What should I do with my unneeded contact lenses?

Question

I just got lasik. I have five boxes of brand new contact lenses that I now have no use for. Does anyone know of charities that accept these, or have any ideas for what I could do with them besides just throwing them out

Answer 1

You can donate them to an international non-profit organization called Madre that helps women. They want the lenses to have an expiration date that's at least six months after the date you send the lenses.

If you include your personal info, they'll send a certificate of receipt so you can write it off your taxes.

send it:

Helping Hands Coordinator

MADRE, an international women's human rights organization

121 West 27th st, #301

New York, NY 10001

212.627.0444 (tel)

212.675.3704 (fax)

[e-mail]

www.MADRE.org

DenisP

Answer 2

Denis P has a good link; you could also ask your optometrist for suggestions.  They usually know the local charities or clinics that may collect unused, non-expired contacts (and also glasses, if you have any of those as well).