To actually overcome global poverty we must first address and solve its root cause. This has never been done…perhaps because the scope of the problem has never been presented with a comprehensible perspective, or because the enabling technology did not exist to actually solve the problem. Neither of these reasons applies any longer.
The unacknowledged, unaddressed, perpetuating cause of global ignorance, educational deficiencies and poverty is the vision impairment called NBSP;NBSP; refractive error.
Impoverished people with bad vision don't learn readily, they don't read easily, they can't work productively, and most often they have a depressed quality of life…and they stay poor.
Refractive error afflicts between three and four BILLION people globally, and between 1.9 and 2.8 BILLION of those afflicted are so impoverished they cannot afford a pair of eyeglasses. The GLOBAL re-VISION Network program now can quickly, cost effectively and accurately remedy this deficiency with easily trained local workers using a special computer program, electronic vision diagnostic equipment, and donated, recycled eyeglasses – exclusively! Solving global poverty, then, begins with concerted, self-sustaining national and international public information and used eyeglasses collection campaigns like the GLOBAL re-VISION Network's Spec$+Buck$. At this moment there are at least 500 million recyclable eyeglasses available for a program like in just the United States — and there are BILLIONS wordwide available for recycling! A used eyeglasses processing facility in the U.S. is being established to process and bar-code eyeglasses by prescription and other classification data prior to shipment abroad.
GLOBAL re-VISION'S comprehensive, turn-key, vertically integrated system includes promotion, donation, collection, recycling, processing, warehousing, shipping, distributing, developing of technology, establishing new clinics, examining, dispensing, monitoring and collaborating with government health agencies – all at a cost of about a dollar per client served with a pair of quality recycled used eyeglasses.
The Network provides a proprietary computer program and electronic equipment, used eyeglasses and worker training. Our fully functioning clinic in Mérida, Mexico, is the model for similar clinic operations and is currently dispensing up to 2000 eyeglasses per month. GLOBAL re-VISION's relationship with Mexico's DIF health agency has been an outstanding success as DIF has accepted ongoing operational responsibility for clinics. They and cooperating NGOs are helping to identify sites for new charitable eye care clinics that will provide facilities, utilities, and workers. They will be urged – where feasible – to implement eyeglasses recycling campaigns in their own countries. Depending upon success of recycling collections in developed countries, continuing shipments of used eyeglasses will be available wherever needed.
The GLOBAL re-VISION Network seeks seed money to fund eyeglasses collection marketing and outreach efforts.
The GLOBAL re-VISION Network was created by a US-based NGO and in development and operation since 2001. More information is available at the GLOBAL re-VISION website
