Help for 150 million people who need glasses, but can't afford them.

OneDollarGlasses are a complete solution for basic optical care in developing countries that is financially self-sufficient. This complete solution includes on-site eyeglass production including public education, free eye testing, immediate completion and fitting, as well as subsequent eyeglass maintenance and replacement lens service. The comprehensive and professional care is provided by specially trained specialists.

We work with local people and enable them to create OneDollarGlasses

The OneDollarGlasses consists of an extremely lightweight, flexible and stable spring steel frame and prefabricated lenses which are made of polycarbonate. It is possible to make the frames for the glasses in different sizes: The yellow mark is for children's glasses, the red for medium sizes and the blue especially for people with bigger interpupillary distances.

Material and manufacturing cost of the glasses come to approximately 1 USD

This enables impoverished people the ability to afford a pair of OneDollarGlasses. The tough and rust-free spring steel wire is dermatologically safe and skin compatible. It is first bent at the bending machine into rectangular sections. Different physiognomies can be taken into account individually when bending the frame. The elliptical polished, unbreakable lenses can be inserted in no time. Heat-shrinkable sleeves made of hypoallergenic plastic on the ear piece ends increase the wearing comfort of the glasses. Because the glasses have very little weight, they do not require nosebridges. Two coloured glass pearls give each pair of glasses its own personal design.

Production on-site

The OneDollarGlasses are produced by the local people on a specially designed bending machine. This bending machine is the core of the concept of OneDollarGlasses. It requires no electrical power and is virtually maintenance-free, so it works in every remote village. During a 14-day intensive training, men and women are taught to work as OneDollarGlasses opticians, so that they may start their own business.

Bending machine

The bending machine fits into a wooden box of 30 x 30 x 30 cm. Up to 50,000 pairs of glasses are able to be created by a team of 6 producers on one bending machine per year. It is possible to make the frames of the galsses in different sizes: The yellow mark is for children's glasses, the red for medium and the blue for people with extra large eye distances.

Training

During an intensive 14-days training, women and men are trained on the bending machines to become OneDollarGlasses opticians. The basic concepts of refraction are also part of their training.

Self-employed and independent

Once training is completed, the employees work independently and responsibly. Through selling the glasses for the equivalent of 2 to 7 US dollars, they are able to cover their material costs and earn money to provide for themselves and their families. Formerly unemployed people are given the opportunity to support themselves. The glasses production may be done at home, providing the opportunity to work and care for children at the same time.

Here you find our latest Annual Report

• Annual Report 2017