CO About Clancy Optical and Spex Contemporary Eyewear:
Shaping Knoxville’s Vision Since 1943
At Spex Contemporary Eyewear and Clancy Optical, our story is built on more than 80 years of technical precision, independent artistry, and master-level optical craftsmanship. Since Art Clancy, Sr. founded the family practice in 1943, we have helped generations of East Tennessee families find eyewear that balances clear vision, comfort, and personal style. Today, we continue that legacy through two distinct locations: Clancy Optical West in West Knoxville and Spex Contemporary Eyewear in Bearden. Together, our team brings more than 175 years of combined optical experience to complex prescriptions, custom lenses, precision fitting, and distinctive independent eyewear.
A Family Optical Legacy That Began in 1943
Our history begins with Art Clancy, Sr. working for American Optical. In 1943, American Optical split their frame and dispensary divisions. Art Sr. took over the dispensary and formed Clancy Optical. For the next 40 years, Art, Sr. helped establish the technical foundation and craftsmanship standards that would define our family practice for generations.
In 1958, Art Clancy, Jr. joined the practice and continued building on those standards for the next 50 years. His influence extended far beyond our optical shop because he dedicated much of his career to advancing professional education, ethical standards, licensing, and the field of opticianry. That commitment helped shape not only how we serve our customers, but also how we think about the responsibility that comes with being a licensed optical professional. We are proud that this history is still active rather than simply displayed on a wall. The techniques, standards, and attention to detail passed from one generation to the next continue to influence the way we approach every prescription, every fitting, and every pair of glasses. Art Clancy, Jr.’s contributions to opticianry and the community include:
Professional Boards
- Served 20 years as Chairman of the Tennessee Licensing Board of Dispensing Opticians
- National President of the Opticians Association of America
- American Board of Opticianry Board Member
- President of the International Guild of Prescription Opticians
- Recognized as Tennessee’s Outstanding Optician in 1979, as well as Southern, National, and International Optician of the Year
Civic Leadership
- Chaired the Knoxville Historical Zoning Commission
- Served on the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce board
Community & Medical Boards
- Contributed to St. Mary’s Medical Center Development Council/Advisory Board
- YMCA
- Better Business Bureau
- Knoxville Tourist Bureau
- Traveler’s Aid Society
- Rotary International Past President and District Governor
Steve Clancy continues this family tradition of technical mastery, learned from his grandfather and father, leading his seasoned team with 45 years as a licensed optician himself. By seamlessly managing the stores and overseeing daily operations, Steve ensured the business continued to thrive, giving his father the freedom and flexibility to dedicate himself to his state and international leadership roles.
More Than 175 Years of Combined Optical Experience
With 45 years as a licensed optician, Steve Clancy leads our team of licensed optical professionals that brings more than 175 years of combined experience. Every professional on our team has dedicated three to five decades to mastering their craft. For our clients, this means immediate access to a wealth of hands-on optical knowledge that has all but vanished from contemporary eyeglass stores. True optical expertise develops through repetition, problem-solving, and years of learning how different prescriptions interact with different lenses, frames, treatments, and individual needs. That kind of experience cannot be replicated by a quick sales script or automated recommendation. It does allow us to preserve traditional craftsmanship while also working with modern lens designs and contemporary eyewear.
Our team’s credentials extend beyond family leadership. Our roots run deep—in fact, one of our master opticians has been a vital part of our team since 1970. Governor Bill Haslam appointed another trusted optician on our staff to serve a four-year term on the Tennessee Board of Licensed Dispensing Opticians, further reinforcing the level of professional experience within our practice. That depth matters to us because maintaining the gold standard of craftsmanship, safety, ethics, and expertise isn’t just our goal – it is our responsibility to the community we serve. That kind of involvement reflects a broader belief about what it means to build a long-standing local business. We have always seen our work as part of a larger story, one of trust. Relationships are built slowly, through consistent service, professional integrity, and the willingness to keep showing up generation after generation.
We Have Never Been an Assembly-Line Optical Chain
From the beginning, our practice has taken a different path than the high-volume, one-size- fits-all optical retail. We have never built our reputation around rushing people through a standardized process or treating eyewear as a simple sales transaction. Our work is rooted in precision bench opticianry, prescription engineering, custom lens solutions, and the careful fitting of high-quality frames and lenses. Every recommendation we make is grounded in an evaluation of your visual needs to deliver a practical, precisely fitted solution. That personal approach becomes especially important when the prescription is complex. Small decisions involving lens design, measurements, frame selection, and positioning can have a major effect on comfort and visual performance, which is why we believe experience still matters.
