Three Global Organizations Honored with 2025 António Champalimaud Vision Award

Three Global Organizations Honored with the 2025 António Champalimaud Vision Award

On September 10, 2025, the Champalimaud Foundation announced the recipients of the António Champalimaud Vision Award for this year, an award that stands as the largest in the realm of vision science with a value of €1 million. This prestigious accolade celebrates outstanding contributions in the field of eye health, particularly those that intertwine scientific innovation, a significant societal impact, and a dedication to equity in vision care.

This year's laureates include three prominent organizations: the Fred Hollows Foundation, the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) with its SightFirst initiative, and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). Each of these organizations has demonstrated remarkable commitment to the prevention and treatment of blindness on a global scale.

The Fred Hollows Foundation

Established in 1992, the Fred Hollows Foundation has restored sight to more than 3 million individuals in over 25 countries, notably across Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The foundation is particularly renowned for its partnerships with marginalized communities, including Aboriginal Australians and various Pacific nations. In its extensive efforts to restore vision, the foundation has facilitated over 560,000 surgeries, distributed more than 178,000 pairs of glasses, and trained over 66,000 community members in eye health practices. Their mission emphasizes accessibility and respect for those in need, striving to eliminate preventable blindness worldwide.

Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF)

With an inspiring legacy of providing eye care services, LCIF has made significant strides, impacting more than 544 million individuals across 118 countries. From training more than 2.6 million eye health professionals to establishing over 1,700 eye care centers, LCIF's SightFirst program epitomizes dedication to combating vision impairment. In the previous year alone, the program supported more than 10,500 cataract surgeries and conducted 54,000 eye examinations, showcasing its unrivaled commitment to eye health globally. Through their comprehensive initiatives, LCIF has been able to prevent severe vision loss in approximately 30 million people.

International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB)

IAPB serves as a vital leadership platform in eye health, uniting over 250 member organizations in more than 100 countries. The agency is recognized for its strategic contributions to advocacy, policy development, and partnership facilitation, playing a pivotal role in shaping global agendas for eye care. Reflecting its growing significance, IAPB has achieved a remarkable 66% increase in membership over the last decade. Among its recent initiatives is the formulation of standardized guidelines for Comprehensive School Eye Health Programs, set to benefit over 700 million children worldwide. This work exemplifies IAPB’s goal of positioning eye health as an integral aspect of public health initiatives.

The António Champalimaud Vision Award not only honors these organizations for their extraordinary achievements but also reinforces the necessity of collaboration in solving the global challenge of blindness. By shedding light on the work of these entities, the award aims to inspire more robust action in the realm of eye care, encouraging greater investments and innovations to improve eyesight health worldwide.

The contributions of the Fred Hollows Foundation, LCIF, and IAPB underscore a collective pursuit towards equitable access to eye health, exemplifying that collaborative efforts can yield tremendous success in preventing blindness for millions around the globe.

For more information on the António Champalimaud Vision Award and past laureates, visit Champalimaud Foundation’s official website.