After stepping on my eyeglasses senior year in college, which was about... oh... three years ago, I decided it was time for a new pair. I chose Fissel & Reed solely on their location -- they are close to where I work and I could pop over there on my lunch hour. I figured glasses would be expensive anywhere, right? Thankfully, these visits were partially covered by my insurance (CareFirst). I got one of the younger optometrists on staff, and he was really nice and answered all of my questions. They have a pretty decent selection of frames, and I was able to find the ones I wanted after making the poor woman helping me take down just about every one. The turnaround on my glasses was fairly quick, but I'm sure other places do it quicker. I got mine in about four days. So far so good. I would go back here if I ever needed another check-up or anything else that falls under what optometrists do. read more

I am only in DC for roughly 4 months for an internship and I got new glasses from back home and had them shipped here. Now, I needed to get them fitted to my face because they are a tad bit too big, but that is very routine when people get glasses anyway. When I went in the person who was supposed to help me knew I was there but did not attend to me right away even though he seemed not to be busy. When he finally did attend to me, he kept on saying how big my glasses were for my face, that I should have got something smaller, etc. etc. Look, obviously I know how big my glasses are for my face, it is not for you to tell me the style does not fit, you don't know me. That being said, I am giving them 1 star for the main fact that I was not treated very nicely, y'all need to work on your manners. read more

I recently had my first examination with Dr. Foley and my first visit to this shop---I was verifying my prescription and completing an order for some contact lens. My experience was very positive. I found Dr. Foley to be a very professional and knowledgeable optometrist, who patiently answered my questions and discussed different contact lens options with me. I definitely plan on following up with him and using him in the future for my vision needs. I found the office staff to be patient, polite, and helpful. Having said that, my impression is that this is a fairly busy office, and the office staff do seem to often have to handle several patients at once, so perhaps that explains some of the negative experiences other reviewers have had. This is a Capitol HIll office too, built in an older, historic building, so the waiting area is a bit smaller than more modern offices. Still, my experience was very positive, even though I had to wait for assistance on a couple of occasions, the staff were very pleasant about it and made sure I was "kept in the loop" as they completed my order. So I would certainly recommend Dr. Foley and "Eye Central" for those in the Capitol Hill area needing eye glasses or contacts! read more

Dr. Fissel is a fantastic eye doc. If I were truly just rating him, I'd give him five stars. Unfortunatly, after trying to work with his office for the last two years, my wife and I are finished using his services. Our insurance will reimburse us for the office visit, but only if the provider name and license number appear on the invoice they issue. It doesn't. On each of four instances of our visits over two years, we've been told by the staff that they can either fax it to us or mail it to us. Sorry, scanning and emailing is not an option. Then, we offer the receptionist our address and she refuses to take it, saying she has it. We wait a week. Nothing. Two weeks. Nothing. Then we call again, go through the same exercise, and recieve nothing in the mail. I tried calling Dr Fissel to report this problem. He tried calling me but I was on a call so I called back. Receptionist, now on to me for reporting this problem, said she'd let him know I returned the call. I doubt it. Never heard a thing back. For the love of God, fire your incompetent staff, read user reviews of others at other eye shops, and hire them away so that you have skilled, pleasant, honest people working with you who are reflective of the excellent work you do Dr. Fissel. read more

Yelp, why can we not use 1/2 stars? Anyway. Dr. Fissel is great. I had my eye exam with him. He's very nice and knowledgeable. Eye Central...well, I dunno. They have a policy on contact lens exams- if you wear contacts, you're supposed to have the exam, even if it's not for an initial fitting. It's $98 and your insurance doesn't cover it- they make you sign something regarding this. Maybe I'm cheap, maybe I'm skeptical about health care stuff I might not actually need, but I decided to skip the contact lens portion of the eye exam and I didn't sign the waiver. It happens that I my eyeglass prescription didn't change, so I asked if that meant my contact lens prescription would not change. Dr. Fissel could have been a jerk, and perhaps rightly so, and refused to tell me, or he said that I had to have the contact lens exam, but he gave me a legit answer. I'd definitely see him again, although I did have to ask the receptionist for a copy of the HIPAA agreement I was signing that I'd read/received a copy of (I'm crazy, I know- I want to actually have a copy of something that I'd said I'd read/received), and that seemed to cause some friction w/her. Dr. Fissel was the one who said it wasn't a problem for them to make a copy. read more

