Startup seeks to make eyewear affordable, accessible through innovation

A startup is challenging the eyewear industry by offering low-cost, high-quality glasses through a scalable distribution model aimed at underserved communities.

Bradley Heslop and Adam Boxer, both aerospace engineers, founded Dot Glasses to tackle global vision impairment, which affects at least 2.2 billion people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO estimates that uncorrected poor vision costs the global economy about US$ 411 billion annually in lost productivity, yet addressing the issue would require only US$ 25 billion.

Heslop said traditional eyewear businesses rely on expensive operational models, making glasses unaffordable for many.

“There had to be a simpler, more scalable way to get glasses to people who need them,” said Heslop.

Instead of relying on retail stores, Dot Glasses offers an instant-assembly model, eliminating supply chain costs.

“Our glasses can be put together to perfectly fit any face in less than a minute, anywhere, by anyone,” noted Boxer.

In Kenya, 6 million people lack access to prescription glasses, and the ratio of optometrists to the population falls far below WHO recommendations.

 “Traditional vision correction is inaccessible for many low-income and rural communities,” noted Heslop.

The startup’s proprietary diagnostic tool enables local distributors to assess vision issues without requiring optometrists on the ground.

“We focus on affordability and convenience, not luxury branding,” said Boxer, adding that the glasses sell for as low as Sh700.

 Dot Glasses also integrates sustainability by using recyclable and biodegradable materials while reducing emissions.

“We require only 10 per cent of the stock a typical optical shop needs to serve the same population,” said Boxer.