finger with contact lenses

Contact Lenses & Contact Lens Fitting in Washington

Experience the Comfort and Freedom of Contact Lenses

(202) 659-6555

Do your glasses get fogged up and splattered in the rain?

Are your eyeglasses getting in the way of playing sports?

Want to reinvent your look?

If you’ve been diagnosed with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or even astigmatism, contact lenses are a great choice to help you see clearly. Contacts offer a full field of focused vision wherever you look. Because they move with your eyes, they allow you track moving objects with sharp and clear and peripheral vision.

Metropolitan Optical – Pennsylvania Ave. will help you find the perfect contact lenses for your needs and lifestyle.

young woman wearing contacts


How Contacts Can Help You See & Look Your Best

  • They’re great for sports and the outdoors

    Contacts offer a clear, wide field of vision, so that you can keep your eye on the ball, no matter where it is.

  • They provide visual comfort like never before

    Today’s contact lenses are made from a wide range of comfortable, breathable materials, ensuring a great wearing experience.

  • You can choose from a range of options

    Whether you need monthly, weekly, or daily lenses for single vision, astigmatism, multifocal correction, or even colored and toric lenses, we've got you covered with contact options to fit every need and lifestyle!

  • They’re perfect for every situation

    Contact lenses won’t get wet in the rain or fog up when you wear a mask. Enjoy the freedom, comfort and convenience of contacts on a night out, when exercising, or just an ordinary day at the office.


What to Expect at Your Contact Lens Exam & Fitting in Washington

  • Eye doctor consultation

    During your contact lens exam, your eye doctor will ask you about your medical history and discuss any lifestyle or health considerations you may have. Do you have astigmatism or dry eye syndrome? Seeking colored contact lenses? Are you over 40 and struggling to read small print in books and menus? No matter the issue, we'll make sure you get the perfect contacts for your needs.

  • Get your contact lenses fitted

    Poorly fitted contacts can cause blurry vision, discomfort and may even damage the cornea. To ensure you have the most comfortable fit possible, your eye doctor will take measurements and run tests to find the right contact lens for you.

  • Receive your trial pair of contact lenses

    Once your eye doctor has determined the optimal lenses for your needs and eyes, they will often offer you a trial pair. Once you’re satisfied with the comfort and clarity of vision these contacts provide, you can buy as many contact lenses as you need for ultimate comfort and clear vision.

woman in exam


Save up to $300 on ACUVUE® OASYS 1-Day contact lenses
Save up to $300 on ACUVUE® OASYS 1-Day contact lenses

Get superior comfort while using digital screens with ACUVUE® OASYS 1-DAY. Schedule your contact lens exam today

For Important Safety Info: https://bit.ly/3lAC3Ay

New wearers save up to $300 in rewards with an annual supply purchase.*

*See store associate for further details. (Save up to $250 through MyACUVUE® Rewards and $50 through Instant Savings)

* See full terms and conditions and minimum purchase requirements at https://www.acuvue.com/en-us/myacuvue-rewards-benefits/. Important Information for Contact Lens Wearers: ACUVUE® Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional and ask for a Patient Instruction Guide, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guide: https://www.acuvue.com/patient instruction-guides.

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Contact Lens FAQs

Can children wear contact lenses?

Yes. Contact lenses can be an excellent vision correction option for children. There’s no specific age recommendation for children to start wearing contacts. Rather, parents should assess when their child is mature enough to properly care for them. Proper storage, cleaning and hygiene when inserting and taking out contact lenses are all essential for successful contact lens wear.

Can I wear contact lenses if I have astigmatism?

Yes. Toric lenses are a specific type of contact lens specially designed to address issues connected to astigmatism. In most cases, those with astigmatism can wear their choice of soft contact lenses, including monthly and daily disposables.

Are contact lenses comfortable?

Yes. Original hard contact lenses used to be quite difficult to adapt to. However, thanks to technological advancement, today's contacts are more breathable and comfortable than ever before. In most cases, soft contact lenses are easy to adapt to, even from the very start.

Why might daily disposable lenses be right for me?

Daily disposable lenses are a good choice for those who enjoy the convenience of throwing out used contacts each night, and inserting a new pair in the morning. This saves money, since there is no need for contact lens solution or a case to keep the lenses in. It also ensures that no debris has accumulated on the lenses overtime, since you insert a new one every day.

Why might monthly-wear contact lenses be right for me?

Monthly-wear lenses are great for those responsible enough to take good care of their lenses according to their eye doctor’s instructions. They tend to be made of sturdier material than daily-wear lenses, meaning they don’t tear as easily. The material also lets in more oxygen to the eye, preventing serious complications that can harm your long-term eye health. They are also more eco-friendly (think one lens per month vs. thirty) and are less expensive up-front.

