Can You Donate Contact Lenses? A Complete Guide

Published Oct. 5, 2025
If your contact lens prescription has changed or you’ve switched brands, you might have some extra boxes lying around. Before you toss them in the trash, you might wonder, “Can I donate these contact lenses to someone who needs them?”
The short answer is yes, you absolutely can. However, there are important rules to follow. Contact lenses are medical devices, so they can’t be donated like a pair of old jeans. Organizations that accept them have strict guidelines to ensure safety and hygiene.
This guide will walk you through why donating your spare contacts is a great idea, where you can send them, and how to do it correctly.
Why Should You Donate Your Contact Lenses?
Donating your unused lenses does more than just clear out clutter. It’s an act of kindness with far-reaching benefits.
You Help Someone See Clearly
Vision care is expensive. For many people, the cost of an eye exam, let alone prescription glasses or contact lenses, is out of reach. By donating your unexpired contacts, you provide someone with the gift of sight. This simple act can help a student succeed in school, allow a parent to maintain their job, or simply help someone navigate their daily life with more confidence.
You Protect the Environment
What happens to contact lenses when you throw them away? They end up in landfills or get flushed down the drain, eventually breaking down into microplastics. These tiny particles pollute our waterways, soil, and oceans, harming wildlife and ecosystems. Donating your lenses or recycling them keeps them out of the waste stream and reduces plastic pollution. It’s a small step that contributes to a healthier planet.
You Give Hope
A box of contact lenses might not seem like much, but to the recipient, it can be a lifeline. Poor vision can be a significant barrier to education, employment, and quality of life. Your donation isn’t just about vision correction; it’s about providing hope and opportunity. You are giving someone a chance to live a fuller, more independent life.
Where Can You Donate Contact Lenses?
Several organizations accept contact lens donations, but their policies differ. It’s always best to check with them directly before sending anything. Here are a few places that can help you get started.
Local Eye Doctor Offices and Optical Shops
Many local optometrists and optical shops collect contact lenses for charitable programs. They often partner with organizations that distribute them to people in need, both locally and internationally. Give your eye doctor’s office a call to see if they have a donation program.
Goodwill
Goodwill is a well-known non-profit with donation centers across the country. While policies can vary by location, many Goodwill stores accept unused and unexpired contact lenses. They then sell these items in their thrift stores to fund job training and community programs. Use the Goodwill locator on their website to find a center near you and confirm their donation guidelines.
Bausch + Lomb ONE by ONE Recycling Program
This program is unique because it focuses on recycling rather than redistribution. You can recycle any brand of used contact lenses, empty blister packs, and top foil. While the lenses themselves won’t be given to someone else, this is an excellent way to dispose of used or expired contacts responsibly.
For every ten pounds of waste collected, a donation is made to Optometry Giving Sight, a global fundraising initiative to prevent blindness. You can find a participating drop-off location on the TerraCycle website.

How to Donate Your Contact Lenses Correctly
Because contact lenses are regulated medical devices, you can’t just hand over an open box. Following these steps ensures your donation is safe and useful.
1. Check if Your Lenses are Eligible
The most important rule is that you can only donate lenses that are unused, unexpired, and in their original sealed packaging. Organizations cannot accept lenses from opened boxes or individual blister packs that have been separated from their original box. This is to guarantee sterility and prevent the spread of serious eye infections. If you’ve tried on even one lens from a box, the rest of the box cannot be donated.
2. Contact the Organization First
Before you pack up your donation, get in touch with the organization. Donation policies can change, and you don’t want to waste time and postage sending something they can’t accept. A quick phone call or email can clarify their specific requirements, including what types of lenses they need and how they want them packaged.
3. Pack Your Donation Securely
If you are mailing your contact lenses, make sure they are packed properly. Use a sturdy box or padded envelope to prevent the packaging from being crushed or damaged in transit. Damaged packaging could compromise the sterility of the lenses, making them unusable. A little bubble wrap can go a long way in ensuring your donation arrives safely.
Support Those in Need in South Florida
Giving the gift of sight is a powerful way to help, but there are many other needs in our communities. At Our Father’s House Soup Kitchen, we have been serving the poor and homeless in South Florida since 1993. Our mission is to provide not just a hot meal but also a sense of dignity and hope to those who are struggling.
We believe that no one should go hungry. Beyond providing over 900,000 hot meals, we distribute essential items like clothing, shoes, and toiletries to individuals and families in need. Your support helps us continue this vital work. By making a tax-deductible donation, you can help ensure that everyone who comes to our door is met with compassion and a helping hand.
Visit Our Father’s House Soup Kitchen to learn more about our mission and how you can contribute. Your generosity can make a world of difference.
Donate To The Poor & Homeless Of South Florida
Our Father’s House Soup Kitchen has fed the poor and homeless in South Florida over 900,000 hot meals since 1993. Our tax deductible non profit organization also accepts and distributes donations such as clothing, toiletries, shoes, bicycles, and more. You can donate to help the poor and homeless through our website.

Reviewed For Factual Accuracy
Our team meticulously fact-checks all website content before publishing. Discover more about our website’s editorial standard here and the dedication we uphold.

About The Author
Meet writer Rei Bayucca, a graduate of Saint Louis University. Prepare to delve into insightful articles tailored to solve your most pressing problems. Rei has the knack for captivating you with expertly crafted content that will leave you craving more.
Correct Digital, Inc is paid by private donors to provide website digital marketing services to this non-profit organization.