Date: Fri 25-Sep-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Lion's-Club-vision-health

Full Text:

Lions Club's Contributions To Vision Are Easy To See

(with photos)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

Each year thousands of children and adults around the world owe their eyesight

to the volunteer work of members of local Lions Clubs.

From the poorest villages in Africa, where the Lions support eye clinics, to

seemingly affluent communities in the United States, Lions Clubs seek out and

help those who otherwise are at risk of slipping through the cracks of the

health care system.

In Newtown, where the local chapter will soon celebrate its 50th year, the

Lions held a free glaucoma screening this month at the annual Health & Safety

Fair. And each year an average of 20 children in Newtown receive free eyesight

testing and free glasses courtesy of the club.

"Most of the children are referred by the schools," said Bob Tynan, who has

been involved with the Newtown Lions vision conservation program for about

half of the 30 years he has been a member of the club.

Mr Tynan said the children are referred to Karen Hoyt, director of the town's

Human Services Department, for a confidential means test.

"It's not obtrusive," Mr Tynan said. "And I can't think of any child who has

ever been turned down."

For the past year all of the eye exams have been done by Dr Roger A. Moore, a

local optometrist who has given the Lions a significant discount on the cost

of his services.

"He's done a terrific job," Mr Tynan said. "We've been very pleased."

Each year the local club contributes to the Connecticut Lions Eye Research

Foundation which established, equipped and maintains the Yale-New Haven

Hospital Eye Research Clinic, now one of the foremost clinics of its type in

the world. The Newtown Lions also raise funds for the Low Vision Center in

Bridgeport, which was established, equipped and maintained by clubs in this

district and is one of only two in the state.

The local Lions also collect used eye glasses which are forwarded to Lions

International for use around the world.

"In some areas of Africa, the Lions exclusively provide virtually all the

eyesight services," Mr Tynan said.

The vision conservation activities are funded completely by volunteer efforts

on the part of the Lions clubs members throughout the world. The primary

objective is the research, treatment and cure of vision problems and their

causes, including diabetes, cancer and other diseases. But the organization

also dispenses millions of dollars for catastrophe relief and makes grants for

service projects around the world, such as an eye clinic in Ecuador, equipment

for cancer research in Austria, and a dormitory renovation for the blind in

Arkansas.

In Newtown, about 20 percent of the club's activities are focused on the

vision preservation projects. The club also donates many thousands of dollars

to local charitable and civic projects.

The first Lions Club was formed when several independent business clubs in

Chicago consolidated in 1917 "to better serve their fellow man and help their

community." Today Lions Club International is the largest service organization

in the world with clubs in more than 170 countries and geographic areas.

Nearly 2 million Lions are dedicated to serve their fellow man without regard

to race, religion or politics.

The Newtown Lions Club meets at the Fireside Inn on the second and fourth

Wednesdays of each month. For information about membership, call the club

president, Joseph Grasso, at 426-9633.