Kent Redington, OD in Chattanooga: Full-Service Optometry with In-House Lab and Same-Day Glasses

Kent Redington, OD operates a solo optometry practice in Chattanooga offering routine eye exams, contact lens fittings, and same-day eyeglass dispensing through an on-site optical lab. The practice serves patients seeking a streamlined process from exam to wearable lenses within a single visit, without the referral requirements that specialist eye care often demands.

What Kent Redington, OD actually is

This is a general-practice optometry office focused on refractive care and preventive vision screening. Redington performs comprehensive eye exams to determine prescriptions for distance and near vision, evaluates eye health for common conditions like dry eye and presbyopia, and fits contact lenses for a range of prescriptions and astigmatism levels. The presence of an in-house optical lab eliminates the lag time many patients experience between exam and glasses pickup, a material convenience for working adults and families managing multiple schedules.

The practice does not perform surgery, treat advanced eye disease, or provide specialized care such as corneal reshaping or orthokeratology. Patients requiring cataract surgery, glaucoma management, or retinal evaluation are referred to ophthalmologists, a distinct specialty requiring additional training in medical and surgical eye care.

Services and pricing

Eye exams start with a visual acuity test, refraction (determining your prescription strength), intraocular pressure measurement, and dilated retinal exam. A typical appointment runs 45 minutes to an hour. Redington also fits contact lenses, a service often quoted separately from the exam; lens fittings typically require a second appointment of 20 to 30 minutes to confirm proper fit and comfort.

Glasses made in-house begin at approximately $150 to $200 for basic frames and single-vision lenses (correction for distance or reading alone), with progressive lenses (which correct both distance and near vision without visible lines) ranging from $300 to $500 depending on lens material and coating options. Pricing varies by frame brand selection and whether specialized coatings such as blue-light filtering or photochromic (light-darkening) lenses are added. Contact lens pricing depends on the brand and whether they are daily disposables or extended-wear products; typical monthly supplies range from $40 to $100 per box. Verify current pricing by phone or at the practice, as material costs and frame inventory shift seasonally.

Insurance coverage varies widely. Most major health insurance plans cover one eye exam per year; Medicare covers one exam every two years for beneficiaries over 65. Glasses and contacts are usually covered under separate vision plans (such as VSP or EyeMed) or not covered at all under medical insurance. Redington's office accepts most common plans; contact them directly to confirm your specific plan's benefits before the appointment.

How it compares to other Chattanooga optometrists

Chattanooga's optometry landscape includes Redington's independent practice, larger retail-optical chains such as those at Costco and Walmart, and optometry departments within ophthalmology practices. Retail chains offer competitive pricing and extended weekend hours but typically require 5 to 10 business days for glasses delivery if lenses are made off-site. Practices housed within ophthalmology offices provide easier access to surgical referrals for conditions like cataracts but may carry higher copays tied to specialist billing.

Redington's main distinction is same-day eyeglass fabrication in-house, which eliminates the wait time and shipping logistics common elsewhere. This model suits anyone needing a corrected lens pair within hours (for instance, if your current pair breaks just before travel) and those who prefer a single point of contact for their prescription and dispensing. For patients primarily seeking the lowest out-of-pocket price on routine exams and willing to wait for mail delivery, large retail options remain more economical. For those managing complex eye disease or needing ophthalmologic surgery, a practice within an eye surgery center provides more integrated care.

Who it suits and who it does not suit

This practice works well for patients with straightforward refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia) seeking a convenient, single-visit glasses solution. It suits families managing multiple schedules who cannot easily make a second trip to retrieve glasses. It also suits contact lens wearers who need periodic refits or prescription updates without lengthy scheduling delays.

It is not the right fit for patients with cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, retinal disorders, or other conditions requiring ophthalmologic expertise. It is also not ideal for those whose insurance or budget strongly favors mass-market retail pricing or those who live far from Chattanooga and prefer mail-in lens ordering. Patients under 18 with rapidly changing prescriptions may benefit from more frequent exams than a solo practice's typical annual schedule accommodates.

What the first visit involves

Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to complete a patient intake form documenting medical history, current medications, and vision complaints. The exam itself includes a visual acuity check (reading letters on a chart), refraction (you'll be asked which lens combination is clearer), measurement of eye pressure, and a dilated fundus exam (the optometrist instills dilating drops to view the retina and optic nerve). After dilation, your pupils remain dilated for 3 to 5 hours, temporarily blurring near vision and making bright light uncomfortable; plan to have sunglasses or arrange for someone to drive if you prefer.

Once the exam is complete and your prescription confirmed, you select frames and lens options, and the in-house lab begins fabrication. Depending on complexity (standard single-vision lenses are faster than progressive or custom-coated options), glasses are often ready within hours on the same day. If lenses require a second day, you are offered the option to return or to have glasses shipped.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Verify hours before your appointment, as optometry practices often vary their schedules seasonally or by day; call ahead to confirm whether the practice offers early-morning, evening, or Saturday appointments. Street or lot parking is typically available in Chattanooga's medical office neighborhoods, though some practices are located in shared medical plazas where parking is shared with other tenants. Ask when booking whether parking is validated or whether there are any accessibility accommodations.

Why this practice stands out in Chattanooga

Same-day eyeglass dispensing from an in-house lab is rare in most optometry markets and removes a genuine friction point in the glasses-buying process. For Chattanooga residents juggling work and family commitments, the ability to walk out with a corrected pair of glasses the same afternoon it was prescribed is a concrete advantage that generic chains and busy ophthalmology departments typically cannot match.