About Us
We strive to provide the best quality eye care for our patients of all ages and ensure that they leave satisfied with their visit and wanting to come back next year!
Our Team
Dr. Torrey Carlson
Dr. Carlson was born and raised in Escanaba, Michigan. He married his wife Amy in 1995 and they have four children Masey, Lizzie, Allie, and Jack and an Irish setter named Sadie. They moved to East Tennessee just out of school in 1995.
EDUCATION:
Dr. Carlson attended Ferris State University and received a Bachelor of Science in Vision Science. He then attended the Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University, graduating in 1995. His Externships included working at the VA’s in Fort Wayne and Marion Indiana, Eglin AFB’s Optometry Clinic, and a Detroit Medicaid Clinic. He is always attending continuing education classes and seminars to stay current with the newest treatments and up-to-date technology. He is continually seeking the latest technologies in the treatment, management and prevention of ocular diseases such as Glaucoma, Diabetes, Age Related Macular Degeneration, Cataracts and other ocular pathology. He has over 29 years of experience in co-managing LASIK, PRK, and cataract surgery. He has provided eye care to well over 150,000 people in his career.
WORK HISTORY:
He started with LensCrafters in Knoxville as an associate doctor in 1995. In 2003, he moved to the Tri-Cities area and took the Doctor’s leases in LensCrafters in Johnson City and Kingsport. He in time expanded to the Turkey Creek area of Knoxville which was opened in April of 2005. In 2016, Dr. Carlson added two more locations: one in Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia and one at the West Town Mall in Knoxville. Additional offices have been acquired in East Knoxville (Harvest Park), Hixon (Northgate) and Chattanooga(Hamilton Place), TN.
Dr. Carlson was appointed to the State Optometry Board in 2015. He also has lectured for Alcon, Luxottica Vision Care, and Johnson and Johnson Vision Care. He has consulted with various other contact lens companies. He has been involved in marketing research for new contact lens product launches. He serves on the Optometry Advisory Council at LensCrafters. He is a board member of the ALLDOCS doctor's group. He mentors area students interested in Optometry as a profession.
HOBBIES:
Includes spending time with family, boating, traveling, watches, antiques, reading, exercising, basketball, and is an avid sports fan- Go ETSU Bucs, Detroit sports teams, and Go Big Orange!
Dr. Hope Henderson
Dr. Henderson grew up in Sweetwater, TN. She married her husband Jake in 2016. They have four young children and a handsome dog-child named Sarge.
EDUCATION:
Dr. Henderson received her undergraduate degree from Maryville College in 2011. She graduated with honors majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Business Administration, and an exemplary senior thesis. She then attended Indiana University School of Optometry, graduating in 2016.
WORK HISTORY:
Working as a technician for Dr. Carlson in 2011-2012, Dr. Henderson then returned to the practice as an Optometrist after finishing optometry school in 2016. Her externships included: Atwater Eye Care Center in Bloomington, IN; Indianapolis Eye Care Center in Indianapolis, IN; William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Hospital in Columbia, SC; and Truhlsen Eye Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE.
She loves spending time with her kids, husband, family, friends, and her dog. She also enjoys playing softball, spending time outdoors, and watching movies.
Dr. Thomas Bandy
Dr. Bandy is a native of West Knoxville and graduated from Farragut High School. Dr. Bandy lives in West Knoxville with his wife Jennifer. His two adult daughters also live in West Knoxville.
EDUCATION:
Attended East Tennessee State University and received his Bachelor of Science. He then attended the Southern College of Optometry and graduated in 1981.
WORK HISTORY:
Dr. Bandy served as an optometrist in the military and is retired from the U.S. Air Force. Among his many military awards are the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army Commendation Medal. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Command and Staff College.
HOBBIES:
HE enjoys spending time with his family and traveling.
Dr. Stephanie Cunningham
Dr. Cunningham grew up in Woodhaven, Michigan. She and her husband Tim have a young daughter.
EDUCATION:
Attended Western Michigan University and received a B.S. in Biomedical Science and a B.A. in German. She then attended Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University, graduating in 2014. Her internships included the VA in Grand Rapids, MI, Henry Ford OptimEyes, and Cherry Street Health Services.
WORK HISTORY:
She joined Dr. Torrey Carlson and Associates in 2014. She now serves as the Doctor Mentor for the Knoxville locations.
HOBBIES:
Traveling Europe, kayaking, hiking, cooking and spending time with family.
Dr. Lindsey Coley
Dr. Coley grew up in Morristown, TN and has been living in Knoxville since 2014. She and her husband have a girl.
