An estimated 1 billion people worldwide live with preventable or uncorrected vision impairment due to limited access to affordable eye care and glasses.
For years, Global Brigades has worked to address this gap through Vision Stations integrated into many of our Medical Brigades across Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Ghana, and Greece. Student chapters collected donated glasses at home and brought them on Brigade, where volunteers, alongside local optometrists, conducted vision screenings and distributed glasses to patients in need.
We witnessed firsthand the transformative impact a simple pair of glasses can have, improving a student’s ability to learn, a parent’s ability to work, and an elder’s ability to engage fully in daily life.
Community Leaders consistently shared that Vision Stations were among the most requested services during clinic days. A clear indicator that demand was high and access was limited.
But in recent years, we encountered an important question: how do we scale this impact sustainably?
The Challenge of Scalability
Our previous model relied on a limited number of autorefractors in each country, donated glasses collected by volunteers, and the availability of local optometrists. These constraints made it difficult to offer Vision Stations consistently across all Brigades.
Not every clinic day could include vision services. And when resources were limited patients felt the impact.
As we continue strengthening our Holistic Model, which prioritizes sustainable systems-level solutions, we knew we needed a smarter, more scalable approach.
Enter DOT Glasses
DOT Glasses is a Kenya-based social enterprise on a mission to revolutionize global access to eye care. Their patented adjustable frames and lens system, combined with a simplified testing methodology, eliminate the need for expensive autorefractors and complex fittings.
Global Brigades was introduced to DOT Glasses at the end of 2025 as a potential partner in reimagining our Vision Stations.
Through their innovative screening process, our teams can now accurately assess patients’ vision needs without relying on limited diagnostic equipment. Once test results are determined, glasses are assembled on-site, customized to each patient’s specific prescription!
If a patient’s left eye requires a -1.5, but the right eye is -1.0, volunteers can adjust and build the glasses accordingly. The result is a tailored, immediate solution delivered directly at the point of care.
A Soft Launch with Strong Results
In December 2025, Global Brigades soft-launched DOT Glasses across select Medical Brigades. The results were encouraging:
- Increased ability to offer Vision Stations consistently
- Greater customization for patients
- Streamlined logistics for chapters
- Reduced dependence on limited equipment
This new model allows us to scale vision services sustainably while expanding access to care for more patients across our partner communities.
Strengthening the Holistic Model
Access to clear vision is more than a clinical intervention. It is foundational to education, economic productivity, and overall well-being.
By integrating DOT Glasses into our Medical Brigades, we strengthen the Health & Wellbeing pillar of our Holistic Model while supporting broader community resilience. When patients can see clearly, they are better equipped to thrive in school, work, and daily life.
This partnership reflects our continued commitment to evolving our programs in ways that increase impact, improve sustainability, and reduce barriers, both for patients and for volunteers.
A Better Experience for Chapters
Chapters will also benefit from this evolution. No longer required to collect and transport donated glasses, volunteers can travel more easily and focus their preparation on clinical learning and fundraising.
It’s a smarter, more efficient model and one that better aligns with our long-term strategy.
We’re excited to continue expanding this partnership with DOT Glasses in 2026 and beyond.
Curious how vision care fits into our broader clinic model? Explore how our Medical Brigades deliver sustainable, community-led healthcare across Central America, West Africa, and Greece.
Clear vision changes lives. And now, we can bring that impact to even more communities.
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