Question: Midweek had a recent article touting a service project by the Lions Club in which it collects old eyeglasses to be given to needy people in foreign nations. The article quoted someone as saying, “Used eyeglasses cannot be distributed in the U.S.” I believe that’s false. As far as I can discover, there’s no federal law against it, and I cannot imagine why such a law would be justified. It appears to be a matter of liability. I found an article from June 2011 saying that Oregon passed a law exempting charitable organizations from liability when products they give away result in injury. Do we need the state Legislature to pass such a law in Hawaii? Wouldn’t we prefer to help needy kids at home?
Answer: There is no federal law prohibiting the distribution of used prescription glasses within the United States.
It basically is up to each state to determine whether to allow local distribution, according to an official with the Health and Children’s Services Department of Lions Clubs International, the service organization headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill.
“The statement (that used eyeglasses cannot be distributed in the U.S.) is inaccurate,” she told us in a phone interview.
Lions Clubs International’s eyeglass recycling centers, which processes donated eyewear, is administered by the Health and Children’s Services Department.
In Hawaii, there is no state law prohibiting redistribution, but there are laws that require patients to have a prescription to obtain eyeglasses or contact lenses, said Sandra Matsushima, executive director for the state Board of Examiners in Optometry.
Any eyewear has to be dispensed by a licensed optometrist to ensure that it is correct for the individual; it doesn’t matter if the eyeglasses are new or used.
The Lions Clubs International official, who did not want to be identified by name, noted there are now some states, specifically California and Oregon, that have passed legislation allowing “a not-for-profit (organization) to distribute glasses to someone other than the originally intended recipient.”
“It is the state board of optometry that determines what can be done with eyewear,” she said. “It is not up to us as the Lions or the Villages (part of the Lions organization).”
Basically, she said, “It’s something that each not-for-profit or each group that wants to (distribute the glasses) needs to check out.”
It would be impractical or too costly to redistribute the used eyeglasses locally under current Hawaii laws. So, the laws would have to be amended somehow to get past current requirements, but liability would be a major concern.
DONATING EYEGLASSES
Mervin Wee, a spokesman for Hawaii Lions District 50, said eyeglasses collected in Hawaii are sent to such countries as the Philippines, Afghanistan and Samoa.
Wee points out that the Hawaii Lions organization has a separate program for students, who are “verified by a health aide as being in school and needing glasses.”
In those cases, “we make arrangements to buy them glasses and get an exam,” he said. “We pay for it, but it’s only for school kids, not adults.”
For information on how and where to donate used eyeglasses — lenses and frames intact; no loose lenses, frames or cases — including sunglasses, check the Lions District 50 website, www.hawaiilions.org/used-Eyeglasses.html, or call Alice at 389-0268.
MAHALO
To a kind woman. I picked up a couple of things at Foodland Kailua on Jan. 16, then discovered that I had no cash, had left my credit card in another purse, and my bank card could not be used. I looked around, hoping to see a friend from whom I could borrow. Suddenly, Edna Studebaker, who was behind me in line, handed me a $20 bill to cover my purchases. May she be blessed many times over. — Mary Ann
