Technology at Vision Salon Eye Care Associates
When you walk through our doors, you will be greeted by a compassionate and experienced team that is dedicated to providing high-quality personalized eye care for your whole family in a friendly and professional environment. At Vision Salon Eye Care Associates, we use only the most advanced technology to keep your eyes healthy.
Our Doctors
Meet Dr. Ansel T. Johnson, O.D.
Founder & Clinical Director, Vision Salon Eye Care Associates
Your eyes tell the story of your whole health. Dr. Johnson knows how to read that story, and he wants to teach you how to read it too.
From Head Start to the White House
Dr. Ansel Johnson’s story starts with a Head Start classroom. Years later, he was honored at a White House ceremony as a Head Start success story. He has never forgotten where he came from or who helped him get there.
In 1990, he opened Vision Salon right here in Blue Island. More than 35 years later, he is still here. He is still caring for our neighbors, and he still believes every person deserves great care.
More about Dr. Ansel T. Johnson
More Than Just Glasses
To Dr. Johnson, an eye exam is about much more than reading letters on a chart. Your eyes can show the first signs of diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health problems, sometimes before you feel anything at all. Finding these problems early can save your sight. It can also protect your health.
That is why Dr. Johnson built something no other eye office in Illinois had. Vision Salon was the first in the state to offer a nationally certified Diabetes Self-Management Program inside an eye care office. Dr. Johnson is a certified lifestyle coach for the CDC Diabetes Prevention Program. He holds a certificate in diabetes care and education, and he has been a member of the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists for more than 20 years.
He doesn’t just treat your eyes. He teaches. His goal is simple: you should leave your visit knowing more about your health than when you walked in.
A National Leader in Eye Care
Doctors across the country listen when Dr. Johnson speaks. He is a sought-after national speaker on glaucoma, diabetes eye care, and new eye care technology.
Trusted by doctors. He was the first optometrist in Illinois to teach accredited classes to a mixed group of diabetes educators, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, and eye doctors.
Seen nationwide. In 2024, BlackDoctor.org featured him in a five-part national masterclass on keeping your eyes healthy.
Honored by his school. The New England College of Optometry, where he earned his doctor’s degree, gave him its Distinguished Alumni Award. The award recognizes graduates who have made a lasting difference in eye care.
Recognized nationally. Black Enterprise magazine has named him twice as one of America’s top 101 African American doctors.
Part of the hospital team. He is a member of the Allied Health Staff at Advocate Trinity Hospital and Advocate South Suburban Hospital.
Shaping the future of care. He takes part in clinical trials, because medical research should include people from every community.
Leading the profession. He formerly served on the Board of Directors of IDOC, one of the country’s largest independent eye care alliances. He is co-state director for Illinois with the National Optometric Association. He also sits on the board of the Ocular Wellness & Nutrition Society and chairs the health care committee of the Southland Black Chamber of Commerce. In the past, he served as Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board for the Bernie Mac Foundation for Sarcoidosis Awareness.
Training Tomorrow’s Eye Doctors
Dr. Johnson is an adjunct professor at Midwestern University Chicago College of Optometry, Kentucky College of Optometry, and the New England College of Optometry. Each year, students in their final year of eye doctor training come to Vision Salon to learn from him. They train on every piece of technology in the office. They also learn that every patient deserves to be heard.
Healing Beyond the Exam Room
Some of the biggest health problems in our community start long before anyone sits in an exam chair. In June 2020, Dr. Johnson started the Healthy Living With A Vision Foundation. This nonprofit works to close the health gaps in communities of color through free community forums, health screenings, and education. He also co-founded the KNOC Out Diabetes education program and wrote Fearless Wellness, a book that helps families take charge of their health.
The Man Behind the White Coat
Dr. Johnson is a proud husband to Tangee and the proud father of two. He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He earned his biology degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and his Doctor of Optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry in Boston. He also completed the Optometry Executive Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
His Promise to You
Dr. Johnson wants you to see clearly for life, and to live a long, healthy life too. When you visit Vision Salon, you are not just a patient. You are a partner in your own health.
Be well, see well, be blessed.
The eye specialists at Midwest Eye Professionals provide the majority of our surgical eye care, including but not limited to glaucoma surgery, cataract surgery, LASIK surgery, retinal surgery, and corneal surgery. Our office will often co-manage surgical eye care for our patients or make sure we closely communicate with the eye surgeon to ensure the very best outcomes.
In the Community
