World wakes up to problem after 700 years – poor vision

Three years ago I launched a campaign to help the world to see. I called it Clearly.

I did so after learning to my astonishment that a third of our fellow citizens – some 2.5 billion – were unable to see properly because of straightforward refractive errors for which they had no available treatment. By that I mean they could not get a sight test and glasses, something that most of us take for granted. I failed my driving test as a young man because of my poor eyesight. I had a personal stake in this cause.

My first step was to set up a charity, Vision for a Nation in Rwanda and begin trying to break down the barriers that stand in the way of achieving good vision for all. Under usual circumstances, only specialists with years of training can undertake any sort of eye care. However, thanks to the