Dr. Fissel, is a phenomenal optometrist. He genuinely cares for his patients and provides excellent service. I have been a patient for over 20 years and would not trust my eyes to anyone else. Thank you VRob read more

Great optometrists. Im basically blind without my specs so I suppose in a manner of speaking these guys save my life every single day. That theyre decent kind people and give great customer service is an added reason for the gratitude - cant rec em enough. read more

David Fissel hung the stars and moon, as far as I'm concerned! He gave me the best eye exam I've ever had, but more important, he diagnosed the cause of two problems that other eye doctors have blown off as symptoms of my advanced age. Everyone I know who goes to him feels the same way--he's absolutely tops! read more

If you value your sight and your sanity, do not go here. I completely regret going here and will never go back. I chose Eye Central because I had recently moved to the city and needed a fresh prescription. When I called in to book the appointment I was told I could save on the $235 eye exam by purchasing a Living Social coupon for $50 for an exam, with a $250 credit toward glasses. After my exam, I was told that I had purchased the wrong coupon, and because I wear contacts I would have to pay another $100+ on the spot, because I hadn't purchased the $100 contact lens living social coupon, which included a "free" 3 month supply of lenses. (They wanted to charge me for a fitting, even though I was keeping the exact same brand of contacts I already wore, with just an updated prescription. There was nothing to "fit.") I asked if could just purchase the contacts coupon and return the original one instead. The receptionist obliged, however this wasn't an easy process because the coupons are limit 1 per customer, meaning I couldn't purchase the right coupon, because I had already purchased one. I left and agreed to phone living social to purchase the right coupon, and refund the wrong one. This process took 45 minutes on the phone with Living Social, as opposed to the receptionist just charging me the difference in coupon price while I was in the store. After my exam I was given a pair of trial lenses to make sure my prescription was correct. After i sorted out the coupon issue, I phoned back in to provide the coupon number and order my "free" 3 month supply of lenses. At this point I was told that the lenses I wear don't qualify for the deal they had convinced me to buy! Eventually the receptionist agreed to provide me with 2 pairs of trial lenses, because I had already been "given" one. In other words they were now charging me for the first trial pair of lenses that any other optometrist would give you for free, and then ordering 2 more pairs of trial lenses, which probably don't cost them anything. When I got home, I opened up the envelope of lenses and they had ordered me the WRONG lenses. When I phoned in to ask for the right lenses, I was told someone would have to call me back. No one ever returned my call. By this point I was fed up and not willing to give these guys any more business. I asked the receptionist to fax me my prescription - which never happened, so I ended up having to pick it up in person. I took that prescription across town to get new glasses and guess what? I had only been given a prescription for contact lenses - not glasses. I phoned in to have them fax over the right prescription and was told someone would have to call me back to help me. No one ever called me back. Later in the day I phoned back and spoke to someone who said she would fax over my glasses prescription in the next 10 minutes. 90 minutes later, they faxed over the contact lens prescription that I already had. So, I had to call back AGAIN to get the glasses prescription, even though I clearly explained that I was looking for the glasses prescription the first time around. When I asked for a bill to submit to my insurance provider, I was given a bill indicating the full price of an eye exam, not the discounted price I had paid, meaning I can't even submit the bill for reimbursement because it doesn't match my Visa statement. Here's the kicker - a full price eye/contacts exam here is $315. My old optometrist charged less than that, and used all the latest and greatest digital technology. These guys don't. It was a pretty basic exam. I'm not sure how they stay in business with customer service like this. If they can't get the basics right why would you trust them with your eyes? I mean seriously, how could you trust these guys to order you a pair of glasses or contacts with service like this? --- Update: I just opened the second package of "complementary contact lenses" these guys gave me - and they're the wrong prescription. Not even close to my proper one. C'mon. You're optometrists - imagine a pharmacist giving you the wrong prescription? I give up. read more

