May 3, 1984

Manhattan Eyeland, on the corner of 59th Street and Second Avenue, describes itself as an optical department store, the first in Manhattan. Within its 20,000 square feet are housed a computerized eye-examination center, offices for eye doctors, a lens-making laboratory and display areas. A showroom, called Sutton Place, boasts a sofa, a piano and vaults for eyeglasses that range in price from $200 a pair to an eye-popping $32,000. ''What Manhattan does is make a statement about the importance of eye care and eye fashion,'' said Larry Darrow, the president of the Manhattan Eyeland Corporation, which opened its store last January.

The Pope was welcomed to the United States by President Reagan in Fairbanks, Alaska. Mr. Reagan wished John Paul II well on his forthcoming trip to South Korea, Thailand, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. (Page A1, Column 6.) Syria confirmed seizing three Israelis in Lebanon and said they had been taken to Syria. Israel demanded their release. Damascus said the Israelis were saboteurs trying to infiltrate Syrian-controlled territory, but an Israeli Government spokesman said they were diplomats who had strayed into the Syrian area while on a sightseeing tour. (A1:3-4.)

IT was one of those nights. The May social season swung into high gear Tuesday with enough parties to daunt even the most dedicated. At the Coe Kerr Gallery, a preview of Jamie Wyeth's recent works benefited the Society of Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer Center. The scholarship fund of the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture held a three-part party: an exhibition divided between the two Hirschl & Adler galleries followed by a black- tie dinner at the Plaza Hotel.

The Shell Oil Company, in a surprise move, announced late yesterday that its top five executives, including John F. Bookout, president and chief executive, had decided to sell their stock in Shell Oil to the Royal Dutch/Shell Group. The other four are Charles L. Blackburn, James B. Henderson and Frank H. Richardson, all executive vice presidents, and Klaus L. Mai, president of the Shell Development Company. Royal Dutch, which already owns 70 percent of Shell Oil, is offering $58 a share to buy the rest. But Shell Oil has officially criticized the bid as inadequate.

New York plans to begin issuing drivers' licenses with photographs on them this summer, becoming the last state in the country to do so, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles announced today. The new system is to go into effect by July 2, according to the Commissioner, John A. Passidomo. He signed an agreement with Macro Industries Inc. of Rochester this morning to produce the new licenses.