Specsavers Orange is calling on people to donate old sunglasses and prescription glasses after partnering with Lions Recycle for Sight, which will see them delivered to people in need who are at risk of losing their sight if their vision is not corrected.

Specsavers Orange co-owner Conrad Porter has set a target of collecting 100 pairs of glasses each month and said blindness and vision impairments are worse in third world countries because they can mean the difference between people being able to have a job and feed their family, or not.

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“When I found out just how many people are going blind in impoverished communities around the world simply because they don’t have access to glasses, I was shocked and we had to do something about it,” Mr Porter said.

“We see people come into our store every day who purchase new glasses and no longer have a use for their old ones - normally they are still in perfect condition but the prescription is outdated.

“Our recycling program allows them to donate their pre-loved specs to change someone else’s life.”

The glasses will be sent to a Lions Recycle for Sight glasses recycling facility that quality checks, cleans and categorises the glasses so they can be distributed by partnering organisations. 

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Lions Recycle for Sight chairman Ken Leonard OAM said the organisation is a part of Lions Club International Worldwide Eyeglass Recycling Program.

“Over the past 26 years, we’ve delivered more than seven million pairs of refurbished quality glasses to people in need all around the world,” Mr Leonard said.

“We’re really excited about working with Specsavers Orange on this program because it will mean that we can process more glasses than ever before and save the sight of so many more people.”