The spectacles dispensed by Vision Aid Overseas volunteers on projects in the developing world are all recycled from second-hand spectacles donated by members of the public in the UK.

If you do recycle your specs let us know about it by following this link.

Here is how we recycle our spectacles:

1. Members of the public donate their spectacles at their local opticians.
2. The glasses are transported to Vision Aid Overseas by the specialist optical delivery provider, DX Network Services.
   
   WOULD YOU LIKE TO COLLECT SPECTACLES FOR VISION AID OVERSEAS?
   Please remember that the only way to get spectacles to Vision Aid Overseas for free is to take them to an Optician's practice that supports VAO.
   
   Collectors - click here for our spectacle collector's notes
   
   Opticians - click here to find out about how to get recycled spectacles to Vision Aid Overseas via DX
   
   
3. Staff and volunteers sort the spectacles at our headquarters in Crawley
   to remove any that are in bad condition. This is called the ‘rough sort’.
4. The spectacles are then transported to prisons through the UK where prisoners have been trained to clean, grade and pack the spectacles ready for their use in the developing world.
5. Finally the spectacles are sent abroad with Vision Aid Overseas teams. Each project takes about 3000 pairs of spectacles arranged into a library of different powers. Spectacles are only dispensed after a full eye examination and great care is taken to match them to the patient.

Donate your specs at Eyesite practices! You can donate your spectacles at any branch of Eyesite... click on the banner below to find your nearest store:

The Kodak Lens Second Sight project

Vision Aid Overseas has teamed up with KODAK Lens Vision Centres to help you collect spectacles for us. For more information about this project please visit the KODAK Lens Second Sight project website by clicking on the banner below: