Glob Adv Health Med. 2015 Mar; 4(2): 46–51.
Language: English | Spanish
Vision Stations: Addressing Corrective Vision Needs with Low-cost Technologies
Estaciones de la vista: afrontar las necesidades de corrección de la vista con tecnologías de bajo coste
, Md, Edm and , Md
Stephen A. Martin
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Barre Family Health Center and Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine
Elizabeth A. Frutiger
Portland Community Health Center, Maine
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Barre Family Health Center and Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine
Portland Community Health Center, Maine
Copyright © 2015 Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health, unless otherwise noted. Manuscript content on this site is licensed under Creative Commons Licenses
Abstract
Eyeglasses, required for functional vision by nearly half the world's population, are still needed by more than a billion people. There are a number of constraints on the provision of eyeglasses: product cost, durability, and appearance; traditional approaches to evaluating refraction; and sustainably scaling potential distribution methods. We offer our experience with an immigrant population in a US urban setting using a “Vision Station.” The station allowed for immediate provision of adjustable glasses using self-refraction, ordering of custom lenses from a low-cost website, and referral to primary and eye care physicians for those with medical eye concerns. As with models in development by other groups, Vision Stations connect people with the life-changing provision of functional vision.
Abstract
Las gafas, requeridas para una visión funcional por casi la mitad de la población mundial, siguen siendo necesarias para más de 1000 millones de personas. Existen numerosas limitaciones para la provisión de gafas: el coste del producto, la durabilidad y el aspecto; los enfoques tradicionales para evaluar la refracción; y la modi-fcación de manera sostenible de la escala de los métodos de distribución potenciales. Ofrecemos nuestra experiencia con una población inmigrante en un emplazamiento urbano de los EE. UU. usando una “Estación de la vista”. La estación permitía sumi-nistrar de manera inmediata gafas ajustables usando autorrefracción, encargar lentes personalizadas desde una página web de bajo coste y referir a médicos de atención primaria y ofalmólogos aquellos paci-entes con problemas médicos ocula-res. Al igual que con modelos en desarrollo de otros grupos, las Estaciones de la vista conectan a personas con la provisión de una visión funcional, algo que puede suponer un cambio en sus vidas.
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