These three institutions stand out for their complementary and comprehensive work, which over decades has promoted eye health and reduced the burden of visual impairment, especially in the most disadvantaged regions of the world.
Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF)
Through its SightFirst programme, launched in 1990, LCIF has enabled more than 544 million people worldwide to access eye care. With the direct involvement of Lions members, health professionals, and community partners, the programme has also trained over 2.6 million eye health professionals and supported the construction and equipping of more than 1,700 eye care centres, representing a unique global mobilisation effort to restore sight. SightFirst operates in 118 countries and has facilitated more than nine million cataract surgeries, prevented severe vision loss in 30 million people, and improved eye care services for hundreds of millions around the world. In 2024 alone, the programme supported more than 10,500 cataract surgeries and eye examinations for nearly 54,000 people.
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB)
With 50 years of work under this designation, the IAPB positions itself as a global leadership platform for eye health, bringing together over 250 member organisations in more than 100 countries, including governments, academic institutions, and health professionals. The IAPB stands out for its strategic work in advocacy, policy development, and partnership promotion, playing a key role in shaping the global agenda and driving systemic improvements in eye care. Its 66% growth in membership over the past 10 years reflects this pivotal role. Among its most recent initiatives is the creation of standard guidelines for Comprehensive School Eye Health Programmes, which will potentially benefit over 700 million children worldwide.
Fred Hollows Foundation
The Fred Hollows Foundation, established in 1992 and rooted in the pioneering work of ophthalmologist and humanitarian Fred Hollows, has provided sight-restoring care to some of the most marginalised communities. The Foundation is distinguished by its close and respectful partnerships, particularly with Aboriginal Australian communities, Torres Strait Islander peoples, and various Pacific nations, while empowering a wide range of professionals and strengthening national health systems. Over 33 years, the institution has supported more than eight million people, restored sight to over three million, and performed more than 560,000 surgeries. In addition, it has distributed over 178,000 pairs of glasses and trained more than 66,000 individuals, from local community health workers to teachers and surgeons. The Fred Hollows Foundation operates in more than 25 countries across Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
2025 António Champalimaud Vision Award
Through a joint effort, these three organisations, with different intervention models – from grassroots mobilisation to health system transformation and influence on global policies – have created a profound and measurable impact in the fight against preventable blindness.
The 2025 António Champalimaud Vision Award recognises and celebrates the continued dedication, complementary strategies, and leadership of these organisations in promoting global eye health, and serving as instruments of hope, equity, and dignity for hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
About the António Champalimaud Vision Award
Established in 2006 by the Champalimaud Foundation, the António Champalimaud Vision Award recognises outstanding contributions both to the relief of vision-related suffering worldwide and to cutting-edge scientific research in vision and ophthalmology. Awarded annually, the prize alternates its focus: in even-numbered years, it honours groundbreaking scientific discoveries in the understanding and/or the preservation of vision; in odd-numbered years, it distinguishes innovative organisations and collaborative initiatives that have had a transformative impact on the prevention of blindness and visual impairment, particularly in low-and middle-income regions. With a monetary value of €1 million, it is the largest award in the field of vision, bringing international recognition to laureates whose work combines scientific excellence, global health impact, and a commitment to equity in sight. The award ceremony is held each September at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, in Lisbon, Portugal, where national and worldwide leaders come together to celebrate the laureates’ achievements.
