OAK BROOK, Ill., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lions KidSight USA (KidSight), a program of Lions International, was recognized with the Champion for Vision award at the annual American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, last week.
The KidSight program began in 2014 with the understanding that most kids are visual learners, but many do not have their vision screened until they begin school. With some vision conditions, the chances of successful treatment drop off dramatically after age six, so oftentimes the threshold for successful treatment has passed. The aim of KidSight is to reach young kids before it's too late, arranging free screenings at schools and daycare centers. In addition to the concentration on younger children, Lions also screen kids through high school to reach those who may need glasses. Using a high-tech screening device, the Lions check the children for visual disturbances. Children who are found to have a vision issue are then referred to an eye doctor for further evaluation.
Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) supports the Lions clubs involved with KidSight by awarding grants that help pay for the required vision screening devices.
"Lions International has championed the vision cause since our organization's inception more than 100 years ago, and LCIF is proud to support the impact Lions worldwide are making in children's vision through the KidSight program," said LCIF Chairperson Dr. Patti Hill. "This award is a true testament to the work Lions are doing to help children see the world more clearly."
Retired optometrist, KidSight USA Chairman and Lions Clubs International Past International Director Dr. Edward Cordes accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
"I was honored to accept this award on behalf of Lions International, LCIF and Lions around the world," Cordes said. "We recognize that 80% of a child's learning and development requires healthy, corrected vision. Through the KidSight program, Lions train and mobilize caring people to easily and efficiently screen the vision health of youth to help ensure they receive interventions to promote the academic and social development success that we all deserve."
The Champion for Vision award is a joint award presented by the Children's Eye Foundation of AAPOS (CEF of AAPOS) and AAPOS, and it celebrates organizations and/or individuals that have made extraordinary efforts to champion children's vision. Organizations or individuals that have made an extraordinary impact on children's vision and children's blindness prevention efforts are considered for this award.
Executive Vice President of the Children's Eye Foundation of AAPOS, Christie Morse, MD noted that "the Lions KidSight USA have provided extraordinary support for vision screenings performed throughout the United States and have identified thousands of children in need of follow-up eye examinations."
Lions' vision screenings identify children who have risk factors for amblyopia and are then referred for a comprehensive eye exam. If a child is uninsured or underinsured, the child may qualify for CEF's All Children See Program, where they are paired with a volunteer pediatric ophthalmologist who will provide one year of eye care at no charge. To date, 103 volunteers have provided more than 60 children with glasses, eye exams, or surgery. For more information on All Children See, please visit https://www.childrenseyefoundation.org/what-we-do/all-children-see.
To learn more about Lions KidSight USA, visit lionskidsightusa.org.
About Lions International
Lions International represents Lions Clubs International and Lions Clubs International Foundation. Lions take on some of the greatest challenges facing our communities and the world through the service of 1.4 million members in 49,000 clubs and the grant-funding support of our foundation. We improve health and well-being, strengthen communities and support those in need, locally and globally. At Lions International, we are serving a world in need. Learn more about who we are and what we do at lionsclubs.org.
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SOURCE Lions International