Optometrist in Nashville

June 14, 2026

As Tennessee’s capital and most populous city, with about 715,388 residents according to recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates, Nashville supports one of the broadest eye-care markets in the state. Davidson County patients can choose among independent neighborhood optometry offices, hospital-affiliated clinics, and optical retailers, and that range gives most households a primary eye-care provider within a short drive. For a metro adding new residents each year, the everyday work of vision care stays in steady demand across children, working adults, and older patients alike.

The professional at the center of that care is the optometrist, who holds a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree. An optometrist examines the eyes, measures refraction, prescribes glasses and contact lenses, and diagnoses and manages conditions ranging from dry eye to glaucoma and diabetic eye disease. This role sits between two others patients often confuse with it: the ophthalmologist, a physician (M.D. or D.O.) who performs eye surgery, and the optician, who fills a prescription and fits eyewear without examining the eyes. Seeing the same Nashville O.D. over time means a record of how a patient’s vision changes and a clear path to referral when surgery or subspecialty care becomes necessary.

In Tennessee, optometry is a licensed profession overseen by the Tennessee Board of Optometry, a body the legislature established in 1925 and that now sits within the Tennessee Department of Health. To earn and keep a license, an optometrist completes an accredited doctoral program, passes national and state examinations, and finishes 40 hours of continuing education in each two-year renewal cycle. Doctors who carry diagnostic and therapeutic certification may use pharmaceutical agents to treat eye conditions within the board’s defined scope. Before booking an appointment, a Nashville patient can look up any O.D. in the Department of Health’s license-verification system to confirm the license is active.

A typical Nashville practice covers both routine and medical eye care: comprehensive exams that test acuity, refraction, and eye health, plus contact lens fittings for standard prescriptions and harder cases such as astigmatism and keratoconus, along with dry eye therapy, glaucoma monitoring, diabetic eye exams, pediatric care, and myopia management for children. Most offices also dispense eyewear on site, and here a useful distinction applies under Tennessee law. The eye exam is a professional service, while glasses and contact lenses are taxable retail goods, so an itemized receipt should separate the two. Consumer matters such as deceptive business practices fall to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), whereas concerns about an optometrist’s professional conduct go to the Department of Health through its Health Related Boards complaint process. This article is informational and is not medical advice; consult a licensed optometrist about your individual eye health.

Top Optometrist Providers in Nashville

1. Nashville Eye Group

Address: 5429 Edmondson Pike, Nashville, TN 37211
Phone: (615) 331-8688
Website: https://www.nashvilleeyegroup.com
Services: comprehensive eye exams, routine wellness exams, glaucoma testing and treatment, macular degeneration testing, cataract testing, diabetic eye disease testing, contact lenses, myopia management, ortho-K corneal reshaping, computer vision solutions, glasses and sunglasses
Description: Nashville Eye Group is an optometry practice on Edmondson Pike in south Nashville. The practice traces to Dr. C. Wade Hyatt III, O.D., who entered private practice in Nashville in 1993 after relocating from Orlando and completing a residency in complex medical and surgical eye care; he partnered with Dr. Beem in 2002 to form Nashville Eye Group. Dr. Hyatt holds a Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Alabama School of Optometry, and his clinical interests include glaucoma, dry eye disease, and scleral and specialty contact lenses. The practice lists multiple doctors on its team and reports decades of combined experience. It offers same-day urgent eye care and uses diagnostic technology aimed at making exams faster and more thorough.

2. Ducklo Eye Group

Address: 2126 Abbott Martin Road, Suite 190, Nashville, TN 37215
Phone: (615) 269-3500
Website: https://www.duckloeyegroup.com
Services: comprehensive eye exams, contact lens exams, specialty contact lenses, dry eye treatment, diabetic-related eye exams, myopia management
Description: Ducklo Eye Group is a Nashville optometry practice located in the Green Hills area at Abbott Martin Road, inside the LensCrafters at that address. The practice provides comprehensive eye exams, contact lens exams including specialty lenses, dry eye treatment, diabetic-related eye exams, and myopia management. Its team of optometrists includes Dr. James Ducklo along with additional doctors who see patients across an extended weekly schedule that includes weekend hours. The practice accepts a range of vision and medical insurance plans, including EyeMed, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Davis Vision, and Medicare, and frames its mission around helping patients see clearly and confidently.

3. Elite Eyecare

Address: 5300 Centennial Blvd, Suite 107, Nashville, TN 37209
Phone: (615) 249-4926
Website: https://www.eliteeyecarenashville.com
Services: comprehensive eye exams, contact lens fittings and training, dry eye treatment, vision screenings, eyewear and same-day glasses, drivers license renewal eye exams, cataract and LASIK co-management referrals
Description: Elite Eyecare is an optometry practice in the Centennial area of west Nashville led by Dr. Nathan Lipe, O.D., its chief optometrist. The practice offers comprehensive eye exams, contact lens fittings and training, vision screenings, and an optical with same-day glasses available. For dry eye, it provides intense pulsed light and radiofrequency therapy through the Envision by InMode system, and it offers myopia-control options including the Essilor Stellest lens and multifocal contact lenses. The optical carries a broad selection of frame brands, among them Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol, Prada, Versace, and Costa, and the practice coordinates referrals for cataract surgery and LASIK when those procedures are appropriate.

Frequently Asked Questions About Optometrist in Nashville

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

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

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

Tennessee charges a 7% state sales tax, and Davidson 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 Nashville 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.