About Our Practice in Daniel Island & Charleston

Dr. Turner is extremely proud to be Daniel Island’s first optometrist, a distinction that has brought him great respect throughout the community. As a therapeutically licensed optometrist, Dr. Turner provides his patients with multifaceted care.

His practice has a unique approach thanks to his diverse blend of experience. He completed internships at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS, Montrose Veterans Hospital in Montrose, NY, and Huntington Veterans Hospital in Huntington, WV. These experiences have given Dr. Turner the confidence and ability to treat eyes of all ages and stages. Dr. Turner graduated with a bachelor’s of science in biology from Virginia Tech and received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Indiana University School of Optometry in Bloomington, IN.

Dr. Turner is passionate about pediatric vision care and contact lenses. In 2010, Daniel Island Eye Care became South Carolina’s source for the largest inventory of contact lenses. Dr. Turner receives contact lens referrals from the entire coast of SC, as well as NC. In 2011, Dr. Turner was selected to join Johnson & Johnson’s contact lens division as a professional speaker because of his passion and experience with contact lenses.

Dr. Turner is proud to be a member of InfantSEE, which provides free comprehensive eye exams to babies under one year old. He has also been a part of the Daniel Island School’s Adopt a Teacher program since its inception. Dr. Turner now teaches an eye dissection lab to three 8th-grade science classes every year. At the other end of the spectrum, he has spent 5 years at Charleston nursing homes, caring for the eyes of elderly adults.

Dr. Turner married the love of his life, Erin, on October 15th, 2011. Outside of the office, Dr. Turner and Erin can be routinely seen running and cycling on Daniel Island or enjoying Sullivan’s Island and downtown Charleston.

Fast Facts About Dr. T

• Member of: the Daniel Island Business Association, the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, the South Carolina Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association, and the Charleston Chapters of Virginia Tech and Indiana Alumni Associations.
• Hometown: South Bend, IN.
• Favorite food/restaurant: Pizza, sushi, chocolate chip cookies! For restaurants, Basil and La Pizzeria.
• Wearing glasses since: 7 years old, after being diagnosed with myopia (nearsightedness). They were not pretty!
• Favorite pair of sunglasses: Oakley Jawbone with transition lenses. Absolutely the perfect pair of cycling glasses. I love them.
• Hobbies: Triathlons during the summer, football in the fall, beach anytime.
• What’s playing on my iPod/music device: Pearl Jam. I have seen them in concert over 15 times. Musically, I’m still stuck in the 90s.
• Favorite saying/quote: “Hope is not a plan.” –Lou Holtz
• Pet peeve: The phrase, “I can’t.”
• Can’t go without my: Sunglasses.

Dr. Petersen is originally from northwest Iowa. She completed her undergrad at Iowa State University in Ames, IA, and then attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN.

While in optometry school, she completed externships in Memphis, Dallas, and Mount Pleasant. Following graduation, Dr. Petersen completed an additional year of training, focusing on primary care and ocular disease, through a residency at the Memphis Veteran Affairs Medical Center.

With her rigorous education complete, Dr. Petersen finally realized her dream of relocating permanently to the Charleston area by joining our team. She is extremely excited to begin her professional career alongside Dr. Turner and the Daniel Island Eye Care team!

Fast Facts about Dr. Baley Petersen

• Hometown: Farmgirl from Cleghorn, IA (272 people)!
• Favorite food/restaurant: Love trying new food but adore Poe’s tuna tacos.
• Favorite music: Mumford & Sons, Journey, alternative rock.
• Favorite saying: Regarding unhappy people: “Kill them with kindness!”
• Pet peeve: When people don’t reply to messages.
• Can’t go without my: Sunglasses & cell phone.
• Favorite frame designer: Gucci.

Originally from Long Island, NY, Dr. Silecchia received her undergraduate degree from SUNY College at Cortland. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, she attended Pennsylvania College of Optometry, graduating as a Doctor of Optometry and with a Bachelor of Science in Vision Science.

During the last year and a half of her time at Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Dr. Silecchia rotated at different eye clinics throughout the East Coast, including offices in Miami, Philadelphia, the DC area, and the Charleston area. Each rotation emphasized various aspects of optometry, including disease, contact lenses, and primary care. After her rotations, Dr. Silecchia graduated with honors and received an award for Clinical Excellence in Primary Care.

Dr. Silecchia is licensed to practice optometry in South Carolina and is a member of the American Optometric Association, the South Carolina Optometric Association, and the Coastal Carolina Optometric Society.

When she’s not in the office, Dr. Silecchia enjoys spending time with her husband Cody, son Bennett, their pug Romeo, and rescue boxer/hound Bella. She likes relaxing at the beach with a good book and enjoying outdoor activities around the area.