The Amherst Lions Club offered free vision screenings for children on August 14 during Walkin’ on Wednesday.
As a sponsor of Lions KidSight USA, the organization uses the vision screenings to identify any vision problems, especially in children entering preschool or kindergarten, said Dave Walzer, secretary of the Amherst Lions Club.
August offers an excellent opportunity for any last-minute screenings that may be needed before the start of the new school year, Walzer said.
“You get a free eye exam and glasses,” he said.
During vision tests, you also receive information about various eye diseases that the mobile vision screener plusoptiX S12 detects, such as astigmatism, i.e. nearsightedness and farsightedness, says Walzer.
The Lions Club also offers a list of resources on various eye care topics if further action is needed.
“If they are in financial need, there are websites they can use,” Walzer said. “Our club is always willing to work with optometrists in our community to help those who cannot afford eye care.”
Various Lions Clubs across the country participate in the Lions KidSight USA program, with the Amherst Lions Club continuing to be one of the more active and involved chapters.
The organization frequently partners with the Amherst Exempted Village Schools and other private schools in Amherst to provide vision screenings for children.
“I have to give credit to Amherst Schools for wanting our help and being willing to help with our screening process as well,” Walzer said. “A lot of the credit goes to the nurses at Amherst Schools.”
According to Walzer, during vision tests in schools, it has happened “several times” that children have failed the eye examination and need a referral, and sometimes come back the following year with glasses.
Children are often unaware that they have a visual impairment and the enormous impact this can have on their learning experience as a child, he said.
“Thanks to our eye exams, their parents have been encouraged to get the necessary eye exams,” Walzer said. “Other clubs that have used this system have encountered some serious eye diseases, even eye cancer.”
For more information about Lions KidSight USA, visit www.lionskidsightusa.org.
