I was able to get an appointment quickly, like in two hours. So that was a bonus. The space is HUGE, it's clean and the staff is super friendly. My only complaint is that my appointment was at 2. The wait was long and I did not get out till almost 5. Maybe because that quick 2 hour appointment was a squeeze in? I'll go back, but I'll make an early morning, first thing appointment. read more

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I had laser capsulotomy with Dr Wu yesterday and I am truly amazed how quickly and clearly my vision has improved. It was a very quick procedure and painfree, why didn't I do this sooner?! Thank you Dr. Wu!! read more

i was talked into cataract surgery. noone said my vision for close up would be destroyed. i am an artist who now is suffering because i can't see my canvas like before. they kept giving rx glasses. no people! not working. i hate all of them for not warning me. my life is horrible now. destroyed sad hopeless and just want to sleep so the day is over faster and i don't cry from depression because i'm now destroyed and i feel sick from the destruction. i hate these people. they destroyed my life read more

You have one job. I made an appt, after being on hold for 30 minutes, they took my info, all was well. They email me a week later (two days before the appt) and ask for copies of my insurance cards. I send them. All is well? I get to the appt and they're "unable to verify if we accept your insurance - call yourself to find out." (Even though they received my cards.) I call my insurance (on hold for 10 minutes) - NO, they do not accept it. Thanks, VA Eye for wasting 10 days wait time and a 44 mile round-trip drive. My time, my friend's time - who came in case I couldn't drive home. And maybe my eye condition has gotten worse in that 10 day wait. You're just ... the worst. read more

Dr Henger and the staff at the Westchester location are wonderful. Thank you for your kindness, patience and short wait time. The office is beautiful with easy access to convenient parking. All my questions were answered and I left feeling confident about my eye care. read more

If you want a place to wait for the heat death of the universe before seeing a doctor come here. Care is fine, doctors are the same as any other office but the waiting is absolutely terrible. read more

The absolute rudest medical front office staff I have ever encountered. Save yourself the headaches that this office will cause and go elsewhere. read more

I had an eye emergency 2 weeks ago and called VEI as soon as they opened. They were able to see me immediately at the Watkins Center/Westchester location. EVERYONE was super friendly and efficient. The lady who checked me in (Judith) was phenomenal and I could sit and chat with her all day. The tech who saw me first was extremely friendly and had empathy for my emergency. The doctor was great. I'm only disappointed she doesn't do regular eye exams/check-ups! I wish I could go here for my regular exam. They were right on time and made me feel like I mattered. Unfortunately, at the moment they do not have a regular optometrist to do routine exams/prescriptions. read more

I have been a patient for almost a year. Their office does not return phone calls, requests patients see other providers for similar services, and are not equipped to assist anyone with a prosthetic eye. I am currently seeking a new provider and will gladly take recommendations. read more

The Watkins location has horrible medical assistants as their customer service is extremely poor, rude and unprofessional. I will never go to their location again. read more

Difficult communication and dismissive care. This is the big established ophthalmology practice in the Richmond area, but they are not the best. read more

For my 3/31/23 visit I waited over 2 hours to see Dr. Schneider. When I finally saw her, I expressed my dismay about the extreme amount of time I had to wait. She was sympathetic and explained that she was the only doctor on duty and that there were a number of emergencies. Just recently I remembered that I had spoken with one of those emergencies. We had talked in the waiting area. After I had been there over an hour I watched her come across the parking lot. She sensed that I was sympathetic to her general malaise from having breast implants and gave me her number to call her anytime. Remembering that days later I did call her. She told me she came for an eye check before a surgery. That did not appear to be more of an emergency than my eye discomfort. I don't know about any more emergencies but no one seemed to be in obvious distress. .While I waited my husband also had to wait as I use a wheelchair and cannot drive myself. I sent a letter to the office manager and after a week while on another call Virginia Eye Institute appeared on the caller id. I ended my call and then VEI was no longer there. VEI has not communicated with me. read more

The eye exam was very good. It was an assembly line experience though. When I went in to purchase new glasses, my experience was terrible. I use bifocals. It was never talked about what length I read at. I did not think about it at the time since this was my first experience with this practice. What I remember now is the most important thing the woman who was taking my order communicated to me was that once my order was taken they would not give a credit back. When I came to pick up my glasses I found I could not read any line on the card. I normally read at 23 inches. My glasses were made for the "standard 16". They were worthless to me. I asked to make the correction and she said that the doctor was not in and only he could do that. Only one Doctor could do that and he was off for a few days. I called to make a new appointment days later and waited on the phone for 6 minutes to talk to a person. Today I find the glasses are being made again. No one communicated to me about what the reading focal point is. I am told they are increasing the magnification. read more

The phone system here is one of the worst. I have been trying to get my sons contacts filled for over 2 weeks and to get through to the right person, getting a call back is a complete waste of peoples time. Completely unorganized and why can't you pick which location you need through the phone number. It randomly sends you to whomever and then they try and direct you but never successful. Go to a smaller private practice . read more

