The Universal Spectacles (U-Specs) is based on the Alvarez lens (named after the inventor and Nobel Prize laureate, Luis Alvarez). What is remarkable about the spectacles is that the refractive power can be varied to a desired level.
To be able to see sharp images, the user can adjust the refractive power of the spectacle to a desired value. Help coming from an ophthalmologist or optometrist is therefore not necessary.
From a theoretical point of view, the potential of the adjustable spectacles is enormous. In practice, we have chosen for a dioptric range of -6 to 3 diopters. This provides correction for 90% of the refractive errors.
Through the use of modern production technique the price of the U-Specs can be low (in the order of a few Euros).
Advantages of the Universal Spectacles (U-Specs) :
- No specialist/optician is needed for measurements.
- A simple spectacle provides for correction of 90% of the refractive errors.
- Low expenses
- Patient does not need monitoring appointments
A prototype of the U-Specs has been presented last December 11 2003 during the meeting of the Dutch counterpart of the Vision 20/20 program of the World Health Organization and was received with great enthusiasm.