Dr. Bindal is fantastic; I've been going to him for eight or nine years now. The staff is generally courteous, too, but I've had problems getting my contact order filled the last couple of years. Last year, it took almost two and a half weeks to get them; this year, apparently they just forgot to call me! But I'll keep going to Dr. Bindal - it's rare to find any kind of doctor I like and trust. read more

As a disclaimer for the review, I am someone who has rather good insurance for eye doctor services so price isn't an issue. This review is only on the doctor and the service. Dr. Bindal was great. I found him friendly and focused on answering my eye care concerns. As a professional who spends major time on the computer my eyes had been straining and he set me up to get my first pair of glasses to ease the fatigue. Yes please. I felt so relieved. His staff were friendly and the glasses woman just got me. She was also originally from the Midwest and understood that I was not prepared to make a fashion decision on a rushed lunch hour. She surrendered my prescription and I was off to contemplate my new look. Minus a star for the annoyance of not padding their appointments. I arrived and waited over twenty minutes which I really didn't appreciate as I was on my lunch hour and only had limited time. read more

I've been a patient of Dr. Bindal's for years. I love Dr. Bindal - his friendly demeanor, thoroughness and wealth of knowledge puts me at ease every time I have an appointment with him. He's always made himself available for last minute appointments to address issues I have with my eyes...and I have many. His team is nice, attentive and helpful as well. The office location is great - centrally located! read more

Went in with a colleague to just check out the selection of glasses. I have never been to a optical store and found so many pairs of glasses I loved. Terri helped us and her customer service was great! Both myself and my colleague bought a pair of glasses which arrived early. Weather you are looking for traditional or unique glasses - A Visual Affair will have something for you. Definitely going back. read more

The staff was very nice and welcoming. I only had an eye exam with Dr. Bindal. He was very thorough, professional and spends a good deal of time with the customer. There was no marketing traps or pressure to buy glasses. I would go again. Thanks. read more

I first visited A Visual Affair in Pentagon Row 6 years ago when I lived in VA and was so pleased to find they opened an office downtown about the same time I moved into the city. I have purchased 3 pairs of eyeglasses from them over the years and each time I have received numerous compliments. They carry a great (but pricey) selection of contemporary and funky designer frames. The pair I wear now are from Lafont and get compliments just about every day. The sales reps are fantastic. I have never had an unpleasant experience and I have visited often. They are friendly and honest about how the frames look on your face, making your decision a lot easier! Most recently I purchased a new set of frames and also had my old frames updated with new lenses, so I had to visit several times within 6 weeks to trade them out and get them adjusted and the staff were always friendly and patient, even though I required a lot of attention. The prices for their frames are on the higher end, but if you wear glasses every day, its a worthwhile investment to have something that looks fantastic. I have a visual insurance plan and end up spending around $200 for frames/lenses/etc. out of pocket when I buy a new pair. read more

There is really no reason to spend your money here, given the number of other options in the area. Customer service was terrible. I ordered glasses during a sale that were to be ready in a week. After 3 weeks, 3 calls, and three unfulfilled promises to get back to me, I find out that my glasses had not even been started nor was I eligible for the special price because me glasses were not standard. Since they had all the details they needed to make the glasses at the beginning, this should not have taken 3 weeks to figure out. They would not honor the price they originally quoted, nor did they apologize for not getting back to me as they said they would. There are no special brands here that you can't find somewhere else at a comparable price, better customer service, and faster delivery. read more

Went in for an eye exam and new glasses. Dr Bindal was great - very knowledgeable & personable. the wait was not bad at all - @ 10 mins. Took my time when picking out frames. And Ordered glasses - this was on 2/27. After waiting over a Week for a call to come pick up my $500.00 glasses, I decide to call. I am told they are not "due" in till 3/12? It takes almost TWO weeks to get glasses? $500.00 Glasses? Wow - we'll see, I still do Not have the glasses, so No guarantee they will Actually be here tomorrow. But I am pretty sure 2 weeks wait AND $500.00 are both really good reasons to see a different Doc next time.... read more

