CVDW, Dow Corning collaborate to improve vision correction in children

Mar 17 2011

Dow Corning, a global leader in silicon-based technology, and the Centre for Vision in the Developing World (CVDW) are jointly announcing a collaboration to create an innovative new way to help correct the vision of children in the developing world. Dow Corning has committed US $3 million of funding and materials expertise to the CVDW as part of this collaboration to launch an initiative called Child ViSion™.

The Child ViSion™ initiative will design, manufacture and distribute a child-specific version of self-adjustable eyeglasses to children in the developing world. The aim is to increase the effectiveness of classroom-based education by improving children's ability to see the blackboard from which they are being taught.

"There are 100 million children or more in the developing world who need glasses to benefit fully from their education in the classroom. This problem arises principally because there are too few eye care professionals in the developing world," said Prof. Josh Silver, Oxford University physicist, founder and director of the CVDW, and inventor of the world's first universal fluid-filled adjustable eyeglasses. "Through this collaboration with Dow Corning, CVDW can now expand our efforts to provide eyeglasses to the children who need them for their education."

The goal of the CVDW, a United Kingdom-based Community Interest Company, is to improve vision for people in the developing world who lack access to adequate vision correction.

"This collaboration between Dow Corning and the Centre for Vision in the Developing World will combine our expertise to help bring improved vision correction to children in desperate need," said Stephanie A. Burns, Chairman and CEO of Dow Corning.

Through Child ViSion™, Dow Corning will work with the CVDW to explore how self-adjustable eyeglasses can be designed specifically for the needs of children so that the glasses are able to withstand daily use, are light weight and look more appealing, which will increase the likelihood that they will be worn. Another key element of the initiative will be to ensure the design can be scaled up to mass-production levels, which includes lowering the cost of production.

"Dow Corning fluids played a critical role in Prof. Silver's pioneering self-adjustable glasses, which have already provided vision correction to approximately 40,000 people in more than 20 countries," said James Stephenson, Dow Corning global Healthcare marketing manager and leader of the Child ViSion™ initiative at Dow Corning. "We are excited to further our relationship with the CVDW and to see how our silicon-based technologies can now improve vision correction and the quality of life for children in the developing world."