New spectacles for a modern look or updated prescription? 

 

DONT THROW YOUR OLD SPECTACLES AWAY!!  Your old spectacles can be used again. The charity Vision Aid Overseas would like to reuse as many unneeded spectacles in good condition as possible.

With the correct spectacles, people with poor vision in developing countries can achieve a quality of life otherwise completely out of their reach.

Spectacles Wanted
All spectacles in good condition are potentially useful but the following cannot be used:

Spectacles in bad condition (broken, bent or scratched)
Bifocals

Varifocals
Spectacle cases (too heavy to send abroad)
Loose lenses or empty frames

Collection Points
Please take unwanted spectacles to the following Leicester Opticians.  These are just some opticians which have agreed to act as collection points for Vision Aid Overseas:

 

Chapman & Partners Opticians

44 Market Place, Leicester

T:253 7777 

Edwards and Miles Opticians
112 Melton Road, Leicester

T: 268 1632

Eyes Right Opticians
245 Narborough Road, Leicester

T: 282 3999

1st Floor Percey Gee Buildings, Leicester

T: 275 8333

Farmilo Optometrists
45 Queens Road, Leicester

T:270 9595
53 francis Street, Leicester

T: 270 0044

Henry Smith and Hamylton Opticians Ltd
47 Horsefair Street, Leicester

T: 262 7775
205 Uppingham Road, Leicester

T: 276 8347

Optical Express
18 Haymarket, Leicester

T:251 7568

3 Shires Walk, High Street, Leicester

T: 251 3191 

Optivision
196 Uppingham Road, Leicester
113 East Park Road, Leicester

T: 274 0300

Peter Jackson Associates Opticians
54 Hinckley Road, Leicester

T: 254 7151

Saffron Eyecare Ltd
441 Saffron Lane, Leicester

45a Downing Drive, Leicester
T: 283 2333

Specsavers Opticians
8-10 Belgrave Gate, Leicester

T: 251 5969

What Happens to your Specs?

Your donated specs will be collected and sent to be cleaned, sorted and graded in the UK. They are then sent to developing countries to be dispensed by volunteer opticians to people with poor vision that would not normally have access to eye care.

Vision Aid Overseas Projects
Each project team consists of unpaid volunteers who give their time to help people in developing countries who simply need a pair of spectacles to lead a normal life. Each team consists of 4-8 optometrists and dispensing opticians who take thousands of pairs of donated specs, which have been carefully sorted and graded in the UK, to countries such as Uganda, Malawi, Kenya, Ghana, India, and Vietnam.

The charity tries to help countries move towards self-sufficiency in eye-care, as well as providing direct service clinics it has established several optical workshops and regularly carries out training programmes designed to teach optical skills to medical workers. In addition, it collects optical instruments in the UK to be reused by trained personnel overseas who, although they sometimes have the knowledge, do not have the tools to do their job.

For more information about Vision Aid please contact:

Tel: 01293-535016
Address: 12 The Bell Centre, Newton Road, Manor Royal,
Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 2FZ
Website: www.vao.org.uk
Email: info@vao.org.uk