What is the name of your organization?
20/20 Mission Foundation
What is the name of your solution?
20/20 Mission Foundation
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
The 20/20 Mission is a humanitarian initiative that improves global eye health by collecting, refurbishing, and donating used eyeglasses.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Coquitlam, BC, Canada
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Canada
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Over 1.1 billion people globally face vision impairment, yet cannot access or afford prescription glasses. This issue is especially critical in low and middle income regions where optometrists are scarce, and healthcare infrastructure is limited. Uncorrected vision can negatively affect education, employment, and safety. For example, workers in sewing, construction, or agriculture often depend on precise vision for income, yet many perform tasks while visually impaired. Children are also disproportionately affected, struggling in school due to blurred vision. These issues are worsened by the rising prevalence of myopia, especially in younger populations, and a lack of affordable solutions. Our project addresses this global health issue by using technology to overcome the traditional cost and access barriers to vision care.
What is your solution?
20/20 Mission is a nonprofit initiative that collects and refurbishes donated eyeglasses and redistributes them through mobile clinics in underserved regions. We use digital and phyiscal lensometer tools, used to detremine a pair of eyeglasses’ prescription. During clinics, patients undergo a basic vision exam, and our database matches their prescription with the available glasses. This reduces costs and removes the need for full clinical infrastructure. Our system is portable, scalable, and community-driven by local volunteers. In April 2024, we conducted our first mission trip to Guatemala and delivered eye exams and prescription glasses to 453 people in just five days. Our tech-enhanced workflow empowers us to bring fast, affordable, and customized vision care where it is needed most.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our solution serves people in under-resourced communities, especially those who cannot afford or access traditional vision care. This includes rural workers, low-income families, elderly individuals, and younger students. Many of these people rely on accurate vision for daily life, from working manual jobs to attending school. Without glasses, they face reduced productivity, income, and overall quality of life. Our mobile clinics use tech tools to deliver personalized, immediate solutions on-site. Patients leave with prescription-matched glasses, a glasses case, sunglasses, cleaning cloth, and the ability to function more independently and confidently. In the long term, better vision boosts education outcomes, employment opportunities, and safety, unlocking new possibilities for each individual served.
