Old frames, new sight

Old eyeglasses that are donated to the Asian Eye Institute can be cleaned and fitted with prescription lenses, giving beneficiaries the gift of sight.

MultiplEye: The Recycled Frames Project, launched in 2020, is a partnership between the institute and the Ophthalmological Foundation of the Philippines (OFPHIL), a non-governmental organization dedicated to preventing blindness in economically disadvantaged communities in the country.

Different kinds of eyewear — be they reading glasses or sunglasses — are assessed to see if they can be used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia, which are among the leading causes of preventable blindness in the Philippines.

Frames can be dropped off at Asian Eye Institute clinics in Rockwell Center, Makati City; Ayala Malls Trinoma, Quezon City; SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City; and Commercenter Alabang, Muntinlupa City. They can also be dropped off at EyeSite branches in St. Frances Cabrini Medical Center, Batangas City; SM City Fairview, Quezon City; and Williams Center Building, Mandaluyong City; as well as EyeSite Vision Studio in SM City Rosario, Cavite.