Optical retailer Eyeglass World, a National Vision Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: EYE) brand, announced the launch of a new philanthropic outreach program, “Made Locally, Given Globally” across its more than 100 retail locations nationwide. As part of this new program, when customers buy a pair of eyeglasses at the retailer, another pair will be handcrafted by Eyeglass World associates at the in-store lab and donated to someone with vision impairment around the world.

“We are in the midst of a global vision crisis,” said Bob Stein, National Vision’s chief philanthropic officer. “The World Health Organization estimates that more than a billion people need some form of vision correction. A simple pair of glasses can make a tremendous difference for someone, oftentimes impacting their ability to work, drive or even interact with family and friends. At Eyeglass World, we are thrilled to be able to launch this program that will help people in need in communities around the world see better so they can live better.”

Eyeglass World has been piloting its “Made Locally, Given Globally” program for the past year at locations in both Michigan and Indiana. During the pilot, more than 11,000 pairs of eyeglasses were created by Eyeglass World associates and will be distributed to people around the world in need thanks to partnerships with organizations including RestoringVision.