OOXii has developed a Vision Kit containing everything a basic health worker needs to test vision and assemble affordable, customised glasses on the spot in remote and low-resource communities.
One billion people worldwide experience impaired vision simply because they lack access to affordable glasses. Described by the World Health Organization as a global health crisis, accessibility to eye care has been added as a resolution to Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good health and well-being.
To obtain glasses, one currently needs a prescription from an eye health professional determined through a series of tests. The refraction test is the key part of determining a prescription. The doctor uses a device called a phoropter, which contains different lenses. The patient looks through the phoropter and indicates which lenses make their vision clearer. These responses help determine the exact lens power needed to correct vision. Getting the correct prescription is just the first step of better vision, as the glasses must then be custom made.
Over half of avoidable vision impairment worldwide is simply due to lack of access to spectacles.
Accessing eye care in remote Australia and other similar locations presents several challenges. The vast distances between remote communities and urban centres make it difficult for residents to access eye care services. Even with FIFO (fly in, fly out) medical programs, many remote areas lack the facilities and equipment for refraction tests and glasses fabrication.
OOXii’s (pronounced ‘ook-see’) mission is to make vision care accessible and affordable, especially in remote and low-resource settings by simplifying vision testing and short-cutting spectacle manufacturing. Their innovative Vision Testing Wheel makes it possible for people without prior knowledge of eyes or glasses to determine the correct lens powers to maximise vision. The Vision Kit comes with a full range of pre-cut optical lenses which can be easily inserted into durable, adjustable stainless-steel frames and dispensed on the spot. Combining stylish, durable glasses with pre-cut lenses that can be immediately dispensed, this innovative kit promises to transform the landscape of vision care.
OOXii’s pilot studies conducted in Papua New Guinea funded by the Kokoda Track Foundation have yielded promising results, demonstrating the effectiveness and impact of their Vision Kits.
The joint assistance of ANFF-SA and the Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) has been pivotal in refining and developing key components of the OOXii Vision Kit, such as the design and functionality of the testing wheel prototype for manufacturing.
As well as accelerating OOXii’s progress, the ANFF–MDPP collaboration also provided access to a funding pipeline through ANFF-C. ANFF-C’s pre-seed funding has allowed OOXii to propel the design and development of the test wheel forward and incorporate innovations and enhancements that were on the wish list from field trials.
OOXii plans to distribute the OOXii Vision Kits to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and others providing basic healthcare in remote and low-resource communities, so that functional vision can be obtained where eye health professionals are not accessible.
Ensuring that everyone has access to refractive care is not just about improving individual health; it has far-reaching implications for education, economic productivity and overall quality of life. Clear vision enables children to succeed in school, adults to be more productive at work, and communities to thrive. By addressing this fundamental need, significant strides can be made toward achieving broader development goals, reducing inequalities and fostering sustainable development worldwide.
Published 15 October 2024 in ANFF’s 2024 Casebook ‘ANFF NEXT‘
Posted 23 June 2025
