Eyeglasses Initiative
Photo: Last Mile Health
Why Eyeglasses
A simple, powerful solution to improve livelihoods for millions of people.
800 million people are living with a vision impairment that could be corrected with a simple pair of near-vision glasses.​ Unaddressed, this limits productivity, learning, and livelihoods.
At under $4 to deliver glasses from factory to face, glasses are among the most cost-effective tools to improve income and well-being — increasing productivity and income by up to 30%, with ripple effects into better education, healthier lives and better opportunities for millions.
Our Vision
We aim to solve this issue at scale.
Our goal is to get reading glasses, a simple cost-effective solution, to the 800 million adults who could use them to increase income and productivity and significantly improve their livelihoods and well-being.
What catalytic investments can help achieve:
500 million near-vision glasses distributed in the next 10 years
Reach a ‘tipping point’ that enables private markets & government programs to sustain access at scale
Unlock more than 1 billion new users by 2045, improving quality of life, productivity, and livelihoods
Contribute to $1.05 trillion in productivity gains by 2050
Our Approach
We pilot and refine solutions, scale the ones that work, and invest in and replicate proven models to enable sustainable access to near-vision glasses and address near-vision impairment at scale.
We will increase access to, uptake of, and willingness to pay for reading glasses through a multi-pronged approach:
​
-
Stimulate the market through public and private sector delivery channels
-
Support demand generation efforts
-
Advocate to remove regulatory barriers
-
Strengthen supply chains
A 'Sticky' Product
Following first purchase, behavior change lasts.
Studies are showing that people continue to wear their eyeglasses years later.
In our research conducted across four countries:
86%-93%
are still wearing near-vision glasses after 5 years (original pair or replacement)
50%-70%
had obtained a replacement pair within 5-6 years of receiving their first pair
Nearly all (90%)
paid for their replacement pair*, most at full-price ($6-12)
*in some locations
A multi-pronged
partnership approach
Evidence Generation
Producing and capturing key learnings and facilitating broader adoption through open-source evidence generation.
Supply and Distribution
Funding
Working with supply partners to guarantee volume & quality.
​
Solving for last mile delivery by embedding reading glasses in existing distribution channels .
Laying the groundwork for public and private capital to sustain and expand access.
Advocacy and public policy
Supporting policy reform to make it easier to distribute.
​
Partnering with governments to embed vision screening in national programs.
Photo: VisionSpring
Resources and Learnings
Eyeglasses are a “sticky” product.
Research shows that 5 years on, over 90% of customers in India who had bought a low-cost pair were still wearing glasses, and over 60% purchased a replacement pair. Demand generation activities can increase first-time users and lead to lifetime customers.
Outreach and distribution via trusted networks matter.
Implementers have found great success in reaching communities via religious leaders and networks, community health workers (CHWs), and pharmacies.
Near-vision glasses are shelf-stable products that are safe to use and self-select.
De-medicalizing glasses (making them available over the counter) can help stimulate market competition, increase availability, improve affordability, and lead to greater access for communities.
The public sector is a critical pathway to scaling that reaches people at the last mile.
Securing the backing of governments and integrating into existing national systems such as public healthcare, community-based networks, and pension programs can expand usage and access.
Photo: Solutions Insights Lab
Select Grantees
Last Mile Health
Ethiopia
Through Last Mile Health, LIF and the Ethiopian Ministry of Health have integrated eyeglasses screening and delivery into the national community health worker (CHW) training program, the first of its kind.
To date, over 10,000 CHWs have been trained.
This partnership aims to close the country’s presbyopia gap within 5 years, building within a government-led model for long-term sustainability
Photo: Last Mile Health
Clinton Health Access Initiative,
RestoringVision
Nigeria
Following the launch of the Presidential Initiative co-developed by LIF in 2023, Nigeria is now scaling access to eyeglasses nationwide.
In less than a year, over 1 million pairs have been distributed across 16 states, reaching people through primary health centers, community health workers, and faith-based networks.
The initiative aims to reach 5 million pairs at under $3 per pair.
Photo: Dr. Oteri Okolo
The/Nudge Institute
India
The/Nudge is strengthening government relations and positioning glasses as a livelihood and social welfare intervention, distributing through existing community-based networks and government cadres. These partnerships are unlocking tens of millions in government spending.
By scaling in a government-led model for long-term sustainability, we aim to close the country’s presbyopia gap within 5 years.
Photo: Solutions Insights Lab
VisionSpring
Bangladesh
VisionSpring, along with partners BRAC, Sajida, Appleseed and WRP, are scaling access to eyeglasses, leveraging a new demand-generation model funded by LIF that led to a nearly 200% increase in sales without changing the price.
The approach will be rolled out nationwide in 2026.
Photo: VisionSpring
