A local optician is celebrating the success of an appeal for unwanted glasses which go on to be dispensed to impoverished people in developing countries. Specsavers Opticians in Dimond Street, Pembroke Dock, is recycling customers' old glasses and donating them to the charity Vision Aid Overseas. The store has collected 1,000 so far this year. The charity is dedicated to helping needy people in the developing world whose lives are blighted by poor eyesight. The most efficient way of helping is by the use of spectacles, but for poverty-stricken areas this is completely beyond their reach. The team at Specsavers are still urging locals to think about those less fortunate by bringing their unwanted specs to the store. Donated pairs are refurbished for reuse. Store director Gary Owen said: "Since we began collecting glasses for VAO, the response from the community has been overwhelming. We've received literally hundreds of old pairs of specs that the people of Pembroke Dock no longer wear or need. Every pair will make a real difference to the quality of life of people in developing countries, enabling them to learn or work and make the most of opportunities that might otherwise be completely out of their reach. "It is an astonishing fact that there are some 200 million people who need glasses but are unable to get them due to poverty, remote locations and a severe lack of optical facilities. Any spectacle donations we receive will be much appreciated and will help experts continue to care for the eyes of needy people in the developing world and to train people in those countries in eyecare skills." Vision Aid overseas director Tym Marsh said: "I am thrilled by the support we are receiving from Specsavers in Pembroke Dock. We would like to encourage everyone to continue to help us by donating their old, unwanted specs and handing them in to staff at the store." So far, volunteer optometrists sent abroad by VAO have carried out eye tests and provided spectacles for over 500,000 people. Optical workshops have also been set up, with a view to helping these countries towards self-sufficiency. Mr. Owen added: "I'd like to thank the people of Pembroke Dock for their support of our appeal to date and urge them to continue to donate their unwanted specs so that we can make a difference to people overseas."
