More than 1,868 prescription glasses, readers, sunglasses and parts of glasses collected from Lab employees were handed over to the Eyes of Hope program this week.

The donations, which were coordinated through the Lab's Benefits Office, began last November to help the more than one billion people around the world -- who can't afford glasses -- obtain them.

Mel Scott, of VSP, the company that sponsors the Eyes of Hope program, explained that the donated used eyewear is collected, cleaned up, the prescriptions read by doctors and labeled. The recycled glasses are then prepared for shipment around the world to help adults and children in need.

"This is one of the largest donations we've had," Scott said. "The amount of glasses the Lab has collected is phenomenal. Thank you."

For more information about Eyes of Hope, go to the Web.

Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a national security laboratory, with a mission to ensure national security and apply science and technology to the important issues of our time. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.