We offer two convenient locations to serve you. Baptist Eye Surgeons in West Knoxville and Downtown Knoxville are conveniently located to serve our city and the surrounding counties. There you can receive the highest quality of care whether it be for glaucoma treatment, retina problems, or LASIK.

Baptist Eye Surgeons in West Knoxville

Our hours of operation are:

• Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

We are located at:

• 140 Capital Dr, Suite 110 Knoxville, TN 37922

You can contact our office by:

• Phone: (865) 579-3920
• Fax: (865) 579-3963

Baptist Eye Surgeons in Downtown Knoxville

Our hours of operation are:

• Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

We are located at:

• 4528 Chapman Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37920

You can contact our office by:

• Phone: (865) 579-3920
• Fax: (865) 579-3963

REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT

My husband and I have been patients since moving to Knoxville in 2006. We have received such excellent care from several different physicians in the group for various problems.  Each one has been so caring and answered all our concerns, spending as much time with us as we needed. The staff is always professional, friendly and kind. I would give them more than 5 stars, if I could. 

– Mary L.

Meet Our Staff

Our surgical team is here to help you with all of your eye health needs.

• Dr. Andrew Anzeljc
• Dr. Marc Bodenheimer
• Dr. Adam Carrera
• Dr. Janis Holt
• Dr. Charles Lindsey
• Dr. J. Franklin Murchison
• Dr. Paul Benjamin Pruett
• Dr. Darin Smith
• Dr. Erik Sweet

Patient Information Forms

Making the intake process as easy as possible is as important for us as it is for you. To help make this process fast and seamless, we provide all of our important patient information forms online. These can be downloaded, printed, and filled out before your first appointment with us so that there are no surprises. You should also fill them out if it’s been a year since your last visit.

To download, print, and fill out your forms, just click the links below:

• Patient Information Sheet
• HIPAA Consent Form
• Medical History Form
• Notice of Privacy Policies
• Refraction Waver
• Medical Records Release

You can also download all the above forms at once by clicking here.

Billing & Insurance Information

When visiting your ophthalmologist in Knoxville, TN, it’s important that your visit be as comfortable as possible. We know that this depends on more than just our bedside manner, which is why our administrative team is here to answer all your billing and insurance questions.

You can contact our insurance specialist at  865-579-3974 to discuss your:

• Insurance coverage
• Billing
• Financial hardship

It’s important to bring your insurance card every time you come in for an appointment. Medicaid, Medicare, as well as most TennCare and private insurance plans, will cover the majority of your medical treatments.  

You will likely require a referral from your primary care physician if you use private insurance or Tenncare. It’s important that you talk with your insurance provider before your appointment with us to get your referral. Neglecting to do so may result in your appointment being rescheduled if we don’t have a valid referral for your appointment.

There are some out-of-pocket expenses that you will need to pay at the time of your appointment. This may include charges not covered by your insurance, such as:

• Copayments
• Deductibles
• Refraction Fee

We accept most major credit cards including Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express.

Paying Your Bill Online

An online payment option is available to help simplify paying your bill. To pay your bill online, you’ll need to enter your:

• First and last name
• Account number
• Payment information

Click “Continue” and follow the instructions to finish making your payment.

Educational Resources

Just as your eyes aren’t separate from the rest of your body, your eye health isn’t separate from your overall health. In fact, your vision can actually provide clues to other health issues you may not even know about. As ophthalmologists in Knoxville, TN, we want to provide you with educational resources to inform you about conditions and treatments.

We do this in the form of ebooks, videos, and blogs. Our ebooks act as comprehensive guides, answering almost any question you may have about an eye disease or procedure.

To download our ebooks and learn more, click the titles below:

• The Complete Guide to Cataracts: Everything You Need to Know Before, During, and After
• The Complete Guide to Glaucoma
• Your Guide to Cosmetic Eye Procedures for a Younger Looking You

You can also learn more from our extensive video library. Here you can watch interviews with our eye surgeons as they answer questions about a variety of eye health issues and treatments. From LASIK to glaucoma, they’ll keep you up to date on the latest information. You can watch them on our Resources page as well as on our YouTube channel.

We also have an extensive blog library for you to take advantage of. Every month we publish new articles that highlight the latest information on eye care and eye surgery. Whether you want to learn more about cataract surgery or computer glasses, our blogs will likely hold the information that you need.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

The staff was extremely friendly and very polite. They took their time with me and explained exactly what they were doing and why. They set up my surgery to my convenience and scheduled my follow-ups with my regular eye doctor. Rating wise, 5 stars. Thank you so much. 

– Iva K.

Specialties Offered by Your Ophthalmologist in Knoxville, TN

Your ophthalmologist in Knoxville, TN, is equipped and trained to address a broad range of eye issues. From eye exams in Knoxville, TN, to cornea problems, our eye doctors can supply you with treatment to protect or, in some cases, restore your sight. They are skilled at diagnosing your eye problems and creating a plan that will preserve your site for years to come.

