Meet the team

Dr. Parnell

Optometrist

Dr. Tara Parnell founded Perceptions Eye Health & Wellness in 2004. A North Carolina native, Tara moved to Southport in 2000, drawn to the area beaches and outdoor community lifestyle. Tara received her Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina State University and her Doctorate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, the North Carolina State Optometric Society, and the Southeastern District Optometric Society. She serves on the Board of Directors for the NCOS PAC and has served on the NCOS education committee for paraoptometric training.

Dr. Parnell takes a personalized approach to eye and health care and has a deep passion for learning and applying principles to help her patients build resilience and optimize their health. She continues to pursue additional training in the field of functional and nutritional medicine, and focuses on the body as a whole system, not just individual parts. This type of medicine treats the underlying cause of health and eye problems that often are overlooked. Dr. Parnell focuses on educating her patients and providing them knowledge and understanding to help them learn how to prevent eye disease and how to promote healthy eyes and vision. She is passionate about helping patients uncover the vital and often missing layer of care that helps them make lasting diet, lifestyle and behavior changes that reduce the risk of developing chronic eye disease and other systemic diseases that affect the eyes and vision. She has extensive training in dry eye disease and has developed a specialty dry eye relief center within Perceptions.

When she is not taking care of patients, she can be found hanging out with her family and friends, spending as much time outdoors in nature as possible. She enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time boating and enjoying our beaches. She loves to exercise and cook healthy meals because it plays such an important role in our health and wellness routine. She believes that food is medicine and we can address most chronic diseases by choosing what we put in our bodies. Dr. Parnell loves serving her patients and is dedicated to making sure they have an extraordinary, personalized experience when visiting Perceptions.

Tara C.

Tara is an accomplished Practice Administrator and Optician with over 20 years of leadership experience, including more than a decade dedicated to the healthcare industry. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration and an MBA in Project Management, with a specialized focus on Electronic Health Records (EHR).

Tara’s profound commitment to optometry is deeply personal. Having managed declining vision and worn glasses since the second grade, she understands firsthand the transformative power of clear sight. This lived experience fuels her professional mission: ensuring every patient receives the highest standard of ocular health and vision care. Tara is particularly passionate about pediatric vision. She finds her greatest professional fulfillment in helping young children experience the world clearly for the very first time, dedicated to capturing the life-changing joy on their faces when they put on their first pair of glasses.

Abbi H.

Abbi is an experienced optometry professional who has been navigating the clinical and administrative sides of the industry since 2010. Born and raised in Sanford, North Carolina, she brings a versatile, multifaceted approach to patient care. Working closely alongside Dr. Parnell to ensure seamless daily operations.

Known affectionately as a "triple threat" within the practice, Abbi specializes in maintaining efficient office workflows, executing precise frame repairs, and supporting accurate patient assessments. Her comprehensive industry knowledge and dedication to a positive patient experience make her an invaluable asset to the team.

Outside of the clinic, Abbi is an avid traveler and outdoor enthusiast who considers herself a southern, land-locked mermaid. She spends much of her free time on the water fishing with her husband, Pat, and their two dogs, Benny and Pudge. Driven by the philosophy that a smile is the most essential part of any attire, Abbi brings that same warmth, energy, and dedication to her patients every day.

Tara’s profound commitment to optometry is deeply personal. Having managed declining vision and worn glasses since the second grade, she understands firsthand the transformative power of clear sight. This lived experience fuels her professional mission: ensuring every patient receives the highest standard of ocular health and vision care. Tara is particularly passionate about pediatric vision. She finds her greatest professional fulfillment in helping young children experience the world clearly for the very first time, dedicated to capturing the life-changing joy on their faces when they put on their first pair of glasses.

Laura G.​​​​​​​

Laura is a licensed Aesthetician, Educator and Certified Laser Technician with over 25 years of experience in facial aesthetics and skin health. For the past three years, under the direction of Dr. Parnell she has specialized in Dry Eye treatments , combining advanced techniques with patient education to improve their health, comfort, and long-term wellness.

Laura is passionate about helping patients achieve healthier eyes through personalized care, evidence-based therapies, and treatments that support the function and appearance of the delicate eye area. She is dedicated to providing compassionate, results-driven care as part of the team at Perceptions Eye Health & Wellness.

Somer F.

Front Desk Administration/ Patient Liaison

Somer brings more than 10 years of front desk and patient care experience to Perceptions Eye Health & Wellness. She’s known for finding solutions, keeping things running smoothly, and making every patient feel welcome from the moment they walk through the door. Her goal is to create a positive, stress-free experience and ensure each visit is as seamless as possible.

Originally from Kinston, North Carolina, Somer developed a love for both the outdoors and creative hobbies. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, swimming, reading, drawing, and spending time with her partner and their fur babies. Although she's a devoted animal lover, she'll happily admit she has an amusing fear of bunnies, pugs, and horses.

For Somer, the best part of her job is getting to know the people she meets each day. She looks forward to welcoming you to Perceptions Eye Health & Wellness and helping make your visit a great one.