My daughters get their eyes checked every August before school starts. We love going to Steer Optical at Ballston mall. Dr. Steer and staff are very friendly, knowledgeable and make the girls feel very comfortable. The office location is convenient and very clean. This is our 3rd year in a row going and we will continue to go to Steer Optical for our annual eye exams. You should too! read more

I had a very pleasant experience at Steer Optical. I was looking for a good eye doctor because I felt like my prescription isn't accurate. I also trust Lens Crafters and live in the area so I chose Steer Optical. Everyone was really nice, the office is very clean and modern. The ladies at the front desk were professional but also very friendly. Dr. Steer was great, did a very thorough exam although he was extremely busy. I didn't feel like he was rushing to finish the appointment. He gave me new contacts to try on for a few and will be following up after a week. I'm very happy I found such a nice and efficient practice close to home! read more

I've been going to Steer Optical since I moved to the Arlington area a few years ago. Although I only visit once a year for an annual check up, I feel like it's a seamless experience, with Dr. Steer remembering things we talked about a year ago and picking up the conversation like it happened last week! That's surely not a requirement, but it's nice not having to start all over again as if they've never met you before. Either they keep excellent notes, or he has the memory of an elephant! Everyone I interacted with was friendly and professional. There was no waiting and everything happened smoothly, although there were other patients there, I never felt like I was being shuffled through a conveyor belt. Highly recommended. read more

Waste of time - literally! I made an appointment online for the the Potomac Mills location and received an appointment confirmation with a reference number. When I showed they had nothing in the system. The young lady at the counter provided negative customer service. First asking if I had a confirmation and when I produced it stating she couldn't look anything up by confirmation number only the person's name. No offer to look for an open appointment, no attempt to find out how she could assist - nothing. Ridiculous and a poor reflection on Dr. Steer's practice. read more

The whole experience today was terrible. When I went in the receptionists both looked like I was bothering them, they didn't smile once, and when my girlfriend walked up to asking a question they ignored her until she finally got their attention. They were more concerned with the tv than answering her questions. It was so loud my girlfriend had to ask them to repeat everything, and then they got annoyed with that too. Then they were rude to her and wouldn't answer her questions and acted like she was bothering them. I was going to tell the optometrist about the issue out front, but when I got to the back to talk to the optometrist she too was rude to me. I will not be going back to this location ever again. I will not give them my money and I do not recommend anyone in this office whatsoever. read more

I recommend Dr. Steer. The appointment was quick and easy, and Dr. Steer seems knowledgeable about current developments in optometry. He gives different options for contacts but there's no pressure to choose one brand over another. Best of all, they do price comparisons so you know you aren't overpaying. The staff are friendly and casual, but professional. read more

Dr. Steer is great, I've been going there for years. He takes the time during the exam to fully explain everything. I saw another doctor there once too, I forget his name but he was great also. I accidentally threw out my whole box of contacts. While I was waiting for the order to arrive he gave me a free set. Parking is easy, and great complimentary kuerig coffee. read more

Great service, no waiting time. Dr. Steer is great, he thoroughly explains everything and was able to give me information on the latest contacts and what would be best for my eyes. Definitely recommend. read more

Great business! Doctor Steer is incredibly friendly and is clearly well educated. Overall great experience,will definitely be back!

AWFUL Customer experience. You need to inform your patients when their office location has permanently closed. I called to reorder contacts at the number I always had and expected to pick them up at my home office. They said, sure no problem we'll call you in about a week when they come in. Great. Charged my credit card that day, easy enough. A week goes by and no call. I call them. They have no idea who I am, can't find me in the system. I tell my home office is Ballston. Find out that office doesn't exist anymore...great thanks for letting me know (not). They can't look up Ballston patients in their system, only the doctor can. Will call me back. I have to pester them. Call the next day...miraculously that person can find me in the system and says that my contacts are in Woodbridge...that is NOT convenient or close to where I live at all. I ask her if they would be able to ship them to me at an additional cost. She says she doesn't know but she'll have to ask the doctor and he's only in Woodbridge on Mondays. Ok fine. I wait out the weekend. Monday comes and goes and no phone call. I call on Tuesday. No idea who I am or anything I've dealt with. I get "Doctor's only in on Monday! Call Pentagon city office". Very helpful these people. So I call Pentagon city office. Hold for 20 minutes when I explain my now very complicated situation. Tells me she is going to have to re-order my contacts and will call me in a week when they are ready...do you understand my frustration??? I just want to be able to see. I am out of contacts because I am now a month past when I initially ordered them. This is a completely unacceptable way to treat your patients/customers. Please do better. I should not have to call 8 or 9 different times to receive my contacts. Will not be returning. read more

