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Your Advanced Ocular Surface Disease Center in Knoxville

Struggling with chronic eye discomfort, redness, or blurred vision? Our expert eye care team specializes in the advanced diagnosis and medical management of ocular surface disease, offering personalized treatment plans to relieve symptoms and restore comfort.

Whether you're dealing with severe dry eye, inflammation, or corneal complications, we utilize cutting-edge technology and evidence-based care to improve your eye health and quality of life. Trust us to help you see clearly and comfortably again.

A woman using a TearLab device on her eye.
Close-up of a person's eye with a tissue being used to wipe away tears.

What is Ocular Surface Disease, and What Causes It?

Ocular Surface Disease (OSD) refers to a group of conditions that affect the surface of the eye, including the cornea, conjunctiva, and tear film. It often results in symptoms like dryness, irritation, redness, blurry vision, and a gritty sensation.

Common causes include dry eye syndrome, meibomian gland dysfunction, allergic reactions, infections, and autoimmune disorders such as Sjögren's syndrome. Environmental factors like prolonged screen time, low humidity, contact lens wear, and certain medications can also contribute to OSD.

Left untreated, it can impact vision and eye comfort significantly, making early diagnosis and management essential.

Offering the Most Advanced Technology Today for Treatment of OSD

At our clinic, we invest in some of the most advanced eye care technology available today to ensure precise diagnosis and effective treatment. These innovations allow us to detect issues earlier, customize care plans, and monitor progress with exceptional accuracy.

By staying at the forefront of eye care advancements, we help our patients achieve the clearest, most comfortable vision possible—supporting their daily lives with healthier eyes and long-term visual wellness.

A doctor is using a pen to point to an eye model

In-Depth Tear Gland and Functional Dry Eye Assessment

We offer advanced testing and assessment of tear gland function and dry eyes, using cutting-edge technology such as:

  • Oculus Keratograph 5M

    This advanced imaging tool evaluates tear film quality, meibomian gland health, and corneal irregularities, allowing for comprehensive, non-invasive diagnosis of dry eye and ocular surface disease.

  • TearLab

    Our team uses this technology to measure tear osmolarity—an essential marker of dry eye disease—providing quick, reliable results that help guide targeted treatment and monitor patient response to therapy over time.

  • Inflammadry

    This tool is used to detect elevated MMP-9 levels, a key marker of inflammation in dry eye disease, enabling early intervention and more effective, personalized treatment strategies for managing ocular surface inflammation.

Dry Eye and Aesthetics Treatments

Treatments we offer at our Knoxville eye clinic include:

  • IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)

    IPL therapy uses light pulses to reduce inflammation and improve meibomian gland function in dry eye patients. It also enhances skin tone and texture for aesthetic rejuvenation.

  • Radiofrequency

    Radiofrequency gently heats the eyelid area, stimulating collagen production and unclogging meibomian glands. This improves tear flow and tightens skin, offering both dry eye relief and cosmetic benefits.

  • LipiFlow

    LipiFlow combines heat and gentle pressure to clear blocked meibomian glands. This in-office treatment restores natural oil flow to the tear film, providing lasting relief from evaporative dry eye.

  • BlephEx

    BlephEx is a handheld device that exfoliates the eyelid margins, removing bacteria, biofilm, and debris. It treats blepharitis and enhances overall eyelid hygiene, reducing inflammation and improving tear quality.

  • ZEST

    ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment) uses a natural okra-based gel to deep-clean eyelids, removing oil, debris, and contaminants. It's gentle yet effective for managing dry eye and eyelid inflammation.

Medical Management of Ocular Surface Disease

We offer the following technologies for superior medical management of your OSD:

  • Amniotic Membranes

    Amniotic membranes promote healing of the ocular surface by reducing inflammation and scarring. Used in moderate to severe cases, they support corneal regeneration and enhance patient comfort during recovery.

  • Punctal Plugs

    Punctal plugs are tiny inserts placed in the tear ducts to retain moisture on the eye's surface. They help relieve dryness by preventing tear drainage, improving hydration and comfort.

  • Rx Drops

    Prescription eye drops, including anti-inflammatories and immunomodulators, target the root causes of ocular surface disease. These medications help reduce symptoms, control inflammation, and support long-term eye health and comfort.

  • Serum Tears

    Serum tears are custom-made eye drops derived from a patient's own blood serum. Rich in growth factors and nutrients, they promote healing and relief in severe dry eye and ocular damage.

  • At-Home Therapies

    At-home treatments like warm compresses, lid scrubs, omega-3 supplements, and humidifiers support daily management of ocular surface disease, helping maintain tear stability and reduce flare-ups between office visits.

Ocular Surface Disease FAQs

Meet our Eye Doctors

Lora Cretella
Lora Cretella O.D.
  • Accepting New Patients
  • Family Friendly
  • In Person Appointments

Lora Cretella, O.D., received her Doctor of Optometry from the University of Houston, graduating in 2019. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from North Carolina State University, completing her undergraduate…

Nicole Lamb
Nicole Lamb O.D.

Nicole Lamb, O.D., received her Doctor of Optometry from the Ocular Disease Residency at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, completing her training in 2019. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science from Marist…

Dorian Lain
Dorian Lain O.D.
Language: English
  • Accepting New Patients
  • Family Friendly
  • In Person Appointments

Dorian Lain, O.D. received his Doctor of Optometry from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. He earned his undergraduate degree at Manatee Community College.  Dr. Lain and Dr. Manning founded the Farragut office…

Joseph Manning
Joseph Manning O.D.
Language: English
  • Accepting New Patients
  • Family Friendly
  • In Person Appointments

Joseph Manning, O.D. received his Doctor of Optometry from Southern College of Optometry. He studied for his Bachelor of Science in Biology at Covenant College and the University of Tennessee.  Dr. Manning had always been interested…

Harrison Amburn
Harrison Amburn O.D.
Language: English
  • Accepting New Patients
  • Family Friendly
  • In Person Appointments

Dr. Harrison Amburn is a native of Farragut. He graduated from Farragut High School in 2010. From there, he attended the University of Tennessee where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology in 2014. Dr. Amburn continued…

Robert Kevin Cross
Robert Kevin Cross O.D.
Language: English
  • Accepting New Patients
  • Family Friendly
  • In Person Appointments

Dr. Kevin Cross was born and raised in Byrdstown, Tennessee. He attended Tennessee Tech University, is a 1986 graduate of Southern College of Optometry, and is board-certified in therapeutic optometry. Dr. Cross was in practice with the…

Patient Reviews

4.8
694 Reviews
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King T. - Jun 8, 2026
Great Service and Doctor
Diane W. - May 18, 2026
Dr Kevin Cross listened to my concerns , then diagnosed my vision problem. I picked up my glasses wi... th new prescription and I almost cried. For over a year I have had vision problems which were ignored by the specialists..and I put on the new glasses and my double vision was gone. I cannot recommend Dr Cross enough! He is kind and caring and willing to figure out the problem. Five stars plus!

Your Ocular Surface Disease Doctor in Knoxville

11124 Kingston Pike
Photograph of Lora Cretella
Hours
  • Monday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Wednesday 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Thursday 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Friday 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Spectera
  • Davis Vision
  • EyeMed
  • Superior Vision
  • Tricare
  • Anthem
  • Avesis
  • AARP
  • AlwaysCare
  • Amerigroup
  • TriWest
  • EyeQuest
  • Blue Care
  • TennCare
Close-up of a person's eye with a red and irritated sclera.

Ready to see the world more clearly?

Contact us to schedule your eye exam!