Melissa Shipley, MD, FAAP

Board-Certified Pediatric Ophthalmologist

Dr. Shipley offers comprehensive pediatric eye care, specializing in the medical treatment of various pediatric eye disorders.

Make An Appointment
Home > Our Providers > Melissa Shipley, MD, FAAP

Melissa Shipley, MD, FAAP

Board-Certified Pediatric Ophthalmologist

Dr. Shipley offers comprehensive pediatric eye care, specializing in the medical treatment of various pediatric eye disorders.

The region’s trusted (and only) pediatric ophthalmologist offers exceptional care for both pediatric and adult patients

 

Dr. Shipley offers comprehensive pediatric eye care including the medical and surgical treatment of lazy eye/amblyopia, ocular misalignment/strabismus, blocked tear ducts, pediatric eyelid disorders, and the management of pediatric cataracts and pediatric glaucoma. Dr. Shipley also treats adults with double vision and strabismus.

 

Dr. Shipley graduated with a 4.0 from The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, with a double major in Biology and Psychology. She received her Doctor of Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School, where she played a fundamental role in initiating glaucoma screenings, was the school’s first President’s Merit Scholar, and is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor society. Dr. Shipley completed her ophthalmology residency at the University of Florida and fellowship training in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at the Storm Eye Institute at Medical University of South Carolina. She is the only fellowship-trained pediatric ophthalmologist in the Wilmington area and southeast North Carolina.

 

After practicing for seven years in Charlotte, Dr. Shipley chose to relocate to Wilmington area to serve a need in the local pediatric community. She is extremely passionate about the impact her work makes and spent time in Guatemala for a medical mission where she performed eye surgery on children who had no access to medical care.

I am so honored to have the opportunity to impact the lives of children by taking care of their eyes. Their smiling faces and sweet personalities make my job such a joy each day!

Dr. Shipley is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a Fellow of the American Association of Pediatrics (FAAP). She has lectured and presented research in her field at several national meetings.

 

In her free time, Dr. Shipley enjoys spending time with her husband Doug, their two children, Ryan and Claire, and their goldendoodle, Millie. They enjoy boating, travel, and attending the kids’ sporting events. The entire family loves living in the coastal community of Wilmington!

 

Professional Society Memberships

  • American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • American Academy of Pediatrics
  • American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus

 

Related Media

  • Promoting Healthy Vision and Eye Safety in Children
  • What is Strabismus and How Can it Be Treated?
  • Pediatric Ophthalmology is Back in Wilmington
  • Wilmington Eye welcomes a new Pediatric Ophthalmologist

