Eye care that

You can see

Baptist Eye Surgeons has been serving the Knoxville community for 40 years. We offer a wide range of medical and surgical eye care aimed at preserving or restoring the gift of sight. Our commitment to excellence in medical care is for every patient—from a routine eye exam to diagnosis, treatment, management or surgical intervention for eye disease.

Our Locations

Our Specialties

Cataracts

What is a Cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s crystalline lens, which is just behind the pupil and works with the cornea to focus light on the retina. Any clouding of the lens is a cataract whether there has been a significant reduction vision or not. The most common symptoms of cataracts are blurring and dimming of vision. Patients often describe a film over their vision or worsening vision with bright lights.

Cornea

What Are Cornea Diseases?

The transparent part of the eye at the front, which covers the iris and pupil is the cornea. Its primary purpose is to refract light and, while its focus is fixed, it contributes approximately two-thirds of the eye’s total focusing power. It consists of three layers:
  • 1 The stroma, which makes up most of the cornea
  • 2 The epithelium, which is several layers of cells covering the exterior of the stroma
  • 3 The endothelium, which is a single layer of cells lining the interior of the stroma

Cosmetic Eye Surgery

What if you could turn back time to a younger looking you? You may be surprised by how today’s advanced surgical and non-surgical cosmetic facial procedures can effectively restore a natural-looking, more youthful appearance. Dr. Andrew Anzeljc has the experience and expertise to help you reduce the telltale signs of aging, rejuvenating both your eyes, face, and your spirit.

Diabetic

Diabetic eye disease is the most common cause of blindness in the US

Diabetes is an increasingly common disease in the United States and, due to the damage to blood vessels caused by high blood sugar levels, it has serious consequences for your vision. When the condition is caught early and treated properly, vision loss from diabetic eye disease, which is a leading cause of blindness in the US, is often preventable. This is why regular comprehensive exams are recommended for all diabetics.

Dry Eye Syndrome

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, when eyes don’t naturally produce enough or the right kind of tears, it’s a condition known as dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome is a common problem for many patients, but our surgeons are trained and equipped to work with you to understand and treat your individual case.

Exams

The Importance of Routine Eye Examinations

Unfortunately, regular eye examinations are often overlooked until our eyes hurt or our vision becomes blurry or we have some other issue. Even if your vision is perfectly fine, routine eye examinations are vitally important as they are often the only way to detect many of the worst eye diseases before they have robbed you of your sight.

Eyelids

Our skilled surgeons specialize in treatment of medical and cosmetic eyelid disorders. Whether due to a congenital abnormality or a desire to improve the appearance of the eyelids or brows, there are numerous surgical procedures to correct many common eyelid disorders. Some of the most common eyelid disorders include:

  • 1 Eyelid and orbital trauma
  • 2 Congenital abnormalities
  • 3 Ptosis – droopy eyelids are called ptosis, which is when the upper eyelid falls to a position that is lower than normal potentially covering part of the pupil and interfering with vision.
  • 4 Cancerous tissues around the eye

Surgery

If you are diagnosed with a condition and surgery is recommended, your doctor or doctor’s assistant will tell you about the specific procedure and what to expect as well as any possible complications or side effects. While your specific case may differ, most surgical and diagnostic procedures require no hospitalization and are done on an outpatient basis and allow patients to go home the same day of the procedure.

Glaucoma

Understanding Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a disease that causes damage to the optic nerve over time.  The optic nerve is the cable that connects the eyeball to the brain.  It is commonly associated with high pressure in the eye, but that is not always the case.

Infection

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, eye infections requiring a trip to the doctor or hospital affect almost a million people each year. Improper use and care of contact lenses play a significant role in many of these infections. Eye infections can be caused by many of the same bacteria and viruses that affect other parts of your body. With proper treatment, many common eye infections do not generally cause any lasting damage to your vision.

LASIK

Why LASIK?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to no longer need to wear glasses or contacts after you’ve relied on them for years? If so, you’ll be pleased to know you could be the perfect candidate for LASIK eye surgery. LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted Stromal In-situ Keratomileusis, which is the most common type of refractive eye surgery. The procedure is a corrective eye surgery that corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by reshaping your cornea to improve its focus. While reshaping your cornea sounds complex, the procedure is typically performed in about 20 minutes.

Reconstructive

When Is Reconstructive Surgery Needed?

When there are problems with the eyelids, tear ducts, and the eye socket, or orbit, reconstructive surgery may be necessary to restore proper function and vision. Dr. Anzeljc, our specialized oculoplastic surgeon, is extensively trained in surgical procedures to address anything around, but not within, the eye in these cases.

Oculoplastic surgeries correct issues outside of the eye, which might involve functional problems with the upper or lower eyelids, blocked or excessive tearing, tumors, lacerations, or damaged eye sockets, or orbits. The reconstructive procedures Dr. Anzeljc performs are targeted to helping people have fully functional eyes, resulting in improved vision and quality of life.

Retina

One of the most common causes for loss of central vision in individuals over the age of 45 is macular degeneration. This age-related condition affects the retina. The retina is a layer of nerve cells that line the back wall of your eye sensing light and sending signals to your brain.

Testimonials

Request an Appointment with One of Our Specialists

The first step on the path to clearer vision is only a click away. Request your appointment with Baptist Eye Surgeons today!