In effort to help those in need see better, University Facilities and Services holds a recycling program to collect eyeglasses twice per year. And for good reason too. According to the Center for Disease Control, about fourteen million Americans above the age of twelve are visually impaired. Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, reading glasses, sunglasses, and frames are accepted in the program. So far, fourteen collections have been held collecting a grand total of 8,803 pairs of glasses!
The most recent collection was held through the month of August, in conjunction with National Eye Exam Month. In total, 460 pairs were donated. Donations are accepted by mail or by drop-off at the Flaum Eye Institute.
Once the glasses are collected, they are sent to the The Lions Eye Bank at Rochester where they are sent to The Lions Club International to be cleaned, sorted, and packaged. The majority of the donated eyeglasses are distributed to people in need, in developing countries. The Lions Club International is a leading organization in collecting, recycling, and donating glasses in their efforts to improve sight and prevent blindness among those in need. The Lions Recycle for Sight program has collected thousands of pairs of used eyeglasses, sunglasses, new frames and other equipment.
A special thanks to Wendy Winslow of the Flaum Eye Institute and to Karen Guarino from The Lions Eye Bank at Rochester and everyone who donated glasses to make this program a continued success! Stay tuned for our next collection in March!!
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