Innovative Adjustable Glasses From Adlens Win Place in the Global INDEX: Award Exhibition Touring 12 Countries as a Showcase of Technology Design to Improve Life

OXFORD, England, September 2, 2011 -

Adlens adjustable glasses are used by their charity Vision for a Nation Foundation in Rwanda, Africa where 95% of people who need glasses don’t own a pair

Adlens have developed an innovative new technology: a pair of fluid filled glasses that can correct vision at the turn of a dial.  For the user, they work in much the same way as a pair of binoculars; you simply turn to get the right focus. This offers break-through innovation possibilities in the developing world where there are very few opticians and ophthalmologists. In Rwanda for example, there are only 14 eye care professionals for a population of 7.5 million people. In response to this, Adlens have set up a charity, the Vision for a Nation Foundation, which in partnership with the Ministry of Health aims to correct the vision of the entire population of Rwanda, screening people’s eyesight and providing them with the innovative technology should they need them.

Last night Adlens and Vision for a Nation won a place in the global exhibition tour of the prestigious INDEX: Awards which celebrate innovative design ideas that improve human life.  Adlens’ design entry was recognised by the panel of judges because vision correction impacts so many aspects of quality of life; from improved educationand employment opportunities, to improved safety and reduced road traffic accidents - a major cause of mortality in the developing world.  

The global INDEX design tour will visit twelve countries around the world and be exhibited in prestigious public spaces. The exhibition will be free to everyone since INDEX is committed to making these winning innovations accessible beyond the museum paying public. It is anticipated that over ten million people around the world will visit the Exhibition.

In addition the exhibition materials will be available to schools globally, as part of INDEX’s commitment to educating the world’s children about the benefits of design to improve life.

Dean Butler, Chairman of Adlens, who attended the ceremony in Copenhagen last night commented: “We are honoured to have won a place in the global design exhibition and hope to improve the lives of many in Rwanda by raising the awareness of our charity - Vision for a Nation and our innovative technology - our fluid-filled adjustable glasses.  The gift of clear vision is amazing and life changing.”

Extensive range of photography available on request

About Adlens Limited

Adlens was co-founded by James Chen in Oxford, UK in 2005 with the joint aims of addressing the unmet need for refractive vision correction and pursuing commercial applications of adaptive lens technology.  It is a unique socially responsible enterprise committed to both financial sustainability and social impact.  Adlens absorbs all research and development and fixed production costs for its products distributed in the developing world.  

About Vision for a Nation Foundation

Vision for a Nationis an innovative programme to provide universal access to eyeglasses, starting in Rwanda.  Vision for a Nation will offer free vision assessments to the entire population of Rwanda aged 8 years and above, an estimated 7.5 million people, and provide eyeglasses - including adjustable eyeglasses - to all who need them.  By providing universal access to eyeglasses, Vision for a Nation aims to have a positive and measurable impact on the productivity, education, employment and quality of life of all Rwandan beneficiaries.

Vision for a Nation Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales.

About INDEX:

INDEX: is a Danish-based, non-profit organization that was established in 2002 and coined the concept “Design to Improve Life”. INDEX: works globally to promote and apply both design and design processes that have the capacity to improve the lives of people worldwide.

Contact: Vicky Moffatt
+44(0)1865 980 400
vicky.moffatt@adlens.com

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