What are the effects of our glasses?
In October 2021, we launched an impact study that we conducted together with Siemens Stiftung. Its aim was to investigate how wearing glasses affects children's everyday lives. Around 1,000 schoolchildren were asked about their experiences with the OneDollarGlasses and their wearing habits.
Short-sightedness following quarantine
Initial results of the study indicate that the time children in Bolivia spent at home during the pandemic had a negative impact on their eye health. Many children developed short-sightedness, also known as "quarantine myopia", as a result of prolonged use of laptops. This makes it all the more important that children get the right glasses as early as school age.
No money for glasses
Another finding of the study was that many parents do not have the money to buy their children glasses due to the economic hardship caused by coronavirus. Many parents cannot afford the trip to the optician in the city alone. This encourages us in our approach of going to the people in the villages.
The impact study is also being carried out in India and Malawi. The first surveys have already been completed. However, the results are still pending.
I know how important good visual acuity is for survival. With the OneDollarGlasses, I can give the lives of many children and adults a positive turnaround.
