People in developing nations with poor vision will soon be given aided focus, thanks to the efforts of the Second Sight Campaign.
Taking place in May as a collaboration between the Rotary Club of Madison and the Wisconsin Lions Foundation, the program is designed to acquire old eyeglasses from businesses and retail organizations and distribute them where necessary.
\The need is that there are many people throughout the world to whom eyeglasses are a luxury,"" said Steve Knapp, a member of the Wisconsin Lions and a founding member of Second Sight.
The program is designed to counter the tremendous demand for glasses in countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, and Indonesia. According to the World Health Organization, one-fourth of the world's population is in need of glasses, and in some countries one eye exam can cost over a month's wages.
""In many areas of the world, poor eyesight left uncorrected can force adults into unemployment and children out of the classroom,"" UW-Madison Provost Peter Spear said in a statement to university building managers.
While last year the total collected was over 20,000 pairs, both organizations are prepared to meet a greater number of donations. Rotary Club committees have prepared 900 collection areas throughout Madison, and the Lions Recycling Center is fully set up to distribute the results throughout the world.
""You name a developing country, and they'll go there,"" Knapp said.
