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More than a billion people in the
developing world need glasses. But opticians aren’t exactly on every
block in sub-Saharan Africa. In some places the ratio is one to
one million residents. Pondering this problem, Oxford University
physics professor Joshua Silver came up with a brilliantly
simple solution: a pair of eyeglasses, currently costing about
$19, that the wearer can adjust. Silicone oil is injected into a
gap between two sheets of plastic until the lens provides sharp
vision. The inventor’s field research shows the correction
can be better than that of prefab glasses sold at a store.
As director of the new nonprofit Centre for Vision in the
Developing World, Silver envisions a billion pairs on needy eyes
by 2020. So far, 30,000 pairs are in use in Africa and eastern
Europe, two-thirds distributed through U.S. military aid programs.
The glasses look a bit geeky, but there are few complaints. Silver recalls the first recipient, in Ghana in 1996: a tailor in his 30s whose faltering close vision made it nearly impossible to thread a needle. The tailor adjusted the glasses, threaded the needle on his machine, and began sewing rapidly. “I will not forget that moment,” says Silver, “until I entirely lose my memory.” —Marc Silver
Photo: This man in a remote Tibetan village received his adaptive glasses in 2005. Photograph by Joshua Silver Art: Hiram Henriquez, NG staff.
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Comments
Jun 30, 2009 8AM #
If you'd like to find out more information, the Centre for Vision in the Developing World can be found at http://www.vdw.ox.ac.uk/
Jun 30, 2009 8AM #
This brilliantly simple idea was first aired on BBC's "Tomorrow's World" TV programme, at least thirty years ago. Where on earth has it been all this time?
Jun 30, 2009 8AM #
This is an amazing idea! If you want to donate and help out with this you should really check out http://www.gv2020.org - the Centre works with them to deploy glasses.
Jun 30, 2009 8AM #
Like most good inventions, as soon as their money making potential becomes obvious, it becomes an object to be controlled. Many good inventions become smothered, for many reasons but mostly because the people who control the money making, allow the evolution of things they control and few if any money making projects that are beyond their control, are allowed to succeed. My direct impact catalytic converter concept might be a good example of this policy. Of all granted patents in the UK less than 1% actually make some money for the inventor!
My own case of unpaid royalties for the use of a patent to control the burning fires in Kuwait (see my www site) is an example. I and my family have not seen a single penny from the invention of that technology and yet, the spin offs are applied in containment of fires in aircraft fuel tanks, super tankers and many other applications, apart from being the technology of choice for containing pressurised damaged oil installations that are on fire: See also, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Kuwait
I have a great story to tell if you are interested.
Branko R Babic.
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