Protecting children’s vision before it’s too late
When Phoebe was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on her fourth birthday, her family’s world changed overnight.
Phoebe, diagnosed with diabetes at age 4
Suddenly, life was filled with needles, blood tests, and constant monitoring. But there was something else they didn’t expect—how much diabetes could threaten Phoebe’s sight.
A child with diabetes has an almost 100% chance of developing some form of vision problem in their lifetime. Yet most children won’t show symptoms until irreversible retinal damage has already occurred—often just as they’re stepping into adulthood.
Thanks to our generous supporters, Phoebe had access to something many kids don’t: The first clinic in Western Australia dedicated to preventing vision loss in children with diabetes.
The Perron Paediatric Retinopathy Initiative (PPRI)
Led by Professor Chandra Balaratnasingam and supported by Dr Antony Clark, the PPRI is changing the future for children living with diabetes.
Combining expert clinical care with cutting-edge research, the team is working to detect early eye damage before vision is lost—giving children the chance to receive the treatment they need when it matters most.
When you support the Lions Eye Institute, you’re helping children by detecting eye damage before it’s too late – ensuring they receive the diagnosis and treatment they need now, while backing the research that can transform their future.
Using advanced eye imaging technology developed at the Lions Eye Institute, the team is finding new ways to detect eye damage much earlier than before. They’re also exploring innovative ways to use this same technology to detect kidney disease and damage in other parts of the body.
“If we can detect these changes earlier, we have a chance to treat them before irreversible damage is done. It means better overall health, fewer invasive procedures, and a vastly improved quality of life for these children.”
– Professor Chandra Balaratnasingam
Your Support Is Saving Sight
Before the PPRI was established, only 20% of children with diabetes in WA were getting the screening they needed. That number is now over 80%.
But there’s still work to be done—especially as more children are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which can damage eyes even earlier and more aggressively than type 1.
“When I get checked at the Lions Eye Institute, I feel safe,” says Phoebe. “I know they’re the experts, that they’re really looking, and they know what to look for. So, when they say it’s OK, I believe them.”
Phoebe is now 19 and studying criminology at university. She dreams of working in counter-terrorism—a future full of possibility.
Your donation today will help make that future possible for even more young people.
Together, we can protect the sight—and futures—of children living with diabetes.
Donations of $2.00 and over are tax deductible.
