Recommend a good national eye exam/glasses chain?

Or, a good private one that's in Southern Maryland? ;)

Never had any complaints.

And if you have AAA, LensCrafters gives a discount.

I went there when I had no eye-coverage (or insurance) and the exam was..cheap, and they had a HUGE selection of great frames for $20-$30. Also, the lenses weren't expensive at all. I believe I got my complete set of lenses and wire frames for around $60...which is about $300 less than I was paying at private practice opthamologists offices. Especially considering I have astigmatism and generally have to get coke-bottle lenses. However, at Costco, they had very thin lenses that didn't magnify my eyes to the size of dinner plates.

WHATEVER YOU DO don't go to Americas Best. THEY ARE THE WORST. Forget about their "2 pair for $30" crap special. The only frames you can get for that price are the ass-ugliest fucking frames, and they refuse to release your eye exam prescription to you, which makes it impossible for you to get an exam there, but go elsewhere for frames. Oh, and the non-special priced frames were SO outrageously expensive and SO fucking ugly. And the 2-for-$30 special isn't for everyone. Basically, if you don't have 20/20 vision, they're not going to give you that special. I've yet to meet ANYONE who ever was able to take advantage of their advertised specials. They prey on the poorer among us and get them fucking snagged once they get in the door.

I had gone there for contacts, and they were refusing to release my Rx so that I could order additional contacts online (thanfully, I found that 1-800-contacts didn't require an Rx, just that you knew what your 'values' were, which I did because they were printed on the side of the box I got from Americas Best). I went round and fucking round with them for MONTHS to get my Rx and finally I had to lie to them and tell them I was moving overseas and NEEDED the prescriptiono in case I needed to get contacts there. Only then did they release it, and by that time, it had been nearly a year since the exam, so only a few months remaining until the Rx was considered invalid.

I hate that company with a passion. If the building ever caught on fire, I'd be first in line with marshmallows and graham crackers.

The national chains are only as good as the people who are on staff there in each individual location

"For Eyes" is an East Coast chain that I can recommend as a company. Good quality, good policies and good prices.