A: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ReSpectacle was forced to close for the majority of 2020. We plan to open again at the beginning of 2021.
A: ReSpectacle is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that uses the power of the internet to facilitate redistribution of high-quality, donated eyeglasses to underserved individuals & communities worldwide.
A: If you are visiting our website from outside the continental USA
If you live in the continental USA, follow these instructions:
A: Current information on donating glasses, funds, or time can be found on the Donate page.
A: Current information on donating glasses, funds, or time can be found on the Donate page.
A: 100% of donations are used toward the mission of ReSpectacle: To facilitate re-distribution of quality, donated eyeglasses to underserved communities worldwide. In many cases, as little as $5 will cover the cost of shipping a pair of glasses to an individual in need. See our Donate page for more information.
A: No. ReSpectacle does not recycle contacts lenses at this time.
A: No. We only accept glasses in gently-used condition and selectively process the very best donations we receive. See our Donate page for more information.
A : No. Glasses with ground-in prism present too many obstacles to an accurate match at this time.
A: Yes. These devices can be mailed to us at the address specified on the Donate page.
A: In an effort to serve more individuals and improve quality measures, we made the difficult decision to start charging a modest fee for spectacle orders. The funds collected from these transactions go directly toward the mission of ReSpectacle: To facilitate re-distribution of quality, donated eyeglasses to underserved communities worldwide.
Optional items such as glasses cases can also be ordered for an additional cost which helps keep our base shipping and handling costs low.
A: Glasses ordered after 2020 require a modest shipping and handling fee to help us serve greater numbers of people. This fee will be assessed as you check out.
A: Your patient only needs their Sphere/Cyl/Axis values — we'll take care of the rest. You can print and fill out this
A: No. ReSpectacle is simply an organized resource of used eyeglasses, we do not perform eye exams or give eyeglass prescriptions. In order to use our website, one must obtain an accurate eyeglass prescription from an eye care provider.
A: Possibly if you are lucky, however in most circumstances the answer is no. A pair of glasses from ReSpectacle is unlikely to give you the same quality of vision, comfort, and style that you can otherwise get with a pair of custom-made glasses fit by a certified optician.
ReSpectacle was designed to be used by people who have no other means of getting life-changing vision correction. In most circumstances, however, we would expect a match from ReSpectacle to be better than no glasses at all.
A: Simply put, a higher number means a better match.
The algorithm will search for any ReSpectacle glasses in the range of the prescription entered by the user. Matches closer to 100% will offer the best chance of improving vision.
As a general guideline:
-Green matches: (90% or above) should be selected whenever possible, as they offer the highest likelihood of user satisfaction.
-Yellow matches: 80-90% are probably going to be better than nothing.
-Red matches: 70-80% offer the lowest likelihood of improving vision. We would suggest only ordering glasses in this range if done under the guidance of an eye care professional.
The algorithm filters out glasses that offer no chance of improving vision based on the prescription entered. Users should recognize that each individual has different sensitivity for refractive error, a 90% match for one individual may be acceptable whereas the same 90% match may not be acceptable to another individual. Acceptable vision correction is never guaranteed.
A: ReSpectacle limits orders to 3 pairs of glasses per individual, per calendar year. Exceptions are made for eye care providers who order glasses on behalf of their patients. Email help@respectacle.org if you have questions about multiple orders.
A: There are many possible reasons why you might not see clearly with your glasses, here are a few possible examples:
You are under no obligation to return them, however if you are able, we would gratefully receive them at the address listed on the Donate page. Glasses re-donated will be processed again to correct any errors and listed for ordering.
If you are not able to send the glasses, consider local options for donation.
A: There is no need to register with ReSpectacle in order to use the website. However, registered providers are allowed unlimited numbers of orders per year (instead of maximum 3 per year) and their orders will be allowed to bypass the daily cap on orders from the website. With time we will offer a wider range of advanced features to providers.
A: Please contact us at help@respectacle.org if you have a special request on a specific pair of glasses.