Specs donation call

Specsavers Horsham is calling on people across the Wimmera to take part in a glasses recycling program benefitting people in need overseas.

The optometrist business, in partnership with the Lions Recycle for Sight program, will donate high-quality used glasses and sunglasses to people without access to eye care.

Last year Lions Recycle for Sight donated more than 300,000 pairs of refurbished glasses to 20 countries overseas.

This year they hope to increase that number to 500,000, with plans to donate one million pairs per year by 2023.

A 2016 study published in the Optometry and Vision Science medical journal estimated there were more than 100-million people worldwide who were visually impaired because they had no access to glasses to correct vision problems.

Specsavers Horsham co-owner Michael Peter said the business hoped to collect 100 pairs of glasses a month from the Wimmera community during the next year.

“We’re so proud and thankful the people of Horsham have got behind us, but there’s a long way to go,” he said.

“We’re asking the community to clear out their drawers of old glasses as part of their spring cleaning and put them to good use by donating them to this cause.

“There are still many people facing major problems in developing communities around the world, simply because they don’t have access to glasses.

“The more we can collect the better, because every pair of glasses will make a significant difference.”

After glasses are collected, they go to Lions Recycle for Sight in Queensland, where they undergo quality checks, cleaning and refurbishment.

People can support the glasses recycling program by bringing their old pairs to Specsavers Horsham at 51-53 Firebrace Street and placing them in the collection box or handing them to a team member.