Agyekum Joseph is a skilled and hardworking man. Fifty-two years old, he balances two demanding jobs: cocoa farmer and electrical rewinder. In addition to cultivating cocoa in Akyem Nkronso, a community in Ghana’s eastern region, he repairs fans, air conditioner motors, and other electrical equipment—work that requires precision, dexterity, and sharp near vision.
As an electrical rewinder, Agyekum often works with small parts in intricate settings—items he refers to as “gadgets.” Tasks like inspecting machine components, rewiring appliances, and handling tools demand clear vision. Without it, even routine repairs can be difficult and prone to error.
Lately, Agyekum began noticing changes in his eyesight. “I have been having some trouble with my eyes, especially when I’m working on something up close,” he explains. “After a while, things start to look blurry or cloudy, and I can’t really see what I’m doing properly. My vision becomes unreliable, so sometimes I have no choice but to stop whatever gadget or task I’m working on. Even when I’m reading my Bible, the letters start to blur together, and it gets really hard to read.” Fortunately, help was available.
As a member of the Asetenapa Cooperative, Agyekum receives health services through Elucid, a social enterprise in Ghana that is working to improve the health and economic well-being of rural farmers by embedding essential health services into agricultural value chains. During a visit to a mobile clinic, Agyekum had his vision screened and was diagnosed with presbyopia, a common age-related condition that affects near vision. The solution was simple: a pair of near-vision eyeglasses.
This year, Elucid began partnering with RestoringVision, a global nonprofit dedicated to tackling the challenges of presbyopia. Through this collaboration, Elucid is now able to provide high-quality near-vision eyeglasses to cooperative members who need them. At the clinic Agyekum attended, 315 people received vision screenings and 62 were given near-vision eyeglasses.
After receiving his eyeglasses, Agyekum noticed an immediate improvement. “I received a pair of eyeglasses, and I can honestly say my vision is now perfect! I’m able to work on my gadgets with ease, and I can read my Bible clearly again. The glasses have really improved my daily life when it comes to my vision, and I couldn’t be more delighted.”
Agyekum’s experience shows how restoring near vision can make a meaningful difference, not only in farming, but in skilled trades that require precision and care. With the support of Elucid and RestoringVision, he and many others in Akyem Nkronso are regaining the ability to work independently, read comfortably, and contribute fully to their communities.
Presbyopia is a common eyesight issue tied to aging that starts after you hit 40. It makes focusing on things up close hard, which can turn activities like reading, threading needles, or spotting small details into a challenge. It’s not an illness; it happens as the lens in the eye becomes less flexible with age. Since presbyopia happens with age, you can't stop it from occurring. The most cost-effective treatment for presbyopia is near-vision eyeglasses. Regular eye checkups help to detect it and address its effects.
This story was developed by RestoringVision, a member of the Global SPECS Network, in collaboration with the WHO Vision and Eye Care Programme, based on an interview conducted and photographed by Elucid.
Photo credits: Bainson Bainn/Motion District Studio.