The staff at A Visual Affair worked hard to accommodate my complicated vision plan (they DO take Davis Vision, for anyone looking), and actually helped me spend less than I would have without their help and advice. They also repaired a broken pair of eyeglasses on the spot, free of charge. read more

i received wonderful service from everyone in the shop! i received my new glasses very quickly. thanks for a great experience

I am surprised that people feel the sales associates are pretentious. I have been going to A Visual Affair for four years, and have always been treated respectfully by everyone. Yes, they do get busy sometimes and I have to wait, but they never ignore me. In fact, one spent about an hour with me looking at frames one day, trying to find the right fit for my face in my price range. What really makes the experience here is Dr Bindal. He always remembers his patients, is extremely informative, and goes out of his way to make sure that his patients are completely satisfied. read more

The Dr is great. I loved his unique exam. I wrote a review a while ago about a billing problem, but I think we've got it cleared up now. The doc took time to work with me and his staff to straighten it out, which was much appreciated. The staff was apologetic too, which was also really nice to hear. read more

I come here to see Dr. Neeraj Bindal with my parents and I was impressed with his vast knowledge of the eye from anything to a routine eye exam to a dilated diabetic retinal exam. He was able to recognize potential damage in my mothers retina due to diabetes and educated her about the risks that are posed to her eyes if her diabetes is not under control. I will definitely make sure I make myself a patient of Dr. Bindal so I can make sure my eyes are healthy, and if not I'm sure he will be able to refer me to a specialist if need be. read more

They fit me into their schedule after I called that day to get an eye exam so I could get new contacts which was great. Good atmosphere and nice people. read more

It's always a little overwhelming choosing frames, but the gentleman working named Joel was incredibly helpful! Very knowledgable and professional. I have no doubt now that I'll be back! read more

If you don´t care about your eyes and/or your prescription glasses, this is the place to go. I am speaking specifically about their Connecticut Ave. location. I have been Dr. Bindal´s patient and client for over ten years. Every pair of prescription glasses I own came from him. I don´t dispute that Dr. Bindal is a knowledgeable eye doctor. He is also very likeable and seems decent. The problem is that he lacks the ability to find reliable, capable, and professional staff to run his store (at least for his Connecticut Ave. location). Over a year ago I had prescription lenses fit into my old Silhouette frame. The two guys working at the location were equally negligent and incompetent. I was asked to pick up my glasses at their Connecticut Ave location on three different occasions and they were never there. It turns out the lenses were sent to their Virginia location the three times due to a lack of communication. When I was finally able to try on the prescription lenses, they were crocked on my face. I suggested that the assistant fix them and he told me that he'd rather have me do it myself because he was afraid he would break them. What was his purpose in the store if not to assist the customers to the best of his ability? Last week I went back to fix a bridge on my glasses. The same incompetent store guy told me that they would never fix that. However, they fixed the same issue for me a year ago. What's going on here? Laziness? You will never see me in this store again due to the lack of professionalism of the front staff. Dr. Bindal, please hire competent store people or you will continue to lose more business. As example, I was able to have my my glasses fixed in less than 15 minutes at a different eye store. They even got me a new case and cleaning supplies for free. That's good customer service in my opinion. read more

I visited A Visual Affair because of the Groupon. My experience seems about typical on here. Dr. Bindal didn't perform my eye exam, and unfortunately I can't remember the name of the gentleman who did. He seemed as attentive as anyone else who's ever examined my eyes. I agree with others who say that AVA's frame prices are high. Plus, I can sympathize with those who feel that the prices on the frames are deceptive because those prices don't include lenses or treatments to the lenses. Those things aren't cheap and drive the already substantial frame prices skyward. This place ain't cheap. I really struggled to get my glasses. The person who helped me initially was pleasant but not especially knowledgeable. After a less than 1-week wait, the same person presented me with a set of glasses that just weren't acceptable: in the upper, outer corner on each side there was a gap between the lens and the frame! To me, a pair of glasses THAT poorly finished shouldn't have been presented at all. Remedying this flaw took four weeks, during which I received one apologetic phone call. Veronica T. presented me with the fixed up frames. They were substantially better finished, but still not perfect: on each side just below where the frame and the lenses met, the lens had white streaks that just weren't pretty. The streaks looked like a thin line of glue or a lengthy scratch. Thank God for Veronica T. Sensing my displeasure, Veronica fitted me with a different frame, upgraded my lenses, and promised to have the new glasses ready within a week. Less than a week later, I returned to an impeccably finished set of glasses that look way better on me than the first pair did anyway. Veronica took the time to adjust the frames by hand to make sure that they fit my face perfectly. Each time Veronica adjusted the frame, she'd clean the frames and lenses thoroughly before fitting them to my face. I'm not a germaphobe, but I thought it was a nice touch. In the end, Veronica T. saved the day for me. I'll probably splurge on another set of frames before too long, and trust me, when I do, I'll track her down! read more