Horrible customer service and incompetent doctors. I had to come back several times because my glasses prescription was incorrect. Dr. Steer only cares about making money and pushing the sale. He is extra friendly with his all female young girl staff and does not answer questions. Very unprofessional. read more

Doctor is good, but the reception staff needs to pick up the slack. We walked in after a movie, and got excited to see a coffee machine, turns out it didn't work. When I asked the 3 women sitting up front, after a couple mins one got up, and went back to slumber. As I sat down, I see the clock is 10 hours behind. Now I await my wife to get her lens back. A good management could help this place read more

I went to Steer optical for an eye exam as I've been having some eye strain. I don't wear glasses or lenses, so I have almost no baseline against which to judge the service. I will say that the staff was very polite and friendly, and the experience was what I expected it to be. Although one thing that I still find unnerving is I have no idea who I actually met with.....it was not Dr. Steer and the website has no other doctor's listed. I trust the results, but the process and interaction was a little odd-- it was definitely outside of my "norm" for doctor-patient interaction, it felt pretty casual and not what i would consider professional (but not necessarily UNprofessional). My bigger concern/issue is that there is no record of any other doctor than Dr. Steer on the website....so who was that?! read more

Excellent customer service and dealing with insurance - front desk ladies were helpful, nice, efficient, and professional. They took care of all the insurance for me - was a pain at the last eye doctor I went to. Dr, Steer is likewise very professional and has the most up to date equipment I've seen. I've found a new eye doctor! Will definitely be back and recommend. read more

Dr Steer is excellent. Courteous, accurate and reasonably priced. Have been there 3 times, including one appointment with my mobility-impaired Mom. He and staff were helpful & patient. Definitely recommend! (I hope the business makes it through the renovations, which I imagine must be killing him, as I'm guessing much of his previous business was walk-ins. ) read more

I had a wonderful first visit to Dr. Steer's office. His staff was warm and welcoming and helped me, without hesitation or frustration, to work out some insurance confusion for my vision coverage. The appointment was on time, despite a busy schedule at the end of the year, and everything moved along seamlessly. Dr. Steer was very personable and took some time to get to know me as a new patient. I will definitely be back! read more

I went there yesterday for an annual check up, when I first arrive, the front desk lady doesn't acknowledge I'm there, then ask how can she help while her eyes are staring at the computer screen (I found this rude). They were running behind, I had to wait one hour to see the doctor (I had an appt). While I was waiting, some crime show was on the TV, I don't think that's an appropriate entertainment for patients. People seem to be uncomfortable. The doctor was nice as always, then on my way out, the charged amount was incorrect. I didn't complain too much since they fixed it promptly. Today I realized they went ahead and schedule an appointment for next year without talking to me beforehand. I'm sorry, but I don't want to keep going to this place. read more

I went to see Dr Steer on a Groupon for a new contact lens prescription. He is personable, competent and efficient and I would go back.

I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Steer back at the end of June. He was very professional and treated me like a patient rather than a number or a dollar sign. He asked if I was at all interested in corrective surgery, which I was. He referred me to TLC out in Tyson's Corner. It all happened fast and here I am 2 weeks post op and I can see without my glasses!! I have had a few appointments with Dr. Steer to see how the surgery from TLC went and how the eyes are healing. Dr. Steer continues to treat me with respect. He's a good doctor and I highly recommend him. read more

I cannot speak to all aspects of this practice. However, I can say that Dr. Steer was extremely knowledgeable and patient with me in helping me get the right contact lenses and reading glasses. What was extremely refreshing is that Dr. Steer did not try and sell me expensive glasses or contacts I did not need. He was honest, helpful, and seems to care about the wellbeing of the patient more than selling expensive eyewear. I've had bad experiences with other eye doctors who were more interested in selling their expensive eyeglasses. Dr. Steer is thankfully not one of them. For this reason, I will continue to see Dr. Steer as long as I'm living in Northern Virginia. read more

I have never had my eyes examined before so I was a little nervous to go for the first time. Walked in on a Sunday after seeing a movie and they were able to take me right then. After doing all of the preliminary exams, I was seen by Dr. Steer. He was personable, knowledgable and very helpful. Overall the staff was very nice and the place was extremely clean and professional looking. Would definitely recommend! read more

Had a great visit at Dr. Steer's office. The office is located inside the Ballston Mall and is pretty modern. Appointment started on time (maybe even early!?) and within no time I was examined with the latest technology and fitted for new contact lenses. Was able to order my contacts at the office and in a week they arrived in the mail. I really liked being able to make an online appointment. read more

Appreciated visit..very easy to book online same day appointment, everyone was very helpful. Especially appreciated that I didn't get the feeling they were just trying to sell me everything possible. read more

Dr. Steer and his staff were welcoming and professional. My appointment was on time and thorough and I will return for my next annual exam! I'm new to DC and did not realize the office was in a mall... Other than that, it was an outstanding experience. read more

