Eye Care Center in Knoxville

June 15, 2026

The phrase comprehensive eye care center describes a practice that gathers several eye-care disciplines in one place, which is the practical difference between it and a standalone optical shop or a single-provider exam office. Such a center typically pairs routine vision care with medical treatment for conditions like glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and macular degeneration, and adds surgical capability for cataracts, refractive correction, and related procedures, often with an optical dispensary attached. Knoxville is a natural setting for practices of this breadth. As the seat of Knox County and the center of the Great Valley of East Tennessee, the city has long functioned as the region’s medical anchor, with the University of Tennessee’s flagship campus among the institutions that give it a deep clinical bench. This article is informational and is not medical advice.

The city’s population sits at roughly 195,185 in recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates, but its eye care demand reflects a much wider catchment, since patients travel in from the surrounding counties for specialized services they cannot find closer to home. That demand has a demographic engine behind it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention names cataract as one of the leading causes of vision loss nationally and stresses that diabetic eye disease needs regular dilated screening, and both conditions become more frequent with age, so a regional hub serving an aging population tends to see steady, year-round need for everything from basic exams to outpatient surgery.

Tennessee regulates the people who deliver this care along two separate tracks. Optometrists hold the Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree, complete an accredited doctoral program, and satisfy the examination and continuing-education standards of the Tennessee Board of Optometry, which the legislature created in 1925; they handle exams, prescriptions, and the diagnosis and management of many eye conditions. Ophthalmologists are physicians who finish medical school, an ophthalmology residency, and often a subspecialty fellowship in cornea, retina, glaucoma, or refractive surgery, and they are licensed through the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners. Both boards fall under the Tennessee Department of Health, whose verification system lets a patient confirm that an O.D. or M.D. is actively licensed; the department also licenses and inspects the ambulatory surgery centers, frequently Medicare-certified and accredited, where outpatient eye operations are carried out.

Within a Knoxville center, the clinical range runs from the routine to the highly specialized. Comprehensive exams evaluate visual acuity, refraction, and eye health; medical eye care covers glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and dry eye; cataract surgery substitutes an intraocular lens for the clouded natural one, increasingly with laser assistance and premium lens options; and LASIK, PRK, SMILE, and implantable lenses provide refractive correction for those who qualify, with specialty contact lens fitting and optical services often available as well. The same consumer safeguards that govern other Tennessee businesses apply here: the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs enforces the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104) against deceptive practices, while questions about a provider’s professional conduct go to the Department of Health through its Health Related Boards complaint process. Patients should consult a licensed eye care provider about their individual eye health.

Top Eye Care Center Providers in Knoxville

1. Campbell Cunningham Taylor & Haun

Address: 1124 East Weisgarber Road, Suite 106, Knoxville, TN 37909
Phone: (865) 584-0905
Website: https://ccteyes.com
Services: comprehensive eye exams, medical eye care, cataract surgery, LASIK and refractive surgery, cornea care, glaucoma treatment, retina services, eyelid surgery, optical and contact lenses, myopia management
Description: Drs. Campbell, Cunningham, Taylor & Haun is a comprehensive eye care practice established in 1952 that brings together fellowship-trained ophthalmologists and optometrists. The practice operates a network of offices across East Tennessee, including its main office on East Weisgarber Road and a Farragut office on Kingston Pike, along with affiliated EyeCare Optical and Andes EyeCare Optical locations in Knoxville and additional offices in surrounding communities such as Maryville, Sevierville, Powell, and Newport. Services span routine exams, cataract surgery, LASIK and refractive surgery through its Campbell Cunningham Laser Center, cornea and glaucoma care, retina services including treatment for macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, eyelid surgery, and a full optical operation. The combination of medical, surgical, and optical care across multiple locations makes it one of the region’s broadest eye care organizations.