Needed glasses for my wife, was a last minute find I met the lovely amber who was by far the best person there who knew what she was doing and made me feel at home. I will def come back and only meet with her thanks amber. read more

I went here to have my glasses and contacts for two years because they worked with my insurance but I always had an uncomfortable experience and when I changed doctors I realized how terrible my prescriptions from Dr. Bindal had been. 1) This place is terribly overpriced and they add charges to your bill without notice. Before seeing the doctor I clearly asked for detailed pricing and I even asked the lady to confirm that I wouldn't pay more than XX amount and she confirmed. When I was about to leave I received a huge bill saying that our previous conversation didn't include some extras I never asked for or was asked to consent! I was furious and after much arguing eventually had to pay because they wouldn't give me my prescription and I had already paid some of it. 2) The doctor pushes the brands he wants you to buy even though those contacts were giving me headaches he refused to accept it was from the contacts although I was 100% certain and gave me the prescription for that brand. 3) The prescriptions Dr. Bindal gave me were wrong. I always felt my eyes were struggling and felt like I had to make an effort with my eyes to really focus but after I changed doctors I realized it wasn't me but the prescription was all wrong. Now I see better than I have in years. 4) Lastly, I didn't much care for Dr. Bindal's general attitude. It seemed as though he thinks very highly of himself and it shows. In summary it's not a place I'd recommend for glasses, go anywhere else. You'll pay less, have a correct prescription and won't feel cheated. read more

This review is specific to the Groupon deals offered at A Visual Affair, as I can't speak to experiences there not using a Groupon. While the eye doctors at a Visual Affair seem to be friendly and knowledgeable, one will most likely leave dissatisfied if they are using a Groupon given the cost of their glasses. I realize experiences can't be generalized so I won't go into specific details of my experience, but I will advise that this Groupon is not very transparent about what it does and does not include and is not worth getting given their glasses selection is extremely overpriced- the minimum for a pair useable with the Groupon is nearly $300 just for the frames alone, and the Groupon does not apply to the lenses themself, which run about an additional $150-$200, so even using the $200 off glasses Groupon, you are looking at paying a minimum of an additional $250 for the absolute lowest price (aka not the most appealing) selections of the glasses on top of whatever you pay for the Groupon itself and there is about a week's wait time to get your glasses. If you get some of the nicer glasses, you will definitely pay more than that. It's a much better deal for similar quality glasses to go elsewhere and either use insurance, or if you don't have insurance go somewhere like Hour Eyes or My Eye Doctor. You will pay much less for the same glasses and get your glasses much sooner. That said, perhaps the experience at A Visual Affair without using the Groupon is much more satisfying. read more

I made an appointment with Dr. Bindal through ZocDoc. His staff called twice to reschedule the time and a third time to request insurance information. When the day of the appointment came, I rushed from another appointment across town to be on time. When I arrived, the receptionist told me that Dr. Bindal was running late and wasn't in the office yet. I waited 20 minutes and Dr. Bindal never showed. The entire point of scheduling through ZocDoc was to avoid wasted calls and time. Everyone is entitled to some understanding in a bad day running late, but my time is valuable too. A little advance notice that he would be late would have been courteous and professional, and there's been no apology for the missed appointment. read more

