Lions Recycle for Sight

Old Glasses Give New Life!

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 153 million people around the world have uncorrected refractive errors (near-sightedness, far-sightedness and astigmatism). Refractive errors can be easily corrected with eyeglasses, yet millions of people in low and middle-income countries lack access to basic vision services. Without eyeglasses many people throughout the world have fewer opportunities for education, employment and a better quality of life.

The Austin Downtown Lions Club would like you to donate your used eyeglasses. The glasses that we collect are shipped to the Texas Lions Eyeglasses Recycling Center in Midland Texas where trained volunteers sort, clean and determine the prescription strengths of the glasses. Prepared glasses are stored in the warehouse until they are requested for distribution by Lions and other groups. Each year, the Texas Lions Eyeglasses Recycling Center supplies 60-80 missions sponsored by church groups, physicians and other organizations with used eyeglasses.

To donate used glasses (including sunglasses and reading glasses), place them in the specially marked Lions Recycle for Sight collection boxes found at various community locations. Below you will find a list of locations where collection boxes are available.

If your Austin area business or facility would like to be a collection location for eyeglasses, please call (512) 441-1555, leave a message or send an email to roses@austindowntownlions.org and we will get back to you.