SightFirst - Lions Club Free Vision Screening

Festival SightFirst Screening Times are:
    Friday 5pm-7pm
    Saturday 7:30am-9:30am and 5pm-7pm
    Sunday 7:30am-9:30am

Vision screenings are designed to check eyesight, or sharpness of vision.

Sharpness of vision, or visual acuity, is recorded as a fraction, e.g., 20/20. This means that a person can read a line of type standing 20 feet (or six meters) from an eye chart.

Vision screenings are done to separate those with and without possible vision problems. Screening results may indicate a potential need for further assessment. A vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor.

Lions Clubs Can Help

Highland Village Lions club in cooperation with Lewisville Lions Club and Flower Mound Lions Club is conducting a free vision screening clinic for children and adults.

Children should have their vision tested at age three. Indicators of vision problems in children may include:

•  Attempts to brush away blurred vision
•  Blinking more than usual
•  Rubbing eyes frequently
•  Squinting when focusing on distant objects
•  Frowning excessively or tilting of the head from one side
•  Stumbling over small objects
•  Sensitivity to light
•  Red, swollen, or encrusted eyelids
•  Recurring sties in the eyes
•  Inflamed or watery eyes

 Helen Keller was the person that gave the Lions their focus on Sight. This was her request to the Lions Clubs organization:

1925 International Convention
Cedar Point, Ohio, USA
June 30, 1925

Dear Lions and Ladies:

I suppose you have heard the legend that represents opportunity as a capricious lady, who knocks at every door but once, and if the door isn't opened quickly, she passes on, never to return. And that is as it should be. Lovely, desirable ladies won't wait. You have to go out and grab 'em.

I am your opportunity. I am knocking at your door. I want to be adopted. The legend doesn't say what you are to do when several beautiful opportunities present themselves at the same door. I guess you have to choose the one you love best. I hope you will adopt me. I am the youngest here, and what I offer you is full of splendid opportunities for service.

The American Foundation for the Blind is only four years old. It grew out of the imperative needs of the blind, and was called into existence by the sightless themselves. It is national and international in scope and in importance. It represents the best and most enlightened thought on our subject that has been reached so far. Its object is to make the lives of the blind more worthwhile everywhere by increasing their economic value and giving them the joy of normal activity.

Try to imagine how you would feel if you were suddenly stricken blind today. Picture yourself stumbling and groping at noonday as in the night; your work, your independence, gone. In that dark world wouldn't you be glad if a friend took you by the hand and said, "Come with me and I will teach you how to do some of the things you used to do when you could see?" That is just the kind of friend the American Foundation is going to be to all the blind in this country if seeing people will give it the support it must have.

You have heard how through a little word dropped from the fingers of another, a ray of light from another soul touched the darkness of my mind and I found myself, found the world, found God. It is because my teacher learned about me and broke through the dark, silent imprisonment which held me that I am able to work for myself and for others. It is the caring we want more than money. The gift without the sympathy and interest of the giver is empty. If you care, if we can make the people of this great country care, the blind will indeed triumph over blindness.

The opportunity I bring to you, Lions, is this: To foster and sponsor the work of the American Foundation for the Blind. Will you not help me hasten the day when there shall be no preventable blindness; no little deaf, blind child untaught; no blind man or woman unaided? I appeal to you Lions, you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind. Will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness?

I thank you.

Helen Keller