According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) Prevention of Blindness and Deafness Program, about 285 million people worldwide are visually impaired, with about 90% of those people living in developing countries1. Individuals in these countries face many barriers in obtaining access to prescription eyeglasses, but their main obstacles are access to optical locations and affordability of eyeglasses.
Hakim Optical recently donated 30,000 sunglasses and optical frames to The Belize Council of the Visually Impaired and 50,000 pairs of prescription eyeglasses to the Canadian Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centre (CLERC), the Canadian depot for recycled glasses and part of Lions Club International.
To celebrate Hakim Optical’s 50th-anniversary celebration this year, we have committed to donating an additional 100,000 pairs of frames, reading glasses and sunglasses to CLERC and will work with them throughout the year to collect used prescription eyewear from the public.
CLERC brings prescription eyeglasses directly to those in need who otherwise would not be able to afford glasses to improve their vision. For children, clear vision allows a better chance to succeed in their education and promote healthier development. Adults with eyeglasses will have greater employment opportunity due to their improved vision, and for seniors with vision problems, glasses provide independence and less reliance on others.
CLERC is one of the largest organizations that collects and distributes millions of eyeglasses each year to those in need in Africa, the Philippines and the Caribbean.
There is currently a need for:
- Prescription reading glasses.
- Single vision or bifocal eyeglasses.
- Children’s glasses.
- Prescription safety glasses.
- Prescription and non-prescription sunglasses for children and adults.
- Accepted eyewear: lenses in frames, frames only, or uncut lenses.
You can do your part by donating your old prescription eyeglasses. Hakim Optical is proud to partner with the CLERC to collect glasses at all of our 160 locations across Canada. Simply drop off your prescription eyewear or sunglasses to any location and we will ensure it reaches someone in need.
Hakim Optical provides prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, sunglasses, safety glasses, children’s eyewear and even express one-hour service at select locations to meet all of our customers’ needs.
Contact us today with any questions and be sure to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.