I used a Groupon because I don't have vision coverage. I wanted to get lenses in my existing frames, but that wouldn't be covered by the Groupon. Plus the staff made me feel like using my existing frames was a bother that they didn't want to deal with--I felt ostracized, and I would have had to pay more. Therefore, I went with one of the "sale" frames available. I ended up spending $300 total for the exam and glasses. They did not get the lenses positioned correctly the first time, but my prescription changed and I was unsure if the oddness of the new glasses was just something I would adjust to. Nope. I had to go back and get them fixed. Thirteen months later, I am just completely sick of these glasses (I had my last pair of glasses for four years), but I have had the same prescription put in my sunglasses (at Costco, excellent work, excellent service) and my safety glasses (done at Pearle, excellent work, excellent service), and so I wanted to just get the same prescription in my old frames, but the prescription had expired. If I get an exam now, I will get a new Rx, and switching between glasses will give me a headache. When I had vision coverage, I was NEVER able to get new glasses every year. Two years with good insurance, three-four years with less most. They contended that the insurances they take pay for new glasses every year. They would not extend my Rx for me to get a better pair of glasses that might actually help me see better. I will not go back. I will go to Costco. read more

I had very unpleasant experience with this office (four appointments in January and February of 2013). The staff in this office is always changing. Even though I've been a patient for more than two years, the receptionist didn't bother to check my file and brought loads of paperwork to complete during my initial appointment on January 30th. When I pointed out that nothing has changed in my medical, residential, and employment history, they still made me to write the same information again. After checking my vision both for contacts and eye glasses, Dr. Bindal scheduled a follow up appointment because his office didn't have contacts that would fit me. My second appointment was on February 13th. Dr. Bindal asked me about the purpose of my visit. I told him that I came for a follow-up appointment to try contacts. He then flipped though the file and told me that they haven't ordered them. I was upset, but then he assured me that his office will contact me once they have them. The office didn't contact me and I called myself and scheduled another appointment for February 20th. While I was waiting, the receptionist brought again paper work to fill out. I realized at that point that the staff is not very bright and told the receptionist that I completed the forms during my first visit and she should check the file. This time there was another doctor, who was actually nice, but he didn't know the purpose of my visit. When I explained that I came to try contacts, he told me that they don't have contacts that would fit me. I told this doctor that I am simply not satisfied with their service because they make me to come to their office, wait, and then don't even bother to check the file. He then told me that he will try to fix it. He brought a pair of contacts and asked me to wear them for a week and if they don't work, I can schedule another appointment and try another pair. The contacts didn't work (my vision was blurry) and I scheduled another appointment with Dr. Bindal on February 27th. Once again, the doctor didn't know why I scheduled my follow up appointment no did he have contacts for me. Moreover, he didn't even bother apologizing for the long wait (which is always an issue). I left the office stating that I will see another eye doctor. I spent $144 and didn't even get the adequate prescription. I attempted to request a new prescription from that office on 02/27 and on 03/07 from Dr. Bindal, but he didn't even respond to my email. Would not recommend anyone this office. read more

I just went there to get an eye exam and look around for a new frame. I didn't have to wait for long, the front end lady was very nice and helpful in explaining to me the possible costs with my insudance coverage, and Dr. Bindal was very efficient and personable. Best of all, they did not try to hard-sell a new pair of glasses or new lenses after the exam like I was used to at certain other places right around here. (which is why I stopped going there, e-hem, Optical Gallery) I will definitely go back to get new lenses and for my regular check-ups. read more

Called their DC office at 2:30pm today to check their hour s today. I was told they will close at 5:30pm so I told them I will arrive at 5pm to pick up my eye glasses. Arrived at the store at 5pm, but the store is already closed. Called them, but only answering machine. Waste of my time, not happy with their service. read more

Jon is an awesome technician! He has a sharp eye for detail and has excellent customer service skills! I am his no. 1 fan and customer!

