Optometrist in Clarksville

June 14, 2026

Clarksville’s eye doctors practice under a clear set of state rules. Tennessee licenses optometrists through the Tennessee Board of Optometry, which the legislature established in 1925 and which now operates within the Tennessee Department of Health. Earning the license means completing an accredited Doctor of Optometry program, passing national and state examinations, and finishing 40 hours of continuing education in every two-year renewal cycle. Doctors who hold diagnostic and therapeutic certification may use pharmaceutical agents to treat eye conditions within the board’s scope, and patients can confirm any O.D.’s active status through the Department of Health’s license-verification system before they schedule.

The demand for that care reflects who lives here. Clarksville, with a population around 176,456 by recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates, is one of Tennessee’s largest and fastest-growing cities, shaped by neighboring Fort Campbell and home to Austin Peay State University. Military families, students, and a steady stream of new households all need routine vision care, and that mix keeps Montgomery County practices busy across every age group year-round. Health patterns add to the need, since conditions such as diabetes require regular dilated exams to catch retinopathy, making periodic comprehensive exams a worthwhile habit.

Knowing who provides which service helps patients choose well. An optometrist holds the O.D. degree and handles eye exams, glasses and contact lens prescriptions, and the diagnosis and management of conditions such as dry eye, glaucoma, and diabetic eye disease. An ophthalmologist, by contrast, is a physician (M.D. or D.O.) trained to perform eye surgery, and an optician fits eyewear from a prescription without examining the eyes. For a transient community where families move often, building a relationship with a local Clarksville O.D. keeps vision records consistent and makes referrals straightforward when surgery or specialist care is needed.

Local practices generally cover both routine and medical work: comprehensive exams that test acuity, refraction, and eye health, contact lens fittings for standard and specialty cases including astigmatism and keratoconus, dry eye treatment, glaucoma monitoring, diabetic eye exams, pediatric care, and myopia management for children, usually with an optical on site. A point worth noting at checkout is that Tennessee treats the exam as a professional service while taxing glasses and contact lenses as retail goods, so an itemized receipt should keep them separate. Should a billing or deceptive-practice issue come up, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), while complaints about an optometrist’s professional conduct go to the Department of Health through its Health Related Boards process. This article is informational and is not medical advice; consult a licensed optometrist about your individual eye health.

Top Optometrist Providers in Clarksville

1. Sites Vision Clinic

Address: 621 N Riverside Drive, Clarksville, TN 37040
Phone: (931) 647-5237
Website: https://www.sitesvisionclinic.com
Services: eye and vision exams, contact lens exams and fittings including bifocal, toric, and specialty lenses, dry eye treatment, glaucoma care, diabetic eye disease management, pediatric eye exams, sports vision, myopia control, eyeglasses and sunglasses
Description: Sites Vision Clinic is an optometry practice on North Riverside Drive in Clarksville staffed by Dr. Brian R. Murray, O.D., and Dr. Paula Murray, O.D. The practice reports a long history of service in the community, describing more than 70 years of care, and it offers a broad range of services including eye and vision exams, contact lens fittings for bifocal, toric, colored, and hard-to-fit cases, dry eye treatment, glaucoma care, diabetic eye disease management, pediatric exams, sports vision services, and myopia control, along with a full optical for eyeglasses and sunglasses. The practice provides LASIK referrals and treats common eye disorders such as conjunctivitis and refractive errors, supported by diagnostic equipment used during exams.

2. Sango Eye Care

Address: 2699 Townsend Court, Clarksville, TN 37043
Phone: (931) 647-8417
Website: https://visionsource-sangoeyecare.com
Services: comprehensive vision examinations, diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, eye condition management, lenses and frames, contact lenses, vision correction products
Description: Sango Eye Care is a Vision Source member optometry practice on Townsend Court in the Sango area of Clarksville, and it reports having served the community since 1973, making it one of the longer-established eye-care practices in the area. The practice offers comprehensive vision examinations, diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and conditions, contact lenses, and a full selection of lenses and frames, along with vision correction products. It draws on advanced diagnostic technology during exams and maintains extended weekday hours, including an early opening on Mondays, to accommodate patient schedules.

3. Carla L. Jones, O.D.

Address: 1680 Fort Campbell Boulevard, Clarksville, TN 37042
Phone: (931) 645-5851
Website: https://www.carlajonesod.com
Services: complete eye exams, adult and pediatric eye care, contact lens fitting, dry eye treatment, glaucoma testing and treatment, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy management, cataract surgery co-management
Description: Carla L. Jones, O.D., is an optometry practice on Fort Campbell Boulevard in Clarksville established in 1998 and led by Dr. Carla L. Jones, a Doctor of Optometry. The practice reports more than 20 years of serving Clarksville families and provides complete eye exams, adult and pediatric eye care for patients ages three and up, contact lens fitting, dry eye treatment, glaucoma testing and treatment, and management of macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, along with cataract surgery co-management. The practice operates from a location inside Walmart in Clarksville for convenient access and accepts most insurance plans as well as major payment methods including CareCredit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Optometrist in Clarksville

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

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 Clarksville optometry practices coordinate referrals to ophthalmologists when a patient needs surgical care.

Q: How do I verify that a Clarksville 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 Clarksville 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 Clarksville 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 Clarksville?

Tennessee charges a 7% state sales tax, and Montgomery County adds a local option tax that brings the combined rate to roughly 9.5% 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 Clarksville 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.