Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) and its SightFirst programme; the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB); and The Fred Hollows Foundation

The 2025 edition of the António Champalimaud Vision Award, recognised three international organisations for their remarkable, long-standing, and impactful commitment to the prevention and treatment of blindness worldwide: Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) and its SightFirst programme; the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB); and The Fred Hollows Foundation.

The Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) and its SightFirst Program, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), and The Fred Hollows Foundation have each, over decades, contributed at scale to the global effort to eliminate avoidable blindness and visual impairment, particularly in underserved regions.

Through the SightFirst Program, Lions Clubs International Foundation empowered Lions members, healthcare providers and community partners across the globe to fight the major causes of preventable blindness. Since its launch in 1990, the SightFirst Program, through service and fundraising, helped deliver eye care to populations across the globe amounting to more than 544 million people, supported the training of over 2.66 million eye care professionals, and facilitated the construction or equipment of more than 1,719 eye centres—a testament to grassroots-led vision restoration at an extraordinary scale. 

Existing in different guises for nearly 100 years, and 50 years after its foundation in 1975, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) unites over 250 member organisations, governments, academic institutions, and health professionals to form a powerful global voice for eye health. IAPB leads coordinated efforts to promote universal eye health through strategic advocacy, policy guidance, and capacity-building partnerships, helping shape the global health agenda and enabling systemic improvements in eye care delivery.

Established to carry on the work of the late ophthalmologist and humanitarian Fred Hollows, The Fred Hollows Foundation was officially launched in 1992 and has brought sight-restoring care to the world’s most marginalised communities. With deep and respectful partnerships, especially with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and enduring engagement in more than 25 countries, The Fred Hollows Foundation has built local capacity by training eye health workers and strengthening national health systems, while fearlessly advocating for the rights and dignity of people affected by avoidable blindness.

In recognition of their sustained, large-scale commitment, their complementary approaches, and their collective leadership in advancing the global vision agenda, the 2025 António Champalimaud Vision Award honours LCIF's SightFirst, IAPB, and The Fred Hollows Foundation as a powerful force in delivering sight, equity, and hope to hundreds of millions.