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Published on: March 29, 2022
Real cost of recycled spectacles
David A Wilson1, Sonja Cronjé, Kevin Frick
1International Centre for Eyecare Education, Vision Cooperative Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. d.wilson@icee.org
Summary
Recycled spectacles are not a cost-effective solution for uncorrected refractive error. The high cost of delivery and low usability make them an inefficient strategy for preventing blindness.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Health Economics
Background:
- Uncorrected refractive error is a significant cause of avoidable blindness globally.
- Recycled spectacles are often used in programs aiming to mitigate this issue due to perceived low cost.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the costs and benefits of recycled spectacles compared to alternative methods.
- To determine the real cost of delivering recycled spectacles.
Main Methods:
- Assessed the usability of donated spectacles from two batches.
- Calculated the cost of delivery based on usable quantities.
- Conducted a cost minimization analysis comparing recycled and ready-made spectacles.
Main Results:
- Only 7% of analyzed recycled spectacles were suitable for use.
- The societal cost of delivering recycled spectacles was $20.49 per pair.
- This cost is more than double the cost of supplying ready-made spectacles.
Conclusions:
- Recycled spectacles are not a cost-saving intervention for refractive error correction.
- Programs should discourage the use of recycled spectacles to eliminate uncorrected refractive error in developing countries.
