If you've got an old set of sunglasses, nonprescription, or prescription lenses lying around, there are several organizations that are happy to take them off your hands. For low-income families and people living in developing countries, eyeglasses are a luxury that many can't afford, and your old lenses can make a big impact...
- Lions Club cleans up old eyeglasses, sorts them by prescription, and donates them around the world. They have recycling centers in the US, Canada, and Europe.
- New Eyes for the Needy recycles eyeglasses for US and international patients in need. Donations are shipped to their headquarters in New Jersey.
- Unite for Sight sends eyeglasses to African nations. They're especially in need of sunglasses and reading glasses. Donations are shipped to their recycling center in Tennessee.
- LensCrafters runs the "Give the Gift of Sight" foundation, which recycles eyeglasses for people around the world. They accept drop-offs at any LensCrafters location.
Other suggestions for places to donate your eyeglasses? Let us know in the comments below.
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Comments (12)
I have a few pairs that have broken side pieces. Will the Lions still take them? I'll have to look and see who runs the drop boxes in our local library. Thanks for reminding me!
Thanks for posting this. I've been holding on to a couple of pairs for a while now and knew that they could be donated. I used to belong to the McBurney YMCA on 14th St. in NYC and they collected old glasses.
Since this applies to my day job I thought I would let everyone know...
I work for an eyewear store (with 12 locations) called Spex - we take eyewear donations and send them off to Lions Club and other organizations that can clean/fix them up and get them to people who need it. Just stop in and leave them with anyone in the store, we'll take whatever you've got. Our locations are listed at: http://spexchicago.com/locations
It's amazing how many eyewear donations come in, and we appreciate it!
I really want to share a couple websites that I now use for my own eyeglasses... www.glassyeyes.blogspot.com and www.zennioptical.com .
When I couldn't afford to buy them in the store: any store even the "cheap" glasses... I was very upset and started researching glasses online. To my surprise, yes, you caaan get good prices for them online. I also found out that eyeglasses are marked up 1000% in physical stores. Not 100%. One thousand. I was astonished and think it is really really unfortunate that people are led to believe that glasses should cost as much as they do in stores. My favorite online place is the zennioptical- their eyeglasses start out about 8 bucks and you can add anti-reflective coating or sunglass tint for another 5 bucks. I can not rave about this place enough. I walked around verbally advertising them for months when I first found them. I now have about 6 or so pairs that I can switch, and not feel devastated when something happens to them... (like your puppy chewing them...) Anyway... I don't often get the chance to tout my findings, so please pass this along to someone you know that buys glasses or needs to save some money... (which is all of us...)
:)
I really want to share a couple websites that I now use for my own eyeglasses... http://www.glassyeyes.blogspot.com/ and http://zennioptical.com/ .
When I couldn't afford to buy them in the store: any store even the "cheap" glasses... I was very upset and started researching glasses online. To my surprise, yes, you caaan get good prices for them online. I also found out that eyeglasses are marked up 1000% in physical stores. Not 100%. One thousand. I was astonished and think it is really really unfortunate that people are led to believe that glasses should cost as much as they do in stores. My favorite online place is the zennioptical- their eyeglasses start out about 8 bucks and you can add anti-reflective coating or sunglass tint for another 5 bucks. I can not rave about this place enough. I walked around verbally advertising them for months when I first found them. I now have about 6 or so pairs that I can switch, and not feel devastated when something happens to them... (like your puppy chewing them...) Anyway... I don't often get the chance to tout my findings, so please pass this along to someone you know that buys glasses or needs to save some money... (which is all of us...)
:)
I have shipped my glasses to Lions Club 4 times in the past 2 years and they always come back in the mail. Thanks so much for assembling this list. I've got a bag (literally!) of glasses sitting behind me on my credenza that needs a home.
most eyeglass stores take them, the chains and the boutiques... just pop in and ask.
doctor's offices often take donations of glasses and old cell-phones
When I was in the mountains of North Vietnam in March, a doctor I met in Hanoi gave me reading glasses to take with me to the villages. It was the most wonderful experience. Read about it - and see photos of the women - on my blog TribecaTribal.typepad.com
By all means, do this!
thanks symbollalala.
:)
You can donate your old glasses while you buy your new contact lenses at http://www.replacemycontacts.com/idx/help/eyeglasses_contact_lens_rebate.asp. When you order lenses, check the box to donate glasses. When you get your lenses, print out the prepaid shipping slip, stick it on the box your contacts came in, send it in. They'll also refund $5 when they receive them. Everyone wins as they're donated to Lions Clubs and International Vision Care charities.