Eliminating uncorrected poor vision by 2050
We believe good vision is a basic human right and we have an ambition to eliminate poor vision by 2050 - but we know we can’t do it alone.
That’s why we’ve set out a roadmap with the objective of catalyzing greater engagement and resources, and inspire widespread systems change by clarifying what it will take to eliminate refractive errors by 2050. Over 20 leaders in vision care and +100 experts in eye health supported our recent report, Eliminating Poor Vision in a Generation, and together, we have our sights on a healthier future where everyone can see clearly.
Innovation to change lives
A good pair of glasses can change the future. Innovation is at the core of our Mission - from product and design, to establishing new business models, we strive to meet our customers’ needs today and tomorrow.
A good example of this is lens innovation to help tackle myopia, which has grown to become a global health crisis with half of the world’s population expected to be myopic by 2050. We developed the Essilor Stellest lens, a new generation of spectacle lens solutions that slows the progression of myopia in children, and gives them the best possible start in life. Results from our two-year trial have shown that our Essilor Stellest lens slows down myopia progression by 67% on average* when worn more than 12 hours a day every day, which is a huge breakthrough in the global fight against this widespread vision condition.
* Compared to single vision lenses, when worn at least 12 hours a day. Two-year prospective, controlled, randomized, double-masked clinical trial results - 104 myopic children split in two groups: Single vision lenses (50) and Stellest lenses (54) - Efficacy results are based on 32 children who declared wearing Stellest lenses at least 12 hours per day every day - Eye Hospital of the Wenzhou Medical University - J. Bao, A. Yang, Y. Huang, X. Li, Y Pan, C. Ding, E. W. Lim, J Zheng, D. P. Spiegel, Y. L. Wong, B. Drobe, F. Lu, H. Chen.
Sustainable actions for communities
We’re focused on creating access in disadvantaged communities, because that’s where 90% of poor vision is found. Through our innovative approach to business and philanthropy and public private partnerships, we are working to create sustainable access to vision care, which didn’t previously exist.
Since 2013, we’ve created access for over 450 million people in developing countries. Our inclusive business 2.5 New Vision Generation helps unemployed young people from rural communities across Asia, Africa and Latin America set up as self-employed primary vision care technicians through training, small grants and ongoing business support. We’ve created the world’s largest rural optical network with over 19,000 primary vision care entrepreneurs and we’ve always got our eyes on new, innovative ways of creating access in these communities.
Philanthropy efforts
We’re committed to reaching the communities most in need to ensure everyone has a healthy future. We focus on improving lives through better vision with access to free eye exams, free glasses and funding for local vision care programs - to raise awareness and deliver long-term sustainable impact. Through support of our non-profit partners, the Essilor Vision Foundation, Vision for Life, OneSight and others, we have helped create over 2 million new wearers since 2013.
Some examples of how we are helping to eliminate poor vision with our partners:
Through our work with the Vision Catalyst Fund we have pledged to donate 200 million pairs of lenses by 2030, which will help to provide sustainable solutions for eye health to entire populations in Commonwealth countries and around the world.
Our work with the Essilor Vision Foundation, the state Government of Karnataka and other partners has created the first region free from poor vision in India. Some 325,000 residents of 290 villages in the Doddaballapur Taluk region have benefited from the project through door to door vision screenings and free glasses for those in need.
We support OneSight to work within existing public health systems to create sustainable access to eyecare. Working with local governments, they build and develop Vision Centers, providing care at a community level and a source of income for the public health facility to promote sustainability.
Advocating for a future of good vision
A future of good vision relies on understanding the improved quality of life that healthy vision contributes to. We advocate to ensure vision care has the attention it deserves through a number of ways:
The Vision Impact Institute (VII) commissions, collects and communicates evidence-based research to drive awareness about the impact of uncorrected poor vision and advocates for healthy vision as a global priority for policy-makers.
EssilorLuxottica proudly celebrates World Sight Day every year with activities all over the world to raise awareness on the importance of good vision among customers, consumers, suppliers and employees.
Working with partners such as The Fred Hollows Foundation, the See Now campaign uses celebrity support in India to raise awareness about poor vision - encouraging people to get their eyes checked and if needed, wear glasses proudly.
Commitment to UN SDGs
We are committed to creating a better, more sustainable future for all. With the above, we are proud to be contributing to the below UN Sustainable Development Goals:
