Glasses wearers in Pembroke Dock are being encouraged to recycle their unwanted specs to help transform the lives of hundreds of people in the developing world.

Specsavers Opticians in Dimond Street has teamed up with Lion's International to run a spectacle recycling scheme in aid of Vision Aid Overseas. As yesterday (Thursday) was World Sight Day, they are urging customers to deposit their old or unwanted glasses in specially provided recycling bins in store. The glasses will be sorted and graded and sent to people in developing countries who do not have access to proper eyecare.

There are millions of people in the world who need glasses to live an ordinary life. Vision Aid Overseas is dedicated to helping these people by providing them with basic eyecare. It was set up in 1985 and operates the largest specs recycling scheme in the UK, where glasses are collected, sorted, graded and packed prior to transportation overseas to help thousands of patients every year. The charity also sends teams of volunteer optometrists and dispensing opticians abroad to screen patients.

Specsavers store director, Gary Owen said: "It is amazing how easily we take glasses for granted in the UK. There are opticians on every high street and most people can afford eyecare if they need it, meaning few people see poor eyesight as a major disability. "However, in the developing world many people are severely disabled by poor eyesight and are unable to get glasses due to poverty, remote locations and a severe lack of optical facilities. Any spectacle donations we receive will therefore be much appreciated and will help optical experts continue to examine the eyes of people in the developing world and to train people in those countries in eyecare skills." Vision Aid Overseas spokesperson, Jeremy Jalie, said: "I am thrilled by the support we are receiving from Specsavers in Pembroke Dock. With the correct spectacles, people can learn, work and achieve a quality of life otherwise completely out of their reach.

"Vision Aid Overseas works hard for a world in which everyone has access to eyecare and spectacles." 

If you would like to donate your old or unwanted specs to Vision Aid Overseas, please drop in to Specsavers Opticians, Dimond Street.