Nairobi, April 29 -- From bustling urban centres to growing peri-urban communities, millions of people in Africa endure visual impairments that could be corrected or managed with relatively simple interventions.

The issue is no longer confined to rural areas or older populations. Instead, it is evolving alongside demographic shifts, urbanisation, and changing lifestyles, making it a continent-wide concern with economic, educational, and social consequences.

The extent of vision problems across the continent is significant, though often underestimated. Many individuals experience refractive errors, such as short-sightedness, long-sightedness, or astigmatism, that can be corrected with prescription glasses. However, delayed diagnosis rema...