Dr. James Holley, OD

Dr. James Holley, OD

Optometrist
1401 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC
4.67
“My experience with James Holley was excellent in every way. He took the time to do a through examination and answered all my questions. The staff was excellent and as a group the people at Jems made my visit enjoyable, informative and well worth my time.”
James H.October 8, 2025
Excellent wait time
97% of patients waited less than 30 minutes
New patient appointments
Appointments available for new patients on Zocdoc

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Scheduling details

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What patients are saying

Overall rating

4.67

Average wait time

4.79

Bedside manner

4.64
“My experience with James Holley was excellent in every way. He took the time to do a through examination and answered all my questions. The staff was excellent and as a group the people at Jems made my visit enjoyable, informative and well worth my time.”
James H.October 8, 2025
“Great experience. They put the patient and his condition first. Business after. Once I arrived, was handed light paper work and gave my insurance card.. I filled my paperwork within 2 minutes and they made me have a seat and wait for the doctor. Within 6 minutes of arriving into that office for the first time, I was already sitting and being seen by the doctor. Thorough eye exam. Great advice at the end. It's after seeing the doctor that I went back to talk business, payment option, insurance etc. I even forgot my Blue Fund card at home. They let me go home and call them to make a payment. Great experience. Thanks!”
Patrick M.May 9, 2025

About Dr. James Holley

Dr. Holley and the entire staff at JEMS Optical, LLC are thankful for the opportunity to take part in your family's eye care needs. We recognize you have a choice for your eye care and are committed to exceeding all your expectations. Thank you for learning more about us. Dr. James Holley, a Doctor of Optometry graduate from Indiana University, takes pride in providing the one-on-one interactions required to solve eye health and vision problems. He enjoys caring for patients in Washington, DC, and the surrounding communities.

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In-network insurances

99% of patients have successfully booked with these insurances
Aetna
BlueCross BlueShield
Cigna
UnitedHealthcare
200+ more in-network plans

Popular visit reasons

Contact Lenses
Eye Inflammation
Eyeglasses
General Eye Consultation
Glaucoma Consultation
Retina Consultation
Retinal Detachment
Routine Eye Exam
Contact Lenses
Eye Inflammation
Eyeglasses
General Eye Consultation