While my first visit to Dr. Fissel and Eye Central was positive, unfortunately, after trying to go back as a return patient, I will be looking for a new optometrist. I made an appointment in August and was called two days before to ask to reschedule, which I did for September. In between, they called me and said that if I could come in immediately, I could see the doctor. When I got there, the receptionist had no idea why I was there and told me that the doctor wasn't available. Leaving frustrated having just left work, I told them that I would be back for my regular appointment. Well, two days before, I got another call saying that the doctor needed to reschedule again. There are plenty of good optometrists in DC that can keep appointments with their patients and I'll be going to see one of them. read more

I posted this on what I thought was the correct page--I'm not certain that it is, and this one has more reviews so maybe this page is where the majority of people have left their reviews. My initial post is from April of this year. Update is from today. INITIAL POST (2 STARS): I have to, first off, give props to Eye Central for working with my crazy schedule. I had to reschedule my appointment 3 times because of work conflicts that kept coming up and every time I called, it was easy and quick to reschedule. I like that I can fill all the forms out online, as well. My actual appointment was great. The front office staff, though not overly friendly, were not rude to me (shocking that this is a standard). The doctor was great--nice guy, efficient, provided great advice about switching contacts. I was on my way in about 45 minutes with some new contacts to try. I decided I wanted to buy the contacts he'd recommended I try, so I called a week later and ordered 4 boxes. Here's where my issues began. I was charged for the entire 4 boxes--there was no reduction for my benefits, and my insurance was not billed. When they called to let me know my contacts were in, I asked just to make certain that my insurance had been billed (for some reason I thought I might be reimbursed and that's why I had shelled out for the entire 4 boxes up front)--"oh yes, your insurance has been billed" I was reassured. 4 weeks later, I was certain that my insurance hadn't been billed--my FSA should have been triggered for reimbursement for a portion and there was no indication my FSA had received any billing information. I called and finally someone (a pleasant woman named Wanda) understood what had happened. She told that my credit card would be credited the amount that should have been immediately deducted for my benefits, though made no apology of any kind for the massive mistake and inconvenience. More than one week later, the credit STILL does not show up on my credit card. My bank has no record of a credit coming through, and my insurance does not show a claim for my contacts. I called just now and Wanda wasn't in. The man who answered my call made no attempt to help me, though offered to take a message for me (seriously!?). This is ridiculous. I'm out nearly $200 for several months and seemingly no one cares enough to help. One star for the doctor and his portion of my interaction with this office, half a star for Wanda understanding my billing issue, and half a star for the flexibility in scheduling. But for those things, this office is terrible. I wish I didn't have to go back, and I suppose I don't, but they are super convenient for work, and shockingly, better than the My Eye Dr. location in Farragut West I went before. Sigh. UPDATE (ON STAR): finally got my first issue addressed after I went there IN PERSON and stayed until the issue was fixed. The amount of time I spent talking to rude staff and waiting on hold is outrageous. Now, a new issue: I called to order new contacts. The woman on the phone was speaking so softly I could barely hear her. When I asked her to speak up, she was incredibly rude to me. I said I wanted 4 boxes of each eye and she quoted me a price that didn't seem right. I had to tell her 2 more times that because my prescription is different for each eye, I wanted 4 boxes of each prescription. This doesn't seem too difficult. I asked for them to be shipped to my house. She said they would be shipped in 3 to 5 days. Of course because I seem to always have problems with these folks, I had to call just now to ask where my order is. I was charged 3 weeks ago and haven't seen my contacts yet. When I called, I was informed that my contacts were on back order and hadn't been shipped until 2 weeks after I ordered them. It seems common sense to let a customer know that there would be a delay in shipping goods that had already been paid for. I'm over this place. I will never go there again. Terrible customer service, terribly rude people. It's a shame because the doctor seemed really great. read more

