Page 11 - 10X GOOD_Issue 12_May_18_7
P. 11
Bridging
the Vision n a world where clear vision is often taken for navigate their surroundings with ease and safety.
daily challenge of navigating their environment
-Vasundhra Joshi granted, millions of children across India face the Moreover, uncorrected vision issues such as
Deputy Lead Resource Gap: DEVI with blurry sight. For them, vision impairment presbyopia and refractive errors can prematurely
Mobilisation, I is not just an inconvenience; it’s a barrier to force highly capable individuals out of the
Vision Access Programs learning, thriving, and leading a fulfilling life. This workforce, exacerbating socio-economic disparities.
VisionSpring people lack access to a 700-year-old technology: vision care, India’s GDP could potentially witness
reality is mirrored globally, where over one billion
VisionSpring envisions that by providing access to
eyeglasses.
an uplift of at least 5%, propelling the nation into
a new era of economic growth. The social return
Partnership Recognising this pervasive issue, VisionSpring on investment in eyeglasses is equally remarkable,
emerged with a mission to tackle the global
holding the potential to uplift millions out of poverty
challenge of uncorrected vision and limited access to
and catalyse transformative change.
eyeglasses, particularly in underserved communities.
The organisation’s journey began with a profound
observation of the life-changing impact a simple The global significance of eye health has garnered
unprecedented attention, culminating in the
pair of eyeglasses could have on an individual’s unanimous adoption of the “Eye Health for All”
life. Beyond enhancing vision, eyeglasses empower resolution by the United Nations General Assembly.
individuals to work, learn, and lead better lives. This pivotal resolution underscores the urgent
imperative for comprehensive eye care initiatives
Eyeglasses are not just visual aids; they are powerful worldwide and recognises eye health as pivotal for
tools for social and economic development and achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals.
personal well-being. Studies confirm what we
instinctively know to be true: eyeglasses increase Among the myriad challenges in eye health, one
productivity, sustain income-earning potential, pressing concern is the escalating prevalence of
enhance learning, and promote safety. In India alone, myopia, especially among school-going children and
an astonishing estimated 60 crore people urgently young adults. Uncorrected myopia bears significant
need eyeglasses for vision correction. However, social, economic, psychological, and developmental
the pervasive lack of access to affordable eye care implications, with projections indicating that it could
perpetuates a vicious cycle of blurry vision, hindering afflict a staggering 50% of the world’s population
individuals’ ability to work effectively, read, and by 2050. Early intervention and access to proper
10 11