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Latest News about Restoring Vision

RestoringVision announces a new goal to restore sight to 20 million people by the end of 2020

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.(May 30) —RestoringVision, an optical non-profit organization dedicated to providing new reading glasses and sunglasses to people in need around the world, has set a goal to help 20 million people by the end of 2020.

Since 2003, RestoringVision has been focusing its efforts on creating access to glasses for those earning less than $2 a day. To date, the organization has helped over 7 million people, and it is now raising the bar to impact 13 million more lives over the next four years.

“I’m very excited about our organization’s commitment to helping 20 million people by 2020,” said RestoringVision Founder Mark Sachs. “The need for glasses and the lack of access to them in disadvantaged communities is a problem that affects over 500 million individuals living with near vision impairment. Near vision impairment impacts their ability to work, learn, cook, and carry out daily tasks.”

Over the last two years, RestoringVision has built a capacity to distribute 5 million glasses per year. “With our strategic partnerships and distribution capacity in place, we are in a unique position to make a difference,” said Pelin Munis, Executive Director. “To achieve this goal, we are looking to strengthen existing partnerships and develop new ones.”

The lack of access to available, affordable reading glasses in developing countries is one of the biggest global health problems affecting 1 in 7 people. In addition to the support of its 1,400 partners, RestoringVision is looking to raise awareness about the problem and get more people and organizations involved. “We are inviting everyone to join us and make this goal their goal. Charitable organizations and groups, corporations and individuals. Anyone can help,” said Mark Sachs.

To get involved or to learn more about RestoringVision, visit: www.restoringvision.org/20-million-2020, or contact them at info@restoringvision.org.

Watch this 3-minute video to see the work that RestoringVision does and the impact that it has on people’s lives.

MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER

Dear Partners and Friends,

Thanks to all of you for another great two months! We are on track for our best year yet. More and more people around the world are being able to see clearly thanks to you.

But to quote William Shakespeare, “What is past is prologue.” During the past 13+ years, we have together changed the lives of over 7 million people. With an estimated need of over 500 million people, we are challenged to do more.

To that end, I’m thrilled to announce our 20 Million by 2020 goal. We are setting our sights on reaching another 13 million people over the next 4 years. It is not going to be easy. It will take the ongoing support of people like you. But I believe we can do it.

We have developed the processes and systems needed to get the glasses to you quickly and still affordably so that you can count on us for your next mission trip. We have tools in place to help you set up your dispensaries for maximum impact. Most importantly, we have the top quality, new glasses to change people’s lives.

I’m grateful to you for all you have done to restore vision to people in need around the world. Now that we have a goal of helping 20 million people by 2020, I would like to encourage you to do more, not for you, not for us, but for those in need. Take more glasses on your next mission trip. Refer us to other, similarly minded groups, so they too can experience the joy of giving the Gift of Sight. And consider making glasses part of your annual programming.

Best wishes on the road ahead. Thank you for being our partners on this amazing journey.

Best regards,
Mark Sachs, Founder, RestoringVision

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MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER

Dear Partners and Friends,

I am excited to share the latest milestone we have reached together. We’ve now helped over 7 million people see clearly again in 124 countries since we started back in 2003. The numbers continue to amaze me! But, it’s not about the numbers. It’s about the people. People who can more fully appreciate the joys of life and can more successfully support their families and communities.

This accomplishment, of course, is also about you. Without your support we would have never been able to help this many people and reach this many countries. That is why we are making changes and improvements to help you be more successful in your missions. Some changes are small, some are more significant. But all are in the service of getting more glasses to the people who need them through you, our partners in this amazing journey.

To start, we have improved our turn-around time on orders through a more efficient and effective order processing system. We’ve recently streamlined our operations to Ohio and we are now fulfilling orders within 2-3 business days and delivering them to your door in about 5-7 business days. Lastly, we’ve improved our referral process. You can now easily refer us to other organizations and help us get more people involved.

