Donate Eyeglasses and Sunglasses
Your eyeglasses (reading and distance) as well as non-prescription sunglasses will be distributed to children and adults in Africa. Reading glasses and sunglasses are especially needed.
Donate Your Eyeglasses
Please submit this form in order to donate your eyeglasses. You will receive an automatic email with the address in Tennessee (United States) where you should send your eyeglasses. Unite For Sight will not sell nor share your information.
Please only send eyeglasses and eyeglass cases that are in good condition; any other messages or materials sent to the address will only reach the Africa-affiliated Tennessee-based eye clinic, and will not reach Unite For Sight's office in Connecticut.
What is the importance of your eyeglass donation?
- Over 1 billion people in developing countries need eyeglasses but cannot afford them.
- Over 4 million pairs of eyeglasses are thrown away each year in North America.
- 25% of the global population needs eyeglasses.
- 50% of children in institutions for the blind in Africa would be able to read normal or large print if they had eyeglasses
- The price for glasses in many African countries can exceed three months' average salary.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where will my eyeglasses be sent?
- Can I send contact lenses?
- Should I send eyeglass cases?
- Can I send broken eyeglasses?
- Is my eyeglass donation tax-deductible?
- How do I make a monetary donation to Unite For Sight?
- How do I volunteer abroad with Unite For Sight?
Where will my eyeglasses be sent?
You will send your eyeglasses to an ophthalmology office that will bring your glasses to Sierra Leone, West Africa. nbsp;Please only send eyeglasses and eyeglass cases that are in good condition; any other messages or materials sent to the address will only reach the Sierra Leone-affiliated eye clinic, and will not reach Unite For Sight's office. Your reading glasses, distance glasses, and sunglasses will be prescribed in Sierra Leone.
Can I send contact lenses?
Contact lenses cannot be used by eye clinics in Africa.
Should I send eyeglass cases?
If you have eyeglass cases available, sending those with your eyeglasses will be appreciated.
Can I send broken eyeglasses?
Please only send eyeglasses that are in good condition. Broken or scratched glasses cannot be used. Please only send glasses that would be in a condition that you could personally wear.
Is my eyeglass donation tax-deductible?
Yes, donations are tax deductible to the full extent provided by U.S. Law. After you send your eyeglasses, you will need to send an email to volunteers@uniteforsight.org to confirm that you sent the eyeglasses and to request a donation receipt for tax purposes.
How do I make a monetary donation to Unite For Sight?
SAVE EYES AND LIVES. Make a high impact difference and restore sight with a donation. 100% of your donation will provide eye care to patients living in extreme poverty.
- 80% of blindness is preventable
- 36 million are needlessly blind
- Those who are blind in Africa have a 4X higher mortality rate
- $50 is the average cost of cataract surgery at Unite For Sight's partner eye clinics
Click here to make a donation to Unite For Sight online.
How do I volunteer abroad with Unite For Sight?
Complete details about Unite For Sight's high impact volunteer abroad opportunities can be seen at www.uniteforsight.org/volunteer-abroad
Unite For Sight provides high impact volunteer opportunities, and all volunteers are engaged in Unite For Sight's commitment to create real change. We believe that anyone can become part of a global solution. Unite For Sight volunteers are 18 years and older, and there is no upper age limit. No previous health experience is required.