Do not go to this location. The doctor is new and I didn't even leave with a prescription in hand. Have been on the phone all day trying to sort this out after spending 2 hours there this morning. The doctor didn't handle my visit professionally, laughed at me during my eye exam, and said he didn't feel comfortable writing me a prescription without knowing what my last years prescription was. I'm sure other locations' doctors are better but there's no reason to wait 2 months for an appointment here and then not even get a RX. read more

Be familiar with hidden fees here - $40 for refraction testing (you can make it optional) and STARTING at $100 for contact lenses fitting. They don't issue you a contact prescription as part of the exam only glasses. Then of course you also have your co-pay. Didn't find the tech to be service oriented. Was quick to tell me I was wrong about never having been charged a contact fitting fee in other practices before moving here. Pretty argumentative and honestly I don't intend to be subjected to that type of attitude. Doctor himself was good. Eye exam thorough so quality of care is not at all the problem. I am surprised to be writing such a poor review because I only like to use Yelp when I've had a positive experience. But...there you have it. read more

Booked an appointment yesterday for an eye test today. Provided med insurance and vision insurance. Verified provider coverage with appointment representative. Took time off work, traveled 20 miles (each way). Checked in 20 min early. Told on check-in that Eye Med not covered!! "The doctor is working on coverage that may be determined in a month or so....would you like to reschedule." Yeah, seriously!! Zero stars!! The appointment availability (next morning) and my old doctor leaving the practice should have been sufficient warning. read more

Appt. are always several month's out. I was recommended to reach out another company if I didn't want to wait. Bad customer service. As I did contact another company and had appt. in 2 days. Which is great because my eyes were hurting and turning red due to my prescription in my lenses, which I explained is why I needed a sooner appt. read more

I love this place. Great selection of glasses and great staff. I've been coming here for 5 years and will continue. Thanks VEI!

Dr. Theodore T. Wu performed my lasik surgery in December 2018. I am very happy with the results and the customer service was very personable. Dr. Wu was very professional, explaining the entire process, answering any questions I had. Highly recommended if you are considering read more

First time visit to this location. Office is new, bright, comfortable atmosphere. Greeted on arrival. Check in was quick and easy. Everyone on staff very friendly, accommodating, patient, and very knowledgeable. Answered all of my questions! (and I ask a lot of questions!) Good selection of eyewear on site. Received same friendly informative help in selecting eyewear. Great overall experience. Would recommend. read more

Dr. Stoller is very friendly and answers all questions. Bekki, the optician was incredibly helpful when it came time to pick out the glasses when I was indecisive. The assistants were also great and a huge help. Lots of smiles! Definitely recommend! read more

Our whole family come here to have eyes checked every year. Dr. Stoller is very genuine. All other stuff is very friendly and prompt. Optical stuff was very kind and helpful to find the glasses I am looking for (Thank you, Bekki!!) Highly recommend this place! read more

Great office! Check in was easy and staff was friendly. Everyone was very helpful. When checking out my benefits were explained to me and was made aware of what would be covered by my insurance. read more

HORRIBLE IN EVERY WAY. This was the worst optical experience OF MY LIFE. VA eye institute just lost a lifelong patient who has spent tens of THOUSANDS of dollars there. I was severely mistreated. I am beside myself with their rudeness and lack of respect for a paying customer! DO NOT GO HERE. read more

Be aware if you have a Cigna Vision Plan. I was able to save almost $200 from an "out of network" provider, Lindsay Opticians, after my reimbursement for the exact same RX lenses I would have received here for the "in network" price. I found this to be true at two other "in network" providers over the years, read more

I wish I could give this place negative stars, because I am furious. The doctors are quite good--but this place is like any other large corporation-- all automated and impersonal. I arrived early for my appointment only to discover I was "bumped". What does that even mean? It wasn't an emergency because I supposedly received a postcard. Who sends a postcard to cancel? They should have called. Dr. Stoler was fully booked for the afternoon so obviously they gave my appointment to another patient. I made this appointment in April. April! And Dr. Stoler does not have an opening until September. Meanwhile, my glasses are held together with Gorilla Glue. I have been a patient of Dr. Stoler's for probably 20 years. I followed him as he changed practices from Regency to Short Pump to Watkins Center. I even saw him when he didn't accept my insurance--I paid the full price of the exam out of my own pocket. Apparently, my loyalty is not reciprocated. Now I have to find another doctor. read more

I recently suffered from severe allergy issues to the point where I couldn't work. I tried numerous kinds of eyes drops for allergies, over-the-counter allergy medications, nothing worked. I finally went to my GP who thought the problem may be some form of bacteria or viral infection. He put me on medication, but again, it didn't work. This went on for about three long, tortuous weeks. Finally someone suggested Virginia Eye Institute. I felt like I was grasping at straws, but I was desperate for relief. I saw Dr. Tucker who told me to start from "scratch" and to purchase a preservative-free eye drop to get everything I had tried out of my eyes. Within minutes of using it, my eyes felt brand new! I don't know how to explain it, short of saying it was a miracle. I was so relieved. So long as I use the drops once a day, it keeps the allergies, or whatever it is, at bay. I went from a 12 on the a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the worse) to a 5 or 6. The more I use it, the better I get. I can't thank Dr. Tucker enough. I can't speak about any other other doctors at Virginia Eye Institution, but if they're as knowledgeable and helpful as he was, I highly recommend them all. read more