The year has just started and there are more improvements to come and more good news to share with you. For now, we can only thank you for all you have done to give the Gift of Sight to 7 million people around the world. There are more people who need our help to restore their vision, 544 million by one estimate. If we keep working together and getting more organizations and people involved, we will be able to help them as well.

Best Regards,

Mark Sachs, Founder, RestoringVision.org

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NEW YORK—General Vision Services (GVS) has announced a new partnership with RestoringVision in an initiative to bring clear vision to people in need.

RestoringVision is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free new glasses to disadvantaged people in developing nations. As of Jan. 1, 2017, every time a GVS member uses their vision benefits via a GVS eyecare provider, GVS will donate a pair of glasses to a person in need.

Right now 2.5 billion people suffer from uncorrected vision impairments. Nearly 544 million of these people live in developing nations and only need reading glasses. RestoringVision has supplied over 6.5 million glasses to people in 116 countries around the world.

Myles Lewis, GVS’ CEO, said he is honored to join forces with this humanitarian initiative. “RestoringVision’s mission aligns perfectly with GVS’ commitment to accessible eyecare. Giving the gift of sight is such a generous, meaningful thing to do. Just by scheduling an eye exam for themselves, our members can change the lives of those in need.”

Mark Sachs, RestoringVision founder, added “We are excited to partner with GVS. With their support, we will be able to reach a greater number of communities and provide clear vision to even more people in need, enabling them to work, read, learn and lead productive lives again.”

Since its inception more than 60 years ago, GVS serves more than 3 million members of unions,HMOs and corporations. GVS continues to be a leading eyecare benefits administrator and preferred provider organization (PPO) provider of eyecare plans nationally.

 

LasikPlus Vision Centers Announces New Partnership with RestoringVision to Help Patients Around the World Find Visual Freedom

CINCINNATI, OH, January 10, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ — LasikPlus, a leading provider of laser vision correction services, is proud to announce a new initiative, LasikPlus Cares, which will expand our scope to help change the lives of those in need through vision correction and humanitarian support throughout the United States and other countries. Through this program, we are launching relationships with, and making material donations to, both a global partner, RestoringVision, as well as many local community charities personally selected by the world-class doctors we are so proud to partner with and our local vision center teams.

At LasikPlus, our commitment is to change and improve patients’ lives with custom Laser Vision Correction (commonly referred to as “LASIK”) that helps eliminate the daily hassles of glasses and contacts. Our daily mission and promise is to provide every patient with state-of-the-art, industry-leading technology, amazing patient care and customer service from some of the most experienced LASIK doctors and health care professionals in the country, and great visual outcomes.

Speaking about LasikPlus Cares, Craig Joffe, CEO of LasikPlus, said, “LasikPlus Cares expands our ability to change and improve peoples’ lives through visual freedom, allowing our teams to build a more global and local philanthropic presence. Building off our long history and heritage in vision correction, we are humbled to play a small role in helping many people reclaim their lives both through the amazing work RestoringVision does providing reading glasses and sunglasses to those in need around the world, as well as providing support to our communities closer to home. Having already helped nearly 15,000 people through an initial pilot of the program in late 2016, we expect this initiative to touch the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in 2017 alone.”

RestoringVision Founder, Mark Sachs, added, “We are excited to welcome LasikPlus as a corporate sponsor, and grateful for their support. Through this partnership, we will be able to restore sight and profoundly impact the lives of more people in need, enabling them to work, read, learn and live productive lives again.”

 

RestoringVision distributes new reading glasses and sunglasses to charitable organizations serving disadvantaged people in developing countries. Approximately 2.5 billion people worldwide suffer from uncorrected vision impairment. 544 million people only need non-prescription reading glasses to correct their vision, but live in developing countries with limited or no access to glasses. Since 2003, RestoringVision has partnered with over 1,400 organizations and distributed more than 6.5 million glasses to people in 116 countries around the world. For more information about RestoringVision, please visit www.restoringvision.org.

