I really like Dr. Lamothe and his whole office, I feel like he's very knowledgeable and honest, and he gives good advice and consult. I never feel taken advantage of there, and my eye health is great! He spends a ton of time with you, and I rarely wait yet somehow never feel rushed. He's also super friendly, and we always have nice conversations! Luanna and all the staff in the office are fantastic and so helpful. Luanna even reviewed my insurance info with me before the appointment, so I'd be prepared for a final cost breakdown which was a very nice touch. The new offices are nice, I hope they stay there for awhile! I've been going to him for the past 3+ years and have seen him in 3 spaces now and quite like this last one. The only criticisms I would have for the office are super minor and don't affect my 5 star rating in the least: 1) Though they're extremely friendly, they never seem to remember me. Understandably since I only come in once a year, but my old doctor's entire office knew my whole family by name which was always nice. Fake it 'till you make it, guys! 2) The automated appointment system is nice but needs a little work. I got an appointment reminder at 7am one morning. I wish they'd keep the texts to business hours, and if you make an appointment for the day before, no reminder seems necessary. read more

It had been 5 years since I had been to an optometrist, so I finally made it a priority and found a place to go for an eye appointment. The woman who answered the phone was extremely polite and nice, and she was able to get me in for a late-afternoon appointment the following week. It's a little annoying to get up to the office. The security guard has to badge you up. I totally appreciate the security/safety mindset, it was just a bit irksome because no one was manning the security desk when I arrived, so I didn't know about this policy, and the button for 4th floor didn't work (because I didn't have proper access), so I had to then go find a security guard. This is obviously not Washington Eye Associate's fault, I just wanted to mention it so people would know about the weird elevator thing. Once I got up to the office, everything was smooth sailing. The woman at the front desk was lovely. The intake paperwork was quick and easy. They called me back right on time, and I waited maybe 3 minutes for the doc once I was in the exam room. Dr. Lamothe was great. He was really warm and funny and I actually asked him if he worked with a lot of kids because of his lighthearted demeanor. Maybe it's just because it's been so long since I have had an eye appointment, but I thought this one went really fast. (I was exiting the building, 2 Rx's in hand, 20 minutes after my appointment time.) I very much got the sense that this doc has done this so many times, the he is able to be thorough while being efficient, friendly while being professional. I couldn't believe how quick and easy this appointment was. I really shouldn't have waited so long. I'm glad to have the "find an eye doctor and get eyes checked out" item now checked off of my to-do list! read more

Dr. Lamothe and all of the office staff are incredibly friendly and don't waste any time. Dr. Lamothe was straight to business and made me feel comfortable while going through the routine functions of an eye exam. The office is clean and bright with a beautiful selection of frames. read more

Dr. Lamothe is AMAZING!!! I saw him because I have been very unhappy with other eye doctors I have tried in the DC area. I just saw him today for the first time. First of all, he is the sweetest guy and makes you feel very comfortable. Second, he is the most thorough eye doctor I have ever been to. In fact, he diagnosed a condition in my eye that no one has ever noticed before. I have been having symptoms related to this condition for years but never knew how to treat it- until now. I have seen a LOT of eye doctors in my time, but none compare to Dr. Lamothe. Excellent!!! read more

I went to Washington Eye Assoc. after reading all its praises on Yelp and was not disappointed. The office is conveniently located and easy to find. Inside, the modern decor is professional but not clinical- good for those who hate doctor visits. As others have said, the receptionist (why did I not catch her name?) was phenomenal. She caught an issue with my insurance policy and resolved the situation in under 10 minutes. Her friendly, proactive, helpful attitude is unmatched in my experience with doctors' offices. Dr. Lamothe, too, was as wonderful as they say. As he checked my eyes, he explained what he was looking for and found. He routinely invited me to ask questions and provided explanations that don't talk down to the layperson. His thorough, knowledgeable service was greatly appreciated! read more

Can't help but continue the trend of 5 star ratings that this place is acquiring. One of the best eye doctor offices I've ever been to. Everyone was extremely friendly, and very adept at their job. I made the mistake of showing up an hour late for an appointment, and rather than being greeted with a scolding and told to reschedule, they simply accommodated a new time for me, no hassles no questions. That isn't to say they weren't busy at the time, but the efficiency and speed of the staff made it so squeezing in a quick checkup to update my prescription was not an issue. Although they only have two chairs in the waiting room, and a meager magazine selection, judging from the prompt service I received, I can't imagine that anyone has to endure waiting for long. All told, as a new patient, I was in and out of the office in less than 20 minutes. read more

