Grants to transform eye care across NSW

45 years of donor generosity continues to drive innovation, research and equitable access to specialist eye care. 

Since 1981, the Foundation has invested more than $23.2 million in patient care, research, technology, and education. This latest grant round brings the Foundation's total funding allocated in 2026 to $1,524,060, including more than $100,000 for new clinical initiatives and $300,000 supporting world-class eye research. 

Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation has awarded $405,481 in new grants, marking another milestone in its 45-year partnership with Sydney Eye Hospital to improve eye health across New South Wales. 

Every grant has been made possible through the generosity of donors, grateful patients and supporters, including those who have chosen to leave a gift in their Will. 

Expanding Tele-Vision to improve access across NSW 

A major investment this year continues the Foundation's commitment to delivering specialist eye care closer to home. 

The Foundation has awarded $110,000 over two years to establish a dedicated Tele-Vision Trauma Fellow, providing an on-call ophthalmologist to support regional emergency departments through the Tele-Vision pilot and future statewide rollout. 

Supporting this initiative is a further $38,590 technology grant, enabling secure transfer of clinical images from regional hospitals to Sydney Eye Hospital, allowing specialists to diagnose conditions, triage emergency referrals and provide expert advice without patients needing to travel long distances. 

The Foundation also continues to fund the full-time Tele-Vision Project Manager, Danielle Morgan, who commenced the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District project in October 2025. Together, these initiatives are helping build a connected network between Sydney Eye Hospital and regional emergency departments, improving access to specialist emergency eye care regardless of postcode.  

To further strengthen the Tele-Vision project, the Foundation is also investing in a Tele-Vision On-Call Management System. The app-based platform will streamline the triage of patients referred from regional emergency departments, helping ensure calls are managed efficiently and enable clinicians to respond more effectively. Drawing on the success of similar systems used elsewhere, the platform will support a reliable, coordinated approach to managing emergency referrals and help ensure patients receive timely specialist advice when it matters most. 

Improving patient education for more than 70,000 people 

The Foundation continues to invest in making healthcare information easier to understand and more accessible. 

Following funding in 2025 to produce the Welcome to the Eye Clinic and Cataract Surgery education videos, an additional $22,125 has been awarded to translate these resources into Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Arabic, Greek and Russian. 

The multilingual videos will help more than 70,000 patients access trusted information before and during their visit to Sydney Eye Hospital via SMS and online resources, improving understanding, reducing anxiety and supporting informed decision-making. 

Supporting equitable access to care 

Health equity remains a priority for the Foundation. 

A $20,000 Critical Care Fund grant will improve cultural safety for Aboriginal patients while supporting people travelling from regional   and remote areas of Australia through assistance with transport, accommodation and carer support. 

The initiative reflects the Foundation's ongoing commitment to improving equitable access to specialist eye care and supporting Closing the Gap. 

Enhancing the patient experience 

A further $10,000 grant will expand digital wayfinding in partnership with Bindi Maps in its first year, a commitment of funding for three years. The technology will help patients and visitors confidently navigate Sydney Eye Hospital—from nearby public transport and parking through to clinics and departments—creating a more welcoming and accessible experience for everyone. 

Investing in research that changes lives 

Research remains at the heart of improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of eye disease. This year, the Foundation has allocated $300,000 across research projects that will help improve diagnoses, develop new treatments, and ultimately help more people preserve their sight. 

Further details on the funded research projects will be announced shortly. 

Forty-five years of impact 

For 45 years, Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation has partnered with Sydney Eye Hospital to support innovation, education and research that improves the lives of patients across New South Wales. 

These latest grants continue that legacy—investing in research, embracing new technology, improving access for regional communities and ensuring more people receive the specialist eye care they need, when they need it. 

Every dollar invested is made possible by the generosity of donors who believe everyone deserves the gift of sight.