Leading-Edge Technology with Expert Care

At Summit Eye, we are locally owned and operated. We use a team approach to provide total eye care for your entire family. We utilize both Optometrists (licensed doctors of optometry trained to diagnose and treat medical eye disease) and Ophthalmologists (board certified eye surgeons) together with specialty trained ophthalmic technicians and dedicated support staff. The family at Summit Eye Associates is dedicated to providing you with the best eye care possible.

We know that managing your healthcare and health insurance is becoming evermore complicated, costly and confusing.  We are here to navigate this with you and pledge to provide our best.

Our Eye Surgeons

Dr. Joshua O. Young

A graduate of Lipscomb University, Dr. Young received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. He trained in Ophthalmology through Texas A&M at Scott & White Hospital and then joined Summit Eye Associates.  Dr. Young specializes in Advanced Cataract Surgery and surgical Glaucoma care with MIGS and SLT laser.

Time outside of work is spent with his family. He enjoys travel and the outdoors, especially mountain biking, hiking, skiing, and scuba diving. In addition to serving his church and family, he has participated in international medical mission trips.

Dr. Casey J. Lowrance

Dr. Lowrance completed his undergraduate degree in Music at MTSU and his medical degree at the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine at Virginia Tech. He then completed ophthalmology residency at Nova Southeastern University in Miami, Florida. Following residency, he completed a medical retina fellowship at the world-renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami. Since training, Dr. Lowrance spent four years in the Knoxville area with Tennessee Eye Care. Dr. Lowrance specializes in advanced cataract surgery as well as treating retinal diseases including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vascular disease.

Dr. Lowrance has a passion for mission work. He has travelled to Africa, Guatemala, Honduras, Laos and Haiti where he has provided medical care, built houses, and volunteered at orphanages. He currently travels to Haiti annually to provide cataract surgery.

In his free time, Dr. Lowrance enjoys spending time with his wife and five children, playing music, hiking, and being involved with his church.

Our Eye Doctors

Dr. Jonathan B. Routon

A Tennessee native and graduate of The University of Tennessee, Dr. Routon received his Doctorate from Southern College of Optometry. His passion and focus are in ocular disease management including: Red Eyes, Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, Dry Eye Disease and Diabetes. As an active member in the Tennessee Associations of Optometric Physicians and American Optometric Association, Dr. Routon strives to provide our patients at Summit Eye Associates the most up to date medical care available.

Dr. Routon and his wife reside in Donelson with their two dogs – Emme and Benson. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, golfing, and tending to their garden.

Dr. Joanne P. Smith

Dr. Joanne Smith received her optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry and completed her residency in primary care optometry at the Memphis VA Hospital. After her residency, she joined Southern College of Optometry in Memphis as a clinic and lab instructor for over 5 years before moving back to the Nashville area. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians, and Middle Tennessee Optometric Physicians Society as well as an American Board of Optometry Diplomate. 

Dr. Smith and her high school sweetheart, Mike, have two wonderful sons and are happy to live in their hometown of Mount Juliet.

Legacy 

Roy C. Ezell, MD 

Meredith A. Ezell, MD 

William G. Gates, MD 

Summit Eye Associates started back in July of 1966 when Nashville native Dr. Roy C. Ezell moved his family back to Donelson after completing his Ophthalmology training.  He practiced Comprehensive Ophthalmology here on the east side of Nashville for 20 years when his daughter Dr. Meredith A. Ezell joined the practice. They provided vision, medical, and surgical eye care together as Eye & Cataract Associates, P.C.    

In 1992, Louisiana native Dr. William (Bill) G. Gates made Nashville his home and joined the Ezells.  After transitioning the practice location from Donelson Hospital to the new Summit Medical Center location, the group assumed the name Summit Eye Associates, P.C. In 2004, Dr. Roy transitioned into retirement.  A few years later in 2007, Dr. Joshua O. Young joined the team. The three doctors worked together in great partnership until July of 2021 when Dr. Gates stepped out into retirement after 29 years of practice. Later in 2022, Dr. Ezell decided that Halloween would make a great final day of practice and retired after 36 years with much celebration and flare.  

Following the many changes that have occurred around the globe and right here in our practice since 2020, we welcomed Dr. Jonathan Routon into the practice in June 2021 and are thankful for Dr. Joanne Smith being an integral provider since 2019. As of June 2023, we welcomed Dr. Casey J. Lowrance to the practice. Leading the team, Dr. Young with his colleagues Dr. Lowrance, Dr. Routon and Dr. Smith are all working together to carry on the wonderful legacy Dr. Roy started so many years ago.