CO About 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’ve 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 Franklin Square 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., whose career included work with American Optical before he took over the dispensary side of that business and began what would become Clancy Optical in 1943. For the next 40 years, he 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 over a 50-year tenure. His influence extended far beyond our own optical shop because he dedicated much of his career to advancing professional education, ethical standards, licensing, and opticianry as a whole. 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’re 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 today.
More Than 175 Years of Combined Optical Experience
Our team of licensed optical professionals brings more than 175 years of combined experience to the practice. Several members of our team have spent 30, 40, or even 50 years developing their skills, which gives our customers access to a depth of practical knowledge that is increasingly rare in modern eyewear retail.
True optical expertise develops through repetition, problem-solving, and years of learning how different prescriptions interact with different lenses, frames, and individual needs. That kind of experience cannot be replaced by a quick sales script or automated recommendation.
Some of our master craftsmen began their careers decades ago alongside members of the Clancy family and continued refining their knowledge as optical technology evolved. That living continuity allows us to preserve traditional craftsmanship while also working with modern lens designs and contemporary eyewear.
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 Aide 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.
We Have Never Been an Assembly-Line Optical Chain
From the beginning, our practice has taken a different path from 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 commodity.
Our work is rooted in precision bench optics, prescription engineering, custom lens solutions, and the careful fitting of high-quality frames. We take time to understand how you use your eyes throughout the day, what has or has not worked for you in the past, and what you want from your next pair of glasses.
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.
Helping Set the Standards for Professional Opticianry
Our family history includes substantial leadership within the optical profession. Art Clancy Jr. served in major professional roles involving licensing, education, ethics, and national and international opticianry organizations, helping strengthen the standards under which licensed opticians practice.
His professional service included 20 years as Chairman of the Tennessee Licensing Board of Dispensing Opticians. He also served as National President of the Opticians Association of America, as a member of the American Board of Opticianry, and as President of the International Guild of Prescription Opticians.
His work earned recognition at the state, regional, national, and international levels. In 1979, he was recognized as Tennessee’s Outstanding Optician and later received Southern, National, and International Optician of the Year honors. Those achievements reflect a philosophy we still follow today: professional standards are not simply rules to meet. They are responsibilities to strengthen.
Continuing the Clancy Tradition Today
Steve Clancy continues the family tradition of technical mastery after learning from both his grandfather and father. With 45 years as a licensed optician, Steve leads a seasoned team that carries forward the same combination of practical knowledge, optical science, and individualized service that has shaped the practice for generations.
Our team’s credentials also extend beyond family leadership. Another trusted optician on our staff was appointed by Governor Bill Haslam 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 eyewear is both technical and personal. A successful pair of glasses has to satisfy the prescription, but it also has to feel comfortable, look right, and fit naturally into the customer’s daily life.
Civic and Community Leadership Beyond the Optical Shop
The Clancy family’s connection to the local community has also extended into civic, medical, nonprofit, and business leadership. Art Clancy Jr. chaired the Knoxville Historical Zoning Commission and served on the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce board, while also contributing to organizations including St. Mary’s Medical Center, the YMCA, Better Business Bureau, Knoxville Tourist Bureau, Traveler’s Aide Society, and Rotary International.
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 the community rather than separate from it.
More than eight decades of serving local families has given us a long view of trust. Relationships are built slowly, through consistent service, professional integrity, and the willingness to keep showing up generation after generation.
Two Locations, One Standard of Optical Care
Our practice operates through two complementary locations, each with its own personality while sharing the same commitment to precision and craftsmanship. Clancy Optical West in Franklin Square carries forward the classic side of our family tradition, while SPEX Contemporary Eyewear in Bearden brings that same technical expertise into a more fashion-forward, independent eyewear environment.
That two-location structure gives our customers more ways to experience the level of care our family has spent decades developing. Some guests come to us because they need a particularly challenging prescription handled correctly, while others are searching for distinctive frames they will not see everywhere else.
No matter which location you visit, the standard remains the same. We believe eyewear should be carefully engineered for your vision, thoughtfully fitted for your face, and selected in a way that reflects who you are.
From Simple Prescriptions to Highly Complex Optical Needs
We serve customers across a wide range of vision needs, from straightforward single-vision prescriptions to highly 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 final result.
We take the time to consider those 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
SPEX Contemporary Eyewear gives us the opportunity to combine technical optical knowledge with a more expressive approach to frame selection. Our collection is hand-curated around independent, luxury, and designer eyewear rather than built around mass-market sameness.
We believe the right frame should support the prescription while also 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 reflect 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 option, 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
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.
We operate two locations: 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 focus on individualized service, prescription engineering, precision fitting, and carefully selected independent and designer eyewear. Our licensed professionals bring decades of hands-on experience to the process rather than relying on an assembly-line approach.
Yes. Our team has extensive experience with prescriptions ranging from simple single vision to highly complex optical needs. We carefully consider lens design, measurements, frame selection, and fit when developing a solution.
Our licensed professionals bring more than 175 years of combined experience. Individual members of the team have approximately 30 to 50 or more years of hands-on optical knowledge.
Yes. SPEX Contemporary Eyewear features 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.
Both locations provide professional optical expertise, but each offers a distinct environment and frame experience. Contact our team or visit the location that best matches your needs, whether that is Clancy Optical West in Franklin Square or SPEX 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, technical knowledge, and craftsmanship that never feels rushed. Today, SPEX Contemporary Eyewear and Clancy Optical continue that tradition across two locations, combining master-level prescription expertise with distinctive frames and highly personalized service. So whether you need advanced custom lenses, a challenging prescription solution, or eyewear that better reflects your personal style, our experienced opticians are ready to help. Just visit us in Bearden or Franklin Square today, and discover what generations of optical knowledge can bring to the way you see and wear your glasses.