10 million pairs distributed (and counting!)

We’re incredibly excited to announce that 10 million pairs of glasses have officially been distributed (in 50+ countries around the world) via our Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program—which means over 10 million more people now have the glasses they need to learn, work, and achieve better economic outcomes. 

It has been our goal from day one to demonstrate that a business could scale while doing good in the world. The better we do as a company—which starts with designing high-quality products, delivering amazing customer experiences, and developing innovative technologies that help people see—the more positive impact we can have. We believe in vision for all, which is why for every pair of glasses or sunglasses purchased, a pair of glasses is distributed to someone in need through our Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program.

(Photos courtesy of Vision Spring.)

What power do glasses hold? Without them so many are hindered in their ability to work, get an education, and go about their life with security and dignity. 2.5 billion people around the world need glasses but don’t have access to them; of these, 624 million cannot effectively learn or work due to the severity of their visual impairment (World Economic Forum, June 2016). 

In September 2021, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Ophthalmology published an academic study conducted by Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Institute and School of Education as part of Vision for Baltimore (our Pupils Project program which provides vision screenings, eye examples, and prescription glasses to kids in Baltimore elementary and middle schools). The three-year clinical study investigated the impact of school-based vision interventions on academic outcomes; essentially, the effect of glasses on kids’ academic performance. The results reinforced what we’ve seen first-hand for years: The impact of a pair of glasses on a student’s education was equivalent to two to four months of additional schooling, and four-to-six months for special education students—compared to students without glasses.

Witnessing the measurable impact of a pair of glasses has only motivated us more to keep growing our business and, in turn, scaling our Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program. Last year, we publicly launched the Warby Parker Impact Foundation to accelerate this work. 

To all of our customers and partners who have helped us reach this monumental milestone, thank you (x 10,000,000!). Our continued hope is to show that a business can do well while doing good—and we couldn’t be more appreciative of the people who help make that happen.

Learn more about our Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program at warbyparker.com/buy-a-pair-give-a-pair.