Dr. Wendianne Wilson

I’m Dr. Wendianne Wilson, although most of my patients call me “Doctor Wendi”. I grew up in the greater Chicagoland and northern Indiana area. I graduated from Indiana University School of Optometry with my doctorate degree before moving here to Des Moines in 1992.

I loved biology classes in high school and in college, so I decided on a career in a medical field. I was drawn to optometry because of my own need for glasses and contact lenses starting in about 5th grade. I love being able to help people see better at every age.

I like the challenge of finding the best mode of correction whether it be a difficult contact lens fitting or career specific eye wear. I really enjoy treating and diagnosing eye diseases and eye injuries. I chose to bring into my office some of the most up to date technology to help in determining the health of your eyes.

I have two grown daughters (Gabi and Abbie) who are the light of my life. In January 2019, I gained 4 new “lights” in my life in the form of my new husband Jeff’s adult children (Catherine, Christopher, Jeremy and Jonathan). Jeff and I enjoy cooking and hiking together. We are involved in church and my Northwest Des Moines Rotary Club. I love volunteering and being active in my community.

I look forward to getting to know you and your loved ones. I have found that the best way to care for your eyes involves taking the time to develop a personal connection, listening to your concerns and doing a thorough exam so I fully understand your needs.

Dr. Samantha Thompson

Hello! I’m Dr. Samantha Thompson, but I prefer to go by Dr. Sami. I was raised in Knoxville, IA, and I attended Central College where I was an athlete on the women’s tennis team. I graduated from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN with my doctorate in 2024. I am very excited to return to my home state to serve the vision needs of my fellow Iowans.

I loved helping others from a young age, so I decided to pursue a career in the medical field. I was drawn to optometry because I am able to work with patients of all ages. I enjoy that everyone’s visual needs are different and are changing throughout each stage of their life. My areas of interest for optometry include primary care, binocular vision dysfunction, and the diagnosis and treatment of eye injuries, infections, and diseases. I am especially interested in vision therapy, because it allows me to use my critical thinking skills to determine what is preventing a patient from achieving single, clear, and comfortable vision. The patient and I are then able to work together to discover what vision therapy techniques may alleviate their symptoms.

In my free time, I can be found spending time with my husband, Peter, and our two pets, a cat (Buddy) and a dog (Bella). I also enjoy biking on Iowa’s many bike trails, playing tennis, pickleball, or sand volleyball, running, and many other outdoor activities. One of my goals is to someday visit all of America’s National Parks. Peter and I recently purchased a home in Johnston. We are excited to explore our neighborhood and become involved in our new community.

I am excited to begin forming personal connections with patients in order to learn how to best meet their visual needs. I look forward to getting to know each of you.