Effect of Presbyopia Correction on Livelihood and Repayment Among Solar Customers in Western Region, Kenya

With age, people lose the ability to see things that are near them clearly. This is known as presbyopia. Although this is a normal ageing process, it can be corrected with near vision eyeglasses - colloquially known as reading glasses - and people should not have to "put up with" poor near vision. By improving the ability to see things that are up-close, near vision eyeglasses allow people to perform tasks with greater ease. This improves their quality of life, and increases their productivity and income. DOT Glasses provides people in East Africa with a range of eyeglasses, including those to improve near vision.

In addition, products sold to communities through loans repaid at regular intervals (known as asset financing), allow people in underserved communities to harness electricity through solar products and to own electronic devices, such as mobile phones. This also improves their quality of life, and increases their productivity and income. Sun King is one of the leading providers of solar products through loans in Kenya.

This study will gather evidence and insights from existing Sun King customers with poor near vision in Busia, Siaya, Vihiga and Kakamega. The investigators will explore how much giving people glasses to improve their near vision impacts their ability to make repayments, their incomes and livelihoods, and their overall quality of life. It will also be studied how the glasses affect participants usage of the solar device or mobile phone.