Our Team
Dr. Fern Powell
OD
Dr. Fern Powell is a Spartanburg native. She graduated from Converse College and the University of Alabama School of Optometry. She had completed a residency in a hospital-based optometry at the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in Huntington, WV. Dr. Powell returned to Spartanburg to join Dr. Shelley’s practice in 1992.
Dr. Powell a very active member of our community. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, the South Carolina Optometric Association, and is the past president of the Piedmont Chapter of the Optometric Association. She is also currently the chairwoman and board member for HALTER – an organization that provides therapy to people with disabilities through horse riding. She is also an advisor for the Glaucoma Awareness Foundation, an advocate for “Friends of Croft” and an active lay leader in her church.
Dr. Powell enjoys spending time with her family, friends and patients. She is dedicated to helping her patients with their eye care needs and invites you to visit her at Carolina Vision.
Dr. Michael Younger
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Dr. Younger has been a member of Carolina Vision Associates since 1995. He is a board-certified optometrist licensed to diagnose and treat disorders and diseases of the eye and visual system. Dr. Younger is a member of the American Optometric Association, the South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association and is a past president of the Piedmont Optometric Association.
After graduating from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in biology, Dr. Younger attended the University of Missouri–St. Louis School of Optometry where he graduated with a Doctor of Optometry degree. During his time in optometry school, Dr. Younger was a member of the international optometric honor society Beta Sigma Kappa, and was recognized with a variety of academic awards, including the VSP Scholarship for excellence in primary care.
Dr. Younger enjoys spending time with his family, coaching his children’s athletic teams, and playing golf and other outdoor activities of all kinds.
Dr. Richard Sprouse
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Dr. Richard Sprouse is a board-certified optometrist. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. He is a Spartanburg native and has been practicing since 1995.
He is a member of the American Optometric Association, The South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association, and a past president of the Piedmont Optometric Society.
When not at work, Dr. Sprouse enjoys being on the water at Beaufort, SC, where he and his wife enjoy shrimping and fishing. Dr. Sprouse also enjoys spending time with his son and traveling. In his spare time, he turns to his hobby of building guitars from scratch to remind him of his days as a musician.
Dr. Rachelle Penka
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Dr. Rachelle Penka became a member of Carolina Vision Associates in 2008. She is a board-certified optometrist licensed to diagnose, treat and manage a broad range of visual disorders and ocular diseases. Professionally, Dr. Penka is a member of the American Optometric Association, the American Academy of Optometry, Women of Vision and the South Carolina Optometric Physician Association.
Dr. Penka received her undergraduate degree from Kansas State University and obtained her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Missouri–St. Louis. During that time, she had received numerous accolades including the Practice Management Award of Excellence and the Award of Excellence in Contact Lens Patient Care.
Since relocating here, Dr. Penka has become an active member of the Spartanburg Young Professionals organization, is an educational speaker for Regenesis Health Center, and is the Secretary of the Piedmont Optometric Physician Association. She also enjoys exploring the upstate and all it offers.
Dr. Malissa Mathis
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Dr. Mathis is a Gaffney native. She attended East Tennessee State University and received her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, the South Carolina Optometric Association, and has been a member of the Lions Club.
Dr. Mathis is active in the Gaffney community and her church, where she serves as an elder. She is currently a board member and former president of the Village School of Gaffney, and has also served as an advisory board member of the Miracle Hill Rescue Mission of Gaffney.
Dr. Mathis likes spending time with her family, reading, playing sports, and exercising. She enjoys helping her patients with their eye care needs and loves meeting new people. If you are looking for an eye care provider in the Gaffney area, Dr. Mathis invites you to visit her at Carolina Vision.
Dr. Stephanie Younger
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Dr. Stephanie Younger is a practicing and board-certified optometrist with Carolina Vision Associates. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Iowa State University and her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Missouri–St. Louis School of Optometry. Her affiliations include being a member of the American Optometric Association and South Carolina’s Optometric Physicians Association.
As a primary eye care provider, Dr. Younger strives to enhance the quality of life for her patients with exceptional vision care. Whether your interest is getting an eye examination, corrective lenses or contact lenses, Dr. Younger invites you to contact Carolina Vision for your eye care needs.
Outside her vocation, Dr. Younger enjoys family, church activities, and reading.
Dr. Eric Nelson
OD
Dr. Eric Nelson became a member of Carolina Vision Associates in 2019. He is a board certified optometrist licensed to diagnose and treat diseases and disorders of the visual system. Dr. Nelson received extensive training while serving our nation's veterans at the Memphis VA Medical Center as well as at The Eye Center, the largest single optometric center in west Tennessee. Dr. Nelson is originally from Summerville, SC but now calls Spartanburg home. He enjoys spending time with his wife Kayla and their 2 boys. Dr. Nelson specializes in hard to fit contact lenses, especially for those patients with Keratoconus requiring scleral contact lenses.