Hear from Dr. Shipley's patients

01/06
  • "My daughter is 7 and has been going to this practice for 4 years. She looks forward to her visits with Dr. Shipley. Thanks for making it fun. Everyone on staff is kind and efficient. Most importantly, we feel our daughter is receiving quality eye care and our questions about glasses, strabismus, and patching have been answered."
    Susan W.
  • "Very professional and patient when it comes to dealing with younger children. Explains the results well to parents understanding. You can tell they care about their job and are truly passionate."
    Denise L.
  • "Love her , she’s great with my son !! Wasn’t so sure about doing a procedure for a removal of a sty for my son , but Dr. Shipley explained everything to me and I was impressed with the results ! Highly recommend they have a great team at Wilmington eye !!"
    Laticia T.
  • "Dr. Shipley is a great doctor! Very caring and explains things very well. Thank you for being an amazing eye dr for my toodler!"
    Ashley S.
  • "They are very friendly! Just went today and my 4 year old son was soo excited! They made it fun for him to the point where he was really excited to be getting his glasses!"
    Liliana L.
  • "Such an amazing dr. She is patient and kind. I really appreciate the time she takes with my son."
    Jacqueline S.
  • "My daughter has always received great care and attention to detail by Dr. Shipley. She’s very thorough and truly listens to my concerns. I highly recommend."
    Allison C.
  • "First time visit for my sweet 6 month old baby girl & she was super friendly & patient with her. She was amazing & it put me at ease as a first time mom."
    Kenisha R.
  • "She is amazing my son is autistic and get mad when any one touches his face and she is so good with him and works with him she is a great doctor"
    Anna J.
  • "She was great with my daughter and knew exactly what to do to get her to cooperate during The Visit."
    Lisa & Alyssa
  • "The staff is friendly and nurses are great. Highly recommend Dr. Shipley. She has been great with my little one from the beginning! Dr. Shipley answer all of my concerns before and after surgery."
    America S.
  • "Very nice. Perfect with babies!"
    Alexa C.
  • "My grandson is only 2 and I appreciated the support and attention given to us. Dr Shipley seemed very knowledgeable about the issue. Thanks everyone"
    Maureen R.
  • "Dr. Shipley and her staff were wonderful. My daughter was a bit worried about her appointment. They put her anxiety at ease and it put me at ease knowing they understood and cared enough to make the appointment as easy and calming as possible. I definitely recommend Dr. Shipley and her staff."
    Mayra H.
  • "They are always very kind and connected with my 5 year old daughter! She enjoys her appointments there."
    Taren C.
  • "Dr. Shipley did a great job with my daughter. She answered our questions and let us know what to expect during her next visit."
    Miranda P.
  • "Great appointment with my 5 year old and 4 year old. She was able to quickly assess them to make this a pretty simple process"
    Jennifer C.
  • "We have been seeing Dr. Shipley for close to 3 years with our son. She is very thorough and thoughtful."
    Karly Marie R.
  • "Amazing doctor and she has extra patience with my kids BC they have rare conditions and shes very understanding and every through and my kids recognized her from the morning news on TV with her clinic fantastic segment"
    Maria C.
  • "Dr. Shipley has consistently provided excellent care to my son. She has been professional and efficient at each encounter over the past three years. I highly recommend her expertise and service for pediatric ophthalmology."
    Marla L.
  • "Best pediatric eye Dr ever. The staff is wonderful so is Dr Shipley. We feel fortunate to have Dr Shipley in Wilmington."
    A. C.
  • "Dr. Shipley and her staff are very courteous and kind. Also, we never have to wait very long once we arrive. We have been very pleased with the results from the surgery Dr. Shipley performed on our child. It has been a very positive experience. I would highly recommend them."
    Melissa C.
  • "Dr Shipley and the entire staff is always so patient with my child who has developmental disabilities and autism. Everyone is kind and understanding."
    Annetta S.
  • "Dr. Shipley was great with my 4 year old and very friendly!!"
    Asheton C.
  • "Dr. Shipley was awesome and very patient with my toddler. Very impressed with the facility and how clean it was."
    Laura E.
  • "We used to drive to Duke for the eye specialist and am so thankful that we Dr. Shipley has moved to the area. Dr. Shipley and her staff are so patient with my son and take the time to explain things to him and to answer any and all of our questions while also being so efficient!"
    Jill R.
  • "Melissa Shipley is always great when it comes to my daughter! My daughter is not a fan of the eye doctor, but Melissa makes the experience great for her! She leaves there asking when she’s going back!"
    Alisha J.
  • "Dr. Shipley is so great with my daughter. We started seeing her when my girl was less than a year, and she has always been so kind and patient! For sure one of the best pediatric eye dr around!! Can’t imagine how different eye checks would be without her and her amazing team!"
    Hannah B.
  • "Melissa Shipley is an angel. She did amazing work on my granddaughters' eyes. She always makes sure that there is staff available if we need anything. We are very satisfied with her professionalism and her high standards in which she holds herself."
    Traci H.
