PRODUCT NARRATIVE: EYEGLASSES

Acknowledgements

Acronyms

Executive Summary

Introduction

1. Assistive Technology and Market Shaping

2. Product Narrative

Chapter 1: Market Landscape

3. Market Context

3.1 At least 1 billion people worldwide have a vision impairment that is uncorrected or could have been prevented

3.2 Unaddressed vision impairment has a profound negative effect on individuals and society.

3.3 Refractive errors could be easily addressed with eyeglasses, but at least 826 million people worldwide live with uncorrected refractive errors.27

3.4 Eyeglasses should be provided within the context of comprehensive eye care and integrated within the healthcare system and national health plans.38

3.5 Capacity to deliver services for refractive errors in LMICs is limited due to the high cost of equipment and human resources required.

3.6 There is a general shortage of ophthalmologists and optometrists in LMICs, and mid-level eye care workers are not effectively deployed.

3.7 Donor funding to address uncorrected refractive errors in LMICs is only a fraction of the funding spent on eye health and comes from a limited number of donors.

4. Market Assessment

4.1 The global eyewear market is valued at USD130 billion, has a clear market leader and caters to HIC markets.

4.2 Demand for eyeglasses in LMICs remains low due to low awareness around vision impairment and stigma around wearing eyeglasses.

4.3 LMIC markets generally lack effective public procurement systems for eyeglasses; NGOs have traditionally aimed to fill the gap by distributing refurbished donated eyeglasses.

4.4 The supply chain for prescription eyeglasses is complex due to the level of customisation required which adds cost to the user; reading eyeglasses are easier and cheaper to obtain.

4.5 Ready-to-assemble eyeglasses can alleviate supply chain challenges for 80% of the need for eyeglasses.

4.6 New technologies for vision screening and refraction create opportunities to reach more people.

4.7 Successful and sustainable public sector procurement and delivery models exist.

4.8 Most users in LMICs pay out-of-pocket for services, but public financing mechanisms can be leveraged to ensure better access and quality.

4.9 School eye health (SEH) is an effective delivery platform for eyeglasses and opportunities exist to expand across LMICs.

4.10 Models to distribute reading eyeglasses through the public or private sector have been explored but their sustainability has not yet been proven.

4.11 Inclusive businesses exist that provide quality eyeglasses to base of the pyramid customers and are economically viable, but they require upfront investment to be replicated and scaled.

5. Market Challenges

5.1 Demand

Awareness

Acceptance/Stigma

Financing

Political Will

Provision

5.2 Supply

Appropriate Design

Competitive landscape

Cost-efficient supply chains

5.3 Enablers

Quality

Data

Chapter 2: Strategic Approach to Market Shaping

6. Strategic Approach to Market Shaping and Market Building

Strategic Objective 1: Mobilise key stakeholders, including donors, multilaterals, NGO implementers, and the private sector, around reliable data and proven scalable models to accelerate efforts against vision impairment caused by refractive errors.

Barriers addressed

Rationale

Proposed activities

Target outputs

Long-term outcome

Strategic Objective 2: Strengthen global policy guidance around service delivery standards for low-resource settings to accelerate the adoption of innovative models, devices, and products that support a simplified service delivery.

Barriers addressed

Rationale

Proposed activities

Target outputs

Long-term outcome

Strategic Objective 3: Support governments to develop comprehensive eye care plans integrating validated models of vision screening and provision within the public health system and facilitate scale-up of those models.

Barriers addressed

Rationale

Proposed activities

Target outputs

Long-term outcome

Strategic Objective 4: Engage the private sector to expand delivery of affordable, quality eyeglasses and related services in LMICs.

Barriers addressed

Rationale

Proposed activities

Target outputs

Long-term outcome

Strategic Objective 5: Build and drive awareness on available treatments and consumer demand for eyeglasses.

Barriers addressed

Rationale

Proposed activities

Target outputs

Long-term outcome

7. Next Steps

Appendix A : Individuals interviewed or consulted

Appendix B : Common eye conditions (WHO)155

Appendix C : Global magnitude of myopia and presbyopia

Appendix D : Prescription details

Appendix E: Refraction equipment

Appendix F: International standard classification of eye health professionals161

Appendix G: New refraction devices