Optometrist in Memphis

June 14, 2026

Few cities are as closely tied to the optometry profession as Memphis, home of the Southern College of Optometry, a teaching institution that has trained optometrists in the city since 1932. Generations of graduates have stayed to practice locally, leaving Memphis with an unusually deep bench of eye doctors across independent neighborhood clinics and larger group practices. With a population near 618,980 by recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates, Tennessee’s second-largest city pairs that supply with steady, year-round demand for vision care.

Patients across Shelby County rely on these doctors for the everyday backbone of eye health. An optometrist holds the Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree and is trained to perform comprehensive exams, prescribe glasses and contact lenses, and diagnose and manage conditions such as dry eye, glaucoma, and diabetic eye disease. The title is distinct from an ophthalmologist, a physician (M.D. or D.O.) who operates on the eye, and from an optician, who fits and dispenses eyewear from a prescription but does not examine patients. Returning to one Memphis O.D. builds a long-term record of a patient’s vision and a reliable referral when a condition calls for surgical or specialist hands.

The state holds these doctors to a defined standard. Tennessee’s optometrists are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Optometry, created by the legislature in 1925 and now housed within the Tennessee Department of Health. Licensure requires an accredited doctoral degree, passing scores on national and state examinations, and 40 hours of continuing education during every two-year renewal period, with diagnostic and therapeutic certification authorizing the use of pharmaceutical agents within the board’s scope. Anyone can verify an O.D.’s active status through the Department of Health’s online license-verification tool before the first visit.

Services at a Memphis practice run from routine to medical: acuity and refraction testing, full eye-health evaluations, contact lens fittings that handle astigmatism and keratoconus as well as standard prescriptions, dry eye treatment, glaucoma monitoring, diabetic eye exams, pediatric care, and childhood myopia management, usually alongside an in-house optical. Cost and tax work differently for each part of a visit, since Tennessee treats the exam as a professional service while taxing eyewear as a retail purchase; asking for an itemized receipt keeps the two clear. If a billing dispute arises, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs enforces the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), while complaints about clinical 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 own eye health.

Top Optometrist Providers in Memphis

1. East Memphis Optometry

Address: 5182 Sanderlin Ave, Suite 5, Memphis, TN 38117
Phone: (901) 683-4529
Website: https://www.eastmemphisoptometry.com
Services: routine and comprehensive eye exams, contact lens exams and fittings including hard-to-fit lenses, dry eye treatment, glaucoma treatment, diabetic eye exams, pediatric eye exams, myopia management, eye surgery co-management, eyeglasses and custom eyewear
Description: East Memphis Optometry is an independent, locally owned practice in the Racquet Club Plaza on Sanderlin Avenue in East Memphis, led by Landon Wallace, O.D. Dr. Wallace is an optometric physician certified in ocular surface disease, pharmacology, and injections, and the practice places particular emphasis on dry eye and meibomian gland disease, offering treatments such as OptiLight IPL, OptiLift, low-level light therapy, and TempSure Envi. Beyond its dry eye focus, the practice provides comprehensive and routine exams, contact lens fittings including hard-to-fit cases, glaucoma treatment, diabetic eye exams, pediatric exams, and eye surgery co-management, supported by a team that includes optical and clinical staff.

2. Midtown Eye Care

Address: 1378 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
Phone: (901) 725-3937
Website: https://visionsource-midtowneye.com
Services: comprehensive vision exams, eye disease diagnosis and treatment, contact lenses, eyeglasses and frames, vision correction products
Description: Midtown Eye Care is a Vision Source member practice on Union Avenue in Midtown Memphis, established in 2003. The practice is staffed by Dr. Jared Powelson, O.D., a Memphis native who graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin and the Southern College of Optometry and has served as an associate professor there, and Dr. Michael Gerstner, O.D., who completed residency training in ocular disease and refractive surgery and serves as Chief of Advanced Care Ocular Disease at the Southern College of Optometry. The practice offers comprehensive vision exams, diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and conditions, contact lenses, and a full optical, and it draws on advanced diagnostic technology for patient care.

3. Optometry Group, PLLC

Address: 3445 Poplar Avenue, Suite 7, Memphis, TN 38111
Phone: (901) 458-2020
Website: https://www.optometrygroup.net
Services: comprehensive eye exams, contact lens fittings and specialty contact lens fittings, emergency eye care, eyeglasses and designer frames, optical services
Description: Optometry Group, PLLC is a family-owned optometry practice on Poplar Avenue in Memphis. The practice is staffed by Dr. Caitlyn Moore, O.D., and Dr. Gary Nance, O.D., and it provides comprehensive eye exams, contact lens fittings including specialty lenses, emergency eye care, and a full optical with an extensive inventory of eyeglasses and designer frames. The practice uses Optos retinal imaging in its exams, which supports screening for conditions affecting the retina, and it maintains Saturday hours for added scheduling flexibility. Its stated focus areas include blue-light concerns, myopia, glaucoma, and the detection of signs of systemic conditions through the eye.

Frequently Asked Questions About Optometrist in Memphis

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

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

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

Tennessee charges a 7% state sales tax, and Shelby County adds a local option tax that brings the combined rate to roughly 9.75% 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 Memphis 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.