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.
