Summary guide on quality standards for spectacles

The Summary guide on quality standards for spectacles simplifies global quality standards and provides practical guidance on best practices for dispensing spectacles. It also sets out minimum quality standards for lenses, frames, and ready-made spectacles, ensuring safe and effective use to meet population needs. Additionally, the guide highlights the importance of environmental considerations and includes recommendations on recycling spectacles. 

People living in low- and intermediate-resource settings face multiple challenges when accessing good quality spectacles, including geographical, social and financial barriers. 

Specific requirements and management guidelines to ensure that products and services meet rigorous criteria for quality, safety, and effectiveness have been developed by international organizations. By adhering to these standards, manufacturers ensure that their products are not only effective but also comply with global regulations. Moreover, consumers can trust that a qualified product meets the highest standards for quality and safety. This standardization process is crucial to maintaining consistent high quality across the global market and protecting consumer health and vision. 

This guide aims to support service providers, including ministries of health, in ensuring that optical products meet quality and safety requirements, providing effective and reliable products for users in line with the WHO SPECS 2030 initiative. It intends to aid countries in making informed decisions when procuring spectacles and spectacle components.