Westport Lions Club

Westport Lion Jim McGlade has joined the Vision Care Team, his hands are full this day.

Granddaughter ensuring Grandpa gets his eyes tested, and he needed eyeglasses.

Westport Lions Roar

By Lion Bob Reddick

Helen Keller challenged Lions at the 1925 International Convention held in Cedar Point, Ohio, to be “Knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness”. Since then, Lions all over the world have been working to eradicate eye disease and improve people’s vision.  There is no better example of dedication to this worthy cause than Lion Robert Sentner from the Kemptville Lions Club.  

On Wednesday, November 22, Robert visited the Westport Lions’ den to receive a donation from the Westport Lions towards the purchase of a new Handheld Vision Screener that will be used on future Vision Care Projects in Guyana, South America.

Lion Sentner and his team will make their 10th trip to Moruca, a small rural community in Guyana. Robert’s first trip was in 2010 under the leadership of former Lion Paul Mahabir who was originally from Guyana. Past Lion Dr. Michael St. James of Barry’s Bay initially started this project before Mahabir turned to the Kemptville Lions Club to help him deliver this care.

Although Guyana is a former British colony, and everyone speaks English, the team at first had trouble communicating because of a different dialect.  For example, when the team first asked the Guyanese to open their eyes they didn’t understand.  What the team should have said was, “Skin your eyes.”  

Each team member takes one personal bag and one case containing the equipment needed to conduct vision exams and determine prescriptions on-site. The 3,000 pairs of donated glasses are sent by ship to save on transportation costs.

Before the glasses are shipped, four members of Kemptville Lions Club clean, sort by prescription, and pack the glasses. About 400 pairs of non-prescription sunglasses are also packed.

Between trips, donated glasses are stored in a recycling center in the basement of a church. All donations are welcome, Sentner emphasizes, but some may be rejected if frames or lenses are damaged beyond repair.

The Vision Care team comprises of optometrists, opticians and volunteers from across Canada. Together, they run a 5–6-day field clinic for residents of poor areas who otherwise could not afford eyeglasses. Some of these villages are so remote that it might take some patients two days to reach the clinic by dugout canoe.

The 8–10-member team will test and assess patients of all ages to match each with appropriate eyewear. If the team does not have a good match, then glasses are custom-made back in Canada and shipped to the host Lions Club in Guyana. Patients diagnosed with cataracts or glaucoma are referred to the Guyana Ministry of Health for further care. All services and glasses are free of charge for all patients.

All team members not only volunteer their time but cover their airfare and out-of-pocket expenses of about $1500.00. It is interesting to note that the Westport Lions once passed a motion to pay for Lion Jim McGlade’s flight to Guyana, but only for one way. I will let you guess which way.

“It’s an emotional experience.” says Robert, “You receive more heartfelt thanks in one week than you would in a lifetime back here.”

Since 1998 the Kemptville International Vision Care Project has conducted 37,858 eye exams and given out 29,915 glasses. 

All types of eyeglasses can be dropped off at the Westport Village Pharmacy, The Rideau Medical Centre in Newboro, the Community Health Centre in Westport or to any Lion member.