New Eyes Used eyeglasses program is permanently closed
In 2020, the New Eyes Board of Trustees voted to permanently close our Overseas Used Glasses Program, a hard decision given our long history accepting used glasses, but a necessary one.
Over the last decade, the demand for used eyewear has diminished from developing countries. There are several reasons for the decrease in demand.
Research and policy statements from global vision health organizations recommend that used glasses no longer be distributed in developing countries, advocating for more sustainable solutions such as establishing vision care infrastructure within these countries.
The availability of new inexpensive eyewear allows better optical solutions for the developing world populations.
Used glasses have become more and more specific to the original user, making it difficult to match someone to a progressive, bifocal or astigmatic prescription pair of glasses, which constitute the majority of the used glasses New Eyes receives.
In summary, a pair of used glasses no longer carries the value and benefit it once did.
Moving forward, New Eyes will focus our limited resources on our U.S. Program, providing new eyeglasses to financially struggling individuals here in the United States.
Over many decades, used eyeglasses donors have been valued and generous partners to New Eyes. We thank them for their service to our mission to provide clear vision to the most vulnerable across the world. We hope we can count on them to support our U.S. Program to offer the opportunity for those in need to seize life’s potential and possibilities through clear vision.