LasikPlus Vision Centers was founded in 1995 by Dr. Stephen N. Joffe and his wife Sandra. Over the last two decades, the world-class surgeons we are so proud to partner with at LasikPlus have performed over 1.5 million laser vision correction procedures, helping so many Americans achieve 20/20 vision and enjoy freedom from the daily hassles of glasses and contacts. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, LasikPlus operates over 50 laser vision correction centers across the United States. For more information about LasikPlus or the new partnership with RestoringVision, please visit www.lasikplus.com, or contact Barb Kise at bkise@lasikplus.com or at 513-354-5847.

MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER:

Dear Partners and Friends,

Gosh, it’s that time of year isn’t it? The time when we reflect and give thanks. When we count our many blessings and remember friends present and absent who’ve meant so much to us during this year.

I certainly have many blessings to count and be thankful for. Among those is the gift you all have given to us at RestoringVision. For as gratifying it is to see the pictures and hear the stories, we all know it would not be possible without your commitment of time, energy and money. Your boundless generosity allows us to continue to help others.

My New Year’s resolution to you is as long as you continue to want what we offer, we’ll be here to help your mission trips be more effective, more gratifying and more meaningful for you and the people you serve. With your help, the best is yet to come.

Happy Holidays to you all and my very best wishes for a wonderful 2017!

Sincerely,
Mark Sachs, Founder, RestoringVision.org

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THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT AN EXTRAORDINARY 2016!

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.—RestoringVision is turning this year’s #GivingTuesday into #GivingSightDay.

On behalf of the more than 2.5 billion people living with vision impairment and 500 million people who need reading glasses but lack access to them, RestoringVision aims to raise awareness and funds to provide reading glasses to people in need.

Funds raised during the #GivingSightDay campaign will be converted into glasses delivered to people in need. The first $5,000 raised will be matched by National Vision and 2020 Quest. All early donation will be doubled and an amount as little as 60 cents can help 2 people who need reading glasses.

To donate and see the number of people that will benefit from the donations visit restoringvision.org/donate. Watch the video below to learn more about RestoringVision and their #GivingSightDay efforts.

EnChroma Partners with RestoringVision to Distribute Glasses to People in Need Worldwide
– Program Will Help Those in Need Receive Glasses to Correct Vision Issues –

Berkeley, CA – October 13, 2016 – Today, on World Sight Day, EnChroma – the company bringing color to the color blind – announced a partnership with RestoringVision to distribute glasses to people in need. Through EnChroma’s new “See the Difference, Make a Difference” program, for each pair of EnChroma eyewear purchased EnChroma will sponsor the donation of a pair of glasses to someone in need through the non-profit RestoringVision.

Nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide suffer from uncorrected vision impairment. Over 500 million people simply need reading glasses, but live in developing countries with limited or no access to glasses. RestoringVision provides glasses to those without access. Glasses can instantly and dramatically change people’s lives, enabling them to work, read and perform daily tasks again, and to provide for themselves, their families and their communities.

“People who buy EnChroma glasses will be pleased to know that in addition to helping someone color blind see colors better, their support will also help a person in a part of the world where getting pair of reading glasses is life changing,” said Andy Schmeder, CEO of EnChroma. “EnChroma shares RestoringVision’s goal of making all visual experiences more accessible to everyone, and we are proud to support their work.”

EnChroma glasses contain a proprietary spectral filtering technology that is designed to help people with red-green color blindness see an enriched spectrum of color – without compromising color accuracy or balance. One in 12 men (8%), and one in 200 women (.05%), are color blind; an estimated 300 million worldwide. While color blindness is often considered a mild disability, studies estimate that two-thirds of color blind people feel it is a significant handicap.

“We are thrilled to welcome EnChroma as a corporate sponsor, and grateful for their support,” said Mark Sachs, RestoringVision’s founder. “The goals of both organizations are closely aligned as we both work to improve people’s vision and lives. Through this unique collaboration our companies will be able restore sight while bringing color to life!”

