Making refractive error services sustainable: the International Eye Foundation model

Abstract

The International Eye Foundation (IEF) believes that the most effective strategy for making spectacles affordable and accessible is to integrate refractive error services into ophthalmic services and to run the refractive error service as a business – thereby making it sustainable. An optical service should be able to deal with high volumes of patients and generate enough revenue – not just to cover its own costs, but also to contribute to ophthalmic clinical services.

Keywords

• Delivery of Health Care
• Refractive Errors
• Spectacles
• Developing Countries