More than 1 billion people around the world live with some form of visual impairment, with the majority in low- and middle-income regions where eye care services are often inaccessible. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 90% of vision impairments are preventable or treatable, yet for many, the cost of eye care remains an insurmountable financial burden.
Vision problems—particularly untreated refractive errors like myopia (short-sightedness) and hyperopia (long-sightedness)—create significant barriers to education, employment, and productivity. In these regions, where economic opportunities are already limited, the inability to afford basic eye care exacerbates the cycle of poverty.