  • "Had my strabismus surgery with Dr. Shipley and I'm so glad I did! No more double vision and my eyes look straight! "
    Anonymous
  • "She is a wonderful doctor & person. A doctor who cares deeply for her patients. She is an awesome surgeon - my eyesight is no longer doubled."
    Anonymous
  • "Dr Shipley corrected my double vision just like she said she would! "
    Mark L.
  • "My daughter is 7 and has been going to this practice for 4 years. She looks forward to her visits with Dr. Shipley. Thanks for making it fun. Everyone on staff is kind and efficient. Most importantly, we feel our daughter is receiving quality eye care and our questions about glasses, strabismus, and patching have been answered. "
    Susan D.
  • "Dr. Shipley is amazing! I feared I would just have to live with double vision and eventually give up driving. Dr. Shipley operated on my eyes and I am excited to say that my vision is normal once again"
    Sandra V.
  • "Dr. Shipley has been amazing to work with along with the staff. I am active duty military and this was by far the best medical care I ever received, it’s been a year long journey and well worth it. I can now focus my vision and my confidence has been increasing with every passing day! Amazing work!! Thanks to Wilmington Eye . "
    Natoria J.
  • "Dr. Shipley is a wonderful doctor. She listens to your concerns , explains things simply , puts up with your husbands hundred questions . She has done two surgeries on my eye and I am very pleased with her and the results. I highly recommend her. "
    Judy H.
  • "Dr. Shipley is a wonderful doctor. She listens to your concerns, explains things simply, puts up with your husbands' hundred questions. She has done two surgeries on my eye and I am very pleased with her and the results. I highly recommend her."
    Judy H.
  • "She is all professional! Recommend her to all. Top notch!"
    Royce E.
  • "Great office staff! Dr. Shipley took the time to answer all of my questions and I didn’t feel like I was being rushed."
    Jennifer S.
  • "Dr. Shipley did a great job with my daughter. She answered our questions and let us know what to expect during her next visit."
    Miranda P.
  • "Dr. Shipley was great. She was very clear in her explanations and answered all our questions. I would highly recommend this practice to anyone."
    Cristy C.
  • "I had been experiencing a lot of stress and discomfort due to my eyes shifting. I had developed a lazy eye. No doctors had been able to help; that’s until I went to see Dr. Shipley. I got surgery and I am so pleased with my results. My eyes are so straight and I don’t have to strain to focus or be embarrassed by them crossing. I’m so grateful for the care I received. It changed my life!"
    Queen E.
  • "We have been seeing Dr. Shipley for close to 3 years with our son. She is very thorough and thoughtful."
    Karley R.
  • "Amazing doctor and she has extra patience with my kids BC they have rare conditions and she's very understanding and very thorough and my kids recognized her from the morning news on TV with her clinic fantastic segment!"
    Maria C.
  • "Dr. Shipley took the time to listen to me; and equally as important and impressive was the fact that she took the time to talk to me. I might add that she was both charming and friendly. For the entire time she was in her office with me, I knew I had 100% of her attention; at no time was she focused on rushing to get to the next patient."
    Mackey M.
  • "We used to drive to Duke for the eye specialist and am so thankful that Dr. Shipley has moved to the area. Dr. Shipley and her staff are so patient with my son and take the time to explain things to him and to answer any and all of our questions while also being so efficient!"
    Jill R.
  • "Dr. Shipley has consistently provided excellent care to my son. She has been professional and efficient at each encounter over the past three years. I highly recommend her expertise and service for pediatric ophthalmology."
    Marla L.
  • "My experience with doctor Shipley is wonderful. She is the best."
    Monica A.
  • "Best pediatric eye doctor ever. The staff is wonderful, so is Dr Shipley. We feel fortunate to have Dr Shipley in Wilmington."
    A. C.
  • "Dr. Shipley and her staff are very courteous and kind. We have been very pleased with the results from the surgery Dr. Shipley performed on our child. It has been a very positive experience. I would highly recommend them."
    Melissa C.
  • "Dr. Shipley was great. I really couldn’t have asked for more, and if I did, she would have the answers."
    John F.
  • "My visit with Dr. Shipley went very well. She was inquisitive and thorough in her examination and provided an understandable diagnosis. She responded to my questions without hesitation and made the entire experience very positive."
    Mike A.
  • "Dr Shipley is the greatest eye surgeon I know."
    Vanessa M.
  • "Dr. Shipley is a great doctor! Very caring and explains things very well. Thank you for being an amazing eye dr for my toodler!"
    Ashley S.
  • "Dr. Shipley has been amazing to work with along with the staff. I had to drive 2 hours to come to this facility and they have accommodated me more than once. I am active duty military and this was by far the best medical care I ever received. It’s been a year long journey and well worth it. I can now focus my vision and my confidence has been increasing with every passing day! Amazing work!!"
    Natoria J.
  • "Dr. Shipley is a wonderful doctor & person. A doctor who cares deeply for her patients. She is an awesome surgeon – my eyesight is no longer doubled!"
    Anonymous

  • Want to hear more stories from our patients?


    View All Stories