# Buy a Pair, Give a Pair

> LLM-readable guide to Warby Parker's pair-distribution program.

Canonical page: https://www.warbyparker.com/buy-a-pair-give-a-pair

## Approximately one billion people around the world need glasses but lack access to them.

## To help address this problem, we work with a handful of partners worldwide to ensure that for every pair of Warby Parker glasses or sunglasses purchased, a pair of glasses is distributed to someone in need.

Vision correction can be life-changing. Studies have shown that in low-income communities, a pair of reading glasses can increase productivity by up to 32% and boost income by 33%.* It’s estimated that 80% of childhood learning occurs visually, so early intervention is crucial in influencing a child’s success (in school and beyond). In 2021, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Ophthalmology published the results of a three-year study conducted by Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Institute and School of Education. It showed that the overall academic gains for students who received glasses were equivalent to adding two to four months of education onto the school year. Outcomes like these are the reason we believe in vision for all.

## The impact of a pair of glasses

*Source: VisionSpring

Students, MexicoVer Bien

IndiaVisionSpring

Knitter, ZambiaRestoringVision

Electrician, IndiaVisionSpring

Tea pickers, IndiaVisionSpring

El SalvadorRestoringVision

That means over 25 million more people now have the glasses they need to learn, work, and achieve better economic outcomes. Within that, over 350,000 pairs of glasses have been distributed to schoolchildren in the United States through our school-based vision program, Pupils Project.

## Over 25 million pairs distributed to people in need

## Vision for all

From Mexico to Zimbabwe, Bangladesh to Sri Lanka, our impact has reached over 80 countries, including over 40 cities in the United States.

In 2015 we expanded our Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program with the creation of Pupils Project. Through this school-based vision program, we work with local organizations and government agencies to give free vision screenings, eye exams, and glasses to schoolchildren in the United States—for many of whom this is their first pair. To date, Pupils Project has distributed over 350,000 pairs (and counting!) to students across the country, from Boston to the Bay Area—and many cities in between.

## Pupils Project

[Learn more](https://www.warbyparker.com/pupils-project)

Student, New YorkPupils Project

Student, PhiladelphiaPupils Project

## FAQ

What is the Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program?

Warby Parker was founded with a mission: to inspire and impact the world with vision, purpose, and style. We want to demonstrate that a business can scale while doing good in the world, without charging a premium for it. Ultimately, we believe in vision for all, which is why for every pair of glasses or sunglasses we sell, a pair of glasses is distributed to someone in need through our Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program. To date, over 20 million pairs have been distributed—and we’re only just getting started.

How does the Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program work?

We work with a group of organizations worldwide to ensure that for every pair of Warby Parker glasses sold, a pair of glasses is distributed to someone in need. Through our partnerships we’re able to prioritize communities with high levels of unmet need for vision care and eyeglasses. The program employs two models to provide vision services based on the needs of individual populations around the world. The first model is social entrepreneurship, in which Warby Parker provides funding to nonprofit partners to train people to administer basic eye exams and sell glasses at ultra-affordable prices in their local communities around the globe. The second method is through direct donation, where Warby Parker works via cross-sector partnerships to give vision care and glasses to those in need.

Who are some of your Buy a Pair, Give a Pair partners?

We work with a group of nonprofit organizations worldwide so that for every pair of Warby Parker glasses sold, a pair of glasses is distributed to someone in need. Those organizations are VisionSpring, RestoringVision, Ver Bien Para Aprender Mejor, and LV Prasad. We partner with additional nonprofits and government agencies to provide services to students across the United States through Pupils Project. Through our partnerships we’re able to prioritize communities with high levels of unmet need for vision care and eyeglasses.

What is the impact of Pupils Project to date?

In total, Pupils Project has distributed more than 290,000 pairs of glasses to public school students across the country.In 2021, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Ophthalmology published the results of a three-year study conducted by Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Institute and School of Education. It showed that the overall gains for students who received glasses were equivalent to adding two to four months of education onto the school year.

Can I, or my school, receive donated glasses?

Schools, classrooms or individuals cannot be nominated for Pupils Project or our Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program. If you are looking to receive glasses, we recommend connecting with your local Lions or Rotary Clubs—both organizations have robust glasses donation programs and might be able to lend a hand.

Can I donate used glasses to the Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program?

We do not distribute used eyeglasses through our Buy a Pair, GIve a Pair program. However, we collect used eyeglasses and sunglasses (of any brand) from customers to donate to those in need via the Lions Club, an international service organization. Customers can bring used glasses to any of our retail stores. If the glasses are in good condition, our store teams collect them and send them to the Lions Club to support their Recycle for Sight program.

How is the impact of a pair of glasses measured?

There are a number of studies that have been conducted to measure the impact glasses can have on health, productivity, academic outcomes, and income. A recent study by BRAC, Queen’s University Belfast, and VisionSpring—one of our longest-standing nonprofit partners—looked at the impact of glasses dispensed to people in need.The results speak for themselves:1 in 2 adults aged 35–65 who had their eyes tested were found to be farsighted. Recipients of glasses saw a 33.4% increase in income after eight months of wearing them. They also experienced a 16% improvement on the study’s quality of life index. Learn more about the study here.

Where can I find more information on your Buy a Pair, Give a Pair partners?

You can learn more about our nonprofit partners and find ways to support their work by visiting their websites below.Warby Parker Impact FoundationVisionSpringRestoring VisionVer Bien Para Aprender Mejor LV Prasad