Cataracts

The clouding of the eyes is known as cataracts. They occur when the proteins in the eyes begin to break down, usually due to aging, and clump together. The lens helps the cornea focus light on the retina, making it essential for sight. Any clouding of the eye, no matter how small, is considered a cataract. However, they can grow large enough that your vision is impaired.

Symptoms for cataracts include:

• Clouded or blurred vision
• Colors appearing faded
• Reduced night vision
• Light sensitivity
• Double-vision

These symptoms aren’t unique to cataracts and can be found in other eye problems. Your eye doctor can perform an eye exam to determine if you have cataracts and prescribe a treatment plan.

Cataracts grow slowly and go unnoticed for a long time before affecting your vision. Treatments can vary from a new eyewear prescription such as multifocal or advanced toric lenses and eventually to surgery. Fortunately, the latest surgical techniques allow for quicker recovery so you can get back to normal faster than ever before.

Click here to read more on our cataracts services page!

Cornea Problems

Your cornea is made up of three layers at the front of your eye that help you see by refracting and focusing light on your retina. The three layers are known as the:

• Epithelium – cellular layers that cover the exterior of the stroma
• Stroma – the toughest, thickest and central part of the cornea
• Endothelium – the stroma’s interior cellular lining

While it’s not the most complex part of the eye, the cornea can still affect your vision if damaged. This can include diseases such as:

• Trichiasis 
• Keratoconus
• Fuch’s Dystrophy
• Infectious diseases
• Corneal abrasions and erosions

Our eye surgeons can provide you with treatment for whatever cornea problem you may have. What’s important to keep in mind is that a cornea transplant may become necessary in some cases. This can happen when the cornea becomes swollen, misshapen, or scarred causing the loss of clear sight. A transplant can replace this damaged tissue and restore your sight.

To read our cornea problems services page, click here!

Cosmetic Eye Surgery

Over time you may begin to notice that the skin around your eyes doesn’t look the same as it once did. We can help reduce these signs of aging with a number of procedures, including:

• Botox
• Facial fillers
• Brow lifts
• Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty)

Botox and similar injectable procedures can relax your facial muscles without the need for surgery. This helps reduce the appearance of furrows, wrinkles, and fine lines around your eyes and on your forehead. With facial fillers such as Juvéderm, Restylane, and Belotero, we can fill in the sunken areas of your skin to reduce the signs of aging.

Brow lifts provide a more youthful appearance by raising your eyebrows to smooth the skin on your forehead. They may also be used with eyelid surgery to remove severely drooping eyelids that reduce your vision. Eyelid surgery is used to improve the appearance of your eyes. It can be performed on your lower eyelids, upper eyelids, or both if you prefer.

Click here to read more on our cosmetic eye surgery services page!

Diabetic Eye Disease

High levels of sugar can damage the blood vessels throughout your body. This includes your eyes and can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated, resulting in diabetic eye disease. With diabetes on the rise in the United States, it’s only becoming more important for adults to have their eyes checked for symptoms of the disease.

Diabetic eye disease can lead to microaneurysms, which are weak spots that develop bubbles along the blood vessels in your eyes. If not detected and treated, these bubbles can rupture and cause blood to leak directly into your retina. While the blood will eventually clear, the proteins in the blood can remain and cause background diabetic eye disease.

The key to treating diabetic eye disease starts with comprehensive eye exams. It’s difficult to regain vision once it’s been lost, so getting regular comprehensive eye exams is an absolute must. They help our ophthalmologists in Knoxville, TN provide you with the laser treatment that you need and preserve your sight.

To read our diabetic eye disease services page, click here!

Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eyes can have a number of causes including allergies or the weather. However, dry eye syndrome is another, more serious condition that actually affects the tear film of your eyes.

The tear film in your eyes has three different layers, known as the:

• Oil layer
• Water layer
• Mucus layer

These three layers work together to create a clear film that protects your eyes and keeps them moisturized. However, if something goes wrong with one layer then you may have trouble producing either enough tears or the right kind of tears. This is what causes dry eye syndrome.

As with regular dry eyes, dry eye syndrome can have different causes. This includes:

• Eyelid inflammation (blepharitis)
• Autoimmune disorders
• Certain medications
• Hormonal changes
• Contact lenses
• Getting older

If you suspect you have dry eye syndrome, your ophthalmologist in Knoxville, TN, will perform a comprehensive eye exam to check. If you do, they will provide you with a treatment plan to restore the comfort of your eyes.

Click here to read more on our dry eye syndrome services page!

Eye Exams in Knoxville, TN

Also known as comprehensive eye exams, eye exams in Knoxville, TN, are important for your eye as well as overall health. These exams are more in-depth than regular eye exams, giving your eye doctor a deeper look into the structures of your eyes.

More than updating your prescription, they help your eye doctor check for:

• Macular degeneration
• Diabetic eye disease
• Glaucoma
• Cataracts

Adults aged 40 and older should get comprehensive eye exams once a year or every two years. You’re at a higher risk of blinding diseases starting at 50, so getting an annual comprehensive eye exam is a must.

