of blindness 

Worldwide, 285 million people live with significant vision impairment, of which 39 million are blind. The vast majority of those effected live in low socioeconomic and impoverished areas, not having access to proper healthcare or even sanitation. Globally, uncorrected refractive errors (URE) and un-operated cataracts are the top two causes of visual impairment making up 80% of all visual impairment. All of which are easily preventable with proper medical attention. Blindness is highly prevalent in developing nations. Globally, 90% of those visually impaired individuals live in impoverished areas. They endure malnutrition, inadequate health care, inadequate education services, lack of clean water, and poor sanitary conditions. All these factors contribute to the increasing rate of eye disease in these regions. In the least-developed countries, in particular Sub-Saharan Africa, cataracts is responsible for half of all avoidable blindness. Other causes include glaucoma, corneal opacities, trachoma, childhood blindness and onchocerciasis. For cataracts, a simple, low cost, one time procedure can restore full sight to the patients and give them their life back. However in too many places this procedure is not available. GIVE intends to change that.