girls wearing sunglasses on the beach

Sunglasses in Washington

Protect your eyes and look your very best

(202) 659-6555

Sunglasses FAQs

What are the benefits of photochromic sunglasses?

Photochromic lenses (with or without prescription) adjust to brightness. They darken as you step outside on a sunny day and get lighter when you go indoors. This means that you can wear the same glasses everywhere without having to switch from regular glasses to sunglasses.

Are sunglass lens coatings worth it?

While sunglasses provide plenty of protection for your eyes, lens coatings add even more benefits. You can choose anti-reflective coatings to cut down on glare and make driving safer. Tinted sunglasses can help you see colors and detail more distinctly. Scratch-resistant coatings help prevent damage so you can enjoy your shades for longer.

Is it OK to wear sunglasses with contacts?

Unless your contact lenses provide 100% UV protection — most don’t — always remember to don your sunglasses before heading outdoors. Sunglasses with 100% UV protection screen out harmful rays and winds that tend to dry out your eyes more quickly. This is good news for contact lens wearers who run the risk of developing dry eye symptoms.

How to tell if sunglasses have UV protection?

To make sure that your sunglasses block 100% of UVA and UVB rays, make sure to purchase your shades from a licensed optometrist.


Find Your Perfect Sunglasses

Whether you’re lounging by the beach or driving through town, our designer sunglasses will bring the perfect fit and quality feel to whatever you have planned for the day.

Want to customize your shades? Ask us about tinted lenses, polarized, photochromic lenses, and so much more!

Know your options! Tinted lenses, polarized lenses, photochromic lenses that turn dark in the sun, and more!

athlete wearing sunglasses


How Do I Choose the Right Sunglasses?

To select your perfect sunglasses, consider the following:

  • Frames

    You want your sunglasses to last, so choose durable, high-quality frames. Whether you choose plastic, acetate, aluminum, stainless steel or even wooden frames, make sure that the frames fit well, look good, and are comfortable to wear.

  • Lenses

    Lenses correct your vision, protect your eyes and enhance your style. Always choose lenses that screen out 100% of UV rays. You can also choose special features like anti-glare, polarized shades or tints. To prevent damage, select durable lenses.

  • Shape

    Sunglass shapes not only express your unique style; they provide a protective barrier against the elements. Wrap-around sunglasses shield your eyes from wind and flying debris. The right frames also complement your face and help you bring your best features forward.

  • Prescription

    Once you’ve undergone an eye exam, you can purchase sunglasses with the same prescription as your regular glasses. Wearing prescription sunglasses allows you to enjoy the outdoors while protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays.


Some popular brands we carry

coach guc kate-spade maui-j oakley ray-ban tiffany-and-co

*Brands may vary. See store for full details.


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Enjoy the best in fashion and eye care with our selection of high-quality sunglasses.

woman wearing large sunglasses

Need prescription glasses? We provide:

  • A comprehensive eye exam
  • Consultation and selection
  • Prescription sunglasses fitting

Contact us or come by Metropolitan Optical – Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington today!

(202) 659-6555

Patient Reviews
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172 Reviews
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- Mar. 28, 2025
I've been coming to Metropolitan Optical for many, many years and always received excellent service ... and advice. Dr. Ayalu is terrific!
- Mar. 24, 2025
Metropolitan Optical has been handling my eye care needs for almost 20 years. The best eye specialis... ts in the Washington, DC , Maryland and Virginia area. Please make appointment and you will understand why. Very prompt, courteous and knowledgeable staff.
- Mar. 08, 2025
Highly recommend Metropolitan Optical for anyone looking for an eye-doctor or new frames! It is evid... ent how Dr. Ayalew cares for her patients -- always making sure to squeeze us in because she prioritizes our health. She takes time to explain what's going on and makes sure to develop a care plan that is realistic. The rest of the team are just awesome -- from spending time to make sure that your frames fit and look perfect to making sure that you are scheduled for your next appoint
- Feb. 27, 2025
Have been coming here for over 3 years and it’s great! Wonderful and knowledgeable staff.
- Jan. 14, 2025
Dr Salsa Ayalew is great. She is very patient and clearly communicates what is going on during the ... exam and the appropriate next steps. Dee is also great with helping to select great frames and is responsive to style and pricing concerns.
- Jan. 03, 2025
High professionalism and courtesy.
- Oct. 20, 2024
Excellent care from Dr Saba and excellent customer service
- Oct. 18, 2024
Great place for my eye care! Very satisfied.
- 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!

View All 172 Reviews

Sunglasses in Washington

Our optometry practice in Washington

Photograph of Saba  Ayalew
Hours
  • Monday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • Care First
  • Aetna
  • Davis Vision
  • VSP
  • EyeMed

woman wearing sunglasses looking at the sun

Love What You See

Enjoy the best in fashion and eye care with our selection of high-quality sunglasses.

(202) 659-6555