Acumen Fund

Affordable Reading Glasses for the Poor

Affordable reading glasses improve the health and productivity of low-income consumers in rural India.

Over 400 million people across the developing world suffer from presbyopia - the natural deterioration of up-close vision that comes with middle-age - but have no access to affordable vision services.
Poor eyesight in many cases means the difference between earning a livelihood and not. Clear vision is critical for continued worker productivity, especially for the artisans, tailors, mechanics, and many others across rural communities doing detailed-oriented work.

VisionSpring trains Vision Entrepreneurs to operate a microfranchise, traveling from village to village and conducting vision camps, checking eyesight and selling glasses. One pair, with a case and cleaning cloth, costs from $2.50 to $4.
VisionSpring uses a partnership model to scale its model, leveraging established networks of local organizations to reach populations the traditional market has neglected and empower our host communities with self-sustaining vision programs.

VisionSpring's Vision Entrepreneurs have sold more than 360,000 eyeglasses, across four continents and eleven countries, since 2001. Studies indicate that each pair of eyeglasses sold enables an average $106 in increased earnings for the customer. Thus, VisionSpring has generated roughly $38 million in economic growth for those who need it most.
VisionSpring has trained more than 5,200 Vision Entrepreneurs to sell VisionSpring eyeglasses, providing these women and men with sustainable, dignified livelihoods that uplift their communities.