How It Works
A complete eye-care system that fits in a backpack
Our Vision Stations bring screening to children where they are. Prescriptions are written remotely by volunteer optometrists, and each child receives a brand-new pair of glasses made just for them.
Set up a Vision Station
We partner with local organizations that have long-established roots in their communities, such as schools, clinics, orphanages and missions. A short training trip prepares local staff to run the Vision Station.
Screen with portable technology
Instead of bulky equipment and visiting doctors, trained local screeners use a handheld, battery-powered vision screener (in our pilot, PediaVision's Spot device), along with a ruler and eye charts, to measure each child's refractive error and pupil distance. The whole kit fits in a briefcase or backpack.
Upload to our database
Each child's screening results, photo and basic details are uploaded from any internet-connected computer to Lumoon's central database.
Remote review by volunteer optometrists
Volunteer optometrists review each child's data online and write the prescription. When two reviews differ, a senior optometrist makes the final call. Children who may need more than glasses, such as surgery or treatment for eye disease, are flagged and referred to specialist partners where possible.
Custom glasses, made to order
Our fulfillment lab, Augen Opticos in Mexico, makes each pair from flexible, durable Grilamid frames, in the child's size and choice of color, with lenses made to their exact prescription. Glasses ship directly to our local partner.
Delivery and follow-up
Local partners fit and deliver the glasses. Donors get updates at every step, ending with a photo of the child in their new glasses.
Why it costs less
Traditional missions vs. a Vision Station
| Traditional two-week mission | Lumoon Vision Station | |
|---|---|---|
| Who screens | About 8 visiting optometrists and ophthalmologists | Trained local screeners, with remote volunteer optometrists |
| Equipment | About $40,000 of specialized equipment | A portable screening kit |
| Total cost | About $129,000 per two-week trip | About $14,850 per year |
| People served | About 2,000, with perhaps 200 children | About 2,000 children a year, all children |
| Glasses | Donated, used glasses matched as closely as possible | New glasses made to each child's prescription |
| Cost per person screened | About $64.50 | About $7.42 in year one, $3.28 over three years |
Lumoon Vision's 2011 program estimates. Vision Station costs include local screener pay, equipment and a short training trip.
Our commitments
Expanding access, not competing
We serve communities where children have no access to vision care. We aim to expand access, not compete with local optometrists, so we work where eye-care services don't exist or can't be reached.
Our focus is the biggest and most easily solved need, prescription eyeglasses, while referring children who need more care whenever we can.
Transparency
Impact dashboard
Children screened
Glasses delivered
Vision Stations active
Volunteer optometrists
Results will be published as the project runs. Projections and verified results will always be labeled separately.