UPDATE to my last review: After so many scheduling issues and getting rescheduled once, they called me on the morning of my new appointment to reschedule AGAIN due to the doctor not being available. This time I turned them down. Good luck staying in business if you never actually see any patients, your practice is awful. read more

Just went here for the first time and overall was pleased. The receptionist was awesome - she gets 5+ stars. She knew who I was (I assume since I was the next appointment). She had me out the paperwork and very clearly explained to me what the fees were and what my insurance covered. Very upfront about the cost which usually never happens at a Dr. office. Also, after the appointment she handled ordering my contacts and offered to have them shipped directly to my apt - yay! The Dr was nice enough, seemed pretty knowledgeable and did the standard exam to renew my contacts. He did not, however, run a lot of the tests that other places have. This is good as this made it faster, but bad as it wouldn't allow him to know if anything was wrong with my eyes. I'm not sure how I feel about that. The appointment was very quick 30 mins. Overall I had a good experience and will probably return. read more

Just had my annual eye exam, and again, everything went smoothly. Dr. Lamothe and his staff are professional and friendly. Never felt rushed. Questions are thoroughly answered. The office is clean and modern, and the location is right downtown. There is nothing to improve here. Now if only I could find a doctor like this... read more

As other reviews have already said, Dr. Lamothe is wonderful! He is friendly, on time, and makes a strong effort to understand you and your vision needs. He discusses every prescription change, etc with you carefully, and worked with me to select the best brand of contacts for me when I thought about switching. His new office is nice and easily accessible by metro. One piece of advice - figure out your insurance info before your appointment. I've been twice (with two different insurance companies), and during the first visit when I initially spoke to the front, we breezed through charges/coverage and upon leaving and paying the bill, I realized we'd mis-communicated. But minor issue and true for all vision insurance/providers. Service otherwise has been superb and Dr. Lamothe is fantastic. read more

Having worn glasses since the tender age of six and contacts since middle school, I have quite a history visiting eye doctors. Professional, friendly, and incredibly patient and willing to answer my endless questions, Dr. Lamothe is above and beyond the best one I have ever visited. I sincerely enjoy talking with him each time I get a check up. He has been able to answer questions about my eyesight that no other eye doctor was able to answer (i.e. why my eyes actually feel drier without contacts in than with contacts), and he upgraded me to a contact lens that is MUCH more comfortable than the ones I wore in the past. He also provided me with complimentary contact lens cleaning/storage solution that extends the life of my contacts. Dr. Lamothe's entire staff is also prompt and professional. The office is spotless and quiet. My only criticism is that he is expensive, but you get what you pay for. He is also very flexible and understanding for those of us young professionals who aren't quite making bank yet. read more

I cannot say enough good things about Washington Eye Associates. Both Dr. Lamothe and the receptionist LuAnna are SO NICE. They're professional yet personable, and they have got their stuff together. They're willing to go above and beyond for their patients! I called with insurance questions about 6 months after my appointment, and received same day verification and a receipt faxed to me. It's amazing! I honestly can't recommend this practice enough. They're both so great and I actually LIKE going to the eye doctor. I don't even get angry when he does that puff of air in my eye test! read more

Dr. Lamothe is the single best doctor I've ever had, optometrist or otherwise. He's funny, friendly, and professional and makes me feel at ease. Every time I see him, I get the best quality care I could hope for. I haven't lived in DC for four years, and I've seen other dentists and physicians, but I have not changed optometrists. Every year, I plan a return trip to DC specifically to have him perform my exam. He's worth it. read more

I had my first appointment with Dr. Lamothe this morning and it went great. As many other have said, Luanna, the receptionist, is great. I made her write down her name before I left so I could remember it and compliment her here. She was friendly, efficient, and kind. She explained the price breakdown to me and even complimented my tights. I immediately felt comfortable in the office. Dr. Lamothe was friendly, fast, and efficient. It was quite possibly the quickest and most painless eye exam I have ever had but he talked me through the whole thing and despite the speed he was thorough, checking on both my prescription and my overall eye health. I had a minor change in my prescription and he sent me out to talk to someone else (also very friendly, but I have forgotten his name) about that. I was pleasantly surprised that there was no pressure at all to buy new frames and he just ordered new lenses for me without question. The only minor 'complaint' I could imagine someone having about this place is that their selection of glass frames is very small. I didn't' want new frames and even if I did this would not impact my rating, but if for some reason this is a high priority to you you should be aware. Overall I can't recommend this place enough. read more