Patient Reviews
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155 Reviews
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- Sep. 14, 2024
Top Tier service is always received at every level when I visit Metropolitan Optical!
- Sep. 13, 2024
Doctor and every staff are very friendly and good customers service, also they explain every step un... til you get discharge. Excellent
- Sep. 13, 2024
Dr. Ayalew and every staff member give the highest quality customer service.
- Aug. 30, 2024
Great professional optical services. I’ve purchased prescription glasses twice with Metropolitan ... in last year. Customer service is excellent. High quality and reasonably priced frames. Paul at the Penn Ave shop most recently helped me with selecting non-slip prescription glasses for working out. Very happy with them and the Lunor glasses purchased in 2023.
- Nov. 07, 2023
Dr. Ayalew is an exceptional eye doctor who goes above and beyond for her patients. I recently had a... n eye emergency on a Sunday night and emailed her, she replied st 5 am instructing me to come in first thing in the morning. I know she squeezed me in because I was unable to schedule the appointment online. Upon arriving I was literally greeted at the door and taken straight to the exam room. (I’m sure this isn’t always the case so I don’t want to build any unrealistic expectations, same goes for emailing on a Sunday night, but this was my experience today so I’m just sharing factual events) Dr. Ayalew thoroughly examined my eyes, patiently explaining the condition and answering all my questions. Her expertise and genuine concern for my well-being are always evident at my appointments. My insurance switched a few years ago and metropolitan optical doesn’t take my new insurance but Dr Ayalew is so good I go to her anyway and pay out of pocket, money speaks louder than words — this is greatest endorsement I could give any doctor. Over the past 25 years living in DC, I've consulted with several optometrists. Without a doubt, Dr. Ayalew stands out as the best in my opinion. Her combination of expertise, compassion, and patient-centric approach is unmatched. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking exceptional eye care
- Sep. 26, 2023
Love this place! Everyone is professional and has their masks on. They are able to repair my glasses... within 10 minutes. Will recommend this place to anyone in DC area.
- Sep. 23, 2023
I simply do not understand the negative comments about the staff. I will chalk it up to a bad day. H... ave been seeing Dr. Ayalew for nearly two decades. She is great and her staff is friendly and efficient.
- Sep. 20, 2023
Dr. Ayalew was great! Personable, professional, knowledgeable and very thorough.
- Sep. 18, 2023
Big fan of Dr. Ayalew. She is highly knowledgeable, takes the time to listen to my questions and con... cerns, and is always warm and friendly. Staff at the practice are also terrific.
- Jun. 26, 2023
I came to the office 15 minutes early and immediately taken care of. The staff was friendly and eff... icient. Once, I met with the doctor, she provided all relevant info and answered my questions. Very satisfied.
- Apr. 28, 2023
As a tourist from another country I stopped in this shop to have my daugther’s glasses fixed (she ... had lost a nose pad). They were super nice and fixed the issue on the spot. Thanks!
- Apr. 24, 2023
Dr. Ayalew and her entire staff are fantastic. I switched to her practice a few years ago when my p... revious doctor retired and have been incredibly happy ever since. She is thorough, thoughtful and very knowledgeable. I have an eye condition that requires regular monitoring and correction and she has helped me understand the challenges, solutions and what to expect as I age. Everyone in the office is knowledgeable, helpful and thorough too. In fact, I raved about how great my first experience was so much that my wife started going to her too. Now she won't go anywhere else either. Top notch!
- Apr. 05, 2023
Always great service.
- Feb. 19, 2023
Ever since I met and started having my eye exams with Dr. Ayalew... well, I will never change who I ... "see". I now drive 2-1/2 hours+ from where I currently live to have my appointments. Top KNOWLEDGE, TRUST, CARE, and CUSTOMER SERVICE from her, and her entire staff! (PS. I don't give many reviews...)
- Feb. 09, 2023
Dr. Saba is the best!!
- Jan. 27, 2023
I had been experiencing significant changes to my eyesight that in truth I was dreading a visit to t... he optician which was why I had delayed for so long. Dr. Saba Ayalew however made the whole process feel less intimidating. With her and her team's care, examination and advice she was able to identify that my prescription had been too strong and a simple adjustment would be half the battle. She offered advise on eye care, and long term eye health which was very much appreciated. Normally, I make my own frame selections, but at Metropolitan, the advise of Emebet Ayalew, took the humming and hawing out of making a selection. She was quick to give me great options. I walked out with 2 pairs of new glasses on order, and appreciated their quick turnaround as well their exacting standards to make sure that the lens were produced to fit my face perfectly. Much gratitude for the proffesionalism and care. A definite recommend.
- Nov. 07, 2022
Really great customer service and the doctor is very skilled as well.
- Oct. 03, 2022
Dr. A is awesome. She takes time to listen to what I think is going on vision wise, and performs a ... thorough exam. I've seen Dr. A several years now and I trust her with my vision. The front staff is always top notch. I receive excellent recommendations on frames from them, and always feel like they are taking extra steps to ensure I am happy with their service.
- Sep. 19, 2022
Dr. Ayalew and her staff in all locations are wonderful! Been with her for years and she is always v... ery accurate and very thorough.
- Sep. 06, 2022
I should never have stopped going to Dr. Ayalew! First time back in 8 years or so and never leaving... until she retires lol Awesome doctor, just awesome! It feels so good to see properly again with her expertise! The staff in the front helping you with glasses are the best as well. Everyone is so friendly and actually nice. You don't feel like you're part of an assembly line just getting pushed out.

View All 155 Reviews

Contact Lenses in Washington

Our optometry practice in Washington

Photograph of Saba Ayalew
Hours
  • Monday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
  • Tuesday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • Care First
  • Aetna
  • Davis Vision
  • VSP
  • EyeMed

woman inserting contact lenses

Experience Clearer, More Comfortable Vision

With Contact Lenses!

(202) 659-6555