History of Eyes Right Projects

In Ontario, Canada, the provincial government funds hospital operations, staffing, patient care and some capital / construction items. Most items of equipment are donated through community support of each hospital’s registered charitable foundation. For example, Children’s Health Foundation has confirmed that it funds 90% of the equipment purchases for London Children’s Hospital.

When a Lions Club in District A1 makes a proposal to the District A1 Lions Sight Conservation Foundation to fund a piece of surgical equipment, the money is normally donated to the specific hospital’s Health Foundation, which in turn finances the equipment purchase by the Hospital. In this manner, the HST (13% Harmonized Sales Tax) is borne by the end user, the Hospital, rather than by the charities.

Recent Eyes Right Projects

The project was to purchase two Ophthalmic Carts, an Ophthalmology Chair, and Micro-surgical instrumentation necessary to perform Cataract procedures at a cost of $57,600. This project was supported by the Strathroy Lions Club, who contributed $10,000, toward this project in partnership with Eyes Right.

This project was to purchase an Optos Daytona Wide Field Retinal Camera and E-Lift Table for Bluewater Health Emergency Department in Sarnia. This project was sponsored by the Petrolia Lions Club in partnership with Eyes Right.

This $100,000 camera system provides a 200 degree image of the interior of the eye. The value in this tool is that almost instantly, the emergency physician is able to determine if there is any significant issue, such as a retinal bleed, tear, or detachment. This allows appropriate triaging of the patient for referral, allowing both the emergency physician and the patient to be very confident in the diagnosis. The other advantage is that the image is digital, and can be sent via text or e-mail to the on-call ophthalmologist, or tertiary care center for immediate viewing and analysis. This project will make a substantial impact on the efficiency of emergency eye care in Sarnia - Lambton. The intended result will be fewer delays in receiving ophthalmology care and/or eye surgery.

As with the 2019-2020 emergency room equipment project in Windsor, this donation will help fast-track ocular emergency patients through our increasingly congested hospitals, and ensure that they receive an appropriate referral, if needed, without vision-threatening delay.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of their charter as the FIRST Lions club in Canada, the Windsor Downtown Lions Club partnered with Eyes Right to provide a $100,000 grant, each providing $50,000, to purchase ocular triage equipment for Windsor Regional Hospital’s Metropolitan and Oullette emergency departments. The goal is to ensure timely assessment and treatment of patients who present at both sites, and to eliminate the need to transfer patients and/or staff between campuses for eye injuries. The intended result will be fewer delays in receiving ophthalmology care and/or eye surgery.

At a ceremony on 11 March 2020, the Windsor Downtown Lions and Eyes Right each presented their cheque for $50,000 to the Windsor Regional Hospitals Foundation. Both hospital ERs will now be equipped with a slit lamp biomicroscope for examining the ocular surface and a tonopen to measure the intraocular pressure. As well, every one of the 30 examination rooms at each hospital will now have an ophthalmoscope for the ER doctor to view the interior of the eye.

This project will make a profound impact on the efficiency of emergency eye care in Windsor for all who require it.

Previous Eyes Right Projects

We have helped raise funds for various causes across south-western Ontario. Please select a hospital below for more information.