Having the right glasses can increase your earning power by a third, according to a study from Bangladesh

Owning reading glasses can help people increase their income by a third, according to new research.

The study, conducted in Bangladesh, is the first to examine the impact of having a decent pair of glasses, and researchers found that the monthly average income of a group of people rose from $35.30 to $47.10 within eight months, an increase of 33.4%.

The paperThe study, published this week by Queen’s University Belfast, social enterprise VisionSpring and NGO Brac, involved 824 people aged over 35, when their eyesight began to decline.

Loss of near vision – also known as presbyopia – is estimated to cost the global economy more than 30% $25 billion (£19 billion) a year in lost productivitybut in low- and middle-income countries, increasing the number of people who wear glasses can correct the problem can be as low as 10%.

The quality of life of those who took part in the study improved as glasses made everyday tasks such as reading on a mobile phone and cooking easier.

Prof Nathan Congdon, Ulverscroft Chair of Global Eye Health at Queen’s and one of the authors of the study, said: “The findings demonstrate the power of reading glasses in reducing poverty. For just a few dollars per pair, reading glasses make a significant and lasting impact on someone’s income and help others return to work.”

Ella Gudwin, co-author of the report and CEO of VisionSpring, said: “Glasses have been an underutilized tool until now… We hope this evidence shows that this simple solution is extremely powerful and should be deployed more often .”

Sarah Nakalyowa, 57, from Matugga in southern Uganda, is a basket weaver. When she was younger, she earned two and a half baskets a day, earning 400,000 to 500,000 Ugandan shillings (£82 to £103) a month. When her eyesight deteriorated starting in her 40s, her productivity dropped.

“I use a needle and couldn’t concentrate well during my work. The basket came out messy,” she said. “When my eyesight deteriorated, it took four days to do what used to take me a day. My income dropped to 100,000-150,000 Ugandan shillings per month.”

Glasses have made a “big difference.” “My job has been made easier. I used to miss points with the needle. Now it’s fine. I couldn’t read the Bible or newspapers. Now I can read very clearly.”

Her income is almost back to normal and she has also started a side business growing mushrooms, which she says would not have been possible without her glasses.