In the UK we are lucky to have access to eye care specialists allowing us to submit ourselves for eye examinations on a relatively regular basis. If you work with computers, your employer may even be required to pay for your eye examination. As a result, a new pair of glasses is not uncommon when even a slight change in eyesight is detected as well as for aesthetic reasons, which is where recycling glasses may come into question. Recycling glasses is certainly preferable to throwing them away or putting them in a drawer, so read on to see how this can be done.
Recycling glasses is not often undertaken by local authority collection services, but old pairs of spectacles can be used by charities. Vision Aid Overseas collects old pairs of glasses (unbroken and not bifocal or varifocal) and distributes them in developing countries. These are of vital importance and can make a real difference to the lives of people with sight impairments, who otherwise would not have access to eye care.
In recycling glasses Vision Aid Overseas initially removes pairs in bad condition and then sends the collected spectacles to UK prisons. Trained prisoners then clean, grade and pack the glasses which can then be sent abroad. They are only dispensed following a full eye examination in order to ensure a good match with the prescription of the glasses.
If you wish to recycle some old spectacles, Vision Express and many other opticians will collect them on behalf of Vision Aid Overseas. Alternatively you can find out more information at the VAO website.
For further information on Recycling click on the links below
