Publication
- Published in Frontiers in Ophthalmology (2026)
Background
Presbyopia is an age-related loss of near vision that makes it harder to focus on objects that are close, making tasks such as reading, handling money, or using a phone difficult. Ready-made near vision glasses (sometimes called “reading glasses” or “ready readers”) can provide a simple, cost-effective solution to presbyopia for most people. However access is often limited by shortages of specialist eye care workers, lack of awareness, cost and the need for a separate referral appointment.
Data from eye health programmes using Peek show that 44% of people whose only identified need is near vision glasses do not attend their referral. Providing glasses in the community could remove this barrier and expand access to near-vision correction.
Peek has worked with our partners at Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital to develop a digital presbyopia calculator to support this approach. Integrated into the wider Peek eye health system, the tool guides non-specialists through the selection of ready-made near vision glasses while maintaining referral pathways for people who need further examination or specialist treatment. It is not available as a standalone product.
The calculator first uses a participant’s age and near-vision acuity to suggest an initial lens power. It then guides the user through an iterative process to refine the selection. Ready-made readers are recommended only after distance-vision impairment and other eye conditions have been ruled out.
What did the research show?
- 92.9% of the powers recommended by community health workers using the calculator exactly matched optometrists’ prescriptions. 99.5% of recommendations were within ±0.50 dioptres.
- The average time required to identify the appropriate near vision glasses power was just over two minutes. Combining distance vision, near vision, eye health assessment and presbyopia testing in one application may reduce the time and cognitive burden associated with moving between different tools.
- Trained non-specialists can use the calculator to dispense ready-made near vision glasses accurately and appropriately. This can help preserve limited specialist capacity for people with more complex eye health needs.
There is growing international recognition that ready-made near vision glasses can be provided safely in the community. This tool helps turn that ambition into a practical, consistent process, while ensuring that people with more complex needs are still identified and referred.”
Dr Marzieh Katibeh
Study lead author and Peek researcher
Collaborators
- Peek Vision
- International Centre for Eye Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
- Kitale County Hospital
Funding
The study was funded by the Livelihood Impact Fund Eyeglasses Initiative. This work was also supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (using the UK’s Official Development Assistance Funding) and Wellcome Trust under the NIHR-Wellcome Partnership for Global Health Research.
What’s next?
The Peek presbyopia calculator enables programmes to provide ready-made near vision glasses in communities or on people’s doorsteps. Implementation will vary according to local prescribing guidelines, and the tool will remain part of a wider system that refers participants who do not meet the eligibility criteria for community dispensing.
Peek’s criteria require participants to pass distance-vision screening in both eyes without glasses, fail a binocular near-vision test and show no other relevant eye health symptoms or signs. Anyone who does not meet all three criteria is referred for appropriate care, reducing the risk that people requiring specialist examination are missed.
By helping community health workers address uncomplicated presbyopia safely, the calculator can support larger-scale near vision glasses provision and release specialist capacity further along the care pathway.
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