Best eye exam I’ve ever had in my life with Dr. Robinson. I’ve historically always seen ophthalmologists, but my primary vision concern has been reading difficulty. Dr. Robinson and the team at Voorthuis on Conn Ave are total pros.
Our doctors spend the full appointment directly with you. That is the time it takes for an accurate prescription and a thorough medical evaluation, start to finish in one room.
Because we operate independently and do not participate in restrictive vision insurance panels, our doctors are completely free to write prescriptions and recommend solutions based entirely on your eye health needs, not what insurance approves.
Severe astigmatism, large prism corrections, a contact-lens fit that never sat right: these take careful measurement, patience, and the willingness to refine until the result holds. We take that time, and our reviews speak to where it leads.
Using the phoropter (the lens dial you look through), we measure your absolute sharpest prescription for distance, reading, screen use, & any other specific activities, such as music, golfing, needlepoint, shooting, or archery. The result is glasses tuned to your eyes and their specific needs.
A direct look through the slit lamp paired with retinal imaging screens for eye conditions such as dry eye, corneal dystrophies, cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other retinal pathology. Our goal is to find the changes that happen silently, educate, and establish a care plan.
We measure intraocular pressure (the fluid pressure inside the eye) and check the optic nerve. High pressure is one of the main risk factors for glaucoma, and catching it early is the difference between a simple eyedrop and permanent vision loss.
A real conversation about your day (office screens, the commute, weekends outdoors) so any lens recommendation fits how you actually use your eyes rather than a generic prescription.
A comprehensive eye exam is a full medical evaluation that goes well beyond a quick chart reading. Here is what each part checks, and why it matters for more than your glasses.
Refraction is the part most people picture: looking through the phoropter while the doctor compares lenses. Done unhurriedly, it lands on the exact correction for your eyes - including nuances in astigmatism, comfort, and the subtle differences between your two eyes that an auto-refraction cannot measure. The payoff is glasses that feel right on day one instead of "close enough."
The more important half of the exam is medical. Your optometrist examines the cornea, lens, retina, and optic nerve. This is how we catch cataracts forming, spot the earliest signs of macular degeneration, and find retinal changes. Many of these conditions go unnoticed for years until they are advanced, which is exactly why an annual look matters.
We measure intraocular pressure (the fluid pressure inside the eye) and assess the optic nerve and your visual field (your full range of peripheral vision). Elevated pressure is the leading risk factor for glaucoma, a disease that quietly affects peripheral vision and contrast. Catching glaucoma early, before a patient has symptoms, is essential to successful management outcomes.
The eye is the one place a doctor can see your blood vessels and nerves directly, without an invasive procedure. Diabetes shows up as diabetic retinopathy; high blood pressure leaves its mark on the retinal vessels; even some neurological conditions surface here first. A thorough exam is a window to your systemic health, not just your vision.
Anne came to our Foxhall Square store in DC for a comprehensive exam. "This is the first time I've actually enjoyed going to an optician," she wrote afterward. Dr. Rebecca Voorthuis was, in her words, "prompt and thorough," and clearly explained her current vision status rather than handing over a slip and moving on.
Instead of reaching for a standard prescription, Dr. Voorthuis asked several questions about how Anne spends her day, then suggested the lens options that would work best for her. Anna-marie Voorthuis handled the lens and frame fitting, attentive and precise, "augmented," Anne said, "by a delightful conversation."
"So easy too," she added. "They're right in the neighborhood with accessible parking."
Anne D. · Foxhall Square, Washington DC
What actually happens when you come in for a comprehensive exam. Plan for about an hour door to door, the bulk of it directly with your doctor.
We review your medical history, current medications, family eye-health history, and any symptoms. That context tells the doctor where to look closely. You see the same doctor year after year, and someone who knows your history notices change a stranger would miss.
Quick, painless baseline readings (autorefraction and intraocular pressure) so your time with the doctor is spent on judgment, not data entry.
Your optometrist examines the front and back of the eye, tests how your eyes work together, and screens for glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and the systemic conditions that surface in the eye.
We fine-tune your exact prescription, then talk through how you spend your day to match it to the right lenses, without rushing you or pushing extras.
You leave knowing your eye health and your options. If you want eyewear, an optician walks you through frames that suit your face and prescription. If you don't, there's no pressure.
Voorthuis does not bill vision insurance panels, and we are direct about why. Those panels set short appointment windows and steer doctors toward a limited product list. Stepping outside them is exactly what lets our optometrists give you that unhurried time and a prescription chosen for your eyes alone. The value you feel is the time itself.
The exam is a single, transparent fee, quoted before you book, with no bundled add-ons and no surprise line items. To put it in context, see our guide on eye exam cost without insurance in DC and why we skip vision insurance in the first place.
We accept FSA and HSA for your exam, take all major credit cards, and provide a fully itemized medical invoice you can submit to your plan for out-of-network reimbursement. Many patients are reimbursed for a meaningful share of the visit.
I went in for a slight eye infection and was seen by Dr. Figler. He was extremely knowledgeable, performed a thorough examination, identified the underlying issue, and gave me an effective long-term plan for my extremely dry eyes. No other eye doctor had ever identified the actual problem.Alena M. · Old Town Alexandria
Top-notch exam with Dr. Rebecca Voorthuis. I have a difficult prescription and a sensitivity to vision changes that seems to elude some eye doctors. Her exam was very thorough, and she was candid and quick, although never rushed.Tracy B. · Foxhall Square
Dr. Trang Le was extremely knowledgeable and thorough with my eye exam. She was patient and did not rush, even though I was her last patient and near closing time. I see why they have 5-star ratings.Michele C. · Wildwood
Comprehensive, unhurried exams with an on-site optometrist - the time your eyes actually need.
Progressive, single vision, computer, and specialty lenses - measured, selected, and verified by an experienced optician.
Soft, hard, multifocal, and toric contact lens fittings. Trial lenses, insertion training, and follow-up included.
Maui Jim, Oliver Peoples, Robert Marc, Brunello Cucinelli and more - in clear, polarized, photochromic, and prescription.
Doctor-led tear-film evaluation, meibomian gland assessment, prescription therapy, IPL, and RF treatments - built around a real diagnosis.
Eyeglass repair, free lifetime adjustments on Voorthuis frames, screw and nose pad replacement, and ultrasonic cleaning - usually while you wait.
Call your nearest Voorthuis to book an unhurried exam with an on-site Doctor of Optometry.