Dr. Foley was nice and provided a competent eye exam. The receptionists were rude, which I expected after I made the appointment over the phone. My biggest complaint is the "minimum" $98 extra fee (they actually charged me $108) for a contact lense fitting that I found out about after arriving and insurance does not cover. I've worn contacts for 18 years, and I've had the same prescription for at least the past three years. I know what contacts I wear and don't need a special fitting to ensure they fit and I can see out of them. I just moved here from New York and my previous doctor never charged me this ridiculous fee. Once again, I was prescribed the same contact lenses, and this office charged me an additional $108 that I had to pay out of pocket. If it wasn't so late in the year, I would have canceled and gone somewhere else. Dr. Foley claims that every "reputable" optometrist charges this fee, but I know this is not true, based on my previous experience. And how an extra 2 minutes in a chair costs them $108 is beyond me! This is just another example of doctors nickel and diming their patients and getting as much money as they possibly can. I will be looking elsewhere for my future exams and asking about hidden fees before I go in! read more

I had a mid-morning appointment with Dr. Foley on a Wednesday. He was on time (very important during the workday), friendly (as was the welcome staff) and I was in and out in under 30 minutes. He gave a through exam, was very helpful throughout in explaining what he was doing and why he was doing it. All and all I will definitely be going back. The office makes great use of technology both in giving eye exams and in filling out forms and communicating with clients. read more

My experience was with Dr. Foley, who was fantastic and very patient with my constantly watering eyes. It must be psychosomatic, because my eyes are watering now, just thinking about it!! The staff was very helpful, even helping me make an appointment for the morning after I called to schedule. They were even pleasant and polite when I arrived five minutes late to my appointment. The optician, Ron, was also quite helpful. He sat with me while I tried on what must have felt like a 100 frames. The two frames I selected were at his suggestion, and I couldn't be happier. Overall, a terrific experience! read more

This place is a disaster. Other than the nice optician Ron, everyone was either rude or incompetent. Only positive is they take most vision plans. read more

Rude and indifferent receptionist. I walked in to schedule an appointment, nobody was there except the receptionist and me. She was on the phone, so I quietly stood in front of her for five minutes... No acknowledgement. I sat down (within view) for 10 minutes more...the phone is ringing, she doesn't answer. A lady walks in, she gets the same treatment as me. The receptionist never acknowledged us or tried to communicate in any way! I deliberately didn't initiate conversation just to see if she would do her job...eventually, I got up and left. read more

Dr. Fissel and his staff was amazing! I was 15 minutes late and was still able to be seen without any problems. He was able to identify my issue and was very informative about my condition and my next steps. read more

I've been going to Eye Central for about three years now and seeing Dr. Foley. They are fast, efficient, courtesy and centrally located...everything I want in a doctor. Last time I got my appointment times switched and they were still able to accomodate me. I don't really have any negative feedback. read more

I've been coming here for exams, contacts & glasses for more than 10 years. Dr Fissel is the best optometrist I've ever seen; he gives thorough exams and actually remembers you. The front office staff has always been helpful in my experience. read more

Excellent care, and great help picking out frames I see Dr. Fissel, and I'm really happy with him. Easygoing, friendly, and does a great job of answering all my weird questions. The one time I had a problem with my eye, they got me in to see him same-day, about an hour after I called. The selection of frames here isn't huge, but the quality is MUCH better than any other office I've been. The prices are really reasonable, but what really sold me was how helpful Clarence was when picking out frames. I usually take at least an hour of awkward browsing before I settle on something that's just okay. But after talking about my tastes for a minute or two, Clarence helped me find a pair I LOVE. I think I was in and out of the door in about 20 minutes - on a Saturday! And my glasses & contacts got delivered in less than a week. To top it off, I misunderstood how much my insurance would cover. Thanks to Pamela reading all the fine print, it turned out my glasses would be much cheaper than I thought after insurance. Love this place. Definitely recommend it. read more

I've been a patient of Dr. Foley's for several years, and I recommend him any time I talk to someone who's looking for an optometrist. The staff have always been helpful and professional, and Dr. Foley himself is friendly and thorough. read more

I was referred to Dr. Fissel approximately 7 months ago and have not regretted my decision to check out his practice ! He is extremely knowledgeable and personable and has been a huge help in my decision to undergo LASIK surgery... The staff at the Capitol Hill office are very friendly and I enjoy talking with them while waiting for my appointment. I would definitely recommend him/his office, as every experience I've had was great ! read more

