Westport Lion Jim McGlade (left) gives Athens’ President Tim Sargent a Westport Lion pin at Jim’s recent visit to the Athens club to explain vision screening.
Westport Lions Roar
By Lion Bob Reddick
Lions Clubs are known for their spirit of sharing and helping others, whether it’s on a global, national, or local level. One of the creeds of Lionism is simple yet powerful: “If there is a need, there is a Lion.” This means that wherever there is a community in need, Lions Clubs are always ready to step in and provide assistance. At the local level, Lions often work together to improve their service to the community.
In the spirit of cooperation, Westport Lion Jim McGlade recently travelled to Athens to explain to 30 Lions the contents of the vision kit and how it works.
Vision screening is not a new activity for the Athens Lions Club. However, due to COVID, the club has not conducted any vision screening since 2018.
The Westport Lions Club conducts vision screening programs in two local elementary schools. However, the Athens club has come up with a different approach. They are offering a free skate along with complementary vision screening at the arena. This event is scheduled for March 12 at the Athens Community Centre from noon to 3:30 p.m. and is open to all.
The aim of this service is to identify potential vision issues in children that might go unnoticed by them or their parents. A group of Lions will examine a student’s vision, possible colour blindness, and depth perception. If they suspect a vision problem, the parents will be advised to seek professional assistance.
One of the main problems that Lions face is a condition called a lazy eye, which can be corrected with glasses if it is detected at an early age. The earlier the diagnosis, the more successful the treatment is likely to be. Amblyopia, commonly known as a lazy eye, is a condition in which reduced vision occurs in one eye due to abnormal visual development in early life. The weaker eye often wanders inward or outward, and it usually develops from birth up to the age of seven. Amblyopia is the leading cause of decreased vision among children.
Colour blindness is another problem the Lions can diagnose. It can impact various career choices in the child’s future.
In addition to vision screening, the Westport and Athens Lions Clubs participate in sponsoring guide dogs and collecting eyeglasses.
Westport Lions Club 