What to Do with Old Glasses?4 Creative & Sustainable Ideas
Just because you no longer want or need a pair of glasses doesn’t mean you have to throw them away. Whether your prescription changed or you simply want to switch up your style, you have options. You can clear the clutter while discarding your eyeglasses responsibly. We’ll show you how in this guide on what to do with old glasses.
1. Donate your Glasses
Millions of people around the globe need glasses, but either can’t afford them or don’t have access to quality eye care. In such situations, your donated glasses can go a long way to change someone’s life by helping them see clearly.
Several charitable organizations collect old glasses and distribute them to people in developing countries. Other non-profits distribute glasses to people in your local community.
These charities welcome eyeglasses donations:
How to Inspect Eyeglasses Before You Donate
Not all eyeglasses are good candidates for donation. If your frames are broken or the lenses are cracked, they probably can’t be donated. The best donations are glasses in perfect condition. You can donate glasses cases, sunglasses and non-prescription reading glasses, too.
Before donating, make sure glasses are clean and in good working order. You’ll also want to check for missing hardware, like screws.
Do Glasses Prescriptions Expire?
Yes! The prescription for the lenses in your frames usually expires from one to two years after the date you received the prescription.
Your eyes may change so subtly that you don’t notice, but enough that you need a new prescription. If you wear glasses that don’t fully correct your vision, you might experience:
- Eye strain
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
- Increased risk of accidents
To keep your vision crystal clear, we recommend having an annual eye doctor appointment to check eye health and address potential vision changes.
If your prescription stays exactly the same, then it’s fine to continue using your glasses as long as they aren’t scratched and still can be made to fit properly after adjustment. If your prescription changes and you get new glasses, please consider donating or upcycling the old pair, so they can stay out of the landfill and perhaps help someone else.
What Happens After You Donate Old Glasses?
Once a center receives donated glasses, workers or volunteers sort them into usable and non-usable pairs and determine the prescription of usable ones. Usable pairs get a good cleaning and new packaging so they’re ready for distribution to new owners.
Glasses too damaged for reuse still serve a useful purpose: they’re recycled. Workers separate the hardware, plastic and lenses and recycle each separately. Any money earned from recycling goes to support the work of that charitable group.
Can Eyeglasses Be Recycled?
The short answer is “no”. Glasses are made of recyclable parts (like metal, plastics and glass), but these parts must be separated in order to go through the recycling process. Unless your local recycler specifically accepts glasses, don’t put old glasses into your recycling bin. If you do, they are most likely to spend their final days in a landfill instead of being recycled.
2. Craft with Old Glasses
If your eyeglasses are broken or you prefer to reuse them at home, there are many crafts you can do with old glasses. Let your inner artist shine by getting creative with your old frames.
Consider these artistic possibilities:
- Create custom jewelry: Pop out the lenses and paint or decorate them into a stylish pendant or decorative brooch.
- Create Christmas ornaments: Remove the arms and recycle glasses frames by decorating them like a snowman. You could start a tradition of decorating your Christmas tree with old pairs of decorated glasses.
- Picture frames: Create an original piece of art by gluing pictures into the frames of your old glasses. It's a great conversation starter when guests come over.
- Create a sculpture: If you have multiple old glasses pairs, see how you can combine them to create something new and beautiful—and surprising!
There are endless ways to turn glasses into works of art, so give it a try! Get creative and find a way to have fun with old glasses.
3. Costume those Oldies
Remember that time you wanted to dress as Harry Potter or Velma from Scooby-Doo or some other bespectacled character, but you didn't have the iconic glasses to go with your costume? Many people face a similar problem, and you can help them out.
When the lenses are popped out, your frames are perfect for costumes. Give them to the kids in your life to use in their dress-up boxes, or donate them to a local theater group for their costume collection.
4. Sell to Collectors
You’d be surprised at how many people are interested in buying old glasses online. Maybe they collect them or maybe they have your same prescription, but you can earn a few extra bucks while selling glasses to someone who wants them.
Whether you decide to donate, sell or recycle eyeglasses, your glasses can gain new usefulness instead of collecting dust on your shelf or taking up space in the local landfill.
Take Advantage of Visionworks’ 100-Day Guarantee
If you buy a new pair of eyeglasses with Visionworks and later change your mind, you won’t need to search for a place to donate your old glasses. With Visionworks’ 100-Day Guarantee, you can exchange your glasses for a pair you love.
If you’re concerned that your vision might have changed, schedule an appointment with Visionworks today. We’re always happy to show you our great selection and help you find the ideal pair for your lifestyle. And—we’d love to hear your creative ideas about how to give old glasses new life!
Information received through Visionworks® content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Claims regarding blue light efficiency are supported by manufacturer-provided test results.