Office location

Jems Optical
1401 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005

Education and background

Practice names

Education and training

  • Indiana University, Doctor of Optometry

Languages spoken

  • English

Provider's gender

Male

NPI number

1336279504

Patient reviews

All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
4.67
Wait time
4.79
Bedside manner
4.64
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138 reviews
Most relevant
Great staff and clean. The doctor is very knowledgeable and gave great recommendations ; however, he is pretty rude.
Such friendly staff and doctor they were able to get me in ahead of schedule and were so kind to me
Verified patient
The doctor was thorough. The staff was friendly and competent. It was a good experience.
He was very professional and I enjoyed his mannerism in his job I would recommend him he is a nice guy
Excellent care Wonderful office environment Great staff Will highly recommend Will go back
Verified patient
Dr. Holley was very kind and clear! I was seen right away and everybody was kind and helpful.
The best, quickest and thoroughest eye appointment. And a friendly staff too!
Verified patient
Great experience. Very thorough and professional exam. Great selection of glasses.
Verified patient
My experience with James Holley was excellent in every way. He took the time to do a through examination and answered all my questions. The staff was excellent and as a group the people at Jems made my visit enjoyable, informative and well worth my time.
Verified patient
Great experience. They put the patient and his condition first. Business after. Once I arrived, was handed light paper work and gave my insurance card.. I filled my paperwork within 2 minutes and they made me have a seat and wait for the doctor. Within 6 minutes of arriving into that office for the first time, I was already sitting and being seen by the doctor. Thorough eye exam. Great advice at the end. It's after seeing the doctor that I went back to talk business, payment option, insurance etc. I even forgot my Blue Fund card at home. They let me go home and call them to make a payment. Great experience. Thanks!
Verified patient
Great with time management and efficient
Verified patient
Great doctor, took time and listened.
Verified patient
Great ppl Great environment
Verified patient
Dr Holley is excellent. He takes time to do a thorough eye exam, he is very professional, always on time. Hi staff are friendly and helpful and as a real plus, they take my insurance.
I've never had such a thorough eye exam. I appreciated all the time Dr. Holley took to conduct the exam. Will definitely be back.
I had a wonderful experience with this office. The doctor was professional, intelligent, and thorough. I will most certainly be returning for my exams. Highly recommend!
Verified patient
Dr. James Holley may not be interested in small-talk conversation, but the service and exam he provided was so careful and detailed, that I felt like I'd NEVER had my eyes examined before. I truly appreciate a practitioner that takes their time and it's evident Dr. James Holley is a master in his craft. The assisting folks were also great to work with. They were uber patient and friendly. I didn't expect to be buying glasses that day, but the atmosphere was so pleasant and again, the staff was so attentive (I tried on nearly 15 glasses) that I found a pair I actually like. Can't wait to pick up my glasses!
Verified patient
I could not have had a better experience. After I scheduled an emergency last minute appointment, Dr. Holley gave me an exam and directed me to a specialist for the problem I had. He even set me up to be seen immediately there. An incredibly supportive experience altogether and I am so grateful!
Verified patient
This office/doctor needs to update their profile on ZocDoc. They only accept my insurance for "medical problems" not routine eye exams. The front desk did call prior but left no voicemail when I called back (they called 3 times) and I looked it up and it was and glasses shop, they told me it was a wrong number (?) so my name must have tripped them up. Which led to miscommunication and me showing up at the appointment only to be turned away from service. Perhaps they can update their profile or perhaps start texting patients.
Verified patient
Very polite, professional and thorough examination - I had scratched my cornea. Thoughtful and informed diagnosis - did not feel rushed - very calm and clear communication. The appointment started right on time and I was very well treated. I would highly recommend.
Verified patient
Wonderful and patient Doctor
Verified patient
this was my first time visiting this doctor and my overall experience was good. The location was clean, reception staff was very friendly and helpful. The doctor was professional and did an in-depth eye exam. overall, I was very satisfied.
Verified patient
Cut and dry, timely, clean and thorough.
Wonderful experience. Linda at the front desk was lovely and helpful. Dr. Holly was knowledgable and wanted to help me get the best deal on ordering new contacts. Unfortunately, I figured out that I had entered my insurance incorrectly and my visit would not be covered so I had to cut my appointment short. However, Dr. Holly gave me a reference to another office that is in network with my insurance and did not charge me for the portion of the exam he had already started which was very kind of him. If they were in network, I would 100% be a patient there.
Verified patient
Dr Holley was fantastic and I was in and out.
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Frequently asked questions

How soon can I make an appointment with Dr. James Holley?

Generally, Dr. James Holley has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Dr. Holley's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.

Is Dr. James Holley accepting new patients?

Dr. James Holley generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Dr. Holley's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.

Does Dr. James Holley accept my insurance?

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Can I make an appointment with Dr. James Holley online?

Yes, you can make an appointment online with Dr. Holley using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.

What practice does Dr. James Holley work with?

Where is Dr. James Holley's office located?

Dr. James Holley's office is located at 1401 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005.

What are common reasons for patients to see Dr. James Holley?

Dr. James Holley frequently sees patients for Contact Lenses, Eyeglasses, General Eye Consultation, Retina Consultation, and Routine Eye Exam. You can see other visit reasons for Dr. James Holley on their profile.

What languages does Dr. James Holley speak?

Dr. James Holley speaks English.

How do patients rate Dr. James Holley in reviews?

138 patients have reviewed Dr. James Holley. The overall rating for this doctor is 4.67/5. They have a 4.64/5 rating for bedside manner and a 4.79/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.

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