Donate towards improved vision
Vision is something that’s easy to take for granted until it changes. Whether it’s due to illness, injury or aging, many people find their vision becomes impaired enough to necessitate an intervention.
According to the Vision Council of America, approximately 75 percent of adults use some sort of vision correction, and about 64 percent of them wear eyeglasses while roughly 11 percent wear contact lenses, either exclusively or with glasses. Despite the need for corrective lenses, the Center for Vision in the Developing World and leading optical lens producers say about 2.5 billion people globally meet the criterion for glasses but can’t afford them or do not have access to qualified eyecare professionals.
Even in America one of the richest countries in the world 61 million adults are at high risk of serious vision loss due to diabetes, advanced age or diagnosed eye problems. But one in 12 people in the United States cannot afford eyeglasses, according to a study in the Archives of Ophthalmology. Failure to see correctly can result in increased risk of injury, accidents, depression, social isolation, and more. But there is something the public can do to assist with this situation: Donate eyeglasses. 0
Donating eyeglasses can help people in many ways. Doing so may help a child see better in school and advance his or her education. Having a pair of glasses can help a senior maintain his or her independence. An adult who requires corrective lenses may now have the ability to get a better job. Eyeglass donations are collected by various clubs and nonprofit organizations. A notable group involved with donated glasses is Lions Club International. Volunteers will sort the glasses by type and prescription. The glasses are washed and processed, then shipped out to people in need. These recycled glasses may be available for distribution around North America or utilized by humanitarian aid groups overseas.
Various groups, such as New Eyes for the Needy and OneSight, provide similar services. Certain eye doctors also partner with nonprofit groups to help facilitate the collection and recycling of eyeglasses. Lions Club International partners with retailers such as Walmart and Sam’s Club vision centers to help collect used eyeglasses. When it is time for a new prescription and frames, people can consider donating their older glasses so that others can have the benefit of better sight.