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A branch of Specsavers in Yorkshire is urging its customers and also all users and wearers of glasses to donate their used specs when they change or upgrade, to those less fortunate abroad. In a similar move to that that has been banned and outlawed in America, the Pocklington branch is lending its help to Vision Aid Overseas in a bid to get glasses into the hands of those that need them but don't necessarily have the funds to do so. Americans in Washington used to donate to those unable to pay for their specs, but a recent change in law has put an end to this activity due to concerns that those receiving the glasses may in fact be doing their sight more harm than good by not receiving properly prescribed lenses.
Vision Aid Overseas looks to work towards a world where everyone has access to eyecare and spectacles as and when they need them, regardless of circumstance and finance. This includes the setting up of vision centres, the invaluable work of volunteers as well as the ability to gain access to unused and donated products. Estimates from the VAO suggest that as much as 67 million people around the globe have visual issues and an inability to gain access to the correct treatments and sight enhancement tools. That enormous number equates to around 10% of the entire worlds population.
Glasses that are donated through this service have reached a simply amazing total of 250,000 pairs so far, raising in the process over £300,000. The store are keen to state how grateful they are that their customers have shown such generosity and willing to help this cause and improve the prospects of those around the world in continents such as Africa where vision help is not quite so easy to come by as it is in the UK. The Pocklington Specsavers themselves have collected over 2,000 pairs of spectacles alone in the last calendar year and hope to further improve on that total in 2012.