EinDollarBrille

What EinDollarBrille does

EinDollarBrille e.V., operating as GoodVision, is a German non-profit charitable organization (eingetragener Verein) founded in 2012 by Martin Aufmuth in Erlangen, Germany. The organization provides affordable vision correction and eye care to underserved populations in the Global South, operating across 11 countries in Africa, Asia, and South America (Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, India, Kenya, Colombia, Liberia, Malawi, Nepal, Paraguay, and Peru). Since inception, EinDollarBrille has distributed over 1.1 million pairs of glasses, conducted approximately 2.95 million vision tests, performed 17,000 cataract surgeries, and created 577 local jobs in the Global South, employing over 500 staff across its program countries.

The organization's core product is the GoodVision Glasses, a German-certified medical device made from spring steel wire that is individually bent using a manual Biegemaschine (bending machine) requiring no electricity, with a material cost of approximately one US dollar per pair. A complementary GoodVision App supports digital process management from patient intake through examination to glasses sales, and includes the proprietary VALY (Vision Adjusted Life Years) impact measurement metric. Additional capabilities include telerefraction for remote diagnosis and a network of trained GoodVision Technicians who deliver services through mobile eye camps, local stores, and community partnerships.

The revenue model combines donations (the primary funding source from individual donors, corporate donors, foundations, and government grants) with the sale of glasses at two to three local daily wages, which partially covers local staff salaries and materials. For those unable to pay, glasses are provided free of charge through charitable contributions. Distribution is conducted through a hybrid model: mobile eye camps in rural areas, locally operated stores in larger cities, trained technicians, and partnerships with local organizations such as Care Netram in India, Lentes al Instante (GoodVision Bolivia), GoodVision Colombia, and GoodVision Nepal. The organization holds DZI Spenden-Siegel certification and is recognized as tax-exempt by the Erlangen tax office.

Name

EinDollarBrille

Legal name

EinDollarBrille e.V.

Website

https://onedollarglasses.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EinDollarBrille e.V. (GoodVision) is a German non-profit founded in 2012 that provides affordable, locally-produced spring steel glasses and basic eye care to underserved populations across 11 countries in Africa, Asia, and South America, serving over 1.1 million people since inception.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Eyewear and Vision Care Services

NAICS

Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Offices of Optometrists (62132)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ophthalmic/Optometric Assisting (EDAOAJAK), Low Vision & Assistive Vision Devices (Magnifiers, Electronic Video Magnifiers, Wearable Vision Aids) (HLAHAJAN)

Keywords

• Affordable eyewear distribution
• Vision care services
• Nonprofit eye care
• Low-cost medical devices
• Community eye health programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Erlangen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Glasses Sales Revenue: Sale of GoodVision Glasses at two to three local daily wages generates revenue that partially covers salaries of local staff and materials for new glasses. The self-sustaining model reduces dependency on donations over time.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary funding source from individual donors, corporate donors, foundations, and government grants. Covers training, infrastructure setup, and free distribution to those who cannot pay.
3. Cataract Surgery Services: Provision of cataract surgeries (Katarakt-OPs) as part of comprehensive eye care, approximately 17,000 surgeries conducted.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

EinDollarBrille (GoodVision) provides affordable vision correction and eye care services to underserved populations in the Global South through a two-product model: GoodVision Glasses, a German-certified medical device made of spring steel wire hand-bent using a portable manual bending machine without electricity at approximately 1 USD material cost; and the GoodVision App, which standardizes examination and impact measurement. Services are delivered through mobile eye camps, local stores, and trained local GoodVision Technicians in 11 countries across Africa, Asia, and South America, with glasses offered free to those unable to pay or sold at 2-3 local daily wages to partially fund local operations.

Product overview

EinDollarBrille (GoodVision) operates a two-product model consisting of the GoodVision Glasses and the GoodVision App. The GoodVision Glasses are German-certified medical devices made from spring steel wire that are bent by hand using a simple bending machine without electricity, providing affordable vision correction at approximately one US dollar material cost. The GoodVision App supports process management from patient intake through examination to glasses sales, enabling data-driven care delivery and standardized treatment documentation. Together, these products enable the organization to provide basic optical care in 11 program countries across Africa, Asia, and South America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GoodVision Glasses: The core product - affordable, durable glasses made from spring steel wire that can be produced locally without electricity.
• GoodVision App

