How to Recycle Used and Outdated Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses

According to Unite for Sight 80 percent of blindness is preventable and 36 million people are needlessly blind.

For people who are able to see, it is often easy to forget or underestimate how debilitating it might be to not have that gift. Most of us depend very heavily on our clear vision to communicate, to work, to participate in hobbies, cook and simply travel anywhere outside of the familiar walls of our homes. But for many low income individuals around the world, experiencing life visually is not something they can afford. Eye exams and the eyewear that accompanies them are quite costly; it is difficult for many people who do have access to quality health care to find the money for glasses or contacts.

Fortunately, there are many organizations working actively to improve the access to and affordability of vision care services and products for the poor people of our communities in the US as well as internationally. With the help of conscientious consumers these charities regularly collect used eyeglass donations and distribute them to those in need.

Would you like to help by donating your used or outdated eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses and other related items? Here are some options:

Lions Recycle For Sight- Lion's Club volunteers collect used eyeglasses all over the world and distribute them through vision programs to give people in developing countries who cannot afford prescription glasses the gift of clear sight.

For a list of what the Lion's Club accepts for recycling, click here. Contributions are tax-deductible.

How to Recycle Your Eyeglasses:

*Lion's Certified Collection Centers*
Donate your used eyeglasses at any of the following locations near you:
Lenscrafters
Pearle Vision
Goodwill
You can also search by state for other businesses designated as used eyeglasses collection partners. This link is also gives information about other miscellaneous items you can recycle at each location.

Or Contact your local Lion's Club for a more extensive list of drop off locations.

*Donate eyeglasses by mail*
Learn how to package your eyeglasses and then send to one of the eyeglass recycling centers or:

Lions Clubs International Headquarters
Attention: Receiving Department
300 W. 22nd Street
Oak Brook, IL 60523, USA

New Eyes For the Needy- This organization partners with over 4,400 social service agencies and 3,500 optical dispensers who give free services and eyewear to low income Americans to help fulfill their mission of improving the vision of the poor. They also work with related charities overseas.

New Eyes for the Needy accepts the following tax-deductible items for recycling:
Plastic eyeglasses, reading eyeglasses, sunglasses (in good condition), metal eyeglasses in any condition, hearing aids, pairs of prescription lenses, watches, silver and gold jewelry, costume jewelry, silverware and giftware and dentures with gold inlays.

How to Recycle Your Eyeglasses:
You may ship your used eyewear and other items for recycling to:

New Eyes for the Needy
549 Millburn Avenue
PO Box 332
Short Hills, NJ 07078

The cost of shipping is tax-deductible. Visit New Eyes for the Needy for instructions on how to package and ship.

OneSight- Part of the Luxottica Group, this foundation consists of several vision care programs whose mission is to improve vision through research, education and outreach to those who cannot afford to access the resources on their own. (Read more about OneSignt's mission).

Your used eyewear will be handed out directly to individuals in developing countries during OneSight Global Clinics. The 2009 goal, which is needed to accommodate 20 Global Clinics, is to collect and recycle 1.2 million pairs of eyeglasses annually.

OneSight recycles: prescription glasses for men, women and children; Bifocals; and non prescription sunglasses.

How to Recycle Your Eyeglasses with OneSight:

The following drop-off locations accept used eyeglasses:
Limited Store
Lenscrafters
Pearle Vision
Sunglass Hut
Target Optical
Sears Optical
More...

Crosslink International- This ministry works with Medical Ministry International (MMI) and other short term medical teams and provides them with all types of medical supplies.

Crosslink is currently accepting all donated used eyeglasses. For more details visit Crosslink International or call 901.323.8477.

How to Recycle Your Eyeglasses with Crosslink:

Send your eyewear to:

Crosslink International / Memphis
C/O David Lewis
200 East Parkway North (in the First Baptist Church)
Memphis, TN 38112

On a final note, and this applies to all used eyewear donations, be sure to include your return mailing address on your package if you wish for a receipt.