LAST LOOK

Bono, With Vision

for decades, Paul David Hewson wore sunglasses. But the singer-songwriter, better known as Bono, the frontman of the world-famous, Dublin-based rock band U2, wasn’t just donning shades for the cool factor. He was battling with glaucoma.

In 2014, Bono revealed to the world that he had suffered from glaucoma for the past 20 years—and that his trademark shades were in place to alleviate difficulties caused by the chronic eye condition.

Glaucoma, a buildup of pressure in the eyeball, which can damage the optic nerve and lead to blindness if untreated, led Bono to develop the Buy Vision, Give Sight program with Revo. The goal: To drive $10 million to the fight to improve access to eye screening, prescription glasses, and eye health care in under-resourced communities around the world. The program aims to prevent vision impairment and blindness in more than 5 million people by 2020.

Here, Bono talks about the problem—and the reach for a solution.

On glaucoma

“This is personal for me. I’ve been dealing with glaucoma for 20 years. The Brien Holden Vision Institute is leading the fight to end the kind of blindness and vision problems that can be prevented or cured. They now have an ally in Revo, and me.”

On the problem at hand

“The scope of the problem is huge, but the path to progress is also in plain sight. We know we can end vision impairment and unnecessary blindness for millions of people. We also know that you can help.”

On the campaign

“The Buy Vision, Give Sight campaign is a very personal one for me. Thanks to good medical care, my eyes are OK, but tens of millions of people around the world with sight problems don’t have access to glasses, or even a basic eye test...Sight is a human right and the Buy Vision, Give Sight initiative will help ensure millions of people have access to the eye exams and glasses they need to see.”

—Erinn Morgan

*All quotes provided courtesy of Bono’s team via an exclusive video