Southport Lions Club recognizes the urgent need for corrective lenses and collecting usable glasses throughout our community. To support the program, we have set up multiple drop-off locations throughout the area.
Why Recycle Glasses?
An estimated 120 million people* are visually impaired because of uncorrected refractive errors (URE). Almost all cases can be corrected and normal vision can be restored with eyeglasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery.
The lack of eyeglasses denies children and adults opportunities for education, employment and a better quality of life.
The Journey of Recycled Glasses
Lions collect used eyeglasses at various community locations. (see map below)
The glasses are shipped to the nearest Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center where trained volunteers sort, clean and determine the prescription strengths of the glasses.
Volunteers at the recycling center carefully package the prepared glasses and store them until they are required for eyeglass-dispensing missions. Glasses that are not suitable for reuse are recycled for scrap, with the earnings benefitting local Lions projects.
At the mission site, eye care professionals and trained Lion volunteers perform vision screenings and dispense the appropriate recycled glasses, free of charge, to children and adults in need.
