Bordash Family Eye Center in Chattanooga: Comprehensive Exams and In-House Lens Fabrication
Bordash Family Eye Center is a full-service optometry practice offering comprehensive eye exams, contact lens fitting, and eyewear dispensing with on-site laboratory capabilities. The practice serves Chattanooga residents across all ages and handles both routine preventive care and management of common eye conditions like dry eye and presbyopia.
What Bordash Family Eye Center actually is
This is an independent optometry practice rather than a chain or big-box retailer. The in-house lens laboratory sets it apart from many local competitors: prescriptions written here can be filled and fabricated on-site rather than sent out to a lab, typically shortening turnaround time from weeks to days. The practice accepts most major insurance plans and serves patients who need glasses, contacts, or a medical evaluation for conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma screening, or diabetic retinopathy.
Services and pricing
Comprehensive eye exams (including dilated retinal evaluation) typically cost between $100 and $150 for uninsured patients, though insurance often covers a significant portion. Contact lens fittings require a separate evaluation ($50 to $75) beyond the base exam, as fitting involves assessing corneal shape and lens tolerance.
Eyewear pricing depends on frame and lens selection. Standard single-vision plastic lenses range from $100 to $250 per pair depending on lens quality and coatings (anti-glare, UV protection, blue-light filtering). Bifocals and progressive lenses cost more, typically $200 to $400. Frame prices vary widely by brand and material; in-house options generally range from $80 to $350. Many patients find bundled pricing (exam plus basic frames and lenses) slightly lower than purchasing components separately.
Contact lenses are available in daily disposables, weekly, and monthly modalities. A three-month supply of popular daily lenses typically runs $40 to $80, depending on the lens brand. Verify current pricing by calling ahead, as contact lens costs fluctuate with manufacturer adjustments.
How Bordash compares to other Chattanooga optometrists
Bordash's on-site lab is a practical advantage over independent optometrists without fabrication equipment, who must send orders to external labs. This matters most if you need glasses quickly or want to make changes to existing frames. Costco Optical, located in Chattanooga, offers lower frame and lens pricing for members but provides less personalized fitting and does not perform contact lens evaluations as thoroughly. LensCrafters (in Hamilton Place mall and other retail locations) fills prescriptions quickly but operates as a corporate retailer with less continuity of care.
Choose Bordash if you want a local, independent practice with expedited eyewear delivery and thorough contact lens fitting. Choose Costco if cost is the primary factor and you are willing to accept faster, more standardized service. Choose LensCrafters or a chain if you are comfortable with corporate structures and value multiple location convenience.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
Bordash works well for patients seeking continuity of care with a single provider, families wanting all members' exams in one place, contact lens wearers who need detailed fitting expertise, and anyone who values reduced wait time for new glasses. It is less suited for patients seeking rock-bottom pricing (though not expensive compared to specialty practices), those requiring subspecialty care like neuro-ophthalmology or retinal disease management (which may require referral to an ophthalmologist), or patients who prefer large chain convenience and walk-in availability.
What the first visit involves
Plan for 45 to 60 minutes. You will complete a health history form noting vision changes, eye injury, family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration, and current medications. The exam itself includes visual acuity testing, a refraction to determine your current prescription, tonometry (eye pressure measurement), and dilated inspection of the retina and optic nerve. The optometrist will discuss findings, answer questions, and either write a prescription or recommend further evaluation with an ophthalmologist if pathology is suspected.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Bordash Family Eye Center operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with limited Saturday hours (confirm current schedule by phone). Street and lot parking is available at or near the practice location. There is no walk-in appointment option; all visits require scheduling in advance. New-patient appointments typically book within 5 to 10 business days depending on season.
The practice accepts most major insurance plans including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and Aetna; verify your specific plan coverage before your visit, as copays and coverage levels vary. Uninsured patients should ask about self-pay exam discounts, which the practice sometimes offers.
Bordash's combination of independent practice standards, on-site lens production, and thorough eye exams makes it a reliable choice for Chattanooga residents managing routine vision care and eyewear needs without traveling to specialists.
