Dont Throw Away Your Old Glasses

Lawrence & Mayo has initiated a novel way of combating blindness. It will help Sight Savers, a non-government organisation, by spearheading a donation drive for used spectacles and sunglasses. L&M will collect the frames and glasses through its 27 showrooms across 14 cities in India.

Before handing over the glasses, Sight Savers will alter the lenses marginally to the closest power required by the grassroots NGOs.

The company also plans to place its donation boxes in offices in order to make it easier for people to donate their discarded frames. Initially the collection boxes will be placed in companies where it has conducted screenings among employees.

It hopes to collect 5000 frames this year and has already despatched 450. This strategy has been adopted as up to 60 to 70 per cent of visual impairment and blindness is partially relievable with appropriate optical aids.

Says Vivek Mendonsa, marketing director, L&M, " Even used sunglasses can be utilised, especially frames for children. As India is a tropical country, there is an incidence of cataract in children as well. Therefore these glasses will also prove to be of help."