Hertfordshire dispensing optician, John Snelgrove, semi finalist in the international Clearly Vision competition, will find out later this month if his Style Eyes Modular spectacle concept has made it to the grand final.
Clearly Vision is a global competition designed to address the issue of visual impairment. The final, which takes place in the US in October, will see five ideas from around the world selected to battle it out for the winning spot and $250,000 of seed funding and support to put the idea into action.
Style Eyes Modular Spectacles provide a spectacle frame and lens solution using modular components, out of the box, to British standards. The concept, which includes the correction of astigmatism, enables most visual corrections to be met from a modular set of frame and lens components enabling spectacles to be made on the spot in any situation.
The concept is the brainchild of Snelgrove (FBDO CL) who has patented the design and is working on promoting the concept in a number of ways.
He plans to introduce the product into retail opticians in the UK on a Buy On Donate One principle. This will allow both optical professionals and consumers to show their support for those visually impaired in the developing world.
Style Eyes forms the core of the Optician in a Box concept. This carried 1,000 frames and 1,500 lenses and can also be used to refract patients. It was used during the Christmas period to support the work of Vision Care for Homeless people.
Snelgrove’s new practice, Enhanced Optical Services, in St Albans showcases the prototype system and the charity Optician in a Box concept. Snelgrove will find out on September 22 if he has made it to the final.
His idea will battle it out with a range of vision-saving ideas including health screening from India, zero-waste wire frames from Africa, optometry training from Tanzania, variable power lenses from Pakistan, laser treatments from Israel, mobile communications from South Africa and artificial intelligence from Australia.