The Lions Eye Institute and Lions Outback Vision have a long and proud history of saving and improving the sight of people living in rural and remote locations across Western Australia. As part of our 40th year celebrations, we looked back at some key moments in our history of bringing quality eye health care to the regions.
1970s: Early leaders in eye care services to the regions
In 1976, our founder Professor Ian Constable AO joined Professor Fred Hollows AC in the Kimberley region to conduct eye screening programs. Through the 1980s and 1990s ophthalmologists from the Lions Eye Institute, including Professors Bill Morgan and Ian McAllister, continued this outreach work throughout Western Australia, treating common eye problems including cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and trachoma.
An eye screening program being run in the Kimberley region
2010: The birth of Lions Outback Vision
In 2010, the Lions Eye Insitute developed the Indigenous and Remote Eye Health Unit with Associate Professor Angus Turner at the helm. The unit was desperately needed to address the inequity of accessible eye care faced by people living in remote areas of the state. In 2013 the unit changed its name to Lions Outback Vision. Associate Professor Turner’s dream of a custom-built travelling ophthalmology clinic came to life in 2016 with the creation of the Lions Outback Vision Van.
Lions Outback Vision Van driving to remote areas of Western Australia
2020: Lions Outback Vision Kimberley Eye Hub
The Kimberley Eye Hub, located in Broome, provides a base for Lions Outback Vision’s ophthalmologists and optometrists to treat local residents, as well as provide outreach to 20 communities and five regional towns across the Kimberley. Over the years, the ongoing commitment of generous partners and supporters has enabled Lions Outback Vision to keep extending their services, as well as build on the capacity of local healthcare workers in regional hospitals and health centres.
Did you know?
The ‘one in 100 years’ floods experienced in the Kimberley region in early 2023 didn’t stop Lions Outback Vision from reaching their patients in Derby. Thanks to the Royal Australian Air Force, the team were able to catch a lift in a Hercules transport aircraft in order to reach the town and patients waiting for sight saving treatment.
Associate Professor Angus Turner and clinical nurse Adele Sangster on the Hercules transport aircraft en route to patients
