church to just running into patients at the grocery store. I can help patients live their best lives by being a good listener and taking care of all their visual and eye health needs. Hobbies/Interests: We love the mountains and being able to go hiking and kayaking. We enjoy watching my daughter run cross country and track.

Dr. Greg Usdan is an graduate of Southern College of Optometry. He is a third generation optometrist and has been in practice for over 25 years. He is a member of the American Optometric Association and the West Tennessee Optometric Association, and served as a member of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. He previously served as a clinical consultant for Bausch & Lomb contact lens, and is currently on the innovative speaker's panel for Vistakon, a division of Johnson & Johnson. He is married to Melody and has two sons, Ari and Simon.

Undergraduate Education: University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago - Residency, Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO). How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? By providing comprehensive eye care for children and adults including Myopia control management, contact lens fitting, diabetic eye exams and ocular disease management. Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, hiking, reading.

Undergraduate Education: American International College (Springfield, MA). Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry (now Salus University). Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Multifocal Contact Lenses, Scleral Contact Lenses. What drives your passion for optometry? I was seven years old when I first wore eyeglasses. Ever since I was eight, my parents said that I kept telling them that I would be an optometrist. I have always wanted to help people, and I believe that this is the way that I can best do so. How are you helping patients live their best lives? I help patients live their best lives by enhancing their quality-of-life through optimized vision. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? It is the essence, the core, of my motivation to become an optometrist. In this way, I feel that I can contribute to the world one person at a time so that each may feel more empowered to contribute to the world in their own way. How are you impacting your local community? By enhancing people's quality of life, so that they can more effectively contribute their talents and energies to others. Hobbies/Interests: Reading.