Stevenage Grange recently heard that it had won a place to exhibit its Make blindness History (ROI) project at the RI House of Friendship.

ROI was born in 2006 when, as a RIBI and D1260 Centennial Club project, the ‘Grange’ launched its’ appeal to fund and distribute the engraved ROI OptyseTM ophthalmoscope to peoples in developing countries .Supported by SightSavers International, the IMPACT Foundation and other global eye-care charities, some 1,500 ophthalmoscopes are already screening people for sight and other life threatening conditions in over 45 developing countries.

The low cost, lens free OptyseTM is ideally suited for our use in poor, remote locations around the world. Invented by retired vascular surgeon Roger Armour from Hitchin, the award winning ophthalmoscope compares favourably with the Keeler pocket ‘scope retailing at £187, according to studies presented to the Royal College of Ophthalmologists by the University of Birmingham, School of Medicine. The ROI version of the OptyseTM which isengraved ‘Donated by Rotarians’ costs less than 15% of its counterpart to purchase and distribute around the globe.

The ROI, with its headline banner of ‘make blindness history’ is believed to be the only Club based Rotarian initiative to champion the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) cause of eliminating avoidable blindness by 2020.

Commenting on their successful Convention bid, [long since] retired banker [on a modest pension] and Club President Ted Coles said “We are obviously delighted and proud to showcase this RIBI and District 1260 Club initiative at the RI Convention. It presents a great opportunity to put D1260 on the Rotary map. It promotes the cause, identifies prospective partnering Clubs, and will hopefully encourage global support.”

The scale of the challenge

There are over 37 million blind people of which 90% live in developing countries. Children who go blind in a developing country are twice as likely to die before their 13th birthday. Avoidable blindness could increase by 2 million each year. By 2020 WHO estimate that 75m will be blind unless action is taken now to diagnose and treat those at risk. Some 75% of blindness is treatable or curable.

Rotarians restoring sight

Thanks to the Grange’s ‘screen and see programme’ thousands will now regain their sight as a result of Club donations and the Rotary Foundation’s (TRF) matching grants programme.

Past President Stephen Sypula, who covers ROI’s marketing and promotion comments, “Whilst providing a low cost means of diagnosing treatable eye and other health conditions was itself a major step forward for our movement, our goal must surely be to prevent some of the conditions that lead to unnecessary sight loss and provide funds to treat those affected before it’s too late.”

This can be achieved at little cost. At its simplest sight loss can be prevented by providing vitamin A supplements to people in dry regions: With regard to treatment, operable cataracts, which account for 48% of avoidable blindness, can be undertaken for around £20 or £4 per Club donation through this Rotarian based process.”

Making an impact

The TRF matching grants programme has already made an impact. Since its launch, just sixteen months ago, Stevenage Grange has developed three matching grant projects. These embrace contributions from over 20 Clubs and six District Foundation Committees. Collectively they have funded cataract surgery for over 2,600 people in India (Mumbai Borivalli East RC) and Pakistan (Karachi South RC); provided static eye-care equipment for a Rotary Medical Centre in Mumbai; and enabled over 200 ophthalmoscopes to be distributed free of charge to mid-level eye-care workers, and other trained community volunteers covered by the projects.

“What’s brilliant about the ‘screen and see’ programme is the return on investment (ROI). From a financial perspective, projects costing over £76,000 have effectively been funded by Club donations of less than £11,000. The balance has come from TRF, District Designated Funds (DDF) and other grants sourced by the Grange said Bryan Cornish, Chairman of the Club’s ROI Committee.” He adds … “more importantly, with limited Rotarian endeavour, collectively as a movement we can and will continue to save sight …possibly life, personal and family dignity, and enable individuals once more to be proud and productive members in their communities”

Supporting a small Club based project with global ambitions

Like Helson-Lizards’ excellent ShelterBox ‘project’, the ROI is a Club based, sustaining and ongoing initiative with a difference. The challenge is enormous but achievable with your help. Clearly Stevenage Grange would very much appreciate a donation, or repeat donation from every Club in District 1260 … but there are also other ways to help achieve the goal of making blindness history for many. For instance:

• Can you nominate the ROI as a preferred charity or organise an event where you work?
• Can you spread the word with overseas or twinned clubs and organisations?
• Can you see a sponsorship opportunity that would benefit your business sector?
• Do you have clients that would like to leave a bequest to make blindness history?
• Do you fancy organising an event e.g. a candlelight dinner for World Sight Day in October?
• Do you know a International Eye Charity that would benefit from some donated ‘Optyse’ units?

Supporting a ROI sponsored matching grant project is so simple. Stevenage Grange finds suitable host clubs and handles the administration. Your Club gains Paul Harris Fellowship and other promotional credits.

For further information or to obtain a copy of their DVD, do visit the ROI stand at the D1260 Conference or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Alternatively pay a visit to the ROI web site www.roisight.org where you can view or download a video to show your Club, or simply download their information leaflet from www.roisight.org/downloads/infoleaflet.pdf