2. University Eye Specialists

Address: 200 Fort Sanders West Boulevard, Suite 101, Knoxville, TN 37922
Phone: (865) 244-2020
Website: https://www.universityeye.com
Services: comprehensive eye exams, medical eye care, cataract surgery, LASIK and refractive surgery, cornea care, glaucoma treatment, oculoplastics, optical and contact lenses
Description: University Eye Specialists is a comprehensive ophthalmology and optometry practice with roots dating to 1935, making it one of the longest-serving eye care providers in East Tennessee. The practice maintains several locations across the region, including its Fort Sanders West office, a Hardin Valley office, and offices at UT Medical Center, along with locations in Maryville, Morristown, and Sevierville. Its physician and provider team includes ophthalmologists such as Dr. James T. Doss Jr., Dr. Julie R. Durand, Dr. Paul D. Froula, Dr. Justin T. Gagel, and Dr. David J. Harris Jr., all M.D.s, along with optometrists including Dr. Jeremy C. Caylor, Dr. Gerald P. Lubert, and Dr. Jennifer G. Maples, all O.D.s. The group provides routine eye care, cataract surgery, LASIK and refractive surgery, cornea and glaucoma care, oculoplastics, and a full optical, coordinating its surgical cases through dedicated surgery facilities in the area.

3. Tennessee Valley Eye Center

Address: 160 Capital Drive, Knoxville, TN 37922
Phone: (865) 251-0338
Website: https://www.tveyecenter.com
Services: cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, cornea surgery, oculoplastic surgery, strabismus surgery, retina surgery, optical
Description: Tennessee Valley Eye Center is a dedicated eye surgery facility in West Knoxville built specifically for outpatient ophthalmic surgery. The center provides cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, cornea surgery, oculoplastic surgery, strabismus surgery, and retina surgery in surgical suites designed exclusively for eye procedures, and area ophthalmologists perform a high volume of operations at the facility. As a surgery-focused center, it complements the comprehensive clinics in the area by concentrating on the surgical side of eye care, with patients typically referred for surgery by their examining ophthalmologist and returning home the same day. The facility also offers optical services for patients who need eyewear after procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions About Eye Care Center in Knoxville

Q: What is the difference between the optometrists and ophthalmologists at a Knoxville eye care center?

An optometrist is a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) licensed by the Tennessee Board of Optometry to perform eye exams, prescribe glasses and contacts, and diagnose and manage many eye conditions. An ophthalmologist is a physician (M.D. or D.O.) licensed by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners who can also perform eye surgery, including cataract, cornea, glaucoma, and refractive procedures. Comprehensive eye care centers often employ both so that routine care and surgical care can be coordinated within one practice.

Q: How do I verify that a Knoxville eye care provider is licensed in Tennessee?

Both the Tennessee Board of Optometry and the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners operate under the Tennessee Department of Health, which maintains an online license-verification system. You can confirm that an optometrist or ophthalmologist holds an active license before scheduling care. The Department of Health also licenses and inspects ambulatory surgery centers where outpatient eye surgery is performed.

Q: What services should I expect at a comprehensive eye care center?

A comprehensive center typically offers routine eye exams and refraction, medical eye care for conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and macular degeneration, cataract surgery, LASIK and other refractive procedures, dry eye treatment, and an optical shop. Some centers add subspecialty surgery such as cornea, retina, or oculoplastics. The exact mix varies by practice, so it helps to confirm which services are offered on site before scheduling.

Q: Is sales tax charged on glasses and contact lenses purchased at a Knoxville eye care center?

Tennessee charges a 7% state sales tax, and Knox 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 an eye exam or a surgical procedure are treated differently from retail eyewear, so patients should ask for an itemized receipt that separates the exam, materials, and any applicable tax.

Q: Where is cataract or LASIK surgery performed, and is it an overnight stay?

Cataract and LASIK procedures are typically performed on an outpatient basis at an ambulatory surgery center, with the patient going home the same day. In the Knoxville area, some practices operate or use dedicated eye surgery centers built specifically for ophthalmic procedures. These facilities are licensed by the Tennessee Department of Health and are frequently Medicare-certified and accredited, so patients should ask where surgery will take place and what accreditation the facility holds.

Q: How do I file a complaint about a Knoxville eye care center?

Complaints about a licensed optometrist’s or ophthalmologist’s professional conduct or care can be filed with the Tennessee Department of Health through its Health Related Boards complaint process, which covers the Board of Optometry and the Board of Medical Examiners. 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, surgical consents, and payments helps support any complaint.