Non-Professionals can be Trained to use the “Lens Tree”

Non-professionals can be trained to use the patent-pending “Lens Tree” through a short, structured, hands-on session that focuses on four simple skills: setting up charts, checking vision, using the Lens Tree, and snapping lenses into frames.​

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1. Simple set-up they can copy

• Trainers show how to hang the Tumbling-E charts at eye level and measure the correct distance (20 feet for distance, about 20 inches for near) using the tape measure in the kit.​

• Volunteers practice marking the floor/wall and checking that lighting is adequate, so they can replicate the same set-up in any classroom or clinic room.​

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2. Teaching basic vision checking

• Non-professionals learn to use the Occluder to cover one eye and have the person point in the direction of the “E” symbols, starting from the top line and moving down until the letters are no longer clear.​

• Trainers emphasize recording the last line read correctly as the uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) on the simple Data Form, so every trainee understands when a child needs lenses and how to document it.​

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3. Demonstrating the Lens Tree step-by-step

• Trainers model holding the Lens Tree (the person being tested never holds it), placing it in front of one eye, and moving gradually through stronger lenses until the child can comfortably read the target line.​

• Special attention is given to coaching: Asking the child not to “try too hard,” watching for over-focusing, and, when needed, backing off by 0.50 if a child seems to be choosing a lens that is too strong.​

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4. Practicing lens selection and frame assembly

• Trainees learn to read the power markings on the Lens Tree, note the “best lens,” and then select the matching lenses (individually packaged and properly marked with the strength of the lenses), from the kit, writing the chosen strength on the Data Form for each eye or on First Sight’s free software for real-time monitoring.​

• Trainers show how to snap lenses into the rectangular frames using the Lens Application Tool, confirm fit by re-reading the chart, and package the glasses in the pouch—then every trainee practices this several times until comfortable.​

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5. Building safe, repeatable habits

• Training includes cleaning the Lens Tree, Occluder, and frames between screenings, safe disposal of plastic bags, and annual testing so non-professionals understand the full cycle of care.​

• By the end of a short training, teachers, nurses, and community volunteers can independently run the entire process, screening, choosing lenses with the Lens Tree, assembling glasses, and recording results, without needing any electronic equipment or prior eye-care experience.​

First Sight’s Total Program Cost Per Child

First Sight’s total program cost per child is typically a small fraction of clinic-based exams with conventional glasses, especially in underserved schools and rural areas.​

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Typical First Sight program costs

• Per-pair cost: First Sight eyeglasses generally cost about US$5- $8 per pair, depending on configuration and volume; your own materials estimate “less than about $7” on average to provide a pair.​

• All-in per child (school program): When you add modest costs for charts, kits (amortized over many children), local staff/volunteers, and logistics, many programs can keep total all-in costs in roughly the US$5–$8 range per child who receives glasses, especially at scale.​

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Clinic-based exam and glasses costs

• Eye exam alone: A basic comprehensive eye exam without insurance in the U.S. commonly runs about US$75–200 per visit, depending on provider type and location, while it may cost upto $30.00 in developing countries. ​

• Glasses in conventional settings: The average complete pair of glasses without insurance is often in the US is $80–150 range at traditional providers, with discount chains and specials sometimes bringing bundled exam + 1–2 pairs down closer to US$60–120, while it is approximately $30-$60 in developing countries. ​

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• School-based clinic programs: Evaluations of other commonly utilized programs, mobile school vision programs in high-income settings, as compared to First Sight, often report total program costs of US$30–$50 per student served (screening, exams, and glasses together).​

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Side-by-Side Cost Comparison

Program-level implications in underserved areas.

• Reach per dollar: For the cost of providing clinic-based exams and glasses to one child (often $30-60), a First Sight-style program US$5- $8 ) can often provide basic screening and functional glasses to dozens of children in rural schools.​

• Barrier reduction: First Sight eliminates most cost drivers, professional time, equipment, clinic overhead, and repeat visits,allowing programs to focus budgets on reaching more schools and communities instead of paying per-visit clinical fees.​

Worldwide First Sight Program Costs

 

Worldwide First Sight program costs are driven by a mix of material, logistics, and partnership factors rather than expensive equipment or clinician time.​

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Core cost drivers:

• Eyeglass materials: The single biggest predictable cost is the glasses themselves, typically US$4–7 per prescription pair depending on frame type, age group, and volume.​

• FirstSightKit® acquisition: Kit of 100 frames, 220 lenses and all the other equiptment needed costs $700.

• Programs generally purchase kits containing Lens Tree, charts, frames, and lens inventory; this is a one-time or infrequent capital cost that is then amortized over hundreds or thousands of patients.​

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Scale and volume:

• Number of people served: As the number of children and adults screened rises, fixed costs (kit purchase, training, basic admin) are spread over more beneficiaries, driving down per-person cost.​

• Repeat visits vs. one-time events: Ongoing programs that revisit the same schools or communities annually make better use of remaining lens inventory and training investment than one-off trips.​

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Local logistics and context:

• Shipping and customs: Getting kits and refill lenses into different countries can add variable costs through freight, import duties, and customs brokerage, which differ widely by region.​

• On-the-ground transport: Travel to rural schools, refugee camps, or remote clinics (vehicles, fuel, drivers) is also a share of program budgets, especially where distances are long and roads are poor.​

 

