According to a study by the WHO, around 950 million people suffer from correctable defective vision, but cannot afford glasses and have no access to optical care. Until a few years ago, one major gap in the global healthcare system was the lack of individually tailored glasses that are affordable, yet attractively designed and also suitable for the often harsh environmental conditions in poor countries.

The organization GoodVision is closing this gap with its GoodVision Glasses and a comprehensive system for basic eye care to those in need. This encompasses the entire process from free eye tests and support for patients requiring cataract surgery to the manufacture of the GoodVision Glasses by locally trained specialists and an aftercare service including replacement lenses. As many countries lack qualified opticians, GoodVision has developed a one-year training concept that qualifies the GoodVision Technicians (GVTs) to reliably determine the best possible spherical lens during an eye test and fit the glasses professionally.

The GoodVision Glasses consist of a lightweight but sturdy spring steel frame and pre-ground lenses made of break- and scratch-resistant plastic. The range includes spherical lenses from -10.0 to +8.0 diopters in 0.5 diopter increments. Square lenses and prescription sunglasses are also available. The material costs for a pair of glasses are around one US dollar, and the retail price is two to three times the local daily wage.

The GoodVision Glasses are manufactured on a simple bending machine by specially trained professionals in the program countries of the organization. The bending machine does not require electricity and can therefore be used without any problems in structurally weak rural regions.

The GoodVision Glasses make a decisive difference in many people's lives — because good vision makes learning easier, creates better job opportunities and enables a higher quality of life.