MADISON – Members of Madison Area Family Lions Club recently helped children at two schools to have a better chance for solid vision.

The Lions visited with students for eye screenings at the Family Advancement Center in Village of Promise and at Holy Family Catholic School in Huntsville.

“It was a pleasure to screen the children at Village of Promise and Holy Family Catholic School,” Lions Club President Cheryl Emich. “Most of our learning is visual so it is important to have the children receive an eye screening.”

The Lions’ primary purpose at Village of Promise was to screen children from six months to three years old. Club members screened two infants, eight toddlers and 16 three-year-olds during this event.

At Holy Family, club members screened 34 students in grades 2-4. “During these two events, club members identified 12 children out of 60 children screened who required follow-up visits with an optometrist,” Emich said.

“The club stands ready to help the parents of these children with eye care appointments and funding for eyeglasses should they not have insurance to cover these services,” Emich said. “This effort and follow-up care is part of the club’s ‘Vision for Learning’ program. We appreciate the opportunity to provide eye screening to the children at these schools.”

According to Lions KidSight USA, most children do not have their eyes screened until after age five when they have problems learning or paying attention in school. Lions KidSight USA suggests Lions members perform vision screening with a concentration on children from six months to six years to find risk factors for amblyopia (or lazy eye) and other refractive errors.

“The screening process identifies children who would need a follow-up visit with an optometrist to determine if a problem truly exists and/or obtain appropriate care,” Lions Club Vision Coordinator Tony Villamil said.

“If you run a pre-school or pre-kindergarten program and would like to have your children receive a free eye screening, we stand ready to help. Please contact us,” Villamil said.

In another vision service, the Lions Club supports the collection of used eyeglasses with the Lions “Recycle for Sight” program. The collected glasses will be cleaned and prepared for distribution into developing countries, in which eye care is often unaffordable and inaccessible.

The club has collection boxes at various locations in Madison and Huntsville.

Madison Area Family Lions Club always is looking for new members who want to serve the community. Club members meet monthly on second Tuesdays in the meeting room at Dublin Park, 8324 Old Madison Pike at 6 p.m.

Lions clubs are a recognized service organization that identifies needs within their community and works together to fulfill those needs. For more information, email Tony Villamil at madisonlionsclub@gmail.com or visit Facebook/ Madison Area Family Lions Club.