When you purchase a new pair of eyeglasses, what do you do with the older pair? Instead of storing them in a drawer, you can give your glasses a second life.
Over 1 billion people worldwide are impacted by vision loss and lack of access to proper care. By donating an old pair of glasses, you can provide someone with the gift of sight.
There are organizations that make donating glasses simple. We’ve compiled a few resources and tips to help make the process even easier.
What to Consider Before Donating
Before you decide to donate a pair of glasses, make sure they are in good condition. Donated glasses should be wearable and functional. If they are beyond repair, they won’t be of use.
If the pair is in good condition to donate, be sure that you package them securely to keep them protected whether you are mailing them or simply dropping them off.
When deciding which organization to donate to, research their requirements for what can be used, as they can vary. Depending on which one you choose, the organization may accept:
- Used prescription glasses in good condition
- Non-prescription reading glasses
- New glasses
- Glasses frames
Upon receiving the glasses, the organization will inspect and clean them before passing them along to the recipient in need.
Organizations Accepting Eyeglass
Lions Club International: Lions Club International serves visually impaired individuals all over the world to help improve their lives and prevent avoidable blindness. Learn about how and where you can drop off or mail your old glasses. The Lions Club has teamed up with Walmart Corporation, making eyeglass donation as simple as visiting your local Walmart Vision Center. For more information about donating to Lions Club International, visit their website.
Mission Vision: Located in Cranberry Township, PA, Mission Vision distributes eyeglasses, sunglasses and reading glasses to countries in need all over the globe. Learn more about their transformative work here.
LensCrafters: If you have a LensCrafters location nearby, you can drop off gently used glasses. Find a location near you.
ReSpectacle: Whether it’s through financial donations or reused glasses, ReSpectacle works to make vision care more accessible with simple online donations. See how you can help.
Rather than discarding your old glasses or letting them collect dust, consider taking an hour out of your day to help a person in need gain the gift of clear vision.