Pediatric Optometrist in Knoxville, TN
Eye exams built for kids — short, playful and thorough — plus glasses they'll actually keep on and care for nearsighted eyes that keep getting worse.
Signs Your Child Needs An Eye Exam
Kids rarely say they can't see — they think everyone sees the way they do. Watch for these.
Squinting Or Head Tilting
Squinting at the TV, tilting the head or covering one eye to read.
Losing Their Place
Skipping lines, using a finger to follow words, or avoiding reading.
An Eye That Wanders
One eye drifting in or out, especially when tired — worth checking early.
Headaches After School
Rubbing eyes, headaches or tiredness after reading and screen work.
Everything Kids' Eyes Need
We see only children, so every chair, chart and conversation is set up for them.
Also: lazy eye and eye turns, kids' contact lenses and school vision concerns.
An Eye Doctor's Office Designed Around Kids
We opened as a kids-only practice because children's eyes are still developing — and the problems that matter most, like a lazy eye or fast-changing nearsightedness, are the ones that respond best when they're caught early.
Everything here is built for small people: short appointments, picture charts for kids who can't read yet, a play corner in the waiting room, and doctors who explain things to your child first and to you second.
- ✓Two optometrists who see only children
- ✓Picture charts for kids who can't read yet
- ✓Appointments paced for short attention spans
Four Easy Steps, About 40 Minutes
Say Hello
Your child meets the team and explores the play corner while you fill in a short form.
Games, Not Tests
Picture charts, 3D glasses and a light show check how both eyes see and work together.
Eye Health Check
A gentle look inside the eyes, sometimes with drops that take about 20 minutes to work.
Your Plan
We explain what we found, in plain words, and what comes next — if anything.
Eye Exams At Every Age
Around 6 To 12 Months
A first check that both eyes are working, focusing and lined up.
At Age 3
Before preschool — the best time to catch a lazy eye or an eye turn.
Before Kindergarten
Making sure your child is ready for letters, numbers and the whiteboard.
Every Year At School Age
Nearsightedness often starts and changes fastest between 6 and 14.
Is Your Child's Prescription Getting Stronger Every Year?
Nearsightedness (myopia) usually starts in childhood and keeps changing until the late teens. Ordinary glasses sharpen vision, but they don't change how fast the eyes are growing.
Myopia control treatments can slow that change. We measure your child's eyes at every visit, explain the options that suit their age and lifestyle, and track the results with you — so you can see whether it's working.
- ✓Special myopia-control glasses lenses
- ✓Soft daily contact lenses designed for kids
- ✓Overnight reshaping lenses
Happy Kids, Relieved Parents
Our daughter was terrified of the eye doctor after a bad visit elsewhere. Here she got stickers, a puppet and a doctor who crouched down to her level. She asks when she can go back.
Our son's prescription was jumping every year. They explained myopia control in plain words, showed us his measurements, and his last two checkups showed much smaller changes.
They found a lazy eye at our toddler's first exam — something none of us had noticed. Patching was easier than we feared because they coached us through every step.
What To Bring To Your Child's Visit
Your insurance card
Most kids' exams are covered by vision or medical plans — we check before the visit.
Their current glasses
Even if they're broken or they've stopped wearing them.
A favorite toy or snack
Comfort helps, especially if we use eye drops.
Notes from school
A failed screening letter or teacher's comments help us know what to look for.
Book Your Child's Eye Exam
Morning and Saturday appointments are the most popular with little ones — tell us what works for your family.
Questions About Kids' Eye Exams
My child can't read yet — can you still check their eyes?
Yes. We use picture charts, lights and simple games, and we can measure a prescription without your child saying a word — even for babies.
They passed the school screening. Do they still need an exam?
A screening checks how clearly a child sees across the room. A full exam also checks focusing, eye teaming and eye health, which affect reading and schoolwork.
Will you use eye drops?
Often, yes — drops relax the focusing muscles so we can measure the true prescription. They sting briefly and can make vision blurry and light-sensitive for a few hours, so bring sunglasses.
What is myopia control and is it right for my child?
It's a group of treatments that can slow how quickly nearsightedness gets worse. Whether it suits your child depends on their age, prescription and habits — we'll talk it through at the exam.
Do you take my insurance?
We accept most vision and medical plans. Some visits, like eye turns or infections, are billed to medical insurance. We'll check your benefits before the appointment.
Can I stay with my child during the exam?
Of course — parents stay in the room for the whole visit.
Let's Look After Those Little Eyes
Tell us your child's age and what you've noticed. We'll call you back within one business day with appointment times.