Dr. Lamothe is great. I've seen him for both regular eye exams, as well as emergency doctor problems. He's efficient, friendly, and thorough. He checks everything out and explain everything in detail. And he encourages you to call him after hours and on weekends if you have any questions, concerns, or new symptoms. And the front desk staff are great too. They really work with you to squeeze you in when you have an urgent issue. read more

Dr. Lamothe is so nice. He has really gone above and beyond helping fit me for my first pair of multi-focal contact lenses. I have never felt so welcome at any Doctor's office. I wanted to add to my previous review that Dr. Lamothe really went out of his way to ensure that my contact lenses were correct. He gave me three sets of different lenses to try out. When I selected the set most comfortable to me, they were ordered promptly and I received a call shorthly thereafter that they were available. thank you Dr. Lamothe for all you have done for me. read more

The only reason I found, and subsequently went to, Dr. Lamothe was because of the yelp reviews. I was not disappointed. This is by far the best experience I have had with an optometrist ever! Here is the run down: I was well taken care of. Convenient location, easy to find. No problems taking my insurance. The building and waiting area were nicely appointed. The receptionist was 5 star amazing: helpful, courteous, sharp, etc. Dr. Lamothe saw me on time. I was NEVER rushed. Dr. Lamothe was extremely thorough, knowledgeable and precise. Dr. Lamothe's bedside manner was impeccable. Nothing was pushed on me... I was involved in the decision making process, not treated like a "patient." Nice selection of designer frames. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Contact Details: Dr. Lamothe Washington Eye Associated 1016 16th Street NW Lower Level 100 t: 202-558-3824 f: 202-452-1415 lamothe@WashingtonEyeAssociates.com read more

Very pleased I chose Dr. Lamothe as my new eye doctor since moving to DC. He is professional and friendly. Explains why he is doing everything throughout the exam and willing to answer any questions without making you feel rushed. I will definitely recommend his practice to any friends or colleagues. read more

Been coming here for years. Great service & I feel that Dr. Lamothe really listened to my concerns on my initial visit and that has kept me coming back. read more

Big fan. Fit me in as a first-time patient within a few days, and made his schedule flexible around mine. Receptionist is AMAZING-- want to be her bestie. Fixed my glasses free of charge, gave me free contacts. When my boxes didn't arrive as soon as I'd expected, he gave me more free contacts and left them with security downstairs so I could pick them up whenever I needed. Only minor thing is that I found him to be just a bit of a salesman. Saying things like "there are lots of new sexy lenses out there" really doesn't help sell me and isn't informative--just cut to the chase. read more

Not that these guys need another stellar review, but I had a fantastic experience both with Dr. Lamothe (who is efficient but thorough as others have said) and also with Zohar and the reception team. They were helpful and honest. The swanky office is just the icing on the cake. Plus they take EyeMed insurance. I will definitely return! read more

I had a GREAT experience at Washington Eye Associates. Receptionist was very professional and kind. She was able to schedule an appointment within a week, which was super convenient. Office was easy to get to. Dr. Lamothe really is the gold standard. As other reviews say, he moves really fast but talks you through every step of the exam, giving detailed instructions. He was incredibly professional, knowledgeable, thorough, and polite. I would definitely recommend Dr. Lamothe to others, and I intend to go back to him again. A phenomenal experience overall. read more

I went to Dr. Lamothe on the recommendation of a friend. I was gladly surprised by his knowledge and time he took with me. He did a through check of my eyes updated the prescription and talked about the potential of Lasik in the future. He is TOP notch !! The staff is good (the older staff that was there was top notch above good) , and I have never had to wait too long for anything. I see myself going to WEA for a while in the future - and its location is almost perfect (only way to improve it is for it to be in the building I work in !!!) read more

My wife and I have been seeing John Lamothe at Washington Eye Associates for 5 years now. John's level of professionalism, patience, and knowledge keep us coming back year after year. My vision means a lot to me, as I have very poor vision without contacts in, John takes the time to make sure not only I am in the best possible prescription, but that my eyes are in healthy condition. I especially like that contacts are delivered directly to my home now, no longer need to go back to the office to pick them up. Their staff has been a pleasure to work with, always very knowledgeable about the newest promotions for contacts. read more

