In many parts of the world, presbyopia, or “the look of age,” is a common cause of visual disturbances. People may struggle to read small print on newspapers or medicine bottles and turn to reading glasses for help. While reading glasses are easily accessible in Western countries, they can be hard to come by in developing countries, where access to affordable options is limited.
A study published in the science journal Plos One sheds light on the impact that providing reading glasses can have on individuals’ quality of life and income. In 2017, an international group of healthcare workers, vision specialists, and sociologists distributed reading glasses to villagers in Bangladesh as part of a Thrive project. The results were astounding: providing reading glasses significantly improved the participants’ quality of life and increased their income by about 38%.
The study emphasized the importance of addressing vision problems like presbyopia in developing countries and the positive impact that simple interventions can have on individuals’ lives. By providing access to affordable reading glasses, communities can improve their overall well-being and economic stability. With millions of villages around the world, this simple solution has the potential to benefit many more individuals who are struggling with vision problems like presbyopia.