Products and services

• GoodVision Glasses A German-certified medical device consisting of durable spring steel wire glasses that are bent by hand using a simple manual bending machine without electricity. The glasses are individually adjustable, long-lasting, and have standardized lenses for easy replacement; material cost is approximately USD 1 per pair, sold at 2-3 local daily wages or distributed free to those unable to pay. Targeted at people with uncorrected refractive error in the Global South.
• GoodVision App A digital application used by GoodVision Technicians for process management from patient intake through examination results to glasses sales. Enables standardized documentation of treatment procedures, quality assurance, and impact measurement through the Vision Adjusted Life Years (VALY) metric across program countries.
• Vision Tests and Eye Examinations (Augencamps) Free or subsidized vision tests and eye examinations conducted through mobile eye camps (Augencamps), local stores, and trained GoodVision Technicians. Telerefraction is used where specialists are not immediately available. Targeted at underserved populations in 11 program countries.
• Cataract Surgery Services Provision of cataract surgeries (Katarakt-OPs) as part of the organization's comprehensive eye care offerings in program countries, with approximately 17,000 surgeries performed cumulatively. Targeted at people with treatable cataract blindness in underserved regions.
• GoodVision Technician Training Program A specialized one-year training program that certifies local GoodVision Technicians (GVTs) to perform vision tests, fit GoodVision Glasses, conduct eye camps, and deliver community-based eye care. Targeted at local community members in program countries to create sustainable local employment (577 jobs created in the Global South to date).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1.1 million people received GoodVision Glasses since 2012
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• ShamirsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026Shamir Optical Industry launched a second-glasses campaign benefiting EinDollarBrille, supporting increased distribution of vision correction.
• SightsaverssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026International development organization working to eliminate avoidable blindness. Appears as co-exhibitor at industry events alongside GoodVision.
• Care Netram (India)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner organization in Khordha, Odisha, India. Employs trained GoodVision Technicians who conduct eye camps and distribute glasses. Partnership enables delivery of eye care services in rural Indian communities.
• Lentes al Instante / GoodVision BoliviacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in Bolivia implementing eye care programs, including the Palmasola prison eye camp initiative. Conducts vision tests and distributes glasses in the country.
• GoodVision ColombiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal program managing eye care services in Colombia, including mobile examination units serving remote regions from the Andes to the Amazon.
• GoodVision NepalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCountry program managed by Prativa (Country Manager), providing eye care services in Nepal including rural eye camps.
• GoodVision InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational umbrella organization connecting GoodVision programs across countries, coordinating global operations and standards.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Warby Parker: Warby Parker sells affordable eyewear through a "Buy a Pair, Give a Pair" social-impact model in the US and increasingly online globally. Different commercial model but addresses the same fundamental need (affordable vision correction) with a built-in donation component per purchase.
• Lenskart: Lenskart is a large eyewear retailer serving emerging markets (India, Southeast Asia) with affordable frames and lenses at scale through physical and digital channels. Comparable as a high-volume affordable-eyewear operator addressing similar mass-market consumers, though as a commercial retailer.
• Sightsavers: Sightsavers is a large international development NGO working to eliminate avoidable blindness across 30+ countries, including cataract surgeries and refractive error programs. Listed partner of EinDollarBrille at industry events; broader scope but overlapping cataract and vision-correction missions.

Direct peers

• OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation: OneSight (affiliated with EssilorLuxottica) is a major non-profit providing free and low-cost eyewear to underserved populations globally, with charity clinics and school-based programs. Direct peer on the affordable-eyewear-for-the-poor mission with much larger corporate backing.
• RestoringVision: RestoringVision partners with NGOs and governments worldwide to distribute reading glasses and sunglasses to people in need. Directly comparable as a donation-funded distributor of low-cost eyewear with similar beneficiary base in the Global South.
• VisionSpring: VisionSpring is a social enterprise focused on affordable eyeglasses in low-income communities across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, using local entrepreneur networks. Closest peer to EinDollarBrille: same target population, same mission of correcting vision impairment, very similar last-mile distribution model through trained local agents.
• Himalayan Cataract Project / Cure Blindness: Cure Blindness (formerly Himalayan Cataract Project) performs high-volume cataract surgery in underserved regions and trains local ophthalmologists. Directly comparable on the cataract-surgery service line that EinDollarBrille also provides (17,000 surgeries).

Emerging players

• Clearly: Clearly is an online eyewear retailer offering affordable prescription glasses focused on value-conscious consumers in North America and beyond. Adjacent player addressing the affordable-eyewear consumer segment through a digital distribution model.
• Peek Vision: Peek Vision develops smartphone-based eye testing technology used by NGOs and governments for school and community vision screening in low-resource settings. Comparable as a tech-enabled vision-screening provider for underserved populations; partial overlap on Telerefraction-style remote testing.

Regional players

• Lentes al Instante / GoodVision Bolivia: GoodVision Bolivia is a regional subsidiary partner of EinDollarBrille operating eye care programs in Bolivia (the listed example is the Palmasola prison eye camp). Listed as a subsidiary/partner; relevant as the in-country operational peer for the Bolivian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=GoodVision+einDollarBrille
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ein-dollar-brille
• Facebookfacebook.com/EinDollarBrille
• Instagraminstagram.com/eindollarbrille

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EinDollarBrille