Dr. Lynley Atwood grew up in Edwardsville, Illinois. After graduating from Edwardsville High School, she continued her education at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences. She is a 2016 graduate of University of Missouri College of Optometry in St. Louis where she was a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa honors fraternity and was the academic chair for the Class of 2016. She is currently a member of the American Optometric Association and the Illinois Optometric Association.