I had a very frustrating experience due to poor scheduling and lack of communication. My original appointment was scheduled for 5:00 PM. I received a call ahead of time asking if I could move it to 4:00 PM, which I agreed to. On the day of the appointment, I received another call asking if I could move it again to 3:20 PM. I agreed and arrived a few minutes early. By 3:30 PM, I still had not been seen, so I asked when I would be called back and did not receive a clear answer. I asked again at 3:45 PM and was given the same vague response. At 4:00 PM, I asked why I had been asked to arrive 40 minutes earlier only to wait 40 minutes past my appointment time. I was told they had an opening, but the current patient was taking longer than expected. I understand that schedules change and that delays happen in medical offices. However, the issue here was the complete lack of communication. I was left waiting with no updates or interaction for an extended period of time. Had the delay been communicated clearly, I could have made an informed decision earlier. At that point, the appointment no longer worked for my schedule, and I left. This office does not appear to value patients' time, and better communication would have made a significant difference in this experience. read more

The new girl couldn't get my eye pressure after 3 tries. It was very uncomfortable so I refused to get blows on my eyes again afterwards. They offer many add-ons procedures. Dr Carla diagnosed with me with dry eye. I was recommended to schedule for another procedure with Dr. Bermel. This procedure costs $250 out of pockets. Before I leave I was offered a variety of products such as eye masks, eye drops and omega 3 vitamins. read more

Michael J Bermel, OD - Waiting Room - Optometrists Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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I chose this location because it accepted my insurance and because it wasn't too far from my house. I read a few reviews, which seemed favorable. I saw Dr. Carlos, and I thought she did a good job. She was very attentive and seemed concerned about the problems I was experiencing. This review is not at all about her. I recommend her. Where my dissatisfaction comes in is the service after that. I ordered two pairs of glasses (the selection was somewhat lacking in the Fairfax location), and the price seemed high, even after the insurance discount. Then, when when I got a call to pick up the glasses, I went in but the receptionist didn't know anything about the second pair. She seemed confused and not particularly apologetic. There was no one else in the office at the time. After several days, the second pair arrived. The communication wasn't great. Once I had both pairs, there was no one in the office to do the fitting or adjusting the glasses. The receptionist just handed me the glasses. So now the pair slip off my nose, and I have been disappointed with the weak way that the polarization works on one. I've tried to set up numerous follow-up visits with the "optical manager," but the hours are very irregular at the Fairfax location. So I've been unable to have anyone adjust the glasses. Just living with what I got... I had an excellent experience with Lens Crafters in 2022, but I thought this route would be cheaper and better. Apparently not. read more

I can't recommend Dr. Bermel's office enough! Since starting treatment Dr. Bermel has significantly helped my dry eye and blepharitis. Josh and Noah, who work in the office are always a delight. Dr. Bermel along with his staff work tirelessly to make sure you understand your eye issues, how treatments, and answer all of your questions. If you're having any issues with your eyes (especially dry eye, which he suffers from himself) Dr. Bermel is the person to see-- Lipiflow and IPL have dramatically changed the way my eyes feel. I'm so glad I found this office! ** He also offers late appointments for after your work day read more

On June 4, 2019 I had a follow-up visit with Dr. Bermel. I have seen him at his offices in Fairfax, VA and Leesburg, VA. I'm a retired Air Force colonel and I chose my doctors carefully. In my 55 years wearing glasses and contacts, I have never been examined by a more professional and caring optometrist. Dr. Bermel is not a "assembly line" optometrist. No reading a chart and then selecting "one or two" and then see the store manager and she'll get you set up with your glasses. Dr. Bermel gave me the most thorough exam I've ever had. He pointed out problems I might have in the future. His equipment is state-of-the-art and his staff is professional and very helpful. Everyone cares in his practice. I would say he is excellent but he's really outstanding! Military types will understand the difference. read more

My dry eye symptoms started nine years ago and I had been visited different eye doctors over the years. They gave me all kinds of eye drops and claimed they would help. Unfortunately, my eyes was getting worse year after year. Luckily this year I went to Dr Bermel's office at Fairfax and had my dry eye fixed. Their office has a machine called LipiView to check my glands level. Based on my results, they recommended me to have the LipiFlow procedure. I am so glad that I took their advice and had it done. The LipiFlow procedure Dr. Bermel operated on me was excellent. The thing he put in my eyes was big, but I didn't have any uncomfortable feeling at all, and my eyes felt great right after the procedure. It has been over two months now since I had my LipiFlow and I am very happy with my eyes. Dr. Bermel's office has cutting edge equipment and Dr. Bermel really cares about his patients. During my visit, he did a great LipiFlow procedure for me and he even spent time with me to talk about how to take care of my eyes in my daily life. I wish I could visit his office years ago when I first got my dry eye symptoms, but it's never too late. I am so glad I visited his office otherwise all my glands will be dead soon and I will be suffering from my dry eyes for the rest of my life. read more

