The Tri-Village Lions Club collects old or unwanted eyeglasses for distribution to people who are visually impaired in developing nations. While 130.4 million Americans wear prescription eyeglasses, according to the Vision Council of America, many children and adults in developing nations struggle through life with poor or severely impaired vision, due to expensive and limited eye care resources. According to the World Health Organization, the eyesight of one-in-four people worldwide can be improved through the use of corrective lenses. In some developing nations, an eye exam can cost as much as a month’s wages and there may be only one eye care physician available for several hundred thousand people. You can make a dramatic difference in the life of a child or adult by simply donating a pair of eyeglasses. Despite the profound need for eyeglasses around the world, 68% of eyeglasses still languish in dresser drawers or get thrown away, according to a survey sponsored by Lions Clubs International. In fact, more than 75% of Americans who purchase prescription eyeglasses do not recycle their old eyeglasses when they buy a new pair, and more than half (62.2%) of those surveyed purchase new eyewear at least once every two or three years.
All types of eyeglasses and sunglasses, prescription and non-prescription, are acceptable. Exceptionally strong or weak prescriptions are needed. Reading glasses are very useful because many recipients are craftsmen in need of visual correction to help them perform close-up tasks. Sunglasses are needed by people living near the equator, especially those with cataracts, to shield their eyes from the sun’s damaging rays. The eyeglasses you donate are collected by our club members for processing. The glasses are cleaned, the prescriptions are read with a digital lensometer, and the glasses bagged and labeled. These glasses are then provided to local optometrists/optometry students who travel to developing nations to fit them for the poor. The glasses you donate today could be helping a poor villager see in a few months.
The Tri-Village Lions Club has used eyeglass drop boxes at the following locations:
- Northwest EyeCare Professionals
- 2098 Tremont Ctr., Columbus, OH 43221
- Boulevard Presbyterian Church
- 1235 Northwest Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43212
- Grandview Heights Public Library
- 1685 West First Avenue, Columbus, OH 43212
- Chef O’Nette
- 2090 Tremont Center, Columbus, OH 43221
- Northwest Christian Church
- 1340 Fishinger Road, Columbus, OH 43221
- Upper Arlington Senior Center
- 1945 Ridgeview Road, Columbus, OH 43221
- Upper Arlington Public Library
- 2800 Tremont Road, Upper Arlington, Ohio 43221
- Riverside Methodist Hospital
- 3535 Olentangy River Rd. (1st floor), Columbus, Ohio 43214
- Ohio State Optical
- 1720 Zollinger Road, Columbus, OH 43221
- Dr. Robert Zerman, DC
- 3410 Riverside Drive, Upper Arlington, OH 43221
- Alex Shoe Repair Service
- 2118 Tremont Ctr., Columbus, OH 43221
- Rainbow Dry Cleaners
- 1210 W. 3rd Ave., Upper Arlington, Ohio 43221
- Franklin County Coroner’s Office
- 520 King Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43201
- Nini’s Barber Shop
- 2088 W. Henderson Rd., Columbus, OH. 43220
Click Here for a complete list of drop-box locations in Central Ohio
You may also give your used eyeglasses to any Lions Club member; mail them to the club (at the address on our contact page) or contact us to pick them up. If you need a non-P.O. box address to ship to, please email us for one.
