22/11/2023
The eyeglass industry, crucial for addressing vision impairments and enhancing the quality of life, provides an insightful case study on how the pursuit of profit can sometimes overshadow human considerations.
Examples:
Exorbitant Pricing: In the eyeglass industry, some companies have been known to mark up the prices of eyeglasses significantly, making vision correction inaccessible for certain demographics. This pricing strategy, driven by the desire
for higher profit margins, neglects the fact that clear vision is a fundamental human need.
Planned Obsolescence: Some eyewear manufacturers intentionally design products with a limited lifespan, encouraging frequent replacements. This planned obsolescence, a tactic to boost sales and maximize profits, disregards the environmental impact of excessive waste and the financial strain it places on consumers.
Unethical Marketing Practices: In an effort to drive sales, some optical businesses employ deceptive marketing tactics. This includes misleading advertising about the benefits of certain lens coatings or frames, exploiting the vulnerability of consumers who rely on accurate information to make informed decisions about their vision health.
Exploitative Supply Chains: The production of eyeglasses involves a global supply chain, and some companies may prioritize cost reduction over fair labor practices. Exploitative conditions in manufacturing plants, where workers are underpaid and subjected to unsafe working conditions, exemplify how the pursuit of profit can disregard the human rights of those involved in the production process.
Implications:
Inequitable Access to Vision Care: The exorbitant pricing of eyeglasses limits access to essential vision correction, disproportionately affecting individuals with lower incomes. This creates a disparity in the enjoyment of a basic human right — clear vision — based on financial means.
Environmental Impact: Planned obsolescence and the over consumption encouraged by some optical businesses contribute to environmental degradation. The excessive production of eyeglasses and the disposal of old, often non-biodegradable frames, contribute to the global waste problem.
Erosion of Consumer Trust: Unethical marketing practices and exploitative supply chains can erode consumer trust in the eyeglass industry. When companies prioritize profits over transparency and ethical considerations, they risk damaging their reputation and losing customer loyalty.
In order to foster a sustainable and ethical optical business, industry players must prioritize affordability, environmental responsibility, and consumer trust, ensuring that clear vision remains an accessible and ethically attained human right