Two Locations, One Standard of Optical Care
Our practice operates through two complementary locations, each sharing the same commitment to precision and craftsmanship. At Clancy Optical West in West Knoxville, discover a curated mix of fashion-forward trends and timeless classics, mostly handpicked from independent and luxury collections. In Bearden, our sister location, Spex Contemporary Eyewear shares that high-caliber style, while featuring our full-service finishing lab. Equipped with advanced precision digital cutting alongside traditional hand-edging tools, this lab allows us to manage everything from custom fabrication to intricate frame repairs in-house. That two-location structure gives our customers more ways to experience the level of care our family has spent decades developing. From extraordinarily complex prescriptions to distinctive frames you won’t see anywhere else—we specialize in the exceptional. Whichever location you choose, you’ll experience the exact same level of competency. We believe your eyewear should be selected in a way that reflects who you are, carefully engineered for your vision, and thoughtfully fitted for your face.
From Simple Prescriptions to Highly Complex Optical Needs
We serve customers across a wide range of vision needs, from straightforward single-vision prescriptions to extraordinarily complex optical challenges. Our team is especially comfortable with cases that require careful measurements, advanced lens design, and a detailed understanding of how the frame and prescription work together. Complex prescriptions often demand more precision because small errors can have a larger effect on visual comfort. Frame shape, lens thickness, optical center placement, material choice, and fitting adjustments may all influence the end results. We take the time to consider these variables carefully rather than treating the prescription as just another number in a system. Our goal is to create eyewear that works as a complete optical solution.
Independent and Designer Frames Chosen with Intention
Clancy Optical and Spex give us the opportunity to combine technical optical knowledge with a more expressive approach to frame choice. Our collection is hand-curated around independent, luxury, and designer eyewear rather than around what most retailers offer. We believe the right frame should support the prescription while complementing the person wearing it. Shape, color, proportions, material comfort, and personality all matter, and those details are part of the conversation when we help someone choose eyewear. That is one reason we describe our work as both technical and artistic. Great eyewear should help you see clearly, but it should also feel like something you genuinely enjoy wearing every day.
Eyewear Tailored to Vision, Comfort, and Personal Style
Our promise is to create eyewear that does more than simply correct vision. We want each pair to support daily comfort, fit naturally, and complement the person wearing it. That means we look at the complete picture. Prescription requirements, lens technology, frame fit, lifestyle, work demands, and personal taste all influence the recommendation. We do not believe the most expensive option is automatically the best choice, nor do we believe every customer needs the same kind of solution. Our role is to help you understand the possibilities and build eyewear around your specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
● How long have Clancy Optical and SPEX Contemporary Eyewear been serving the area?
Our family optical practice was founded by Art Clancy Sr. in 1943. That gives us more than 80 years of history serving generations of East Tennessee families with professional optical care and eyewear.
● How many locations do you have?
We have two locations for your convenience: Clancy Optical West in Franklin Square and SPEX Contemporary Eyewear in Bearden. Both locations share the same commitment to precision, craftsmanship, and personalized optical service.
We offer a completely distinct experience than a standard chain store. Our licensed professionals bring decades of hands-on experience to every patient, focusing on precision fitting and specialized prescription engineering rather than a rushed, corporate approach. We feature independent and designer collections you won’t find anywhere else, backed by our own in-house finishing lab for ultimate quality control and faster turnaround times.
Yes, we welcome them. While chain stores often struggle with challenging prescriptions, our team brings decades of hands-on experience to advanced optical needs. We meticulously analyze lens design, precise measurements, frame selection, and fit to deliver a flawless visual result.
Our licensed professionals bring more than 175 years of combined experience. Individual members of the team have anywhere from 30 years to over 50 years of hands-on optical knowledge.
Yes. Clancy Optical and SPEX Contemporary Eyewear feature hand-curated independent, luxury, and designer frames. We help customers choose styles that work with both their prescription requirements and personal aesthetic.
Yes. Our approach considers the complete eyewear system, including prescription, lens design, frame choice, fit, comfort, and lifestyle. We explain the available options so you can make an informed decision.
You can expect a personal conversation about your prescription, visual needs, comfort, lifestyle, and style preferences. From there, our opticians can guide you through lens and frame options suited to your individual needs.
While both locations offer top-tier optical expertise, Spex houses an advanced in-house lab equipped for more intricate repairs, including soldering. Feel free to contact our team or visit the shop that fits you best—whether that’s Clancy Optical West in Franklin Square or Spex Contemporary Eyewear in Bearden.
Experience More Than 80 Years of Optical Craftsmanship
For more than eight decades, our family has believed that great eyewear begins with careful listening, knowledge, and craftsmanship. Today, Clancy Optical West and SPEX Contemporary Eyewear continue that tradition across two locations, combining decades of well-earned custom style, our experienced opticians are ready to help. Just visit us in Bearden or Franklin Square today and discover generations of optical knowledge that bring excellence to the way you see and wear your glasses.