The frames are being made from cheap materials (plain wire) closer-to or at the location of the recipients. Another HNer mentioned the person behind this invented a small wire bending device, and that's being used here to form the frames.
I would wager, as well, that the lenses don't have all the fancy coatings and such that you might get from an Optometrist (anti-scratch/fog/glare/shatter, etc)... although when your options are cheap glasses vs. no glasses, most people will opt for having glasses.
It's a bit disingenuous to compare these $1 wire glasses to glasses you would buy from an Optometrist.
There are some very clear and distinct differences.
Yes, there is a lot of bloat in prescription glasses pricing, but it's not 99% bloat (ie. it's not a $1 cost-to-manufacturer product being sold to you).
Frames are overly expensive, but a trivial comparison will reveal most frames are a lot more sturdy/well-constructed than a simple 18awg wire bent into shape.
The real expense is the lenses, and their coatings. The lenses in the $1 glasses surely cannot have anti-glare/fog/scratch/shatter coatings, otherwise the lenses alone would cost far more than $1! Also, the quality of manufacturing plays an important role, as other HNers have pointed out (the precision shape of the lenses, etc.).
The real "meat" of this thing isn't to highlight how over-priced prescription glasses are, it's to showcase a well intentioned charity that's providing clear vision to people who would not be able to get it any other way. These people will accept less quality, because the alternative is not being able to see. The $1 donation price-point enables a wider range of folks to be able to donate, which feeds the cycle.
The pictures show what look like some very flimsy wire frames. I saw the picture of the 8 year old boy wearing those and thought "good thing they're cheap, because they'll be broken in a week."
I kind of wish there was a $2 glasses charity that used solid (if ugly) plastic frames that will stand up to some abuse. Even if the kids value the glasses (they will), it's easy to forget they are on your face when you trip and fall or take a soccer ball to the head or any number of possible calamities.
The frames are being made from cheap materials (plain wire) closer-to or at the location of the recipients. Another HNer mentioned the person behind this invented a small wire bending device, and that's being used here to form the frames.
I would wager, as well, that the lenses don't have all the fancy coatings and such that you might get from an Optometrist (anti-scratch/fog/glare/shatter, etc)... although when your options are cheap glasses vs. no glasses, most people will opt for having glasses.