I don't normally leave reviews, but I thought Dr. Lamothe and staff were very sweet and attentive. Had a really great experience and I wasn't pressured into buying anything at all. I purchased contacts under my insurance and emphasized I only wanted what was covered and that's what they got me. Very pleased and will definitely go back for my next yearly evaluation. :) read more

Long time user of Yelp- never an actual contributor. Only compelled to submit a review after an overwhelmingly positive experience with Dr. Lamothe at Washington Eye Associates this past week. After what I thought was pink eye gone terribly wrong, I was referred to Dr. Lamothe on an emergency basis from my general practitioner physician. Dr. Lamothe worked through lunch to see me the day of. I was seen in a timely manner and received an incredibly thorough exam. He then arranged for an appointment the following day, his day off (!), once it became clear that my eye required close monitoring and follow-up. He made himself available, both via phone and e-mail (yeah!), for any questions/concerns. Like others have noted, Dr. Lamothe is extremely personable, professional and seems to be invested in your eye health and care. I tried to play it cool, but I was just shy of panicked by the time I got to his office (I couldn't see out of one eye!) and he took the time, despite being a same day admission, to talk me through what was going on. He brought in several of his colleagues to confer- reiterating that three heads were better than one. He ultimately referred me to a specialist- and has continued to follow-up with me throughout the week to check-in. In what feels like a departure for other physician offices in this area, his front office staff was friendly, helpful and competent- both in person and over the phone. Definitely refreshing, and in my experience unfortunately not the norm. So in summary- 5 stars for getting an emergency appointment, convenient location, being seen in a timely manner, friendly and competent front desk staff, thorough exam, professional and personable physician, takes my insurance, and patient follow-up that feels above and beyond! read more

I've continued to come here since 2011 and can't imagine trusting my eyes to anyone else, and have highly recommended the practice to all my friends. They consistently provide great service, are patient in helping me figure out using my insurance towards getting new glasses vs. contacts is most cost effective, and very kind to boot. Can't say enough nice things about this practice! read more

Dr. Lamothe himself is excellent. I had an emergency over a year ago and he was able to get me in on the same day and he resolved my issue right away, giving me ample time/attention/information. I was really impressed and, though I don't have any eye issues, I thought I might come back to him at a later date to get an eye exam with dilation done (I've never had one). Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when I got an automated email reminder to book a yearly exam. The system asked me to select three possible options for time/date slots. Easy. A while later, I got a confirmation email with my appointment time/date. Great. I show up on time at the office on the day of the appointment (September 21st, 4:20 pm) and the young woman at the front desk asks me if I have an appointment. I tell her yes and pull up my confirmation email. She then tells me that the doctor has left for the day and that she must have called me to cancel my appointment. I check my phone - no missed calls, no voicemail, no email, nothing. She rifles through a large stack of papers, triumphantly finds one with my appointment details and shows me what she's written: called, no vm. (I have voicemail, mind you.) I ask her which day she called. It turns out that she tried to call me while I was in flight and my phone was on airplane mode. I ask her why she wouldn't have called again or emailed to let me know my appointment was canceled. The original call was over a week before my appointment. She just points at the paper again - called, no vm. No apology, nothing about how she might change the process for the next person to save them from doing what I did: Taking off early from work to go into an appointment which no longer existed. I ask if she has email and might she not have emailed me; the response I got was that she called. I really like Dr. Lamothe; I'm going to give this one more try. But the girl at the front desk needs to go. read more

One star for the poor quality in cutting my lenses. Awful. The quality of this organization is declining quickly in terms of service and product. I've used them for over 20 years but no more. read more

Dr. Lamothe and his staff are great! Fantastic in every way! I will never go anywhere else! If you're reading this - quit looking, stop considering - go see Dr. Lamothe!!!!! read more

I am so happy to have finally found an eye doctor in DC! Dr. Lamothe is super nice & efficient. The office staff is very kind and helpful. All around a great office. read more

