At Global Envision, Seth Heller blogged about an organization that provides inexpensive eyeglasses to poor people in the developing world.
“We often take clear vision for granted,” writes Heller, “but Peter Eliassen knows that eyeglasses can be the difference between financial security and poverty for many in the developing world. As the chief operating officer of VisionSpring, Eliassen travels the globe making reasonably priced eyewear available for people who cannot otherwise afford them. …
“VisionSpring estimates more than 703 million people around the world need eyeglasses. Without vision correction, people are unable to secure employment during their prime working years, and supporting a family becomes almost impossible. …
“VisionSpring’s eyeglasses are priced around $4 and typically boost the wearer’s wage by an average of $108 per year – a significant amount in many developing nations. …
“However, a worker’s clear vision can be life-changing to many people outside their family. …
“The correlation between good public health and economic growth in developing nations is strong. If developing nations can reduce unemployment by solving ongoing public health problems such as impaired vision, the socioeconomic benefits can improve the lives of a nation’s entire population.” More here.
The story came to me by way of the Christian Science Monitor‘s Change Agent listserv.
Photo: Thatcher Cook/Mercy Corps
Eyeglasses from VisionSpring.
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