Impact Stories

Mr. Hou operates a small optical store located in the northeastern township of Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China. The store is special because in addition to providing optometry and glasses, the store also adds a number of vision screening and myopia prevention and control services. The optical store is fully comparable to optical chain stores in first-tier cities with its bright storefront, clear process and professional services. This traditional optical store has been transformed into a vision care center that serves as a sustainable primary access point where rural community residents are able to access professional optometric services.

This is one of many primary access points in the rural areas which benefit from the Eye Partners program kicked off in 2020 across the whole nation of China. Our team in China develops opticians, pharmacies and clinics in rural areas to become Eye Partners. Through this program, we are able to create sustainable primary access points where vision care was previously unavailable.

“With our effort, we have created this primary infrastructure and built the ability of rural vision service, which we have been able to provide for even the most remote and hard to reach communities,” said Mr. Hou, Optical Store Operator.

By the end of 2022, there will be a total of 1,725 Eye Partners trained. To date, the Eye Partners program has served over 80 million people living in rural areas.