Optometry Services: An Overview
Optometry is a healthcare profession focused on examining the eyes and visual system, diagnosing vision problems and eye diseases, and prescribing corrective lenses or treatments. Optometrists (Doctors of Optometry, O.D.) provide comprehensive eye care ranging from routine vision exams to the diagnosis and management of conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease.
Types of Eye Care Services
Optometry practices offer a variety of services to address different vision and eye health needs:
Comprehensive Eye Exams: Complete evaluation of vision, eye health, and screening for eye diseases. Recommended annually for most adults.
Contact Lens Fittings: Specialized exams to measure the eye and determine the best contact lens type, including daily disposables, toric lenses for astigmatism, and multifocal lenses.
Medical Eye Care: Diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions such as dry eye disease, glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and eye infections.
Specialty Services: Scleral lens fittings for keratoconus, orthokeratology (Ortho-K) for myopia management, vision therapy, and low vision rehabilitation.
Eyewear Services: Prescription eyeglasses, designer frames, sunglasses, and sports eyewear.
Top 3 Optometry Practices in Nashville, TN
1. Optique Nashville
Best For: Specialty contact lenses (scleral lenses), dry eye treatment, keratoconus care, and designer eyewear.
Overview: Optique is an award-winning optometry practice located on West End Avenue in Nashville’s Park Place Shopping Center. The practice is led by Drs. Jeffrey and Michele Sonsino, nationally recognized experts in optometry. Dr. Jeffrey Sonsino is a diplomate in Cornea, Contact Lenses, and Refractive Technology and won the 2023 AOA President’s Award and 2024 Luminary Award. Dr. Michele Sonsino placed in Best Optometrist 2025.
Services:
- Comprehensive eye examinations
- Contact lens fittings (including specialty lenses)
- Scleral lens clinic for keratoconus and irregular corneas
- Dry eye disease diagnosis and treatment
- Glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataract screening
- Designer eyewear (largest selection in Nashville)
- Retinal imaging
Specialties: Keratoconus, scleral lenses, dry eye disease, complex contact lens prescriptions.
Insurance: Accepts EyeMed Vision Care, VSP, and many other insurance plans.
Location: 2817 West End Avenue, Suite 117, Nashville, TN 37203 (Midtown/Vanderbilt area)
Contact: (615) 321-4393 | optiquenashville.com
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
2. Green Hills Eyecare
Best For: Family eye care, routine exams, medical eye care, and personalized service in the Green Hills area.
Overview: Green Hills Eyecare is a trusted optometry practice serving the Green Hills community of Nashville. The practice features multiple optometrists, including Dr. Jessica Durham, Dr. Amy Waymire, Dr. Kaley Ferro, and others. They emphasize thorough examinations, clear communication, and a welcoming environment.
Services:
- Comprehensive vision and medical eye exams
- Contact lens fittings and evaluations
- Daily disposable, toric, color-enhancing, and multifocal specialty contact lenses
- Diagnosis and management of eye diseases
- Retinal imaging
- Designer frames and eyewear fittings
Patient Experience: Known for minimal wait times, thorough explanations of test results, and a clean, distanced office environment.
Insurance: Accepts most vision and medical insurance plans.
Location: 4301 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 330, Nashville, TN 37215 (Green Hills area)
Contact: (615) 297-7547 | greenhillseyecare.com
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM; Friday, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM; Closed Saturday and Sunday
3. Nashville Eye Group
Best For: Family eye care, all ages from infants to seniors, myopia management, and digital eye strain solutions.
Overview: Nashville Eye Group is a full-service optometry practice located on Edmondson Pike in South Nashville. With over 60 years of combined optometric experience between Dr. C. Wade Hyatt III, Dr. Dale Martin, and Dr. Marianne Johnson, the practice is committed to using the latest technology and treating patients like family.
Services:
- Comprehensive eye examinations for all ages
- Glasses and designer frame selection (Coach, Gucci, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Nike, Ray-Ban, and more)
- Contact lens fittings and evaluations
- Diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases (macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts)
- Ortho-K (orthokeratology) for myopia management
- Digital eye strain solutions for computer users
- Same-day urgent eye care appointments
Specialties: Binocular vision dysfunction (BVD), myopia management, pediatric eye care.
Patient Experience: Known for personable service, minimal wait times, thorough examinations, and reasonable costs.
Location: 5429 Edmondson Pike, Nashville, TN 37211
Contact: (615) 331-8688 | nashvilleeyegroup.com
Hours: Monday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Tuesday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM; Wednesday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Friday, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM; Closed Saturday and Sunday
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How often should I have a comprehensive eye exam?
The American Optometric Association recommends adults aged 18 to 64 have a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years, and annually after age 65. Children should have their first eye exam at 6 months, again at age 3, before starting school, and then annually. People with diabetes, a family history of eye disease, or existing vision problems should have annual exams. Contact lens wearers typically need annual exams to renew their prescriptions.
2. What is the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist?
An optometrist (O.D.) is a Doctor of Optometry who provides primary eye care, including comprehensive eye exams, prescribing glasses and contacts, diagnosing eye diseases, and treating many eye conditions with medication. An ophthalmologist (M.D. or D.O.) is a medical doctor who specializes in eye and vision care, including eye surgery (cataract surgery, LASIK, retinal surgery). For routine eye care and most eye conditions, an optometrist is appropriate. For surgical needs or complex medical conditions, you may be referred to an ophthalmologist.
3. Are eye exams covered by insurance?
Coverage depends on your specific insurance plan. Vision insurance plans (like VSP or EyeMed) typically cover routine eye exams, with copays ranging from $0 to $25. Medical insurance (like BlueCross BlueShield or Aetna) may cover eye exams when related to a medical condition (dry eye, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease). Many Nashville optometry practices accept both vision and medical insurance. Contact your insurance provider or the eye care office to verify coverage.
4. What should I expect during a contact lens fitting?
A contact lens fitting includes all the tests of a comprehensive eye exam plus additional measurements specific to contact lenses. The optometrist will measure the curvature of your cornea, the diameter of your cornea and pupils, and evaluate your tear film to ensure your eyes stay moist. You will try trial lenses to test comfort and vision. First-time wearers receive training on how to insert, remove, clean, and store lenses safely. Contact lens fittings are typically billed separately from routine eye exams due to the additional time and expertise required.
5. What are scleral lenses and who needs them?
Scleral lenses are large-diameter rigid gas permeable contact lenses that vault over the entire corneal surface and rest on the white part of the eye (the sclera). They are used for patients with keratoconus, irregular corneas, severe dry eye, and other conditions that make regular contact lenses uncomfortable or ineffective. Because scleral lenses create a tear-filled reservoir over the cornea, they provide exceptional comfort for dry eye sufferers and clear vision for those with corneal irregularities. Fitting scleral lenses requires specialized expertise, and practices like Optique Nashville specialize in these advanced fittings.