Recycling used spectacles: Sightsavers’ policy

Each year, Sightsavers is inundated with offers of used spectacles to be recycled in low and middle income countries.

Sightsavers recognises the good intentions behind these donations, but accepts the advice from the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) that its members and other parties engaged in promoting eye health should no longer accept second-hand spectacles.

The cost of supplying used spectacles is high due to collection, transport, cleaning, sorting and storage costs. This means that in real terms they cost far more than new ready-made spectacles as well as custom spectacles made in a local facility.

Our policy document explains more.