Near-vision loss is one of the most overlooked barriers to economic participation. More than 800 million people lack access to basic reading glasses, contributing to an estimated $50 billion in lost productivity each year across low- and middle-income countries. At Devex Impact House @ UNGA, in partnership with the Vision Action Fund, Abigail Steinberg, executive director of the Vision Action Fund at the Livelihood Impact Fund, discusses how a simple, low-cost intervention can become part of a broader strategy for stronger livelihoods and more resilient health systems. The conversation examines how reading glasses can support productivity and income, and how governments, philanthropies, and implementing partners can integrate near-vision care into primary health systems, mobilize public financing, and expand sustainable delivery at scale.