About Ophthalmology Practice in Southeast Volusia County, FL

About Volusia Eye Associates

Our Practice

We are the longest established ophthalmology practice in Southeast Volusia County. We have been providing care for our neighbors at our New Smyrna Beach location since 1985. In November of 2018, we opened a new satellite office in Edgewater to more conveniently serve our patients in the south end of the county.
The mission of our practice is to provide excellent full service medical and surgical eye care to the residents of the Southeast Volusia area using the latest diagnostic and treatment techniques combined with small town, personalized service.
We strive for personal relationships with our patients; it helps in guiding care to improve quality of life. We believe in delivering the best care to our patients and value their time. We strive to reduce patient waiting time; both in the waiting area and in the exam room.

Meet the Team

Robert "Hank" Routh, M.D.

Dr. Routh is a New Smyrna Beach native who returned in 2013 to raise his family. The New Smyrna Beach High School graduate received his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Tulane University in New Orleans. He attended medical school at the University of Florida and completed his residency program through Louisiana State University in New Orleans. “I look forward to providing advanced surgical eye care to the residents in the town where I grew up.”

Professional Organizations & Affiliations

American Academy of Ophthalmology
National Board of Ophthalmology
America Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons
Florida Medical Association
University of Florida College of Medicine Alumni Association
Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce

Educational Background

Tulane University School of Engineering, LA
University of Florida College of Medicine, FL
Ochsner Clinic Foundation, Internal Medicine, LA
LSU/Ochsner Ophthalmology Residency, LA

Chelsea E. Heck, O.D.

Dr. Heck moved to Volusia County to join Volusia Eye Associates. She is originally from Toledo, Ohio and is enjoying making this area home. Dr. Heck attended Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio for her undergraduate education and later attended Nova Southeastern University for Optometry school. The Ohio native is an avid Ohio State Buckeyes fan. “Eyes have been my passion since I was in 4th grade and received my first pair of glasses. I was intrigued when I found out that eyes are the only place in the body that we can examine the vessels and tissues of the body without making a cut.” When she is not seeing patients, Dr. Heck enjoys spending time with her husband, Dr. Knuckles, and their two girls, Madelynn and Juliette.

Professional Organizations & Affiliations

American Optometric Association (AOA)
Florida Optometric Society (FOA)
Volusia county Optometric Society (VOS)
Nova Southeastern College of Optometry Alumni Association

Educational Background:

Bowling Green University- Bowling Green, Ohio
Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry

Justin Knuckles, O.D.

Dr. Knuckles was born and raised in South Miami-Dade County, FL. After graduating from Florida State University in 2004, Dr. Knuckles spent time performing environmental research in the Florida Everglades. He began working in eye care in 2009, and graduated from Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in 2017. After graduation, Dr. Knuckles completed a residency in Primary Eye Care in at the Daytona Beach Veterans Affairs. He is also an avid sports fan and has a deep love for fishing and spending time on the water. “As physicians, we spend many years acquiring the knowledge necessary to provide our patients with the very best care. It is my duty to utilize that knowledge for the benefit of my patients, and to also share that knowledge with my patients so that they can better understand how to preserve their ocular health.”