Lost, then found: Thousands of glasses support vision care around the world

More than 3,000 pairs of unclaimed glasses from Sydney Airport's Lost Property have been donated through Lions Recycle for Sight Australia, helping improve access to vision care for people in need around the world.

With around 120,000 passengers travelling through the airport daily, glasses are often left behind at the gates and around the terminals. While some are reunited with their owners, many remain unclaimed.

Our long-term partners, the Rotary Clubs of Botany Randwick, Rotary Club of Marrickville teamed up with Lions Recycle for Sight Australia in July, to find new homes for more than 3,000 pairs of eyeglasses.

Through Lions Recycle for Sight Australia, donated glasses are sorted, refurbished, and distributed to people in need, helping restore vision and creating opportunities for education, employment, and improved quality of life.

Mark Daniels from Rotary Club of Botany Randwick and Marrickville said:

“We would like to sincerely thank Sydney Airport for their commitment to sustainability and community impact. By choosing to donate these glasses rather than discard them, Sydney Airport has helped turn a simple act into a life-changing outcome for thousands of people.”

Supporting communities in Fiji

This latest initiative builds on a longstanding partnership between Sydney Airport and Rotary Australia, which has supported the airport community since the 1960s.

In October 2024, the Rotary Clubs of Botany Randwick, Marrickville connected with the Rotary team in Lautoka to donate more than 4,000 pairs of unclaimed prescription glasses and sunglasses to Fiji. The glasses were distributed through Lautoka Hospital and local eye care providers across the region.

The donation helped provide access to vision care for people who may otherwise have struggled to afford it, with Rotary volunteers coordinating distribution to ensure the glasses reached those most in need.

How lost property is returned, reused and rehomed

Sydney Airport's dedicated Passenger Care team works hard to reunite lost items with their owners. Last year the team returned more than 6,000 items left behind by passengers.

Items that remained unclaimed from the last year have been donated to local charities or repurposed in the annual Lost Property Auction, which raises funds for charity and community initiatives.

Sydney Airport has also recently opened a new passenger-facing Lost Property office in Terminal 2, located opposite Gate 55, making it easier for travellers to make enquiries in person. There is also an office on level three of the International Terminal which operates from 8am to 4pm on weekdays. Details HERE