Local Lions Help Give the Gift of Better Sight with Vision Screening

‘Tis the season of giving and, for the Theresa Lions Club, it’s the season of giving back to the children of our community. The Lions know one of the greatest gifts they can give is the gift of better vision.

Since shortly after its founding in 1917, Lions Club International has been devoted to “vision initiatives,” and in 1925, was implored by Helen Keller to be “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.”

Lions Club vision initiatives not only offer assistance to the blind but also provide a variety of vision-related services and programs. One of these programs is KidSight USA, which offers free vision screenings for children.

Locally, the Theresa Lions Club annually visits public and private schools within the Lomira School District to provide vision screenings as part of the KidSight program. Theresa Lions Club members and volunteers from other area Lions Clubs use Plusoptix cameras to detect possible vision problems, such as refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and unequal power), strabismus (crossed eye), amblyopia (lazy eye), and anisocoria (unequal pupil size). If the camera detects a possible issue, the student’s family receives a referral to seek a professional opinion from an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

“Vision problems can impede a child’s learning. About 80-85% of how a child learns is visual,” stated Lomira School District nurse Chelsea Feucht. “Many times, children are unaware of the signs of vision problems. This is why early detection of vision problems is key in preventing loss of vision, learning difficulties, and delayed sensory, motor, cognitive or social-emotional development in children.”

Nurse Feucht further expressed that the Lions’ vision screening and support is truly a tremendous gift:

“Having the Lions provide vision screening services is incredibly valuable to our school district. Their partnership allows us to identify vision issues early, support student learning, and reduce barriers to academic success. We are deeply appreciative of their continued commitment and service to our students and community.”