Unfortunately, I cannot comment on Lamothe directly. With exactly one hour notice, my appointment was cancelled. Why? Because it was raining. Nothing torrential, no flood warnings, hurricane spillover, or anything like that -- just plain, basic, mundane rain. The rest of us seem to be able to make it work and the streets are bustling per usual. Apparently, this is the amount of respect this office shows its clients. Perhaps Lamothe does not own an umbrella or a raincoat. Maybe he does not have underground parking. Maybe he is allergic to water. Maybe he is the Wicked Witch of the West. I will never know. What I do know is that I rescheduled my entire morning around this appointment, under the mistaken assumption that this is a professional operation. Moreover, I received far too many phone calls and texts reminding about the appointment! Yes, I am clearly irate. But still, why risk an appointment here when there are countless other top reviewed places? I can only hope that of the thousands of people walking and driving around this morning, some were ophthalmologists on their way to work. Totally inexcusable! What a shame! read more

I'm sure if you have normal insurance you would have a pleasant time. I had my first appointment today, and I have a different vision plan through work and boy the whole of front desk could not figure it out, treated me like I was asking for free handouts and refused to continue to help me. I made an appointment here because the reviews were great but my experience was so awful I couldn't wait to get out of there. From tmCheck-in to leaving, there was a problem every step of the way. Each person told me different information, skip the insurance information, you didn't add your insurance information. I end up calling my own insurance and handed the phone over to reception because the woman said she didn't have time to check my policy for me. For my plan my pay was supposed to not exceed $90 but the woman said there they interpreted the terms differently and charged me $116. After 30 minutes of waiting pass my appointment time, she threatened that if I disagree with the costs I could wait until they figure out my policy before being seen. Oh...and this is after I emailed my policy information in advance of the appointment. What a horrible service. Hire front desk people who can solve problems not throw them back at customers to deal with. Too bad because I actually liked my doctor-Dr. Madiha. read more

I waited for an HOUR for Dr. Lamothe and finally had to leave--without ever getting in to see him--to get back to my office for a meeting (because I am not an hour late for my professional appointments). Oh yeah--plus the fact that a guy came in after I'd already been there for 20 minutes and was ushered to see Lamothe ahead of me. When I asked the front desk about it, they gave a really lame non-response. Don't know what kind of back room deal that guy worked, but apparently that's how you get seen at this place. If you have time to kill an hour or two at the eye doctor every time you go, this is the practice for you. read more

Dr. Lamothe is very clear, kind and efficient. Because my new prescription was nearly identical to my old one, he was willing to help me out by extending my old prescription so that I don't have to replace all my glasses (I have a few pairs). I've tried a few eye doctors in Washington, but he's definitely the best. read more

Oh how I would've loved to be the 100th review. This has got to be the nicest looking offices I have ever been to. With that said, it has to be one of most horrible experiences in a professional setting I have ever witnessed. I am considering corrective surgery just to correct the mistake(s) John Lamothe has made with my prescription. Not to mention your appointment can be cancelled at a moments notice. Also witnessing his blatant abuse of staff is a terrible look for that office. My last encounter with John Lamothe ended with a very unpleasant smell of day old spirits if you catch my drift. I suggest bypassing this practice at all cost. Or it will heavily cost you in the long run. read more

This is a review for a visit in 2014 ... Must all good things come to an end? Perhaps... Dr. Lamothe is still the best there is, he is kind and professional, unfortunately the front desk personnel not so much any longer ... So used to the super friendly and EXTREMELY helpful female receptionist in Dr Lamothe's prior location, I was quite taken back but the court service I received from the new front desk assistant. Unaccommodating, rushed, impatient and unfriendly are a few words to describe him. So much so that I decided to go somewhere else. My loss perhaps but also theirs. read more

Unfortunately, this had to be the worst decision to get glasses from this office. I can't speak on other experience, but I couldn't help but feel as though I was treated like a second class customer during my experience. Incredibly overpriced services even with insurance made for a very unpleasant visit. read more

Really disappointed with Eye Associates. Had an appointment and it was cancelled due to a the doctors schedule, no one ever called back to reschedule. Then I had a balance from a previous visit and received a passive aggressive call as to why it wasn't paid even though I never received a bill or email regarding the balance. And a voicemail on my cellphone is not an appropriate way to send clients balances... read more

Dr. Lamothe and his staff have taken excellent care of my eyes over the past few years. Unlike many optometrists I've visited in the past, Washington Eye Associates has always been transparent about pricing and willing to work to find contact lenses that fit within budget. Pleasant staff, a convenient location, and no-fuss attitude make for a great overall experience. Quick tip: The reservation system can be finicky, so definitely recommend calling to book appointments instead of using the "select top 3 times" feature online. Highly recommend! read more