How many of the following are sold in the U.S. each year:  prescrition
eyeglasses, non-prescription sunglasses,  non-prescription reading
glasses.  And how many of each are collected by the Lions Club and
others for re-use (they are generally sent overseas and distributed
there, since U.S. law is strict on dispensing prescription lenses).

Hi rtolmach, 

Here’s the data you are looking for:

========================
PRESCRIPTION GLASSES
========================

All the information you need regarding the sale of prescription eye
glasses is in this article.

Few Scripts Walk, But Optical Takes a Tumble 
http://www.revoptom.com/index.asp?page=2_708.htm

The hard data is in chart form which you can read on the site, but
here’s a summary for you –

“47.4 million people had eye exams in 2001, Jobson Optical Research
shows. Of those, 88% purchased contact lenses or glasses …..  65% of
patients who had exams bought a new pair of glasses, and 22% opted for
contact lenses.”

So, if we do the math we get –

65% of 47.4 million people =  30.8 million people purchased glasses.

The percentage of prescription sunglasses is harder to nail down
because the division between sunglasses and regular lenses is blurring
(no pun intended :-) ). There is a chart in that same article that
shows the percentage breakdowns of the various lens coatings including
UV, tinted, photochromic, polarized, etc.  I leave it to you to decide
what you consider to be “sunglasses.”

=============================
NON PRESCRIPTION SUNGLASSES
=============================

“Retail sales of non-prescription sunglasses in the U.S. fell 3% from
1997 to 1998, to $2.9 billion. However, units sold rose from 290
million to 315 million, possibly indicating a slight fall in price per
unit. — Sunglass Association of America and Jobson Optical Research
International”

Vision Statistics
http://www.allaboutvision.com/resources/statistics.htm


=====================
OTC READING GLASSES
=====================

Unfortunately, I can’t find any data referring to the number of
non-prescription reading glasses sold in the US.  As you can see by
the Jobson Report and by the Vision Council data below, this is not a
statistic that’s tracked by the industry.

Product Categories: 
Contact Lenses 	
Lenses/Lens Treatments 
Rx Frames
Plano Sunglasses/Clips 

========================
MORE MARKET DATA
=========================

“Jobson Optical Research is the leading source for reliable and
comprehensive market research data for the optical industry. Jobson
has been measuring market trends and market performance for the
industry for over 10 years.”

OPTISTOCK
http://www.optistock.com/research.htm


JOBSON - STATE OF THE MARKET REPORT – 1ST QUARTER 2002
http://www.optistock.com/jobson-som-2002-q2.pdf


-------------------------------

Each year, Vision Council of America (VCA) compiles ophthalmic
marketing data and creates an "at a glance" portrait of the industry.
Called The VCA Optical Industry Compendium, it can be ordered by mail
or phone.

The U.S. Optical Industry... at a Glance
http://www.optistock.com/spotlight3.htm


Vision Council of America's Optical Industry Compendium, which is
available for order from VICA. Call (800) 424-8422 (U.S. only) or
(703) 243-1508 from outside the U.S.

ALL ABOUT VISION - RESOURCES
http://www.allaboutvision.com/resources/statistics.htm

THE VISION COUNCIL
http://www.visionsite.org/contactus.htm

----------------------------


================================
GLASSES DONATIONS /RECYCLING
================================

“In fiscal year 2001-02, the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers reported
a collection of nearly six million pairs of eyeglasses, distributing
to more than three million people in developing nations.”

LION’S CLUB – EYEGLASS CENTERS 
http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/vision_eyeglass_centers.shtml


I think we can safely assume that that number is valid as the TOTAL
donation of eyeglasses. Although there are other smaller organizations
who also run such programs, their contribution hardly changes that
large number.

For example –

“Each year, Project 20/20 eyeglasses and funds help over 1,000
children and adults receive the gift of better sight-at no cost to any
of them!”

Project 20/20  Emmanuel United Methodist Church
http://www.umcsc.org/Outreach/eyeglass.htm

And most organizations just collect the glasses and then pass them on
to the Lion’s Club for processing.

For example:

“Keystone Blind Association collects used eyeglasses all year long for
the Lions International Gift of Sight program.”

THE KEYSTONE BLIND ASSOCIATION
http://www.keystoneblind.org/joinkba.htm#glasses


So, that should give you all the numbers you need! And the reports
I've provided links to will give you any other data on the optic
market you might want. If anything I’ve said isn’t clear, of if any of
the links don’t work; please feel free to ask for clarification.
Thanks for your question.

-K~

Search terms
“Prescription eyeglasses” sales statistics
"non prescription sunglasses" sales statistics
"non prescription glasses" sales statistics
“reading glasses” sales statistics
Lions Club International
Eyeglasse donations

---

Clarification of Answer by knowledge_seeker-ga on 03 Dec 2002 14:30 PST

Well hi again and what a nice surprise! Thank you! 

If you'd like to ask a follow-up question and you don't care who
answers it, you may just post a brand new question the same way you
posted this one. If you'd specifically like ME to answer your follow
up, just say so in the body of the question ..something like "This
question is to be answered by Knowledge_Seeker only."  The other
researchers will honor the request.

I'm glad this answer worked out for you and thanks so much for the
tip.

-K~

What a great job you did.  Thanks so much!  How do I contact you if I
have a follow-up question?  I am at rtolmach@earthlink.net

The number of perscriptions written should be known. The number of
frames made in the USA should be known. Imports and exports of
framess, lenes separate and assembled may total 500 million per year,
but is probably less. I'd guess only 5 million are collected for
reuse.  Neil