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SightFirst is Lions’ most ambitious and most successful initiative ever. Thanks to SightFirst, Lions have restored sight to 7 million people through cataract surgeries, prevented serious vision loss for 20 million people and improved eye care services for hundreds of millions.
SightFirst was launched by Lions in 1989 to battle preventable blindness. Sadly, 80 percent of the world’s blind were needlessly without sight. Through SightFirst, Lions have prevented blindness by supporting cataract surgeries, helping to build or expand eye hospitals and clinics, distributing sight-saving medication and training eye care professionals.
SightFirst has not only been stunningly effective but also startlingly efficient. On average, about every US$6 in donations has resulted in a person with vision restored or saved from blindness. SightFirst fights the major causes of blindness: cataract, river blindness, trachoma, and, especially in developed nations like the United States, diabetic eye disease and glaucoma. Lions initially generously funded SightFirst with US$144 million.
SightFirst is especially helping children. In partnership with the World Health Organization, SightFirst has launched the world’s first-ever global initiative to combat childhood blindness. The project is creating 30 centers for pediatric eye care around the world.
Campaign SightFirst II will enable Lions to expand the extraordinary work of SightFirst. The goal is to raise at least US$150 million to continue to prevent blindness and restore sight.
SightFirst's accomplishments since 1990 are astounding:
- Awarded US$193 million for 818 projects in 90 countries
- Provided 7.1 million cataract surgeries
- Prevented serious vision loss for 20 million
- Improved eye care services for hundreds of millions
- Provided 80.5 million treatments for river blindness
- Built or expanded 213 eye hospitals/clinics/wards
- Upgraded 325 eye centers with equipment
- Provided management training for 109 facilities
- Trained 305,000 ophthalmologists, ophthalmic nurses, other professional eye care workers and village health workers
- Launched world's first-ever initiative to combat childhood blindness in partnership with the World Health Organization. Thirty pediatric eye care centers will be established.
For more information, or to download SightFirst grant forms, please visit the Lions Clubs International SightFirst Program Web site.
For more information about Lions Clubs Sight Services, including Lions Camps for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Vision Screenings and Eye Banks, please visit the Lions Clubs International Sight Services Web site.