the problem

Refractive error, correctable with eyeglasses, is the number one cause of poor vision globally. In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 95% of people who need eyeglasses do not own a pair. Uncorrected refractive error can affect a person’s education, employment, safety and quality of life and costs at least $121.4 billion per annum globally in lost productivity, according to the World Health Organization. It is therefore a significant barrier to the attainment of Education for All (EFA) and the Millennium Development Goals.

Two main barriers exist to achieving vision correction in developing countries:

• Accessibility - There is a severe shortage of eye care specialists and corresponding infrastructure. In sub-Saharan Africa there is approximately one optometrist per million people.

• Affordability - The existing services and products are beyond the reach of most of the world’s population who are living below the poverty line.

statistics

  • 1.3 billion people could benefit from eyeglasses
  • 4,500 people per optometrist in the US
  • 1,000,000 people per optometrist in sub-Saharan Africa
  • 68% of people in the UK wear eyeglasses or contact lenses
  • 95% of sub-Saharan Africans who need eyeglasses do not own a pair
  • 37% of 13 year old Chinese schoolchildren are nearsighted
  • 55% of Chinese schoolchildren will be nearsighted by their 18th birthday
  • $121 billion estimated lost to the global economy due to uncorrected refractive error