How to Give New Life to an Old Eyeglasses Case
Recently, I dropped off several out-of-prescription eyeglasses at a Walmart Vision Center, just one of many collection centers around the country that partner with Lions Clubs to collect old eyeglasses for those in need at home and medical missions abroad.
With the cost of prescription eyeglasses equaling a year’s salary in some countries, donated eyeglasses are the best hope for bringing sight to many visually impaired people who could simply not afford the cost.
The attendant kindly asked, however, that I not leave the cases.
My first thought was to toss the cases into the trash on the way out and just be done with it. But it didn’t feel right. There just had to be a way to give new life to these sturdy, protective cases.
Some quick research turned up these clever ideas:
Electronic accessories
An eyeglasses case is a perfect size for headphones, charging cord for the typical mobile device. No more tangled mess.
- Photo Credit: Details-Etc.
Sewing kit
Travel-size thread, scissors, needles, pins, and so on fit easily inside one of these cases. Gluing a couple of magnets in the lid helps to keep sharp items in place so they’re handy.
Photo Credit: Sulky
Toiletries
Because these cases have hard sides, they’re ideal for organizing small toiletries—the kind of emergency items we like to carry with us.
Notably, a full-size bottle of nail polish fits in one of these cases perfectly, which, as one who has experienced the heartbreak of a bottle of polish emptying itself inside my purse, makes me very happy.
A hardshell eyeglasses case can easily hold a toothbrush, dental floss and small tube of toothpaste.
Photo Credit: Real Simple
Make-up case
An eyeglasses case is just the right size to hold lipstick, mascara, eyeliner, brushes—you know, those things that are kind of long and narrow like the case.
READ: Use This for That in the Kitchen to Reduce Clutter and Save Money
Jewelry case
The last place you want that necklace, earrings, or another delicate jewelry item to land up is in the bottom of your purse or backpack.
Perhaps you know that sinking feeling of digging around and finding only one of the pair, forever wondering what happened to its mate.
Designating an old eyeglass case as your portable jewelry case will put an end to that disaster—and keep your items exactly where you can find them at all times.
Photo Credit: Le Zoe Musings
First aid kit
Bandaids, ointments, tweezers and other small items needed for rending first aid, can fit into one of the cases. Now everything is together and easily accessible.
Emergency art supplies
Filling one of these cases with stickers, crayons and a pad of mini Post-it notes will come back to bless you the day you’re stuck in line or a waiting room with a child.
Contact lens kit
One of these cases will hold a spare pair of lenses as well as a lens case and wetting solution. And it will keep all of that safe, sanitary and able to be found quickly when needed.
Coin case
Do you know what I find really annoying? Loose change rolling around in the bottom of my bag or car’s console. What a great idea to use an eyeglass case as a coin holder.
Originally published in Everyday Cheapskate 3-10-15; Updated and expanded 3-11-19
poke/drill holes to add a chain handle for a small purse, over the shoulder or clutch. add bling as desired. 🙂
Bring them to your local school nurse. Many of my students do not have cases when they take their glasses off for recess or PE.
Great idea! I’ll bet I’m not the only one who’s never thought about that kind of situation, (My 3-year-old grandson Sam, wears glasses full-time. The blue frames are pretty cute, made of rubber, and I’m sure we could tie them in a knot and they’d bounce right back. But having them in a safe place would be absolutely necessary, that is if he would even entertain the idea of taking them off.)
Why didn’t I think of that — nail tools in an eyeglass case! I’ve had empty cases that were too pretty to throw away, and I’ve been using zipper snack bags for my cuticle scissors, nail file, etc. Thanks!
I keep a snack bar in 1 so it doesn’t get all smashed in my purse!
I think it is perfect for travel size toothpaste and fold up toothbrush. Even though the toothbrush folds into itself there was still lint etc that got on the brush part. Eyeglass cases keeps them lint free and it’s in the same case as the toothpaste, BONUS!!
My old glasses case stands up with clip on the top end. Works perfectly in my church bag to contain pens, a paper folded fan and a nail file
Old cases are perfect for those who like to craft, sew, crochet. It holds supplies (scissors, hooks, rotary cutters, markers, etc). This works especially well when you need to take these things to classes.
I use an old eyeglass case to keep paperclips in one place in my desk drawer. Somehow the open trays don’t seem to hold them in one place as well.
Here are a few other ideas:
1. Use one to carry your own stash of Sweet N Low or whatever kind of sugar substitute you like. I’m diabetic and when I go out I like to make sure I have some of these with me, and the eyeglass case is the perfect place to put them, instead of having them floating around in my purse or being squashed in the pocket of my jeans.
2. Makeup. You can fit mascara, an eyeshadow, an eyeliner and more in an eyeglass case so you’ll have them when you need them to touch up before going out after work.
3. Lipsticks/lip balms. If you’re like me and carry more than one color, it’s so much easier to find them all in one place in a handy case instead of rooting around in your purse for just the right one.
4. Pens/pencils. If you’re someone who always offers a writing instrument when someone needs one but you have to say, “Hold on, I know I have one in my pocketbook,” and then proceed to dig through said purse, now you can just grab your handy-dandy repurposed eyeglass case, open it, and say, “Choose!”
Thanks, Mary. These were great tips for my unused eyeglass cases.