Since its inception in 2003, RestoringVision, a non-profit based in San Rafael, California, has helped over six million people see clearly again. Last year, the organization distributed a record 2.5 million glasses, up from 480,000 in 2014.

For more information about this partnership, click here.

About RestoringVision
RestoringVision distributes reading glasses and sunglasses glasses to more than 1,400 charitable partners that serve people in need in 116 countries. Reading glasses can significantly change the lives of people with poor vision who are unable to see close up, read, maintain job, or remain a productive member of their community. Sunglasses are an important preventive tool in fighting corneal and cataract damage from excessive exposure to UV light. Cash donations, corporate sponsorships and donations of new readers and sunglasses from eyewear companies make this effort possible. For more information, visit: www.restoringvision.org.

About EnChroma
EnChroma is dedicated to positively impacting the lives of the estimated 300 million people worldwide with color vision deficiency. EnChroma has developed a robust line of innovative eyewear products with cutting-edge optical technology for men, women and children. Based in Berkeley, California, EnChroma emerged from a National Institutes of Health SBIR grant designed to study the feasibility of helping people with color vision deficiency (CVD). To reach us please call 510-497-0048, email info@enchroma.com or visit enchroma.com.

Today we celebrate the World Sight Day (WSD)! This is an international day of awareness dedicated to focusing attention on the global issue of avoidable blindness and visual impairment. WSD is coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) up to 80% of cases of blindness are avoidable, either resulting from preventable conditions (20%) or are treatable (60%) so that sight is restored. Uncorrected refractive error (URE) is the leading cause of vision impairment and the second leading cause of avoidable blindness. URE, including the conditions myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia, can have a major impact on the health of a person when left untreated, reducing educational and employment opportunities that often lead to poverty.

At RestoringVision, we focus our efforts on providing reading glasses, which assist with two types of URE: Presbyopia and hyperopia (or farsightedness). An estimated 544 million people simply need non-prescription, reading glasses to correct their vision, but live in developing countries where there is limited or no access to glasses.

This video is part of our video series Stories of Hope from Around the Globe. It shows how eye care is needed everywhere in the world.

The theme of the World Sight Day this year is “Universal Eye Health”, focusing on eye care for all. RestoringVision believes that to provide eye care to every person in the world, especially to people in need, it takes a village, a community of like-minded organizations and individuals working together to bring clear vision to those who don’t have access. Since 2003, we’ve partnered with more than 1,400 charitable organizations who have reached over 6 million people living in places where eye care and vision correction are either inaccessible or unaffordable.

As the WHO declares, the right to sight can and must be fulfilled. We can all do something to make eye care accessible to every person in the world. You, too, can play an active role. There are many ways to become involved and help:

• Raise awareness: Vision impairment is one of the greatest global health issues that few recognize. Let others know that there are millions of people who cannot see clearly and lack access to glasses and eye care. Because of this, they cannot go to work, care for their children or keep up with their daily activities.
• Volunteer: There are many organizations with which you can volunteer to bring clear vision to disadvantaged people. If you are already part of a group or a non-profit, add eye care to your current programming.
• Support eye care groups and organizations: Support non-profits and groups dedicated to solving eye health problems by becoming a donor or sponsor.

At RestoringVision, we make it easy to become part of the solution.

• Take glasses on your next trip to a developing country.
• Becoming a sponsor by adding a charitable component to your business.
• Donate today. Every dollar you contribute is converted into a pair of glasses to someone in need.

We are stronger together. If we all do our part, we can make a major difference in the lives of millions of people living with vision impairment by giving them the Gift of Sight!

We are exited to launch the 6th episode of Stories of Hope from Around the Globe!

The sixth episode in the series is “Bringing Joy to the Most Humble” featuring Changing Lives Together – CLT Inc., a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to providing sustainable economic development for impoverished communities in rural Ghana. In this episode Lawrence Kumi, National Ghana Director of CLT, describes the conditions in which the inhabitants of these communities live. He also describes the joyful reactions of the beneficiaries when they received their new reading glasses and were able to see clearly once again.