Eye Central is great! From the minute I walked in, everyone was very helpful and friendly. I fell in love with a pair of glasses that Clarence, the eyeglass specialist, picked out -- a pair I don't think I would have ever picked out on my own. My new glasses came in quickly too. I highly recommend going to Eye Central! read more

Waited two weeks for an appointment, only to be called a couple days before, the doctor would not be in and that I had to reschedule. Tried to reschedule and was told there was only one open time the entire week (and I couldn't make that one time) Going to my old eye doctor, even though its a long metro ride away. read more

My entire family -- husband, son, daughter and I -- have gone to Dr. Fissel for over 12 years and I cannot speak highly enough of him, his staff, and the other doctors we have occasionally seen during this time. My husband's own father was an opthamologist and I never thought we'd find a doctor he would enjoy going to, much less an OD! But the time and care Dr. Fissel provides has been beyond compare, and the friendliness of his staff, especially Wanda and Clarence, has made every visit a pleasure. We find that the experienced attention we receive there is more thorough and less rushed than the treatment in busy medical offices. And the one time I had a prescription filled by another optician, they told me that Dr. Fissel's prescriptions are among the best they ever fill! I even brought an elderly friend who needed my financial help with her prescription, and the kindness the entire office showed her made a lasting impression on both of us. I have been especially grateful for the couple of times that I've had needs for urgent care or a complicated infection -- Dr. Fissel was always accessible, provided a referral when necessary, and called me from home during a holiday weekend to check up. We trust him completely, and now that the kids have moved to other cities, they sadly report that they haven't found his replacement yet! read more

Dr. Fissel was absolutely divine. He truly cares about his patients and it's evident. After 24 years of life, and horrible Midwestern eye care, I finally learned my eye ailments after 30 minutes with Dr. Fissel. Hopefully, one day, I'll be able to see 3D again. Receptionists are nice. read more

After my appointment; I couldn't even SEE with the contacts he prescribed. When I called and ask his staff about it; they were RUDE, Sarcastic, and unprofessional It's my experience. Think TWICE before you go there! read more

Extremely disappointed. I needed frames and prescription sunglasses. I already had a prescription. I always go to Voorthuis but I am trying to support more businesses in Capitol Hill where I live. Despite promising that the glasses would be ready the next Friday, when I arrived they were not ready. They had received the lenses but they had not gotten the glasses ready. They were rude and patronizing: Ron: "In 37 years I have never given anyone an exact day when they are ready because I know anything can happen" ?!, the other Technician?: "Glasses usually take 2 weeks to be ready". Fortunately the receptionist was honest about what they had said and she did apologize about the way she had initially reacted. Long story short one of the lenses got damaged when fitted into the frames, however if I don't catch it Ron would have not said anything, when I showed him the dent on the lens he simply said: "yes they sometimes get damaged when they are put on the frames". Again they argued because they had to leave and there was not time to give me anything that confirmed that they were replacing the lens. They did call the next week advising that the new lens was in, I took the glasses back and they replace it. I found the costumer service horrible, their attitude very unprofessional and the frames are not any cheaper than Voorthuis, were I always gotten extremely professional service. I guess I am going back to Voorthuis. This is one neighborhood business I don't care to support. read more

I'm very surprised by the positive reviews here because my experience has been so bad. The staff are over-the-top rude. It's not a one-time experience. It was consistent on every visit. I would like to patronize a neighborhood optician but I've taken my business elsewhere. read more

Dr. Foley was super! The man who is supposed to help with picking out glasses? He showed no interest in helping me and was on the rude side. I will not use this office again due to that experience alone. Too bad, because I do want to support local businesses, but I can't be treated poorly. Sorry Dr. Foley! read more

I actually have no way to rate these guys so I am just voting the average. I just wanted to note, for anyone thinking of making an appointment on a Saturday, that you should call far in advance. When trying to make an appointment, I was told that the next available Saturday appointment is in a month. Also, they do not accept Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, even though the insurance company seems to think they do! read more

