Eyes/Eyewear

Very recently my mother had her cataract operation for both eyes with a space of 4 days between each. She has recovered well and is now allowed to read as well as see TV by the 7th day of her first operation. Medical science has progressed really well.

 

After a week or so she will have her eyes checked for any change in her glasses number and will require new lenses at least. What then struck me was what happens to the old glasses/lenses? Are they to be just thrown way? Is there any possibility of them being recycled? Are there any norms for the same?

 

Like medical science, rapid progress has also been made in eyewear. Whether it is lenses, spectacle frames and even contact lenses. They have become a part of our life as well a fashion statement as well and is an important Accessory. Yes with capital letter as they play a major role in one’s appearance nowadays. Frame especially come in all sizes, shapes and color with variety of material to suit everyone’s taste and pocket. Similar is the case of contact lenses as they have become trendy too. Material sophistication and substitution from glass to plastic is also mind boggling.

 

Everyone will at some point in his life begin to wear eyewear given the sight deterioration as age progresses. There will also be at least once a change of glasses or contact lenses and may be a multiple change of frames. There are so many wastes that we are talking, which we are unable to recycle, the worst being the nuclear waste.  Aren’t all these eyewear glasses, contact lenses, or their frames non recyclable as once changed cannot be used by somebody else?

 

I had once asked an optician about this and whether there were any regulations for the same and he had no answer. Looks like mother nature/earth would have to have the sight of paying a heavy price for our healthy sight.