POB’s Affordable Eyeglasses Clinic provides prescription eyeglasses to individuals who need eyeglasses but cannot afford their full cost. Eyeglasses start at $40, including frames. Each year, we provide more than 1,000 local residents with eyeglasses at a price they can afford. We have proudly provided this vital service to our local community for over 20 years.
The Eyeglasses Clinic is located at 415 2nd Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. The Clinic is open for visits by appointment only. Call (202) 269-0203, option 1, to schedule an appointment.
If you are enrolled in or eligible for Medicaid, you may be able to receive an eye exam or eyeglasses at no cost to you from a Medicaid-approved provider. To learn more, see our frequently asked questions below, and visit our page on Financial Resources for Eye Care.
In addition to providing eyeglasses at POB headquarters, we also provide eyeglasses to clients of So Others Might Eat (SOME) regularly. For more information about SOME’s medical clinic, contact (202) 797-8806.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a prescription for eyeglasses?
Individuals interested in our services must have a current prescription for eyeglasses less than one (1) year old. We do not provide eye exams. Please bring your prescription with you to your appointment. Click here to learn more about Financial Resources for Eye Care.
Does the Eyeglasses Clinic provide eye exams?
We do not provide eye exams. Individuals interested in our services must have a current prescription for eyeglasses less than one (1) year old. Please bring your prescription with you to your appointment. If you need an eye exam and cannot afford one, visit our page on Financial Resources for Eye Care.
How do I schedule an appointment?
You can schedule an appointment by calling (202) 269-0203, option 1. Appointments are required for your initial consultation and to pick up your eyeglasses.
Can I walk in to get eyeglasses without an appointment?
No, we are unable to serve clients without an appointment.
How much does a pair of eyeglasses cost?
Eyeglasses start at $40 for a basic pair with single-vision or bifocal lenses, with frames included. Additional options cost extra. An application for financial assistance for those unable to afford our nominal fee is accessible to social service agencies that apply on behalf of their clients. Learn more about financial resources for eye care.
Individuals under 18 may be eligible to receive a free pair of eyeglasses with a special referral from the POB Children’s Vision Screening program.
Do you provide contact lenses?
No, we do not provide contact lenses at this time.
Do you accept Medicaid, Medicare, or other insurance?
No insurance is accepted. Payment is required at the time of order by cash, credit card, or money order.
However, if you are eligible for or enrolled in Medicaid, you may be able to get an eye exam and prescription eyeglasses at no cost through an approved Medicaid provider.
If you are already enrolled in Medicaid, call the phone number on the back of your insurance card and ask how to get an eye exam and/or eyeglasses.
If you are not yet enrolled in Medicaid, contact the offices below for more information.
District of Columbia (DC): (202) 442-5988 or dhcf.dc.gov.
Maryland: (855) 642-8572 or mmcp.health.maryland.gov.
Virginia: (855) 242-8282 or coverva.org.
How do I get to the Eyeglasses Clinic?
The Eyeglasses Clinic is located at 415 2nd Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. The Clinic is open for visits by appointment only.
We are just one block away from Union Station (MetroRail Red Line). The nearest MetroBus stop (served by the 96, D6, and X8 routes) is at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue NE and 2nd Street NE. The nearest DC Circulator stop is at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue NE and Columbus Circle (Orange Route/Union Station-Congress Heights Route). The nearest landmark is an Exxon gas station located directly next to our building. Use the WMATA Trip Planner for additional directions.
Limited metered street parking is available after 9:30 a.m. on Massachusetts Avenue NE, 3rd Street NE, and 4th Street NE. Additional metered parking is available on the streets surrounding our office. Limited free 2-hour parking may be available on certain sections (between 4th Street NE and 3rd Street NE) of C Street NE.
Please pay close attention to posted parking regulations, as they are strictly enforced.
The nearest paid private parking facility is the Union Station Parking Garage (30 Massachusetts Avenue NE).
I represent a social service agency. How can I apply for financial assistance for my client?
An application for financial assistance for those unable to afford our nominal fee is accessible to social service agencies that apply on behalf of their clients.
If you represent a social service agency, please contact us at (202) 269-0203, option 1, to request an application. After you complete and return the application, the client must make an appointment to receive eyeglasses.
Do you accept donations of used eyeglasses? Can you recycle my old eyeglasses?
Visit our page on Eyeglasses Recycling to learn more.
For more information, contact:
(202) 269-0203, option 1