I have had two eye exams with Dr. Foley (one of Dr. Fissel's partners at Eye Central) and was very happy with the quality of care. They have a good selection of frames and are willing to spend time helping select the right one. My husband and I have both had repairs made to frames here and they have been very helpful in facilitating this, usually at no charge. I've found the turn around time on repairs or new glasses to be comparable to other optometrists- typically 4-5 business days. They have a website with fairly complete information about insurance, provider bios, and so forth. One caveat: The person who fits glasses seems to have on and off days. The rest of the staff has been consistent, the optometrist is very good, and its an independently owned neighborhood business. read more

Dr. Fissel was highly recommended to me, but I would never go back. I did not want a full exam, only a refraction for glasses, which I wrote on the form, but before I had a chance to even say anything, he was putting drops in my eyes. When I told him I was very sensitive to eye drops, he sarcastically said that he could see that. Tonight my left eye feels as though it has a piece of sand in it, and I am sure it is from his exam. Not only was Dr. Fissel dismissive and unhelpful, but the office is less than clean. read more

I've been going to David Fissel for years, and I feel very comfortable with his medical expertise and manner. If I only had to deal with Fissel himself, I'd give the business 4 stars. However I've had ups and downs with the office staff - some seem competent and friendly, some are surly or downright rude. The worst, however is the billing department. On my last encounter, the bill was incorrectly submitted to insurance,and my several calls to Wanda were never acknowledged or acted on. When I called the office, I was told that they didn't have any control or influence over the billing department. REALLY??!! However, after I made an appointment with Fissel for the sole purpose of complaining about the billing issue, somehow something happened and I got a call from Wanda in billing, who turned out to actually know what the problem was, and took action that seems to have resolved the issue. All's well that ends well, I guess....but it seems like it shouldn't have taken multiple calls and a threat. read more

I came in for a routine eye exam, and was fitted for both glasses and contacts. Dr. David Fissel is great - thorough exam, took his time to answer questions in detail, and even went over the most economical way for me to save money on glasses/contacts! Ron fitted me for glasses and provided excellent service, allowing me to take a look around and try on different pairs with great patience and without annoying me like typical retailers usually do. I have no complaints about the collection of glasses here as I'm sure there is something for everyone, it is abundant with trendy and classic looks. The front desk staffer (I'm sorry, I can't recall your name but you were awesome) was very kind and took the time to explain my itemized bill to me at the end of my visit. Overall a wonderful visit and I have and will continue to this office to all my friends! read more

I have been going to Eye Central for years. The doctors are great and the staff takes good care of you. If you like the idea of a good old fashion neighborhood Optomitrest and not some chain store poking at your eyes, this is the place for you. read more

i have been seeing Dr. Fessel for years and he is the BEST. He's very knowledgable, professional and thorough. He listens and takes the time to get a full history of the problem. I have always foung the staff pleasant, knowledgeable and accommodating. In emergencies, Dr. Fissel and his staff go out of their way to see me. My husband is also a patient and his experience is similar. I highly recommend Dr. Fissel and the staff. read more

I travel quite a distance to stay with Dr. Fissel and have done so for a decade. Not one time have I had to wait more than a few minutes to be called to the examination room. He is thorough, professional, and listens carefully. He seems to have all the latest equipment and exudes confidence. He is a good find. I did see some older, mediocre reviews here, never of Dr. Fissel, who seems to have universally excellent reviews, but of some of the staff. I understand that there is now a full time office manager, for the first time, which might have addressed those concerns. read more

I am sure fixing people's glasses is an annoying prospect and probably not particularly lucrative, but I've been to lots of ODs that do them for free. I would gladly have paid, but the staff just made kind of a ZIP IT motion and dismissed me since I wasn't a previous customer. All it took was a more gracious explanation. But no. read more

Dr Fissel and Foley are extremely professional, prompt and respect my time. Appointment scheduling, ordering contacts or other items is simple, . I've seen both doctors finding them both thoughtful and talented. It's a pleasure to visit a doctor who isn't trying to up-sell you a procedure or rush you through our appointment. Dr Fissel takes the time to explain best eye care practices based on my condition. The bonus - they are close to work. Parking or Metro is available read more