Children Benefit from Free Vision Screening at Special Lions Club Event

The Fontana Big Foot Lions partnered with Reek Elementary School, Fontana Elementary School, Walworth Elementary School and Woods Elementary Schoolin Decemberto provide free vision screenings for young children. Over all 946children were screened by Lions club members, with just over 10 percent suggested to follow up with an eye care professional such as an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Since the eye screenings the club has sponsored a new pair of glasses for a student in need.

"Walworth Grade School and The Big Foot Lions Club have formed a wonderful partnership over the past four years with a common goal of providing excellent vision screening services for early detection of vision problems among students. I am so thankful because this year in partnership with the Lions Club all students at Walworth were able to receive vision screening services which allows referrals to be made for further vision services when needed. The Big Foot Lions Club is committed to the community and students, and for that I am very thankful.” said Julie Lohse, Walworth Elementary School Nurse.

More than 12 million school-age children in the United States have some form of vision problem, yet only one in three have received eye care services before age six. Many vision problems run the risk of becoming permanent if not corrected by age seven, when the eye reaches full maturity. Vision also plays an important role in education. According to educational experts, 80 percent of learning is visual.

“Early screening leads to early detection, which helps ensure that children get the follow-up care they need,” said project chairperson Tom Zinnecker. “We want to make sure that correctible vision problems don’t stand in the way of our children learning and seeing the world clearly.”

For information about future screenings or to learn more about the Fontana Big Foot Lions Club and its service projects, go to our website: bigfootlionsclub.org

The screening event is part of a nationwide initiative called Lions KidSight USA,a national coalition that brings together Lions programs that screen children from 6 months to 6 years of age. KidSight USA was developed by Lions in the U.S. to protect the eye health of America’s children in their early years. Lions in the U.S. currently screen more than 500,000 children per year. Learn more about Lions KidSight USA at KidSightUSA.org.

Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world. Its 1.35 million members in more than 46,000 clubs are serving communities in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the globe. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired, championed youth initiatives and strengthened local communities through hands-on service and humanitarian projects. Learn more about Lions Clubs International at lionsclubs.org.