Ophthalmology Center in Nashville, TN

Jerry Knoch is a licensed dispensing optician since 1980 who specializes in contact lens and welcomes hard-to-fit patients. He has been involved in the fitting of the latest contact lenses, which incorporates cutting-edge technology and equipment that can measure the cornea more precisely to achieve the best possible fit for the patient. He has worked in a corneal practice for 30+ years and has extensive knowledge and expertise in fitting contacts for patients with severe dry eyes, keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, irregular astigmatism, surgically altered corneas and other complicated problems where custom design lenses are necessary.

He is highly proficient in scleral, hybrid, and all rigid gas permeable designs, soft keratoconus, and all custom-made soft lenses. Additionally, he is skilled in the latest bifocal, multifocal, and progressive design lenses as well as one-day soft lenses and prosthetic tinted lenses. Jerry is dedicated to providing the highest quality patient care with the most advanced products and technology.

Jerry likes being in the outdoors and hiking during his down time. He is also very active in GiGi’s Playhouse which provides programs that are educational and therapeutic in nature to individuals with Down Syndrome.

Dr. Ira Shivitz is an ophthalmologist specializing in cornea and external disease and practicing in private practice here in Nashville since 1984. His experience runs the gamut from sight-threatening corneal infections to sight-restoring surgical procedures of the cornea and anterior segment. With fellowship training in cornea and external disease at the Baylor College of Medicine, he has successfully  treated thousands of patients with severe damage to their cornea as well as prevented severe vision loss in countless others.

Educated in New York and receiving an undergraduate degree magna cum laude in Biology, Dr. Shivitz then earned his medical degree at Vanderbilt University. Following a year of general medical training, he trained in the Department of Ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine as a resident and then cornea fellow under the tutelage of David Paton and Dan Jones. At Baylor he was honored with a fellowship in corneal disease from the Eye Bank Association of America. Dr. Shivitz is a board-certified ophthalmologist by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Medical Association. Dr. Shivitz was a Clinical Instructor in the department of Ophthalmology at Vanderbilt University for many years and worked as a volunteer at Metro General Hospital for over 10 years, teaching the Vanderbilt Ophthalmology residents surgical skills, and clinical care in the area of corneal and infectious diseases. He has also served as Chief of the Department of Ophthalmology, as well as serving on the medical executive committee at Centennial Medical Center.

Dr. Shivitz is an avid swimmer and a gourmet cook. He loves to travel and is married with two golden doodle children.