John Tatar, O.D., received his Doctor of Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry in 2023. He completed three years of undergraduate studies at Loyola University of Chicago as a Biology major before being accepted into Illinois College of Optometry’s early admission program in 2019.
Dr. Tatar’s passion for optometry was sparked when his older sister, also an optometrist, prescribed him his first pair of glasses. Experiencing the clarity he had been missing ignited his interest in the field. After working as a technician at his sister’s private practice, where he enjoyed interacting with patients, he decided to take the next step and become an optometrist himself.
Dr. Tatar enjoys meeting new patients and hearing their personal stories. He then tests his knowledge to find solutions for their individual eye care needs. To Dr. Tatar, creating lasting relationships with his patients by helping improve their quality of life through eye care health is a reward.
Dr. William Watson pursued his medical training at the Illinois College of Optometry and was awarded his Doctor of Optometry degree in 1999. He holds certification in competency-based examination in the Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease from
THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY. Doctor Watson cares for patients from birth through adulthood. He focuses on primary eye care, including prescribing eyeglasses and contacts and diagnosing and managing eye disease.
Javier Rodriguez, O.D. received his Doctor of Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry in 2017. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Pre-Optometry, and a Minor in Spanish at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.
Dr. Rodriguez specializes in ocular disease and vision therapy. He holds certification in competency-based examination in the Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease from the International Association of Boards of Examiners in Optometry.
On becoming an optometrist, Dr. Rodriguez says he knew he wanted to help people and had always enjoyed math and science. He shadowed his childhood optometrist, who also provided vision therapy, and realized the difference it had made in the lives of kids struggling to learn in school.
While in graduate school, Dr. Rodriguez realized the importance of optometry as a preventative health care beyond prescribing new glasses or contact lenses. Fluent in English and Spanish, Dr. Rodriguez finds it rewarding to help detect and manage patients with various eye diseases they otherwise may not have known they had. He enjoys helping to enhance his patients’ vision, treating and managing their ocular health to improve their quality of life.
When Dr. Rodriguez is not with his patients, he spends quality time with his wife and their newborn daughter. He is a St. Thomas Catholic Church member and finds great interest in hiking, bowling, and disc golf.
Dr. Cleland discovered her interest in visual science at Indiana University, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Wanting to incorporate this knowledge with her passion for helping people, she pursued her medical training at the Illinois College of Optometry
She graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Doctor of Optometry degree in 2011. She holds certification on competency-based examination in the Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease from THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY.
Dr. Cleland provides primary eye care for patients from birth to adulthood. Her professional interests include specialty contact lens design for keratoconic patients and diagnosing and managing eye disease, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration. She also enjoys helping individuals with dry eye and ocular allergies.
Dr. Cleland lives in McHenry with her husband, Justin, daughter, and dog Emma.