25 Million Kids Need You, So Get Involved Today!
Lions of the USA are pleased to announce Lions KidSight USA, a nationwide program to safeguard the vision of children aged 6 months through 6 years.
According to educational experts, 80% of learning is visual. So if a child can’t see well, he can’t learn well. Yet most young children don’t get their vision screened until they have problems learning or paying attention in school. By then, it may already be too late. Unless vision problems are detected early and corrected, they risk becoming permanent by age 7.
Lions in the USA already screen more than 500,000 kids per year through state-wide and local programs often known as “KidSight.” Lions KidSight USAis a national coalition that brings together Lions programs that screen kids from 6 months to 6 years of age in order create a coordinated national program.
Our mission is to ensure eye screening and follow-up care is given to all kids because every child deserves to learn and see the world clearly. To do this, we will work with Lions to increase the number of screening programs around the country in order to reach more children when it is possible and where it is needed.
The Need Is Real
About 7-15% of kids screened – nearly 4 million – will be referred for a follow-up exam by an eye-care professional. Approximately 5% of all children in this age group will have amblyopia, a treatable disorder that can result in permanently reduced vision when not addressed by an early age. The screening devices detect risk factors for amblyopia, such as strabismus (eyes that cross or wander out), refractive errors and unequal vision between the two eyes, and potentially even more serious issues such as cataracts and eye cancer.
The Passaic-Clifton Lions Club is an active participant of the Lions KidSight USA program. For more information on how to schedule a free screening to your pre-school or local organization contact us at info@passaic-cliftonlions.org .
For more information on Lions KidSight USA program visit http://LionsKidSightUSA.org
