Lions Eye Health Program Marks World Sight Day with Milestone: 50,000 Children Screened
It’s World Sight Day on 9th October and the Lions Eye Health Program (LEHP) is proud to announce that since launching its Children’s Vision Screening Program in 2018, more than 50,000 children across Australia, and more recently New Zealand, have received free vision screenings.
Of those screenings, over 10,782 children have been referred to an optometrist for further assessment, representing around 1 in 5 children, consistent with national statistics showing that one in five Australian children has an undetected vision problem. Left untreated, these issues can significantly affect learning, development, and wellbeing.
“Good vision is essential to a child’s education and confidence,” said Bryan Hearn, National Chair of LEHP. “Something as simple as a free vision screening can change the course of a child’s life. When vision problems go undetected, children can struggle in the classroom, fall behind in their learning, and even experience challenges with confidence and social interaction. By picking up these issues early we give children the best chance to thrive”
“We are incredibly proud that Lions volunteers, with the support of local clubs nationwide, have been able to help so many families by identifying potential vision issues early,” adds Bryan.
The program’s success has been made possible through the dedication of more than 1,200 volunteer screeners, 235 Facilitators, and 40 Instructors, alongside the generous financial contributions of Lions Clubs across the country.
While LEHP had initially set an annual target of 12,000 screenings in 2025, the program has already far exceeded this goal, completing over 15,563 screenings to date – with numbers growing every day.
As part of World Sight Day commemorations, LEHP is encouraging community participation in walk-up screening events taking place across the country, which will be listed on the Lions Eye Health Program website.
“World Sight Day is a reminder of how critical early detection is,” said Stephanie Field, National Program Manager of LEHP. “We encourage parents and carers to take advantage of upcoming screenings or check our website to find out more.”
About the Lions Eye Health Program
The Lions Eye Health Program is a volunteer-driven initiative focused on increasing awareness of preventable vision loss and blindness, and delivering practical programs such as the Children’s Vision Screening Program. LEHP works with schools, communities, and health professionals to ensure children receive the best possible start in life through early detection and referral.
For more information on the program and upcoming World Sight Day community screenings, or to enquire about booking a children’s vision screening session for your kindergarten, school or group visit: www.lehp.org.au
