Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-14-102 (2026)

"Practice of dispensing opticians" defined - Prohibited practices

✓ current as of May 2026

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(a) "Practice of dispensing opticians" means the preparation, adaptation and dispensing of lenses, spectacles, eye glasses and optical devices to the intended user thereof on the written prescription of a physician or optometrist duly licensed to practice the physician's or the optometrist's profession and the dispensing of frames as a unit or individually to the intended user thereof.

(b) A person registered under this chapter is specifically prohibited from engaging in the practice of ocular refraction, orthoptics, visual training, prescribing contact lenses or the prescribing of subnormal vision aids or telescopic spectacles.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize or permit any dispensing optician to claim to be able to, or to offer, undertake or attempt, by any means or method, to examine or exercise eyes, fit contact lenses or diagnose, treat, correct, relieve, operate or prescribe for any human ailment, deficiency, deformity, disease, injury, pain or physical condition; however, dispensing opticians may fit contact lenses in the presence of and under the direct supervision of a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist.

(d) Nor shall anything in this section or in this chapter be construed to require the licensing of persons, firms or corporations that are wholesale suppliers to opticians, optometrists or ophthalmologists, of lenses, spectacles, eye glasses or optical devices or to prevent such persons, firms or corporations from the preparation of lenses, spectacles, eye glasses or optical devices, defined to be the surfacing, fabrication or finishing of any substance or material used or to be used for the correction of human vision, or the adaptation of such lenses, spectacles, eye glasses or optical devices, defined to be the mounting of such a prepared substance or material to frames or to other devices designed to be worn by the user thereof, as long as such preparation or adaptation is done under the written order of an ophthalmologist or optometrist only and as long as such lenses, spectacles, eye glasses or optical devices so prepared or adapted are delivered directly to an ophthalmologist, optometrist or dispensing optician, and as long as such persons, firms or corporations do not engage in advertising as to the price of either the finished product or any part thereof.

Acts 1955, ch. 98, § 2; 1963, ch. 243, § 1; 1968, ch. 555, § 1; 1972, ch. 760, § 1; 1974, ch. 663, § 1; T.C.A., § 63-1402.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 4 cases, 1988–2003 · leading case: LensCrafters, Inc. v. Sundquist, 33 S.W.3d 772 (Tenn. 2000).

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LensCrafters, Inc. v. Sundquist, 33 S.W.3d 772 (Tenn. 2000). · cites it 6× “The parties note that LensCrafters is a business “in the practice of dispensing opticians” under Tenn.Code Ann. § 63-14-102 and thus is allowed to prepare, adapt, and dispense lenses, spectacles, eye glasses, frames, and optical devices.”

Lenscrafters, Inc. v. Wadley, 248 F. Supp. 2d 705 (M.D. Tenn. 2003). · cites it 5× “Rather, they are deemed “dispensing opticians” under Tenn.Code Ann. § 63-14-102. As such, plaintiffs are “allowed to prepare, adapt, and dispense lenses, spectacles, eye glasses, frames, and optical devices.”

State v. Sowder, 826 S.W.2d 924 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991). · cites it 2× “” T.C.A. § 63-14-102. It is clearly obvious that the public good requires that those who practice optometry, like those who practice as dispensing opticians, be licensed.”

Wright v. Tennessee Bd. of Dispensing Opticians, 759 S.W.2d 929 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 2× “At the time of these occurrences, T.C.A. §§ 63-14-102, 104, 110 and 111 provided as follows: 63-14-102.”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-14-102(2) — 2 cases

LensCrafters, Inc. v. Sundquist, 33 S.W.3d 772 (Tenn. 2000). “The parties note that LensCrafters is a business “in the practice of dispensing opticians” under Tenn.Code Ann. § 63-14-102 and thus is allowed to prepare, adapt, and dispense lenses, spectacles, eye glasses, frames, and optical devices.”

Lenscrafters, Inc. v. Wadley, 248 F. Supp. 2d 705 (M.D. Tenn. 2003). “Rather, they are deemed “dispensing opticians” under Tenn.Code Ann. § 63-14-102. As such, plaintiffs are “allowed to prepare, adapt, and dispense lenses, spectacles, eye glasses, frames, and optical devices.”

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