I visited on two separate occasions, two years apart. During the first visit, I was seen by Dr. Bermel's associate who was polite and professional, and seemed mostly okay at the time. I expressed some concerns to her about the prescription she came back with after my exam because it was off a lot from my normal prescription and my vision had hardly changed in 10+ years, I had quite a few headaches when wearing the glasses she prescribed so switched to my old ones. I later found out the prescription she gave me was incorrect. I had been wearing the wrong glasses for nearly two years! After that experience, I had been hesitant to visit again, but the end of the year was approaching and I needed to use my vision benefit or lose it. During the second visit I saw Dr. Bermel himself, and it was that visit which cemented my determination to never go there again. Although the admin staff were all nice, and I was seen fairly quickly by the assistant, I was asked for my medical insurance information. I expressed my concern as to why they would need that when my vision insurance was separate, and was informed it was in case there was ever a medical emergency while I was being seen by the doctor and that it would not be accessed or my records pulled until or unless such an emergency occurred. I relented, but told her point blank that they did not have my permission to access my insurance, and even wrote it onto the consent form, initialing and dating where I made the note to that effect. When I saw the doctor, the visit took nearly an hour. I had never had such a long eye exam. On three instances during the exam he walked out of the room, only to criticize his staff for not having pushed a specific service or product on me while I was waiting to see him. After the lengthy exam, he pronounced that I had a condition that would require eyelid cleansing cloths, which were around 30.00 per box. When I asked if it was serious and what would happen next, he told me it could also be treated by antibiotic eye drops. When I asked for the drops, he said he wanted me to try the pads first. I looked on my phone and saw I could get them elsewhere for around 8.00 per box, while he wanted around 30.00 so I told him I wasn't interested. When I was checking out, he told the receptionist that I was getting the cleansing pads and forcibly put them into my bag when I reminded him I was going to get them elsewhere. He then proceeded to tell her to add them to my bill, which I of course did not allow once he walked away. When I tried to check out, my bill was 35.00 more than it should have been. When I asked why, I was told that it was because of the medical eye exam that he performed...without my permission. When I said I had not approved such an exam (and I had been quite clear from the time I first made my appointment that I wanted a vision exam and contacts fitting only) she said "but your insurance covers it so why wouldn't you want it?". I was obviously quite upset since I had blatantly told them earlier they did not have my permission to access my medical insurance. I pointed to the form that I had earlier initialed and dated showing that I had written they did not have my permission. When she told the doctor, he got so upset at her for not telling him before he did the exam (which was not scheduled in the first place) that she nearly cried. Overall, the constant push of very expensive add on services that are not covered by insurance, combined with the attempt to force me to purchase products and services I had already point-blank refused, resembled nothing so much as a used car salesman. I was eventually able to get my money back for all the services except the basic vision exam, and also eventually got my written prescription (which I had requested multiple times on the actual day of the visit, and which he was required by law to provide if I requested.) but only after many repeated calls and written communication requesting it. This doctor engages in practices that make it a very unpleasant experience to go there. He ignored my expressed wishes on three occasions during a single visit. He left during my exam three times, all to curtly remind his employees about added (non insured) services or products they were supposed to have tried to push on me before I ever got to the exam room. I would definitely not recommend him to anyone, and in fact would encourage those who have been there in the past to visit another doctor at lest once to make sure they are not also being treated for conditions they do not have (or are not wearing the wrong glasses for nearly two years, potentially doing damage to their vision). While it is possible that you may have gotten acceptable care from him, based on my experiences, it is just as likely that you have been treated for conditions you may not have. read more

I've been a patient of Dr Bermel's for over 20 years. I've had regular contacts and glasses prescribed, I've done precision corneal molding (wearing gas permeable lenses fitted such that the gently reshape the cornea and improve vision), and had treatments for dry eye. Dr. Bermel takes a sincere interest in his patient's well being, and continuously learns the state of the art in treatment to apply in his practice and benefit his patients. You couldn't ask for a better optometrist! I'd highly recommend him to those needing a high quality optometrist. read more

I went here for an eye exam and it was the worst experience i have ever had at an eye dr.s place. The place was dingey, the staff didn't seem to care..everything was over priced..and not worth my time..not to mention that dr. seemed to be a stuck up salesmen trying to sell me on something about molding the eyes using contacts..never going back here..seems quite fradulent if you ask me... read more