EDUCATION:
She graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in microbiology, along with a minor in psychology. She then attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN where she earned her doctorate.
WORK HISTORY:
She completed clinical externships at Volunteer Eyecare in Halls, TN and at SouthEast Eye Specialists in Knoxville, TN. Dr. Coley provides all optometric services and has an interest in pediatrics.
HOBBIES:
She enjoys running and has participated in two Saint Jude half marathons. She also enjoys weightlifting, hiking, playing board games with her siblings, and attending UT sporting events, particularly baseball games.
Dr. Cynthia Boger
EDUCATION:
She graduated magna cum laude in 2014 from University of Central Florida, with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Microbiology and a minor in Medical Anthropology. She then attended optometry school at Nova Southeastern University, graduating summa cum laude in 2018.
WORK:
Dr. Boger completed clinical externships at Aker Kasten Eye Center in Boca Raton and the Orlando VA Medical Center. She then went on to complete a year-long residency at the Orlando VA, with emphasis in primary care and ocular disease. Dr. Boger has been working with Carlson EyeCare Centers since 2019.
HOBBIES:
Dr. Boger has gone on an optometry mission trip to Belize and would like to go on many more in the future. She enjoys hiking, biking, painting, reading, and cooking in her free time.
Dr. Jackie Ngo
Dr. Ngo was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She moved to Knoxville in 2005. A few years later, she relocated to Johnson City, TN to attend East Tennessee State University. Dr. Ngo returned to Johnson City after optometry school and has been with Dr. Carlson & Associates since then. After several years in Johnson City, Dr. Ngo recently moved back to Knoxville, TN.
EDUCATION:
Dr. Ngo attended East Tennessee State University and graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in English and a minor in Humanities. She then attended the Illinois College of Optometry and received her doctorate in 2019. Dr. Ngo enjoys continuing her education by attending conventions and reading optometric publications with an interest in dry eye, myopia management, and glaucoma.
WORK:
Dr. Ngo completed clinical externships at The Illinois Eye Institute of Chicago in Chicago, IL; Davis Eye Associates in Winston-Salem, NC; James H. Quillen VAMC in Johnson City, TN; and North Suburban Vision Consultants in Park Ridge, IL. Dr. Ngo joined Dr. Carlson & Associates after graduating optometry school and practiced at the Tri-Cities locations. She serves on the selection committee of the Debbie Van Cleave Memorial Scholarship.
HOBBIES:
In her spare time, Dr. Ngo enjoys reading, tending to houseplants, embroidery, and vintage/antique shopping. She loves traveling to explore new cities as well as revisit familiar destinations. She enjoys cooking and trying new recipes as well as eating at new restaurants. She is a proud pet mom to her 2 cats, Val & Noel, as well as her Australian Shepherd, Ellie.
Dr. Mitch Brown
Dr. Mitch Brown
Dr. Brown is a native of Kingston, TN,
Education:
Dr. Brown graduated Roane County High School in 2006 before attending the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and receiving a bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2012. Studying in Memphis, TN he earned his Doctor of Optometry from the Southern College of Optometry in 2016. While at the Southern College of Optometry Dr. Brown was president of the Omega Delta social fraternity and graduated with clinical honors in the Contact Lens department.
Work History:
After moving back to East Tennessee, Dr. Brown joined Tennessee Eye Care in 2019. He has particular interest in contact lenses, family and pediatric optometry, and managing ocular disease. He joined Carlson Eyecare Centers in 2023.
When he is not working, he likes to be with family or finding new places to explore with his corgi- Lola.
Dr. Kelsey Blalock
BIOGRAPHY:
Dr. Kelsey Blalock is a licensed full-scope Therapuetic Optometrist in Knoxville, Tennesee. Dr Blalock grew up in Greenwood, IN. She moved to Knoxville in 2025.
EDUCATION:
She graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. She then worked as an optometric technician at an optometry practice in her hometown of Greenwood, IN for 1 year before returning to Bloomington, IN. She attended Indiana University School of Optometry and graduated in 2024.
WORK:
Dr. Blalock completed a residency in Pediatrics, Binocular Vision, and Vision Therapy at The Ohio State University College of Optometry. She then joined Dr. Carlson & Associates in 2025.
HOBBIES:
She enjoys reading, puzzles, watching TV, playing pickleball, and spending time with friends and family.
Medical and Vision Insurance plans
Have another plan? Benefit questions? Paying out of pocket?
Call us at 865-217-1010,
We are happy to help.
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