I went in a couple of weeks ago and they were so backed up that I had to cancel my appointment after waiting almost an hour. A couple days later I got a lovely card in the mail from Dr. Steer, offering a free eye exam and a discount on my contacts if I came back. So today I went back, and was in and out in 20 minutes, with the promised discounts. They turned a bad experience into a loyal customer. read more

Absolutely wonderful service. I agree that they are friendly, professional and dedicated to their patients. I have terrible astigmatism and wear contact lenses - Dr. Steer made sure that my trial lenses were perfect and that I was comfortable with them before Investing in lenses. He also found a terrific rebate that offered a great discount. Dr. Steer and his staff go above and beyond! read more

This was the 1st time I had ever gone to Steer Optical and my experience was fabulous!! Dr. Steer is very professional, positive, personable, and wise beyond any other optometrist that I ever had. He is very patient and spends quality time with his customers. He doesn't rush or quit until he has found the most perfect fit for his customers. I didn't like contacts prior to my 1st visit and initially made an appointment to buy a just few boxes only for special occasions because they always fit so terribly. However, Dr. Steer found the most comfortable pair of contacts for me! He did not stop searching for a viable solution until I was very happy! Now, I can't stop wearing them!! My only regret is that I didn't go to him sooner for my eye care. I would highly recommend him to anyone who wishes to receive great quality care and the right fit for their eyes! He is truly amazingly the best ever, and I am a life time customer now!! He has a great staff, as well! I just wished that I found him sooner!! read more

I recently moved to the area and I needed an eye doctor. I did an online search and was able to schedule an eye exam the next day. It's a little tricky to find, if you're not familiar with that area, but they are on the 3rd floor, next to LensCrafters. The two women at the front desk were friendly and Dr. Steer examined my eyes with care. I didn't feel like a number and even though I live in DC and I don't doubt that there are skilled Optometrists in the area, I don't mind travelling an extra 20 or so minutes. I would highly recommend him for an eye exam. Also, I didn't have insurance and they saw me right away. read more

Sadly, last Saturday, I feel as if I wasted a good chunk of my day there. I was seated in my room and then another optometrist, who I did not know, nor did I make an appointment with, appeared out of nowhere. I say this because I was a new patient and I booked an appointment with Dr. Steer but the receptionists failed to tell me that he was running to another office (so I was told), so I was quite surprised when I saw the other optometrist. I thought that was fairly rude but I didn't put up a fuss and thought I'd let it slide. I get my exam done and then I'm told to leave my belongings and to do a fitting for contacts in another room and once done there to go back to the room I had my exam in. So, I did as I was told, put in the contacts, and retreated back to the exam room only to be greeted with yet another surprise (no, not the pleasant kind)! The optometrist was examining another patient in the same chair! I mean I was literally gone for like 5-10 min! But I returned back to the other room until she came and got me and half heartedly apologized for the situation. Once again, I held my tongue. I complete the other half of the exam and I'm sent on my way with a new prescription and a new pack of contacts. However, as I have worn the contacts the last few days and even compared them to another set, that was prescribed to me in the past, I feel as if something is off and recognize a complete variation of numbers that seem a bit off and I'm starting to think I was misdiagnosed with the wrong prescription. I called the receptionist today to state my complaints and concerns and she said she would relay the message to Dr. Steer BUT I HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. I hope I can get a re-do with my exam. If not, I refuse to waste my time at this place again! read more

I am conflicted here. Dr. Steer himself is excellent, but I have a problem with the pricing. The front desk person said my exam with contact lens fitting would be about $170. However, I told him that I already had a lens Rx from Dr. Steer and just needed renewal, not an entire fitting. He said okay. He proceeded to run me through three tests all on push-button machines. Dr. Steer did the optical exam and then I put in contacts and he checked them, however, he spent about 30 seconds---no lie!---looking at them through the machine and that was it. I didn't have an assessment/evaluation of brand, type, etc., because that was done more than a year ago. I was charged about $178, but when I told my husband, he said his regular eye exam with Dr. Steer with eyeglass-only Rx was $89! I FAIL TO SEE HOW A 30-SECOND LOOK AT MY LENSES THROUGH THE MACHINE REQUIRED DOUBLE THE REGULAR EXAM COST! I could see an extra $30 perhaps for that short of an evaluation, but it was essentially another $89! I think this is an excessive cost for that type of evaluation. It is because of this that I am considering finding another optometrist, although Dr. Steer himself is very nice and personable. I just cannot justify that kind of doubled cost. The new machine-driven glaucoma test is only an extra $30 (no dilation required), so I can't imagine how a 30-second checkup costs an extra $89. I like you, Dr. Steer, but my husband and I may be changing optometrists. read more