'The Right To See' is a basic human right.

Our team is working to ensure this becomes a reality for everyone in Latin America by developing sustainable vision care services, investing in innovation and technology, funding subsidized and free services and raising awareness about the need for good vision. Together with our partners, we won't stop until we have eliminated uncorrected poor vision.

To see our programs in action visit our YouTube playlist and read on to hear from Daniele Cangemi, who leads our activities in Latin America.

Latin America Region Playlist

Experience the life-changing work we're undertaking in Latin America by watching our regional playlist:

Hear what Daniele Cangemi has to say about our mission to deliver 'The Right To See' and how this makes a difference in Latin America.

What does 'The Right To See' Look Like to Daniele Cangemi?

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’The Right To See’ is not a commonly recognized or established concept in the context of human rights or legal principles. This is unfortunate because ensuring equitable access to vision care services is essential for the well-being of individuals and communities in Latin America, regardless of their socioeconomic status, geographic location or other factors. The right to vision care recognizes that good vision is not just a matter of health, but also impacts an individual's ability to work, learn and fully participate in society. Clear vision is crucial for people's quality of life, above all on a continent where classism, financial and economic inequalities are a reality that prevents individuals from seeking necessary eye care.
‘The Right To See’ includes efforts to raise awareness about the importance of eye health and educate people about preventive measures and early interventions. This can involve public health campaigns and community outreach programs. Thought leadership, efforts for the common good, collaboration with international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders can play a significant role in ensuring the right to vision care in Latin America. These partnerships can help mobilize resources and expertise to address eye health challenges effectively. When more people are aware of the importance of vision care, more mobilization can be created at all levels within societies in the region.

Major Accomplishments in Latin America:

Making a Life-changing Impact One Year In

In Latin America, 1 in 3 people suffer from poor vision. Last World Sight Day, we were pleased to announce the formal expansion of the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation in Latin America, uniting our long-standing philanthropy and advocacy initiatives in the region. Based in Bogotá, Colombia, the Latin American affiliate of the Foundation and its partners focus on executing vision care programs and forging high-impact alliances to serve underprivileged patients across the region.

Additionally, the Foundation has an established partnership with ALDOO – the Latin American Association of Optometry and Optics. ALDOO is a non-profit organization created to unify and strengthen the community of professionals in the field of optometry and optics in Latin America. The Foundation’s partnership with ALDOO focuses on a variety of projects and programs working to advocate, build capacity and generate research to close the data gap in the Latin America region.

Providing Free & Subsidized Services in the Latin American Region

Vision Clinic Takes Place at Legado Fedopto Event in Colombia —In May, the Foundation was present at the Legado Fedopto event in Colombia. This effort supported the vulnerable population of the municipalities of Cundinamarca as a social event alongside the optometry congress this year, in Bogotá. In alliance with the Columbian Federation of Optometrists, Charity Vision received the Foundation’s donation of glasses frames and volunteer optometrists joined the cause.
Empowering Students through Vision Care to Children in Chihuahua, Mexico — We partnered with GBS to give free eye exams and prescription glasses to girls and boys from various schools in Chihuahua, Mexico. Providing proper eye care to youth is crucial as it instills confidence from a young age and sets them up for academic success. One community this clinic served was the indigenous Raramuri people of Sierra Taraumara. Gabriela Lozano, who leads the Foundation’s sustainable programming and philanthropy in Mexico, shared, “Unfortunately, in some schools, the academic performance of students from indigenous people groups may be negatively impacted as they do not speak Spanish well. However, it has been shown that children from indigenous peoples excel academically when they are given the correct support.”
Supplying Flood Relief Efforts in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil — Following the devastating floods in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, we partnered with EssilorLuxottica Brazil and Colombia, along with retail brands and local medical associations to provide supportive relief efforts. These efforts have included the creation of a fund used to donate to those impacted and clinics to provide glasses to those who lost them in the floods.

Creating Sustainable Access Points and Vision Care Access through Dr Vagón

People living in rural or isolated environments are particularly disadvantaged when it comes to basic health and vision care. 2.5NVG Mexico, part of EssilorLuxottica’s sustainable programming team, partners with organizations using different mobile delivery methods to take healthcare services to extremely remote communities. Dr Vagón is a 14-car health train that travels across Mexico providing free medical consultations and treatment for some the country’s most isolated populations. The Group recently partnered with Dr Vagón to provide vision care for patients who may otherwise lack access.

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Quality Vision Care for Artisans at the Parintins Folklore Festival in Brazil

The Parintins Folklore Festival is one of the largest annual festivals in Brazil renowned for its colorful parade floats, dances and singing. We teamed up with KODAK Lenses Brazil and the Amazonas Society of Ophthalmology to provide quality vision care to the participating artisans assembling large, beautiful installations for the Parintins Folklore Festival in the Brazilian city of Parintins, Amazonas. Experience this event firsthand in this video:

Enjoyed learning about our work in Latin America? Check out our efforts to provide good vision throughout Oceania in our regional impact story here.

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What ‘The Right To See’ Looks Like in Latin America 2024

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