I’m reading this book Design Revolution – 100 Products that Empower People (by Emily Pilloton) and I’m 100% convinced that good design is at its best when designed for good. One product featured in the book is something I’ve seen before and was mesmerized by its brilliance and simplicity– adaptive eye care (photo at dvice.com, credit The Guardian, via Michael Lewis). Created by Joshua Silver, a British physicist at Oxford University and director of the non-profit Center for Vision in the Developing World, these eyeglasses feature fluid-filled lenses, adjusted to suit the individual’s eye prescription, and sealed within a sturdy frame. These eyeglasses cost about $10 per pair and have been distributed throughout some of the poorest populations in Africa and Asia.
The World Health Organization estimates that one billion people, including 100 million school children, need vision correction but do not receive treatment. These people remain disadvantaged in quality of life, employment and education prospects, productivity and general health because of lack of eye care. “Using the World Health Organization's standard measure of the effect of a given health issue…, refractive error will rise into the top 10 global health issues affecting productivity and opportunities by 2030, passing HIV/AIDS in its global burden.” (Global Vision 2020). Something as simple as a pair of eyeglasses can change a person’s life as well as turn the tides of a global health concern.
Certain charitable organizations like Global Vision 2020 and Vision Aid Overseas, provide eye care services to the developing world with programs that include collection and redistribution of used eyeglasses to those in need. Some for-profit businesses have partnered with non-profit organizations like RestoringVision.org, a charitable initiative dedicated to delivering reading glasses to the many underprivileged people worldwide, and Warby Parker, a producer of vintage inspired frames.
For every pair you buy at an eye-opening, incredible low price (US$95, which includes the prescription lenses), Warby Parker will distribute a pair to
those in need as identified by non-profit organizations like RestoringVision.org. I’ve had to wear eyeglasses and corrective lenses for most of my life so I’ve seen some really good and bad frame designs over the years. These Warby Parker eyeglasses are undeniably spectacular, especially the bright colored Coltons (orange), which scream “these-are-so-not-your-grannies” reading glasses. Also, take a peak at the Roosevelt (baby blue) which could only be hotter if our favorite Mad Men, Don Draper was wearing a pair. This is clearly vintage and visionary!
The World Health Organization estimates that one billion people, including 100 million school children, need vision correction but do not receive treatment. These people remain disadvantaged in quality of life, employment and education prospects, productivity and general health because of lack of eye care. “Using the World Health Organization's standard measure of the effect of a given health issue…, refractive error will rise into the top 10 global health issues affecting productivity and opportunities by 2030, passing HIV/AIDS in its global burden.” (Global Vision 2020). Something as simple as a pair of eyeglasses can change a person’s life as well as turn the tides of a global health concern.
Certain charitable organizations like Global Vision 2020 and Vision Aid Overseas, provide eye care services to the developing world with programs that include collection and redistribution of used eyeglasses to those in need. Some for-profit businesses have partnered with non-profit organizations like RestoringVision.org, a charitable initiative dedicated to delivering reading glasses to the many underprivileged people worldwide, and Warby Parker, a producer of vintage inspired frames.For every pair you buy at an eye-opening, incredible low price (US$95, which includes the prescription lenses), Warby Parker will distribute a pair to
those in need as identified by non-profit organizations like RestoringVision.org. I’ve had to wear eyeglasses and corrective lenses for most of my life so I’ve seen some really good and bad frame designs over the years. These Warby Parker eyeglasses are undeniably spectacular, especially the bright colored Coltons (orange), which scream “these-are-so-not-your-grannies” reading glasses. Also, take a peak at the Roosevelt (baby blue) which could only be hotter if our favorite Mad Men, Don Draper was wearing a pair. This is clearly vintage and visionary! 
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