Eyeglasses Reuse and Recycling

Chances are good that an optician or community organization can use your old prescription or non-prescription eyeglasses. Collected eyeglasses are cleaned, repaired and measured to determine the correction. Available glasses are cataloged in a computer database, and matched to people in need. Many of the glasses are sent to other countries.

• The Lions Clubs (www.lionsclubs.org) operate the largest program, collecting glasses from thousands of opticians. October 10 is celebrated every year as Lions World Sight Day.
• Many chain stores like Lens Crafters (www.lenscrafters.com) in Sunvalley Mall, Pearle Vision (www.pearlevision.com) in the Courtyard Shopping Center, and For Eyes (www.foreyes.com) in Walnut Creek collect glasses chain-wide.
• Several organizations also accept used eyewear by mail. One such organization is New Eyes for the Needy, 549 Millburn, P.O. Box 332, Short Hills, NY 07078. Another is Give the Gift of Sight National Safety Council Community Safety Division, 1121 Spring Lake Drive, Itasca, Illinois 60143. They accept metal frames in any condition, unbroken plastic frames, prescription and non-prescription glasses and sunglasses.

Look around with your new glasses and you will see that everywhere there are creative ways to Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle.