An Eye on Sustainability: Contact Lens Recycling and More

In the United States, over 45 million people use contact lenses,¹ and 19% dispose of them by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the sink.²

This introduces approximately 2.5 billion lenses—roughly 44,000 pounds of plastic—into wastewater treatment plants annually, exacerbating the environmental crisis.

Overview of the environmental impact of contact lenses

When considering the overall environmental impact, daily disposable and reusable contact lenses are quite similar. Daily lenses, including their packaging (cartons, blister packs, and foil), produce approximately 1kg of waste annually, while reusable lenses, along with the necessary cleaning solution, generate around 0.87kg of waste per year.¹

Delving deeper, plastic waste from lens cases and cleaning solution bottles is notably significant. One multipurpose solution lens case generates as much plastic waste as 4 years’ worth of daily disposable lenses, while a hydrogen peroxide system case produces the equivalent of 8 years’ worth.¹

Furthermore, one bottle of multipurpose contact lens solution produces plastic waste comparable to over 2.5 years of daily disposables.¹

Comparing contact lens modalities and materials

Between 2019 and 2023, 73.7% of all contact lens prescriptions were for silicone hydrogels,³ which take hundreds of years to break down, further contributing to plastic pollution and harming marine life.

The widespread use and improper disposal of contact lenses contribute significantly to plastic pollution, with billions of lenses and their cases entering wastewater systems and the environment each year. Both daily disposable and reusable lenses have a notable ecological footprint, and the slow decomposition of materials like hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lenses only worsens the situation.

Additionally, while direct research is limited, rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses are relatively environmentally sustainable due to their extended lifespan and lower waste generation. Although RGP lenses are non-biodegradable, RGP lenses may represent an eco-conscious choice for some patients.

Addressing these environmental impacts requires increased awareness, better disposal practices, and innovations in sustainable alternatives.

The optometrist's responsibility to the environment

Optometrists, like all healthcare professionals, have a responsibility to be mindful of their environmental impact and work to reduce it.

By adopting energy-efficient initiatives, implementing recycling programs, advocating for eco-friendly products, and encouraging the proper disposal of medical waste (i.e., contact lenses), optometrists can make a meaningful contribution to environmental sustainability while continuing to deliver outstanding care to their patients.

EyeSustain is an international coalition in the ophthalmic field dedicated to advancing education, current research on medical waste and the safety of existing practices, and advocating for enhanced sustainability in eyecare and the broader healthcare system. Their website serves as an excellent resource for up-to-date research and ideas on how to promote sustainability, from operating rooms to clinics.

5 steps to promote sustainability in optometry practices

Step 1: Opt for environmentally responsible products

Encourage eco-friendly products by recommending eyeglass frames made from sustainable materials and contact lenses with recyclable packaging or eco-friendly materials. Collaborating with manufacturers who prioritize sustainability can help advance environmentally responsible practices in the optical industry.

Contact lenses

The following sustainability programs have been implemented by contact lens manufacturers:^4-7

ACUVUE (Johnson & Johnson) is focused on three main areas of sustainability: reducing waste, minimizing its carbon footprint, and promoting sustainable packaging.
- The company ensures 100% paper packaging is sustainable, recycles 89% of raw materials at manufacturing sites, and aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
Alcon focuses on energy efficiency, waste reduction, and water stewardship, leveraging its Environmental Sustainability Scorecard to enhance product and process sustainability.
- In 2024, the company made progress toward carbon neutrality by cutting Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 12.2%, achieving a 97.6% landfill diversion rate, and completing 34 energy-saving projects totaling approximately 54,200GJ of energy.
- Through its partnership with Plastic Bank, Alcon has also helped prevent more than 125 million plastic bottles from entering waterways and supported over 5,000 collectors around the world.
Bausch + Lomb sets annual goals focused on reducing waste, conserving resources, and improving product and packaging sustainability. Its initiatives are guided by the FEWW metrics—fuel, energy, water, and waste—which help identify projects and track progress.
- Notable achievements include building a cryogenic nitrogen plant to cut CO₂ emissions, installing efficient power systems in multiple facilities, and expanding solar energy use to significantly reduce carbon footprints.
CooperVision is dedicated to minimizing its environmental impact by integrating renewable energy, waste reduction, and recyclable design into its manufacturing and operations, while actively encouraging sustainable practices.
- The company recently earned zero waste program certification at six of its global contact lens manufacturing and distribution facilities.
- Additionally, its plastic neutrality initiative has reached a major milestone—preventing the equivalent of over half a billion plastic bottles from entering the world’s oceans, with that number continuing to grow.

Eyeglasses / Sunglasses

An increasing number of eyewear companies are focusing on environmental issues and offering sustainable products:^8,9

Bird: A certified carbon-zero company. Uses sustainable materials, plant-based dyes, and biodegradable packaging.
Costa: Offers sunglass frames made from recycled fishing nets and uses environmentally-friendly packaging and cases
Eco: Uses 95% recycled metal, biobased castor seed oil, and recycled ocean plastic. Plants one tree for each purchase.
MITA: Produced from upcycled water bottles; 10 water bottles to make one frame, one hard case, four soft pouches, and a cleaning cloth.
Pala: Uses Italian bio-acetate (100% plant-based and biodegradable) and handwoven recycled plastic cases from artisans in Ghana.
Pela: Uses 33% less CO₂ emissions, 34% less H₂O, and 82% less waste than conventional methods. Also offers a recycling program.
Proof Eyewear: Uses sustainably-sourced wood, biodegradable cotton-based acetate, and recycled aluminum. Plants five trees for every frame sold.
Quince: Made from acetate (wood pulp and cotton), an eco-friendly alternative to plastic.
ReMakes by Zenni: 100% certified recycled post-consumer plastic or biobased acetate. Shipped in a paper recyclable tube.
Solo Eyewear: Uses recycled and repurposed materials. Donates 10% of profits for eye exams, glasses, and cataract surgeries to those in need.
Sunski: Uses sustainable material from scrap plastic that would have otherwise ended up in landfills.
Vinylize: Uses recycled vinyl records to create frames for optical and sunglass collections as well as customized cases.
Waterhaul: Uses a mechanical recycling solution that uses fishing nets left in the ocean (“ghost gear”) to create sunglasses.
Woodzee: Made from wood and plant-based plastics. Offers a recycling program where customers can trade in old frames for 50% off.

Ophthalmic Lenses

Many lens manufacturers, including ZEISS, HOYA, and Essilor, have introduced sustainable initiatives, focusing on eco-friendly packaging, water conservation, energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and minimizing plastic waste.

Step 2: Minimize waste and recycle

Minimize waste by utilizing digital records, reducing disposable items, and establishing in-office waste management initiatives. Recycling contact lenses and eyecare waste, along with take-back programs for old glasses and lenses, encourages sustainable practices and helps keep these materials out of landfills.

Bausch + Lomb has launched two recycling programs that make it possible to recycle the smaller plastic components that were previously considered non-recyclable.¹⁰

The programs accept used contact lenses and other contact-lens recyclables from any manufacturer. Additionally, Bausch + Lomb donates $1 per pound for qualifying shipments weighing 2 pounds or more to Optometry Giving Sight.

ONE by ONE Recycling Program

Bausch + Lomb’s ONE by ONE Recycling Program accepts contact lenses and their blister packs for recycling. There’s no need to wash the contact lens waste, but ensure the blister packs are empty of any liquid.

Bausch + Lomb sorts the materials and remolds them to make recycled products. Some are even repurposed into training modules, which the Guide Dog Foundation uses to train dogs for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.¹¹

Biotrue Eyecare Recycling Program

Bausch + Lomb has teamed up with TerraCycle to recycle contact lens solution bottle caps, contact lens cases, eye drop single-dose vials, and eye and lens drop bottles and caps through the Biotrue Eyecare Recycling Program.

Eyecare professionals can register on the TerraCycle website to become drop-off locations for these programs, helping to educate, encourage, and promote recycling practices to their patients.

Spectacle recycling programs

Multiple companies provide eyewear recycling services; glasses can be donated by mail to various organizations or dropped off at in-store locations:^12,13

Costco: In-store drop off and distributed by partner, Assist International
Lions Club: Frames can be mailed to one of 12 recycling centers
OneSight: Frames can be dropped off at LensCrafters stores
ReSpectacle: Mailing directions and limitations found via the link
Sam’s Club: In-store drop off and will be mailed to a Lions Club recycling center
VOSH International: Frames and optometric equipment used in clinics
Walmart: In-store drop off and will be mailed to a Lions Club recycling center
Warby Parker: In-store drop off and will be mailed to a Lions Club recycling center

Step 3: Boost energy efficiency

Implement energy-efficient practices by using energy-saving lights, equipment, and appliances, while also striving to reduce overall electricity consumption.

Step 4: Advocate for education and awareness

Educate patients on the environmental impact of their eyecare choices and recommend ways to reduce harm, such as proper disposal of contact lenses and associated waste, and choosing sustainable products when possible.

Step 5: Minimize chemicals and ensure proper disposal

Proper disposal of chemicals such as contact lens cleaning solutions and topical medications helps protect ecosystems. Many pharmacies offer drop-off bins for expired medications, including eye drops. Using less harmful chemicals and following correct disposal methods helps promote a greener practice.

Key takeaways

19% of US contact lens users dispose of them incorrectly, leading to billions of lenses and substantial plastic waste entering wastewater systems annually.
Both daily disposable and reusable lenses have a substantial environmental impact, with silicone hydrogel lenses taking centuries to decompose and harming marine life.
Optometrists can promote sustainability by advocating for eco-friendly products, promoting proper disposal, and encouraging the recycling of lenses.
Bausch + Lomb’s recycling programs help reduce waste by making previously non-recyclable materials, such as blister packs and solution cases, recyclable.
Promoting energy efficiency, reducing waste, and educating patients on sustainable practices can significantly reduce the ecological impact of the ophthalmic industry.