Invennovations > Categories > Vision

U-Specs

VisionSpring Reading Glasses	Adaptive Eyeglasses
Participatory Eyecare System

---

U-Specs

Information Verified by Invennovator:

Invennovation: U-Specs
Targeted Beneficiaries: Underprivileged children with poor vision in developing countries.
Need Addressed: Eyecare
Invennovation Goals: To create affordable spectacles for underprivileged children.
Description of Invennovation: U-Specs are low-cost universal spectacles with adjustable refractive powers.
Uniqueness: These spectacles require no specialist/optician to take measurements and can provide for correction of 90% of refractive errors.

Dimensions/Weight (Metric): Unknown
User Requirements for Proper Functionality: Refractive power is adjusted by the user.
Cost(s) (USD): Not specifically listed, but “in the order of a few Euros.”
Minimum Order Quantity: N/A – still in development.
Production Capacity: N/A – still in development.
Manufacturing Specs Available: The principle of universal spectacles is available at http://www.u-specs.org/?page=22011.
Other Invennovations Available: None

Invennovator: VU University Medical Center and d.o.b. Foundation.
Invennovator Goals: To help underprivileged children with poor vision in developing countries to have cheap spectacles with adjustable refractive power.
Years in Operation: Since 2003.
Stage (Start Up or Expansion): Start Up
Ready for Market (Yes, No, Date): No (though website appears to not have been updated recently).
Primary Contact(s): S. Hannema
Languages Spoken: Unknown
Phone Number: +31-578-631111
Physical Address: Right on Sight Foundation, IJsseldijk 1, 8194 LA Veessen, The Netherlands.
Email Address: info@u-specs.nl
Website: http://www.u-specs.org/?page=18054&switchLanguage=EN
Other Links (YouTube/Media Etc): http://www.dobfoundation.com/eng/deeds/projects/universal_spectacles.

Strategic Partners: Philips DAP, HTPTooling, Pezy Development, Optical Diagnostics.
Current Geographic Coverage: Not listed, tests completed in India.
Current Distribution Mechanisms: Potential distribution through non-profit organizations.
Current Distribution Capabilities: Unknown
Looking for Distributors: No
If so, where?:
Training Materials Available: No
Marketing Materials Available: No

Invennovator’s Comments:

 

Also Found Under:

 

back to top>>>

---

VisionSpring Reading Glasses

Information Verified by Invennovator:

Invennovation: VisionSpring Reading Glasses
Targeted Beneficiaries: Middle-aged workers in the world’s poorest communities.
Need Addressed: Eyecare
Invennovation Goals: To create and distribute low-cost reading glasses to those without access to eyecare.
Description of Invennovation: VisionSpring Reading Glasses are affordable reading glasses that allow middle-aged workers to continue to be productive.
Uniqueness: VisionSpring's "Business in a Bag" empowers local Vision Entrepreneurs to sell these glasses in the hardest-to-reach areas.

Dimensions/Weight (Metric): Unknown
User Requirements for Proper Functionality: Must test to ensure correct lenses power.
Cost(s) (USD): Approximately $4.00 a pair.
Minimum Order Quantity: Unknown
Production Capacity: Unlimited
Manufacturing Specs Available: Manufactured in China.
Other Invennovations Available: None

Invennovator: VisionSpring
Invennovator Goals: To reduce poverty and generate opportunity in the developing world through the sale of affordable eyeglasses.
Years in Operation: Since 2001.
Stage (Start Up or Expansion): Expansion
Ready for Market (Yes, No, Date): Yes
Primary Contact(s): Not listed
Languages Spoken: English
Phone Number: +1 212 375 2599
Physical Address: VisionSpring, 12 Desbrosses Street, New York, NY 10013.
Email Address: Email directly from site at http://www.visionspring.org/misc/contact-us.php.
Website: http://www.visionspring.org/home/home.php
Other Links (YouTube/Media Etc): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyktk-n4vPw.

 

We are currently in the process of troubleshooting embedded links for different browsers. If this video appears broken in your browser, please click on the direct link above. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Strategic Partners: Many partners listed on site at http://www.visionspring.org/how-we-work/partners.php.
Current Geographic Coverage: India, Bangladesh, Guatemala, El Salvador, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia.
Current Distribution Mechanisms: MicroConsignment using local entrepreneurs, direct sales, retail organizations.
Current Distribution Capabilities: Unknown
Looking for Distributors: Yes – for more information go to http://www.visionspring.org/get-involved/partner-with-us.php.
If so, where?: Worldwide
Training Materials Available: Yes – in-depth training is part of the model.
Marketing Materials Available: Yes – marketing is part of the model.

