Company Name:VisionSpring (formerly Scojo Foundation)
Year Founded:2002
Name of Program:
Sector:Health
State / Region:
Country:India
Social Impact:In establishing a network of local entrepreneurs through which low-income villagers can receive proper eye care in developing countries, VisionSpring has had an impact on both the customer and the deliverer. According to an AMD Alliance International Study, for the 733 million people suffering from vision loss worldwide, 563 million of these individuals suffer from refractive errors (not eye diseases) in which a simple pair of eyeglasses can restore their sight. The annual global economic cost of vision loss is $3 trillion; 90% which falls on developing countries. Though VisionSpring’s sales of over 600,000 pairs of eye glasses may seem small compared to the 563 million people that suffer from easily treatable vision loss worldwide, it presents VisionSpring with a large market to serve. The organization has found that every pair of eye glasses it distributes enables customers to achieve a 35% increase in productivity due to greater ability to work, read, learn, and take care of a family and household. VisionSpring’s 9,000 vision entrepreneurs also benefit by making a profit of $1 for every pair of eye glasses sold. Since the vision entrepreneurs are from local communities, their typical wage is around $1-$2/day, which means that every pair of eye glasses sold offers them a chance to earn additional income. Collectively, this delivery method helps empower VisionSpring’s entrepreneurs as well as its customers. Finally, through feedback from customer to entrepreneur to management, the team is able to better understand its customer base and what does and does not work in specific areas, allowing VisionSpring to channel the best product to customers as well as test and replicate the model in different countries.
Contact Name:VisionSpring
Contact Information:322 Eighth Avenue, Suite 2, New York, NY 10001, New York, India
Tel.:+1 212 375 2599
Email:info@visionspring.org
Website:www.visionspring.org
VisionSpring: Envisioning a Sustainable Future
VisionSpring was established as a non-profit organization in 2001 to promote access to eye care in developing countries. Having started its operations in India in 2002, the organization has since expanded to Bangladesh, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and South Africa through its own offices as well as franchise partners. VisionSpring’s goal is, “To transform how eyeglasses are delivered in the developing world to ensure that every individual has equitable access to the eye care products they need to live a full and productive life.” In order to reach a large number of people and become self-sustainable, VisionSpring trains local individuals to conduct vision screens, sell high-quality, low-cost eye glasses, and refer customers who need prescription glasses to a VisionSpring optometrist or partner eye care provider. Using a “Business in a Bag” approach, VisionSpring provides its Vision Entrepreneurs with a kit containing different styles and powers of reading glasses, screening equipment, and marketing material to do outreach and build their own customer base within nearby communities. Entrepreneurs are able to conduct basic screenings and sell customers the appropriate reading glasses if they have up-close vision problems; customers who require further treatment are referred to an optometrist. Through its network of 9,000 vision entrepreneurs, VisionSpring has been able to collect market data and implement a feedback loop from customer to vision entrepreneur to management in order to provide the appropriate types, styles, and power of glasses according to customer needs, regional differences, and cultural norms. VisionSpring applies a business approach to its sales in order to promote the importance of eye glasses among its customers as well as hire a number of vision entrepreneurs who can help VisionSpring meet demand for eye glasses and eye care in remote communities. While India remains VisionSpring’s largest market, the organization is actively trying to grow its operations in other countries. Though it only has one other subsidiary in El Salvador, VisionSpring has replicated its model in other countries through 10 franchise partners globally. Its most successful example is its partnership with the NGO, BRAC, which leverages BRAC’s network of community health workers to also conduct vision screens and sell eye glasses in Bangladesh. The organization has achieved sales growth of 100% over the past three years.