Retired Oxford Professor's New Glasses to Help One Billion People by 2020

"Inventor's 2020 vision: to help 1bn of the world's poorest see better"
"Professor pioneers DIY adjustable glasses that do not need an optician"
The Guardian (UK) (December 22, 2008)

"It was a chance conversation on March 23 1985 ("in the afternoon, as I recall") that first started Josh Silver on his quest to make the world's poor see. A professor of physics at Oxford University, Silver was idly discussing optical lenses with a colleague, wondering whether they might be adjusted without the need for expensive specialist equipment, when...."


(Michael Lewis, via The Guardian, used without permission)

The British inventor wants "to offer glasses to a billion of the world's poorest people by 2020." So far, he's seen to it that 30,000 of his new-tech glasses got distributed in 15 countries: but that's just a start.

These glasses use a liquid lens, held between two transparent, flexible, surfaces. The wearer adjusts the focus.

Looks like the professor's project - Centre for Vision in the Developing World - is getting funding from the World Bank - which may be easier than getting a lot of grass-roots support.

I'd give the CVDW's URL, but if they've got a website, I couldn't find it.

Still, those liquid-lens spectacles look like a very good idea.