black glasses with lens treatment

Lens Treatments in Washington

Discover what lens treatments and coatings can do for you!

(202) 659-6555

Are your eyes sensitive to light? Do your glasses often get scratched?

Lens treatments can dramatically enhance the quality of vision and the durability of lenses. Moreover, lens treatments can help protect your eyes from UV rays, glare, blue light and so much more!

Our hi-tech, high-quality lens coatings provide superior durability, performance and protection.

Whether you're looking for tinted lenses, UV protection, scratch-resistant or polarized coating—we've got you covered!

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woman wearing glasses in front of a computer

What Are Lens Treatments & Coatings?

Lens treatments are added layers applied to existing lenses, or are manufactured along with the lenses. They add features that enhance your vision or eye protection.

Lens treatments or coatings improve the performance of any kind of lens. Looking for tinted lenses, anti-reflective coating, UV protection or polarized features? Check out our selection!


Which Lens Treatments Are Best for You?

  • UV protection

    The UV rays in sunlight can be harmful to the eyes, and may increase your risk of cataracts, macular degeneration and other eye conditions. Lenses that block 100% UV help to ward off various eye conditions and damage.

  • Scratch resistant

    Scratches, while not likely to affect your lens performance, are an annoyance that can interfere with clear vision. That’s why you should always request scratch-resistant lenses (treatment) for your eyeglass lenses.

  • Anti-reflective

    For fashion, comfort and clarity, anti-reflective treatments are the way to go. They make the lens nearly invisible, and cut glare from headlights, computer screens and harsh lighting.

  • Photochromic

    Photochromic lenses automatically darken in bright light and lighten indoors, so you can enjoy eye protection anytime, anywhere – indoors and out!


Our Wide Range of Lenses

Selecting the right eyeglass lens depends largely on its function. From single-vision lenses to progressive polycarbonate lenses, we are happy to help you find what best suits your needs. At Metropolitan Optical – Pennsylvania Ave., we have a full-service optical lab that produces your lenses with the latest state-of-the-art technology.

clock icon about longer lifespan lenses

Longer Lifespan of the Lenses

Glare Reduction for Safer Driving

Protection from Accidental Scratches

Easy to Clean Due to Water, Dirt, Grease and Dust-Repellant Layers

Attractive Sun Lens Tint when Outdoors

Exceptional Indoor Clarity

100% Protection Against UV Rays

Glare Reduction

100% Protection Against Harmful Blue Light

Reduces Eye Fatigue

Improved Visual Comfort

Glare Reduction

100% Protection Against UV Rays

Richer Contrast & Visual Clarity

Reduces Eye Fatigue

Improved Visual Comfort

Find out more about what lens coatings can do for you! Talk to us about how to optimize your glasses so you can see better and protect your eye health.


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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High Performance Lens Care

Who doesn’t love putting on a pair of freshly cleaned glasses?

Clean your eyeglasses daily to keep them squeaky clean and crystal-clear. In fact, proper care is essential, as it will ensure flawless vision and will help your lenses last longer. So, pop on over and we'll be happy to demonstrate how to best clean your specs!

Book an appointment for an eye exam and lens treatment consultation at Metropolitan Optical – Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington to get the most out of your glasses!

High Performance Lens Care

Lens Treatments FAQs

Are my glasses already scratch-resistant?

Many lenses today made of polycarbonate materials already have scratch-resistant features built in. However, most lenses are made of a resin known as CR-39, which doesn’t automatically include any lens coatings, so if scratch-resistance is important to you, ask your optician to confirm you are purchasing the right lenses for your lifestyle.

Do anti-fog glasses actually work?

If you wear glasses you already understand the frustration of seeing your lenses fog up as soon as you step inside from the cold. Small water droplets fog up your lenses when the surrounding temperatures are warmer than the lenses. Anti-fog coatings help prevent lenses from becoming cloudy no matter the weather.

Is anti-scratch coating on glasses worth it?

Even the best lens treatment can’t 100% guarantee that your lenses will never be scratched. However, the higher the quality of the coating, the better the protection.

Do I need polarized coatings?

Polarized coatings are anti-reflective, so they reduce glare from the sun, snow, water and pavement. If you plan to use your glasses around water or snow, these lenses let you see objects in sharper detail and can make colors look more vivid.

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

Lens Treatments & Coatings 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

two pairs of glasses on a table

Enhance your glasses with various treatments and coatings.

Contact our optical professionals at Metropolitan Optical – Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington today!

(202) 659-6555