Invennovator’s Comments:

 

Also Found Under:

 

back to top>>>

---

Adaptive Eyeglasses

Information Verified by Invennovator:

Invennovation: Adaptive Eyeglasses
Targeted Beneficiaries: Underserved developing world populations with vision problems.
Need Addressed: Eyecare
Invennovation Goals: To make low-cost spectacles widely available on a large scale.
Description of Invennovation: Adaptive Eyeglasses are spectacles that  use adjustable lens technology so that wearers can determine and fix their own prescriptions.
Uniqueness: These glasses can be used for near or distance vision and users can adjust the power of their lenses with the turn of a dial.

Dimensions/Weight (Metric): Unknown
User Requirements for Proper Functionality: Turning the adjuster knob pumps fluid into or out of the lens structure, thereby changing the lens power. Once at the desired power, the user seals the lenses and removes the adjusters.
Cost(s) (USD): Currently $5.00 - $10.00, with ultimate goal $1.00.
Minimum Order Quantity: Unknown
Production Capacity: Unknown
Manufacturing Specs Available: The eyeglasses contain fluid-filled lenses that change shape and therefore focus depending on the amount of fluid inside the lens. The lenses are protected by polycarbonate covers.
Other Invennovations Available: None

Invennovator: Adaptive Eyewear (using technology produced by Adlens).
Invennovator Goals: To fulfill the vision correction needs of underserved populations in the developing world.
Years in Operation: Since 2006.
Stage (Start Up or Expansion): Expansion
Ready for Market (Yes, No, Date): Yes
Primary Contact(s): Not listed
Languages Spoken: English
Phone Number: +44 (0)1865 980 425
Physical Address: Adaptive Eyewear, Old School, First Turn, Oxford, OX2 8AH, United Kingdom.
Email Address: Email directly from site at http://www.adaptive-eyewear.org/contact/contact.php.
Website: http://www.adaptive-eyewear.org/home/
Other Links (YouTube/Media Etc): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4OiRjv81BY

 

We are currently in the process of troubleshooting embedded links for different browsers. If this video appears broken in your browser, please click on the direct link above. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Strategic Partners: Millenium Villages Project, Ghana Social Marketing Foundation, PSI.
Current Geographic Coverage: Ghana, Ethiopia.
Current Distribution Mechanisms: Donations, selling/trialing (pilot projects) through in-country partnerships.
Current Distribution Capabilities: Unknown
Looking for Distributors: No
If so, where?:
Training Materials Available: No
Marketing Materials Available: No

Invennovator’s Comments:

 

Also Found Under:

 

back to top>>>

---

Participatory Eyecare System

Information Verified by Invennovator:

Invennovation: Participatory Eyecare System
Targeted Beneficiaries: Costa Ricans with lack of access to eyecare.
Need Addressed: Eyecare
Invennovation Goals: To enable Costa Ricans of all classes to access affordable medical services ranging from basic vision tests to sophisticated surgical procedures.
Description of Invennovation: Rebeca Villalobos’ Participatory Eyecare System incorporates health promoters who detect vision problems and prescribe treatment, a low-cost surgery clinic, educational workshops, and Vision Guardians – schoolchildren trained to give basic eye exams.
Uniqueness: The system’s Little Windows of Light Program trains third through fifth grade schoolchildren to give basic eye exams.  Over 800 of these Vision Guardians in 80 Costa Rican primary schools have performed eye exams for nearly 62,000 children.

Dimensions/Weight (Metric): N/A
User Requirements for Proper Functionality: N/A
Cost(s) (USD): Maximum $9.00 for prescription glasses.  At clinic, patients are asked to pay a small fee for services.
Minimum Order Quantity: N/A
Production Capacity: N/A
Manufacturing Specs Available: N/A
Other Invennovations Available: None

Invennovator: Rebeca Villalobos / ASEMBIS (Asociación de Servicios Médicos para el Bien Social).
Invennovator Goals: To ensure the affordability and vision care (and overall health care) for all citizens of Costa Rica.
Years in Operation: Since 1991.
Stage (Start Up or Expansion): Expansion
Ready for Market (Yes, No, Date): Yes
Primary Contact(s): Rebeca Villalobos
Languages Spoken: Spanish
Phone Number: 506 285-5881
Physical Address: ASEMBIS, 2215-2100 Guadalupe, Costa Rica.
Email Address: rvillalobos@asembiscr.com; can contact from website at http://www.asembiscr.com/contactenos.htm.
Website: http://www.ashoka.org/node/3013; http://proxied.changemakers.net/journal/300508/displayfec.cfm-ID=83; http://www.asembiscr.com/index.htm; http://www.creativ-entrepreneur.com/?page_id=1159&lang=en.
Other Links (YouTube/Media Etc): None

Strategic Partners: Not listed
Current Geographic Coverage: Costa Rica, Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama.
Current Distribution Mechanisms: Low-cost clinics, health promoters, Vision Guardians (Little Windows of Light Program), agreements with Costa Rican businesses.
Current Distribution Capabilities: Unknown
Looking for Distributors: Yes
If so, where?: Latin America
Training Materials Available: Yes – training is part of model.
Marketing Materials Available: No

Invennovator’s Comments:

 

Also Found Under:

 

back to top>>>

---