Do you have the next breakthrough in eye health innovation?
Seeing is Believing is providing US$3mn fund to support innovation in eye health.
In 1999, VISION 2020, the global campaign to eliminate avoidable blindness, was launched, and since then there has been significant progress in the field of eye care. Innovation has been central to this.
For example, the prospect for delivering cataract operations cost-effectively in low and middle income countries was transformed by the combination of two innovations: the pioneering work of individuals such as Fred Hollows and institutions such as Aravind Eye Care System to radically reduce the cost of intra-ocular lenses; and the development of the small incision cataract surgery technique.
We cannot afford to stop the search for great new ideas
Yet if the goals of VISION2020 are going to be met, we cannot stop searching for the next generation of innovators.
There are still an estimated 39 million people around the world who are blind. A further 246 million people are visually impaired, with 90% of all avoidable blindness occurring in the developing world.
To eliminate avoidable blindness and visual impairment we need to:
- Find more cost-effective and sustainable approaches to treating eye conditions
- Train up the necessary human resources within health systems
- Ensure that people have the right equipment and infrastructure to do their jobs effectively.
Innovators – we need you!
We believe the solutions are out there. That’s why we’re providing US$ 3mn of funding over the next three years to support innovation in eye health.
How the fund will work
The first tranche of US$ 1mn will be allocated this year. We’ll be providing grants of between USD 10k to USD 200k to support the development and scale up of new technology or operating/delivery/business models with the potential for major impact on the global campaign to eliminate avoidable blindness.
Do you have the solution?
If you are an organisation or individual with a great idea or new approach to promoting eye health, or enabling blind and visually impaired people to become more independent, we want to hear from you.
There are no restrictions on the country origin of an applicant but you should demonstrate how your innovation will impact areas of high need across the globe.
