What to do with old eyeglasses?

July 4, 2019 9:13 AM

I've accumulated several pairs of unwanted old eyeglasses, after a torrid fling with several of those cheap online eyeglass sites. I don't think they're recyclable and the old standby "donate for people in need" doesn't seem to be a thing anymore. What should I do with them?

So far I have about a half dozen pairs, all of them cost under $35 new. Some are plastic frames, some metal, all lenses are polycarbonate and I've outgrown them either because the frames never fit my face right, or I had to give them up because my Rx changed & I replaced them. I have an odd Rx (different in each eye + astigmatism) so the lenses aren't likely to work for anyone else as-is. I've done the obligatory googling with little viable suggestions other than donate (not likely to be helpful) or make an "art project" out of them. Any other ideas? Seems a shame to just toss them.

posted by cuddles.mcsnuggy to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (12 answers total)

I’m not sure why donating eye glasses “isn’t a thing” anymore. Our church recently did a mission overseas to correct people’s vision, and they had hundreds of donated eyeglasses. Maybe put a tag on them with your weird prescription and try to find a church in your area that will take them.
posted by katypickle at 9:21 AM on July 4, 2019 [1 favorite]

The Lions Club runs eyeglass recycling centers.
posted by MonkeyToes at 9:22 AM on July 4, 2019 [6 favorites]

I accompanied a medical team into remote Mexico several years ago, and the ophthalmologist brought along several bags full of glasses, sorted by various criteria. Obviously each vision problem is unique, and so having this many glasses was a real advantage. Also, since frames varied so widely, the patient often had their choice of two or three styles. The joy on the faces of the people when they received glasses that corrected their lifelong vision problem was clear.

The glasses we took with us were from the Lions Club program.
posted by davcoo at 9:26 AM on July 4, 2019 [6 favorites]

Here's the original journal article which you can read and see if you agree with its conclusions. Part of the argument is "Volunteers could be doing something else with their time if they weren't sorting and evaluating lots of unsuitable glasses." which is both true and also assigning costs you might not personally agree with.

If the frames are decently modern you could always put them up as a batch on eBay. People will buy glasses for the frames and then sell them in specialized frame shops. I tend to give mine to the thrift shop for the same reason. Someone can get a $1 pair of frames and then put their own prescription in them.
posted by jessamyn at 9:27 AM on July 4, 2019 [5 favorites]

I was just pondering this same issue, since I have a pile of online-bought glasses that make me look like a goofball. I was happy to see that donating is still a thing, by way of my local co-op just announcing that they're collecting all this month for Alaffia, which has a program specific to Togo. I don't know whether or not it makes economic sense, but if there's a chance that my Velma-strong specs can help someone out there, I'm glad someone will still take them!
posted by kittyb at 9:28 AM on July 4, 2019 [2 favorites]

My optometrist collects glasses for donations; others might as well.
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:34 AM on July 4, 2019 [1 favorite]

The article you linked draws on a 2012 paper, published in Optometry and Vision Science, which calculated the costs of shipping the used eyeglasses and a team of professionals from Australia to Cambodia; there was pushback in the letters to the editor in the journal following publication. Not every donation will have those costs, but you could donate your glasses and kick in a small monetary contribution, too.
posted by Iris Gambol at 9:38 AM on July 4, 2019 [6 favorites]

Eyeglass donation is definitely still a thing. Google your city name with “eyeglass donation.”

My optometrist takes prescription eyeglasses but doesn’t take drugstore reading glasses, so it’s possible that’s not a thing.
posted by FencingGal at 9:42 AM on July 4, 2019

You could post them for free or close to free on a craigslist or freecycle-type site. Someone might pick up the frames and replace the lenses with their own prescription (on which note I'm confused about the 'outgrowing' thing - are these frames where replacing lenses wouldn't make sense?)
posted by trig at 10:42 AM on July 4, 2019

Similar prescription and similar problem; I've always donated old ones to the Lions but I'm dubious about how useful it is compared to just sending money. I think for the next batch to get rid of (and I've got at least a half dozen) I'll try to donate money as well, on the off chance there really is someone out there with my bonkers prescription who needs gently-used eyeglasses.
posted by asperity at 12:27 PM on July 4, 2019

If you can't get access to a Lion's Club or other formal donation program, I'd ask your eye doctor. He may have low-income patients who might benefit from them. That's what I generally do with durable medical equipment I no longer need.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 3:33 PM on July 4, 2019

If there is a nearby university that teaches optometry give them there. In Oregon, Pacific University is based in Forest Grove but has satellite sites all over, e.g., Beaverton, Portland, etc. Call the campus for the nearest site.
posted by Cranberry at 12:42 AM on July 5, 2019