The Problem: Damage

Glasses are a part of everyday life in the developed world. We rely on them for several of our critical activities–reading and learning, working, interacting with other people and operating vehicles. For the many in the developing world who need glasses, these critical activities are made difficult, impossible or dangerous. As a result, economic and personal losses occur, totaling more than 75 billion dollars of damage annually.

For educators the cost is enormous. Excluding the US and Europe, there are 600 million students worldwide. Between 5 and 10% of this student population needs glasses in order to learn effectively. Without proper glasses, students learn critical skills at a slower rate. Even students with only moderate vision problems become disadvantaged, as discomfort while reading discourages studying.

In the workplace, the costs are even more severe. Nearly all workers over 40 years old have problems with near vision; those that do not have glasses may be forced out of the labor market. Younger workers with vision problems may never be able to become fully productive, limiting their income potential. Those with jobs may find their productivity slower. If glasses could provide only a 5% increase in productivity for the workers who need glasses over $50BB in economic gain could be created.