July 31, 2024 — Johnson & Johnson and the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) have announced that their Sight For Kids program has provided comprehensive eye health services to more than 50 million students in underserved communities across North America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. The program will expand to new areas this year, including Atlanta, GA, and Hong Kong.
Since its inception in 2002, Sight For Kids has equipped communities to provide children with clear and healthy vision. The program has provided free comprehensive eye screenings for schools, trained more than 200,000 teachers globally to deliver eye health education, conduct visual acuity tests, and screen students for common eye conditions. Through the Sight For Kids Program, 650,000 students have received treatments and surgeries, and more than 515,000 pairs of eyeglasses have been distributed to students.
“Every child deserves to see the world clearly. Providing eye health to more than 50 million children across the world is an extraordinary achievement,” says Peter Menziuso, company group chairman, vision, Johnson & Johnson. “We are committed to closing the gap between communities and care, so every child is empowered to live their best possible life. We look forward to increasing access to eye care, and seeing the continued impact of Sight For Kids as we work to reach even more students and communities.”
Early vision impairment in children can cause developmental delays and impact academic success and future earnings. Despite these challenges, millions of children worldwide lack access to essential vision care services. Nearly 450 million children have a sight condition that needs treatment, with 90 million children living with some form of sight loss.
“Sight For Kids goes beyond providing essential eyecare services to millions of children worldwide; it also helps parents, teachers, and entire communities,” says Brian Sheehan, chairperson, Lions Clubs International Foundation. “I’ve had the opportunity to witness screening events firsthand and the collective impact they have on the daily well-being of the students. We can’t wait to see the continued success of this program.”