Used Prescription Glasses Sought for Poor Families
An optical store is collecting used prescription glasses for reuse by low-income families in Central America and Mexico.
A-B-See Optical is participating in a drive coordinated by the Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, a nonprofit group founded in 1972 that is based in Illinois.
The California chapter of the organization has collected and dispensed more than 160,000 pairs of glasses over the past 10 years, said Barry Leonard, a board member for the state chapter.
Eye doctors and opticians who are members of the group travel to Third World countries to give free exams to people who cannot afford or do not have access to treatment.
“We all go and pay our own way,” said Leonard. “In one trip we usually screen about 2,000 people and try to find the closest prescription possible.”
The drive at A-B-See Optical ends May 30. Glasses may be dropped off at the store at 8488 W. 3rd St.
Information: (213) 933-1616.
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