Optometrist in Chattanooga

June 14, 2026

Set along the Tennessee River near the Georgia state line, Chattanooga serves as the seat of Hamilton County and the hub of Southeast Tennessee. Its population of about 185,783, by recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates, includes families, working adults, and retirees, and several of the area’s eye-care practices have looked after local vision for generations. That continuity gives many residents a familiar place to turn for everything from a child’s first eye exam to ongoing care later in life.

The professional behind that care is the optometrist, who holds a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree. Optometrists conduct comprehensive eye exams, write prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses, and diagnose and manage conditions including dry eye, glaucoma, and diabetic eye disease. They should not be confused with ophthalmologists, who are physicians (M.D. or D.O.) qualified to perform eye surgery, or with opticians, who make and fit eyewear from a prescription but do not examine patients. Sticking with one Chattanooga O.D. keeps a steady record of how a patient’s eyes change and provides a clear referral when a problem requires a surgeon or a subspecialist.

Those services span routine and medical needs alike. A standard exam measures acuity and refraction and assesses eye health, while contact lens fittings handle ordinary prescriptions as well as harder cases such as astigmatism and keratoconus. Many Hamilton County offices add dry eye therapy, glaucoma monitoring, diabetic eye exams, pediatric care, and childhood myopia management, and most stock an optical for frames and lenses. Because chronic conditions like diabetes call for regular dilated screening to catch retinopathy early, periodic comprehensive exams remain a sensible baseline regardless of age.

Tennessee licenses and regulates this work through the Tennessee Board of Optometry, a body the legislature created in 1925 that operates under the Tennessee Department of Health. A license requires an accredited doctoral degree, passing national and state examinations, and 40 hours of continuing education every two-year renewal cycle, and optometrists with diagnostic and therapeutic certification may use pharmaceutical agents within the board’s defined scope; the department’s verification system confirms whether an O.D.’s license is active. When the bill arrives, remember that the exam counts as a professional service while glasses and contacts are taxable retail goods, so an itemized receipt should split them out. The Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs handles deceptive-practice complaints under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), and the Department of Health’s Health Related Boards process handles concerns about a doctor’s professional conduct. This article is informational and is not medical advice; consult a licensed optometrist about your individual eye health.

Top Optometrist Providers in Chattanooga

1. Crowder Eye Center

Address: 7329 Shallowford Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 594-2535
Website: https://crowdereyecenter.com
Services: comprehensive eye exams for all ages, pediatric eye exams, contact lens exams and fittings, scleral lenses, dry eye treatment, myopia management, eye disease management, eye emergencies, eyeglasses and sunglasses
Description: Crowder Eye Center is an optometry practice on Shallowford Road in Chattanooga with roots dating to 1943, founded by Dr. Joshua Crowder. The practice is staffed by optometrists Dr. Joshua E. Crowder, Dr. Eric Adams, Dr. Luiza Prodan, and Dr. Matthew Cathey, all of whom are Doctors of Optometry rather than surgeons. Services include comprehensive exams for all ages, pediatric exams, contact lens fittings including scleral lenses, dry eye treatment, myopia management, eye disease management, and care for eye emergencies, along with a full optical for eyeglasses and sunglasses. The practice uses diagnostic technology that includes Optomap retinal imaging, optical coherence tomography, and visual field testing, and it maintains a second office in nearby Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.

2. Kapperman McGarvey Eye Group

Address: 1720 Gunbarrel Road, Suite 100, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 892-2020
Website: https://www.kmeyegroup.com
Services: medical and comprehensive eye exams, contact lens exams and fittings, pediatric eye care, dry eye treatment, myopia management, cataract evaluation, eyeglasses and optical eyewear
Description: Kapperman McGarvey Eye Group is an optometry practice on Gunbarrel Road in Chattanooga, where all listed providers are Doctors of Optometry. The team includes founding optometrist Dr. Mark R. Kapperman, Dr. Robert C. McGarvey, Dr. Megan D. Kortum, who is also an Air Force veteran, and Dr. Conner M. Kapperman. The practice offers medical and comprehensive eye exams, contact lens exams and fittings, pediatric eye care, dry eye treatment, myopia management, and cataract evaluation, along with an in-house optical. Its technology includes Lumenis OptiLight intense pulsed light for dry eye, digital retinal imaging, optical coherence tomography, and Neurolens, and it operates from a single Chattanooga location.

3. Specs Eyecare

Address: 6116 Shallowford Road, Suite 101, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 602-7732
Website: https://specs-eyecare.com
Services: comprehensive eye exams, diabetic eye exams, glaucoma management, pediatric eye exams, contact lens fittings, eyeglasses and optical, emergency eye care
Description: Specs Eyecare is an optometry practice on Shallowford Road in Chattanooga led by Dr. Brian Post. The practice offers comprehensive eye exams, diabetic eye exams, glaucoma management, pediatric eye exams, contact lens fittings, and an optical for eyeglasses, and it provides emergency eye care with same-day appointments for urgent issues. The practice describes a personalized approach focused on listening to patient concerns, and it references a dedicated technology page for the diagnostic equipment used during exams. It operates from a single Chattanooga location, with extended evening hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays for added scheduling flexibility.

Frequently Asked Questions About Optometrist in Chattanooga

Q: What is the difference between an optometrist, an ophthalmologist, and an optician in Chattanooga?

An optometrist is a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) who performs eye exams, prescribes glasses and contacts, and diagnoses and manages many eye conditions. An ophthalmologist is a physician (M.D. or D.O.) who can also perform eye surgery. An optician fits and dispenses eyewear from a prescription but does not examine the eyes. Many Chattanooga optometry practices coordinate referrals to ophthalmologists when a patient needs surgical care.

Q: How do I verify that a Chattanooga optometrist is licensed in Tennessee?

The Tennessee Board of Optometry, part of the Tennessee Department of Health, licenses optometrists in the state. You can confirm that an O.D. holds an active license through the Department of Health’s online license-verification system. Tennessee optometrists must complete an accredited doctoral program, pass required examinations, and meet continuing-education requirements of 40 hours over each two-year renewal cycle.

Q: How often should I get a comprehensive eye exam?

The American Optometric Association recommends comprehensive eye exams at intervals that depend on age, risk factors, and existing conditions, with more frequent exams for children, older adults, and people with conditions such as diabetes. Adults with diabetes are generally advised to have a dilated eye exam at least once a year to screen for diabetic retinopathy. A licensed optometrist can recommend the right schedule for your situation.

Q: Do optometrists in Chattanooga treat eye conditions or only prescribe glasses?

Tennessee optometrists who hold diagnostic and therapeutic certification can diagnose and treat many eye conditions, including dry eye, glaucoma, and infections, and can prescribe certain medications within the scope set by the Tennessee Board of Optometry. Many Chattanooga practices also provide diabetic eye exams, myopia management, and specialty contact lens fittings in addition to routine vision care.

Q: Is sales tax charged on glasses and contact lenses in Chattanooga?

Tennessee charges a 7% state sales tax, and Hamilton County adds a local option tax that brings the combined rate to roughly 9.25% on taxable retail goods such as eyeglasses and contact lenses. Professional services like the eye exam itself are treated differently from retail eyewear, so patients should ask for an itemized receipt that separates the exam, materials, and any applicable tax.

Q: How do I file a complaint about a Chattanooga optometrist?

Complaints about a licensed optometrist’s professional conduct or care can be filed with the Tennessee Department of Health through its Health Related Boards complaint process, which handles matters involving the Board of Optometry. For business or billing disputes involving deceptive practices, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Keeping records of appointments, prescriptions, and payments helps support any complaint.