Today, almost 650,000 Guatemalans suffer vision loss from treatable conditions. However, more severe visual impairment can be resolved with a 10-minute operation for cataract – or a pair of glasses for other conditions. Existing service networks are not efficient enough to meet the demand. Travel to distant cities is an insurmountable barrier for people in rural areas.
In our developing country, suffering from blindness or visual impairment is effectively a lifetime sentence, limiting the work and activities that are an important part of potential contributions at the national and personal levels. A loss of sight for one can trigger an economic crisis for the family.