MOREE Lions Club will this year conduct school eye-testing through the Lions Eye Health Program, and offer free vision screenings to children to identify potential problems.
The screenings are carried out by trained volunteers who test for visual acuity, colour vision, and depth perception using tools such as a Spot Vision Screener.
Moree Lion Beth Hearn said if problems are detected, parents are notified and advised to consult an optometrist for further evaluation.
“We’ve been asked to take on eye-testing for children upwards of Year 1, and even elderly people who haven’t been to an optometrist for a long time,” Beth said.
“We are being trained to do the four facets of eye-testing and are looking for local volunteers who may be able to help.
“People don’t have to be Lions Club members, but they do need to do the training if they’d like to volunteer and help us out,” she said.
Recent studies show that around one in five children have undetected vision problems.
Lions Australia says most children accept vision problems and adapt to their poor vision.
“They rarely complain as they believe everyone sees the world just like they do and don’t know that they could be seeing things clearer.
“All children should have a full eye examination before starting school and then regularly as they progress through primary and secondary years of their education.”
Lions Eye Health Program chair, Bryan Hearn, said over the past few years the program has expanded beyond the organisation’s wildest expectations.
In 2024, a national screening target of 12,000 was set.
“Due to the hard work and commitment of all involved, we were able to screen almost 15,000 children. I cannot begin to express how proud I am of this outcome,” Mr Hearn said.
Beth said program screenings help identify children who may require more comprehensive testing by an optometrist.
“We’ll have a full program of testing days at local schools and other locations, and each school’s principal will organise days and schedules,” she said.
