Lions Recycle for Sight

To donate used glasses (including sunglasses and reading glasses; sorry no contact lenses), place them in the specially marked Lions Recycle for Sight collection boxes found at various community locations. Below you will find a list of locations where collection boxes are available.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 153 million people around the world have uncorrected refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism). Refractive errors can be easily corrected with eyeglasses, yet millions of people in low and middle-income countries lack access to basic vision services. Without eyeglasses many people throughout the world have fewer opportunities for education, employment and a better quality of life. The Founder Lions Club would like you to donate your used eyeglasses.

The Journey of Recycled Glasses

1. You drop off your used eyeglasses or sunglasses at any of the community locations listed below.
2. The glasses are shipped to the Texas Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center in Midland Texas where trained volunteers sort, clean and determine the prescription strengths of the glasses.
3. Volunteers at the recycling center carefully package the prepared glasses and store them until they are required for overseas eyeglass dispensing missions. Glasses that are not suitable for reuse are recycled for scrap, with the earnings benefiting local Lions and Leos projects. Each year, the Texas Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center supplies 60-80 missions sponsored by church groups, physicians and other organizations with used eyeglasses.
4. At the mission site, eye care professionals and trained Lion and Leo volunteers perform vision screenings and dispense the appropriate recycled glasses, free of charge, to children and adults in need.

Mail the Eyeglasses

If you prefer to mail your eyeglasses for recycling instead of dropping them off, you may send them to:

If your Austin area business or facility would like to be a collection location for eyeglasses, please call (512) 441-1555 or send an email to :

We recommend you contact the facility you intend to drop-off your used eyeglasses to find out the times they are available. 
Eyeglasses Collection Locations (in ZIP Code order)