09/25/2007: "Lion's Club International Report #12"

SightFirst, Lions Conquering Blindness, is a series....

SightFirst, Lions Conquering Blindness, is a series of projects which aim to reverse the course of blindness. Its goal is to eliminate the world’s backlog of blind people who need treatment and to build the systems needed for nations to keep up with new cases.

SightFirst asks Lions to play a leading role in effectively reversing the course of blindness. It is a battle that the world has been losing—losing so badly that there were 40 million blind people in the world in 1990. Experts predict that number could double by the year 2015.

Most frustrating of all is that most blindness is preventable—or reversible once it occurs. Eye care specialists estimate that 80% of those who are blind today would not be if proper health measures had been taken. Significantly, 90% of those with vision loss live in developing countries—countries with resources too meager to train people, buy equipment, and set in place the programs which would prevent and cure blindness.

SightFirst projects include vision screening, building medical facilities, training medical or other professionals, sending teams of cataract surgeons into remote areas, establishing eye banks, and distributing used eyeglasses.

Blindness was selected for the major international service initiative after extensive study and analysis by the International Board of Directors. SightFirst was officially launched at the 73rd International Convention in St. Louis in July, 1990.

Lions Clubs support SightFirst by organizing activities, providing funding, providing transportation, food service, clerical help, or other support which is required on site. One provision that will make the effects of SightFirst projects even more effective, is that the projects must eventually become self-sustaining. Local governments or local health organizations must continue the project after Lions have ceased active support.

When we donate to Lions Clubs International Foundation or provide Melvin Jones Fellowships, we are helping to fund SightFirst programs.

Credit given to Paul Martin, author of the book, WE SERVE: A History of the Lions Clubs, 1991.