Community Eye Screening for Children

Lions KidSight Presntation

Lions KidSight USA Foundation is a nationwide program to safeguard the vision of children, concentrating on kids aged 6 months through 6 years, but screening through grade 12 where possible.

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.

To find out how you can schedule a Free Lions KidSight screening at your Pre-K School, Church, Public School, or Event, contact Lion David Shimberg.

• Download KidSight Letter to Pre-K and School Directors
• Download KidSight Location (screening site) Instructions

Lions in the USA already screened over 1.5 million kids per year through state-wide and local programs often known as “KidSight.” Lions KidSight USA is a national coalition that brings together Lions programs that screen preschool and school age kids in order create a coordinated national program with a strong Lions Clubs identity.

Members of our Lions Club have been trained on using the PlusOptix S12 Vision Screener and are available to schedule and perform screenings at your location upon request.

Each individual screening takes just a few seconds and is performed from a distance of about three feet. There is no physical contact with the child and no eye drops are administered.  The ideal screening location is an interior room with office lighting.

Our equipment compares results from each screening to established standards, and either reports results as “Passed” or “Refer”, alerting the parent that their child should have a complete eye exam by an eye care professional.  We can provide can provide an individual print out for each child or report you can use to provide results to parents. 

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.

We provide parental consent form templates and cover letters for you to send to the parents prior to the screening date.

• It is important to understand that THIS IS ONLY A SCREENING and does not constitute an examination or diagnosis of vision problems. 
• IT DOES NOT REPLACE A RECOMMENED ANNUAL EYE EXAM BY AN EYE CARE PROFESSIONAL.
• A FINDING OF PASSED DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT NO PROBLEMS ARE PRESENT.

This service is offered FREE OF CHARGE as part of the Lions KidSight USA Program, a national program of Lions Clubs International, however a donation to the Lions to cover the cost of the screening is welcome.

Founded in 1935, Lions Services , Inc provides vocational rehabilitation and employment opportunities to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.   We work to provide these individuals with life long opportunities and choices, promoting personal and economic independence for an enhanced quality of life, while respecting their dignity and right of self-determination.

View a story produced and aired on WBTV news (3/13/23) featuring Bonnie English from Lions Services and her journey with vison loss. 

Since 1967 the North Carolina Lions Camp Dogwood for the Blind and Visually Impaired has been a beacon of service to citizens from all over North Carolina. This summer destination provides a wonderful and therapeutic retreat for persons with visual impairment and blindness.