Photo - Lions Club Eye Health Training Day Provided by Lions Club
The Maclean Lions Club has proudly launched the Lions Eye Health Program (LEHP) in the Lower Clarence Valley this week, marking a major milestone in community health care. After a year of dedicated preparation, the program kicked off with vision screenings at three local primary schools: Maclean Public School, Gulmarrad Public School, and Palmers Island Public School.
Over the course of the week, 161 children were screened by a team of local volunteers. Of those, 36 students were referred for further assessment with an optometrist some with urgent vision issues that may have otherwise gone undetected.
The screening process involves a thorough set of tests including:
- Standard eye chart (visual acuity)
- Colour vision test
- Depth perception test
- A specialised camera that photographs the eye and helps detect up to five additional eye health concerns
Thanks to rigorous training, Maclean now has 10 fully qualified volunteer screeners, making this program a sustainable community initiative. However, the team is currently borrowing equipment and is working toward acquiring its own set to continue the program independently.
“This has been a passion project for our club,” said a Lions representative. “It’s taken 12 months to get to this point.”
The Lions Eye Health Program, run nationally by Lions Clubs Australia, is focused on early detection and raising awareness of preventable vision loss and eye disease. More details about the program, its benefits, and how to get involved can be found at www.lehp.org.au.
The Maclean Lions Club encourages community members and businesses to support this vital local initiative as they work toward purchasing equipment and expanding screenings across more schools in the region.