Human resources and training

• Training non-professionals: Although the method itself can be taught in 10–15 minutes, programs may budget for trainer time, local coordination, and occasional refresher sessions.​

• Local volunteer vs. paid staff: Costs differ depending on whether teachers and community health workers are purely volunteer, receive stipends, or are paid by partner organizations.​

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Partnership and fundraising structure

• Donor and partner support: Some partners (NGOs, faith-based groups, hospitals) fund kits and glasses entirely, while others share costs with schools or local ministries, changing apparent per-pair costs for First Sight.​

• Program design: Integrated projects that combine First Sight with other health or education services can spread overhead across multiple interventions, lowering the share attributed to vision correction.​

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Country-specific economic factors

• Currency and purchasing power: Exchange rates and local purchasing power affect how “expensive” a US$4–8 pair of glasses feels in different economies, shaping subsidy needs and cost-recovery models.​

• Regulatory and compliance costs: In some regions, additional paperwork may be required, or local NGO partnerships may be ideal, adding modest but real administrative cost layers to each program.​

Labor Costs in First Sight Distribution

Labor costs in First Sight distribution are kept very low because most teachers, nurses, and volunteers do the work, whereas clinics depend on highly paid professionals and support staff.​

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Who does the work in each model?

• First Sight: Screening and fitting are designed for non-professionals—teachers, school nurses, community health workers, church/NGO volunteers—after brief training.​

• Other Programs Clinic workflow: Exams and prescriptions may be done by licensed optometrists or ophthalmologists, if available, typically supported by paid technicians and front-office staff at a rate of about $20.​

 

Typical labor cost levels

• Other Programs Clinic workflow: Optometric technicians often earn in the US$16–24 per hour range, and front-desk staff add additional hourly cost and benefits.​

• First Sight workers: Programs often rely on salaried teachers, school nurses, or volunteers who are already in the school/clinic, so incremental labor cost per child screened is exceptionally low or effectively zero from the program’s standpoint.​

 

Time per child vs. labor rate

• First Sight workflow: With simple charts and Lens Tree, one trained non-professional can usually screen and fit a child with glasses in about 10 minutes and can oversee many children in a short school session.​

• Other Programs Clinic workflow: A comprehensive exam typically takes 30–60 minutes of professional plus support-staff time, so even at modest wages, labor cost per child is substantial before materials.​

 

Program-level labor implications:

• First Sight programs: Because incremental labor is mostly low-cost local staff or volunteers, labor contributes only a small fraction of the total per-pair cost; materials and transport dominate.​

• Other Programs Clinic workflow: Labor (doctor + techs + admin) is a major driver of exam fees and overhead; this is a key reason why clinic-based per-child costs are often tens of dollars even in school programs, and over US$60 when including retail clinic mark-ups.

 

Kit upkeep and labor in First Sight deployments are intentionally light and low-cost, especially when contrasted with clinic-based models that depend on expensive staff, equipment, and facilities.​

 

Kit maintenance and how it’s funded

• First Sight: Kits have no electronics; “maintenance” is mainly replacing frames and lenses as they are used, plus occasional replacement of charts, occludes, and tools, typically funded through program budgets, grants, or donations rather than a service contract.​

• Other Programs Clinic workflow: Equipment (autorefractors, phoropters, slit lamps, etc.) requires periodic calibration, repair, and software/service contracts, financed through clinic revenue, insurance reimbursements, and higher exam fees embedded in patient charges.​

 

Wage benchmarks for technicians

• First Sight deployments: Screening and dispensing are designed for teachers, school nurses, community health workers, and volunteers already on salary or stipended through partner NGOs; incremental “technician” wages per pair are often negligible because the work is folded into existing roles or volunteer time.​

• Other Programs Clinic workflow: Optometric/Ophthalmic technicians commonly average about US$8-10 per hour, depending on experience and region.​

 

Training requirements and labor cost impact

• First Sight training: Non-professionals can learn the Lens Tree and chart-based process in a short, practical session (often 10–60 minutes of hands-on practice), so training costs are modest and can be delivered in-house or by partner trainers during program start-up.​

• Other Programs Clinic workflow: Optometrists require years of university and professional training, and even technicians typically need formal on-the-job training or vocational programs; those educational and credentialing requirements are reflected in higher wage levels and labor costs baked into every exam and pair dispensed.​

 

Transport and logistics costs:

• First Sight distribution: Kits are compact and light; the main logistics costs are international shipping (provided by First Sight to the port of entry), customs, and country travel (vehicles, fuel, drivers) to reach rural schools and clinics, with no need to transport large equipment or mobile exam units.​

• Clinics/mobile clinics: Clinic models often require moving high-value diagnostic devices or operating full mobile clinics/buses, which increases insurance, vehicle, and fuel expenses and can limit how many remote sites can be reached per dollar.​

Downtime costs in rural use:

• First Sight kits: With no electronics and no reliance on power or calibration, downtime is mostly limited to stock-outs (e.g., running out of popular lens powers) or physical loss/damage of frames or tools (in First Sight’s history, it has not received a single claim for damaged products), which can be mitigated by carrying adequate refill inventory; even when one kit is down, others can keep running.​

• Other Programs Clinic workflow: If an autorefractor, generator, or other key device fails, or if staff cannot travel, an entire outreach day can be lost, wasting transport, staff time, and patient turnout; the resulting opportunity cost per day of downtime can be very high given professional wage rates and limited outreach windows.​