Global movement aims to improve access to vision care
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The World Health Organization estimates that the number of people with vision impairment will reach two billion by 2050.
Today, more than 950 million people do not have basic vision care, including eyeglasses. A growing global movement aims to change that.
Blair Wong – board president for GoodVision USA – said without eyeglasses, children have a much harder time learning, and adults struggle to find and keep a job or fully participate in their communities.
"Eighty-five percent of every person's experience of the world on a daily basis is through their eyes, through their sight," said Wong. "And it's so important to the progression and development of us as people."
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Over 93 million U.S. adults are at high risk for vision loss, according to the latest JAMA Ophthalmology survey. But only 56 percent get annual eye exams, and 8 million adults who need glasses can’t afford them.
The situation is even more challenging in poor or middle-income countries.
GoodVision has developed vision care infrastructure in 11 countries throughout Africa, Asia and South America. That work has helped deliver 2.5 million free eye screenings and over a million pairs of eyeglasses.
Wong said their technicians have created the “world’s smallest eyeglass factory” that produces eyeglasses for less than $1 each.
"We use a simple piece of wire," said Wong. "It's bent into a working three-dimensional frame in which the patient's customized prescription is inserted. And this is all done without any water or electricity."
Poor eyesight has been linked to greater rates of poverty, but Wong said investing in vision care is an economic multiplier. Every dollar invested generates $28 in economic benefits.
Wong said part of what makes their 34 new vision centers sustainable is hiring and training local providers.
"We not only provide the prescription glasses and the care for people's vision," said Wong, "but we train local citizens who want to be educated and develop the technical skills to be able to care for people in their community."
