Lions Clubs International sponsor a worldwide collection and distribution of used spectacles to third world countries where the recipients are not interested in the fashion statement of the frames, but in the lenses to let them have sight.
The World Health Organization estimate that more than 150 million people have uncorrected refractive errors (near-sightedness, far-sightedness or astigmatism). Most of these vision impairments are quickly diagnosed and easy to treat with corrective lenses. Still, millions of people in developing nations are pushed deeper into poverty simply because they don’t have glasses. They can’t learn, because reading is difficult. They can’t work to the best of their ability, because they can’t see clearly.
For children, clear vision means a better education, healthier development and a better quality of life. For adults, it means greater employment opportunity and economic strength. For seniors it means less dependence on others.
Spectacles collected by the Lions Clubs in Ireland are transported to Medico Lions Clubs de France in Le Havre for sorting and grading before shipping to third world countries.
Locally Galway Lions Club will pack the spectacles into boxes and label appropriately for shipping. The boxes are then shipped to France by DPD couriers, free of charge.
If you have some unwanted old spectacles, please bring them to one of these locations:
- Duggans Pharmacy, Renmore.
- Specsavers, Eyre Square
- Specsavers, Galway Shopping Centre. Centre