Eyelid Disorders

Eyelid disorders can come in all shapes and sizes. They can be caused by a cosmetic issue or could be present at birth. Whatever the cause, you have access to surgical procedures to improve and correct these problems at Baptist Eye Surgeons in West Knoxville and downtown.

Common eyelid disorders include:

• Droopy eyelids (ptosis)
• Congenital abnormalities
• Eyelid and orbital trauma
• Cancerous tissue around the eye

The tissue and structures around your eyes are complex, so finding a qualified ophthalmologist in Knoxville, TN is crucial. Fortunately, the team at Baptist Eye surgeons can provide you with the treatment you need to correct your eyelid disorder.

Click here to read more on our eyelid problems services page!

Eye Surgery

Eye surgery can become necessary in the case of certain eye diseases and conditions. Our ophthalmologists in Knoxville, TN, can discuss your surgical options, what to expect, as well as possible side effects and complications that can arise in rare cases.

We are able to treat a number of conditions with eye surgery, including:

• Cornea problems
• Refractive errors
• Eyelid problems
• Glaucoma
• Cataracts

To learn more about eye conditions and how surgery can help, check out our blog.

To read our eye surgery services page, click here!

Glaucoma Disease

Glaucoma is a pattern of damage to the optic nerve, typically caused by elevated eye pressure. Fortunately, there are different surgical treatments to address your particular case, including:

• Trabeculectomy
• Laser trabeculoplasty
• Aqueous shunt implants
• Laser peripheral iridotomy

There are around three million Americans living with glaucoma, making it extremely important to have your eyes checked regularly. Adults over the age of 40 are at especially high risk, as well as those with a family history of glaucoma or who have high eye pressure.

Common glaucoma symptoms include:

• Eye pain
• Blurred vision
• Decreased night vision
• Frequent mild headaches
• Reduced peripheral vision
• Recurring redness in one or both eyes

Less invasive forms of treatment such as medications and laser surgery are available if caught early enough. However, advanced cases may require more invasive forms of surgery if milder treatments aren’t effective. Our glaucoma specialists in Knoxville, TN, will be able to suggest the best course of treatment and guide you through the process.

Click here to read more on our glaucoma services page!

Eye Infections

Millions of people go to the hospital or eye doctor every year due to eye infections. These infections can have a variety of causes, including improperly caring for your contact lenses. You should seek treatment immediately if you suspect that you have an eye infection since it can spread to other parts of your body. With treatment, you can prevent any long-lasting issues.

There is a broad range of eye infections, such as:

• Iritis
• Styes
• Shingles
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Infectious corneal ulcers
• Herpes simplex eye disease

The above eye infections have similar symptoms, so you should never self-diagnose them. The best choice is to contact us at Baptist Eye Surgeons in West Knoxville or downtown for an eye exam. Our eye doctors can diagnose the infection and provide the necessary treatment.

To read our eye infections services page, click here!

LASIK

LASIK surgery, or laser-assisted stromal in-situ keratomileusis, helps patients who qualify to live without contacts or glasses. This procedure corrects common refractive errors such as:

• Myopia (nearsightedness)
• Hyperopia (farsightedness)
• Astigmatism

We provide bladeless and precise laser surgery to correct your refractive errors at Baptist Eye Surgeons. This laser treatment improves the focus of your eyes by reshaping your cornea to provide clear vision. 

Click here to read more on our LASIK services page!

Reconstructive Eye Surgery

From eyelids to tear ducts, problems with your eyes can often require reconstructive surgery. Fortunately, our oculoplastic surgeon can fix these external problems and bring back your eyes’ function and sight.

They can address problems with:

• Tumors
• Lacerations
• Damaged eye sockets
• The upper and lower eyelids
• Blocked or excessive tearing

With reconstructive eye surgery, you’re not just correcting an eye problem — you’re improving your quality of life.

To read our reconstructive eye surgery services page, click here!

Retina Problems

Macular degeneration is the largest threat to the vision of those over the age of 65. This eye disease affects the retina, which is the layer of nerve cells that line the back wall of your eye. It detects light and signals your brain to create the images that you see. It’s not the only threat to your retina with diabetic retinopathy, as well as retinal tearing and detachment, being problems.

Retinal problems often manifest as:

• Blurry or distorted vision
• Eye floaters
• Eye flashes

Experiencing a sudden increase in these symptoms can be a sign of a retina problem. It’s important to contact us so you can speak to a Knoxville retina specialist to get the treatment that you need.

To learn more about how a retina specialist in Knoxville, TN can help you, click here!

The staff were all very friendly.  Wait time was minimal and testing was done quickly and efficiently. My eyes are very important to me so having a group I can trust is very important. 

– Christina V. 

Baptist Eye Surgeons is your source for an experienced and qualified ophthalmologist in Knoxville, TN. Our patient forms are accessible online so you don’t have to spend time filling them out in our office. With our extensive library of resources, you can stay on top of the latest information about your condition and procedure. From eye exams to glaucoma surgery, we provide a broad range of services to help protect and even restore your vision in some cases.