The service was average. My issue is that they performed services that were not covered by my vision insurance, without asking me, and then billed my medical insurance. Adding insult to injury, they billed me for the amount my medical insurance did not cover. I really do not understand how they can get away with this and think that this is a legitimate practice. I refused to pay and they have sent me to collections. If they acknowledge that they did not get my consent before performing a service that would not be covered by my vision insurance they should have been more ethical and write-off the difference, it was less than $100. This clearly shows that they are all about the money. read more

Best service and my dream pair of frames for my glasses!! I literally get stopped on the street all the time asking about my glasses and noting how fantastic they are. Completely match my face and personality. Could not have had a better experience. I recommend coming for your next pair of frames. I'll be keeping these around for life! read more

Dr. Bindal and his staff, notably Joel, were incredibly friendly, professional, and efficient -- definitely one of the best doctor's office experiences I have had. Plus it was pretty easy to get an appointment the next day. I'd definitely recommend them for annual/biannual eye exams, contact fitting, and lens replacements! read more

Dr. Bindal was very great and clearly loves his work. Office staff were professional, knowledgeable, inviting, and wonderful. I'll definitely be going back when I need a new eye exam! read more

Updating my review nearly 2 years later just to say how happy I've been with this practice. I've been able to make an appointment every time I've needed one, even last-minute. Dr Bindal always takes plenty of time to answer my questions and explain what's happening. And every time I've been here, Dr Bindal and his staff have gone above and beyond to help me - from bringing contacts to me at my office nearby because I hadn't been able to pick them up, to walking me through any options to save money, to letting me experiment with different lenses. I couldn't be happier! read more

I stopped in to buy glasses at A Visual Affair as it was near my office. I had my eyes examined by an Ophthalmologist so I had a prescription in hand. The young man who was there was very sweet and pleasant and I made my selection. When I went to pick them up, I had an experience i have never had in 60 years of wearing glasses. The woman working there was more interested in her paperwork than in the customer (I was the only one in the store). She retrieved the glasses from the back and handed them to me at the counter and went on with her paperwork. I asked if I could sit down and try them on. She said sure but went on with her paperwork as though she had no responsibility or making sure the glasses fit and he prescription was correct. I tried them on and thought they were a little fuzzy and so I interrupted her paper work to ask if she had anything I could read. She opened a drawer and pulled out the card that you commonly read to test new glasses (when the technician gives a crap about whether the glasses fit and the vision is correct). I clearly wasn't going to get any help from her. So, even though the glasses were sliding down my nose screaming for adjustment of the arms and that I expressed some concern about whether the correct measurements for progressives was done, I asked for a case so I could leave. She went to the back ad was gone about ten minutes. I thought maybe she forgot I was waiting so I called out to her. She said she was on the phone to get help in finding the right case. She ended up bring two out - one too big and the other too small. When I told her the brand of the case didn't matter, I just wanted the glasses to fit, she brought another out that I accepted and left. I now have a pair of $700 glasses that I'm not sure have the lens measurements correct and that slde down my nose and in desperate need of adjustment. Never been to an eyeglass store where there was absolutely NO interest in seeing that the product they produced met the needs of the customer - its vision correction afterall, kind of imporatant. Stay away! read more

Visual Affairs is right down the street from my job so it makes it easier to get to. Veronica who works there has excellent customer service. I'm the kind of person who take forever to make a decision. She was very patient and friendly. read more

I visited A Visual Affair a little under a week ago for a routine check up and for new glasses/contacts. The office was located walking-distance from work and the appointment was incredibly painless. Dr. Bendai was very professional, thorough and the appointment took very little time. While looking for glasses, his assistants Aly and Veronica were incredibly helpful and patient (I can be pretty picky when it comes to glasses). Will definitely go back. read more

Went in for an eye exam and to purchase glasses. The eye exam was fine. On the other hand, this store's website provides false information about which glasses brands they stock. I purchased a Groupon in advance, meaning I had already paid in part for my glasses. I specifically chose A Visual Affair because I wanted to try Oliver Peoples frames. As it turns out, they no longer stock Oliver Peoples-- despite what their website claims. However, the DC store said their Virginia store still had many Oliver Peoples frames, so I biked to the metro, and then took the metro to Pentagon City to check out those frames. Apparently, "many Oliver Peoples frames" means one women's frame. You'd think they'd at least check before sending a customer to another state for frames. I also expressed my frustration that their website misleads customers about which frames they stock. Several weeks later, they still have not updated it. read more