Optometrist in Knoxville

June 14, 2026

A routine visit to a Knoxville optometrist usually starts with the same essentials: a check of visual acuity, a refraction to refine a glasses or contact lens prescription, and an examination of overall eye health. From there, many local offices extend into medical care, including dry eye treatment, glaucoma monitoring, diabetic eye exams, pediatric vision care, and myopia management for children, and most keep an optical on site for frames and lenses. Contact lens fittings cover both standard prescriptions and trickier cases such as astigmatism and keratoconus, so a single practice can often handle the full range of a household’s vision needs.

That range matters in a city like Knoxville, which has roughly 195,185 residents by recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates and anchors East Tennessee from its perch around the University of Tennessee’s flagship campus. A large student body sits alongside long-settled families, working professionals, and retirees, producing steady year-round demand and a mix of eye-care providers that includes long-established independent practices and multi-office groups. Eye-health needs also follow broader patterns, since conditions such as diabetes call for regular dilated exams to screen for retinopathy, one reason periodic comprehensive exams remain a baseline of care.

It helps to know exactly which professional is providing that care. An optometrist earns the Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree and handles exams, prescriptions, and the diagnosis and management of many eye conditions. That is a different role from the ophthalmologist, a physician (M.D. or D.O.) who performs eye surgery, and from the optician, who fits eyewear from a prescription but does not examine the eyes. Staying with one Knoxville O.D. over the years gives a patient continuity of record and a direct referral channel whenever surgical or specialist care is warranted.

Tennessee regulates the profession through the Tennessee Board of Optometry, which the legislature created in 1925 and which operates under the Tennessee Department of Health. Optometrists must finish an accredited doctoral program, pass national and state exams, and complete 40 hours of continuing education in each two-year renewal cycle, and those with diagnostic and therapeutic certification may prescribe pharmaceutical agents within the board’s scope; the department’s license-verification system lets patients confirm an active license before scheduling. One practical note on cost: the exam is a professional service under state law, while glasses and contact lenses are taxable retail goods, so an itemized receipt should separate them. Billing or deceptive-practice complaints go to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), and concerns about clinical conduct go to the Department of Health’s 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 Knoxville

1. EyeXcel

Address: 10252 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville, TN 37932
Phone: (865) 243-8260
Website: https://www.eyexceltn.com
Services: comprehensive eye exams, pediatric eye exams, contact lens fittings including multifocal, scleral, and orthokeratology, dry eye evaluations and treatment, glaucoma management, diabetic eye exams, vision therapy and sports vision therapy, low vision care, myopia management, optical and eyewear
Description: EyeXcel is an optometry practice in the Hardin Valley area of Knoxville staffed by Dr. Bruce D. Gilliland and Dr. Shane P. Mulvihill, both optometric physicians. Dr. Gilliland focuses on low vision and vision rehabilitation, and Dr. Mulvihill focuses on pediatric and sports vision, giving the practice a notably broad scope that includes vision therapy, sports vision therapy, low vision care, and concussion-related vision evaluations alongside routine and medical eye care. The practice offers comprehensive and pediatric exams, contact lens fittings including multifocal, scleral, and orthokeratology designs, dry eye evaluations and treatment, glaucoma management, diabetic eye exams, and myopia management using options such as Stellest lenses. Its optical carries frame brands including Ray-Ban, Nike Vision, Oakley, Silhouette, and Kate Spade, and the practice operates from a single Knoxville location.

2. Eyes On Knoxville

Address: 5113 Clinton Highway, Knoxville, TN 37912
Phone: (865) 409-2242
Website: https://www.eyesonknoxville.com
Services: comprehensive eye exams, comprehensive medical eye exams, contact lenses, dry eye treatment, LASIK co-management, emergency eye care, optical boutique
Description: Eyes On Knoxville is a family optometry practice on Clinton Highway in north Knoxville led by Dr. Karin Moore, O.D., who graduated near the top of her class from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis. The practice offers comprehensive eye exams, comprehensive medical eye exams, contact lens services, dry eye treatment, LASIK co-management, and emergency eye care, paired with an in-house optical boutique for frames and lenses. It uses optical coherence tomography and other diagnostic technology to evaluate ocular health, and it operates from a single Knoxville location with weekday hours and Saturday visits available by appointment.

3. Premier Eyecare

Address: 11111 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37934
Phone: (865) 966-0100
Website: https://www.premier-eyecare.net
Services: comprehensive eye exams, contact lens fittings including scleral, hybrid, and keratoconus lenses, myopia management, dry eye services, glaucoma and cataract diagnosis, computer vision testing, LASIK
Description: Premier Eyecare is an optometry practice on Kingston Pike in the Farragut area of West Knoxville, staffed by Dr. Brent Fry and Dr. William Beaty. The practice has a strong focus on specialty contact lenses, including scleral, hybrid, and keratoconus designs, alongside comprehensive eye exams, myopia management, dry eye services, and the diagnosis of glaucoma and cataracts. It is notable for an extensive set of diagnostic instruments, including Zeiss OCT imaging, Optomap retinal imaging, a Zeiss Atlas corneal topographer, an iCare tonometer, the Zeiss IOLMaster and Humphrey Field Analyzer, and color-vision and contrast testing, which supports detailed evaluation and management of complex vision needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Optometrist in Knoxville

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

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

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

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 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 Knoxville 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.