Foundation Offers Vision Screenings at St. Louis Science Center in June

Amblyopia screenings help to save
sight this summer!

School might almost be out for the summer, but the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation plans to educate St. Louis-area parents about children’s visual health during our annual amblyopia screening event at the St. Louis Science Center in June. The screenings will take place on June 1 - 4 from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily. The Foundation’s screening area and informational table will be set up downstairs on the Main Exhibit Floor near the dinosaur display in Room C.

Amblyopia screenings will be administered to children from 6 months to 5 years of age by our Lion Zone Area Project Managers (ZAPMs) and Foundation staff. The quick and simple screenings are conducted using a special photo-refractive camera that takes a Polaroid picture of the child’s eyes. The pictures are later viewed by volunteer pediatric ophthalmologists who examine the flash pattern in the child’s eyes to determine if a vision condition might exist. Parents are notified within a month’s time of their child’s screening results. Children who show symptoms of amblyopia or other vision conditions are urged to visit an eye care specialist of their choice for further diagnosis and treatment.

Approximately 4% of Missouri’s children suffer from amblyopia, or “lazy eye.” If left untreated, this serious condition can eventually lead to compromised vision or even complete loss of sight in the weak or “amblyopic” eye. The Foundation hopes to identify children at risk of vision loss during our upcoming screenings, while educating parents about amblyopia and the importance of caring for their child’s visual health.

If you or your Lions Club is interested in attending the event or volunteering, please contact our Amblyopia Program Coordinator, Tina Twenter, at 573-443-1471 ext. 241 or ttwenter@mlerf.org. Lions in the St. Louis area can also help by downloading the following promotional items and distributing them locally.

Downloads Available
Promotional Flyer PDF (980 KB)
Amblyopia Fact Sheet PDF (172 KB)

Lions Learn About MLERF at Lions State Convention
The Foundation would like to give a big ‘thank you’ to all of the Lions who stopped by our display at the Lions State Convention in Springfield on May 5 & 6. We hope that you were able to learn more about our sight-saving programs and how we are helping those in your community.

Upcoming Events
June 1-4
Amblyopia screenings at the St. Louis Science Center from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., daily. For more information, see article to the left.

June 3-4
Board of Directors meeting and Educational Forum Weekend for incoming Vice District Governors and MLERF Board members. All Lions are welcome to attend the 9 a.m. Board meeting at the Foundation's library. For more information, please contact Annie Kuhl 314-428-4373 x107.

June 10-11
Quartermax Who Tri's Harder Weekend at Innsbrook Resort (40 min. west of St. Louis). For more information or to volunteer visit www.ultramaxtri.com.

Looking for more detailed information on our upcoming amblyopia and glaucoma screenings? Visit our screening calendar online.

Triathletes Race For Sight in Columbia
On Sunday, May 7 over 650 triathletes competed in MLERF's 8th annual Race For Sight Triathlon. This year, the event began at the University of Missouri's new award-winning Recreation Center. Racers raved about the new location and enjoyed a run course through campus and downtown Columbia. The event was MLERF's biggest and best ever- both for the racers and the children who will be screened with the proceeds.

Volunteers Needed for June Quartermax Triathlon
The Foundation is still looking for Lion volunteers for its June 10 & 11 Quartermax Who Tri’s Harder Weekend event. The race will be held at Innsbrook Resort, just west of St. Louis. This year, women will race on Saturday, June 10, while the men will get their shot at the course on Sunday, June 11. We have also incorporated a new shorter distance triathlon, the Octomax, on both days of the races.

Currently, we need Lion volunteers to help at aid stations during shifts on Saturday or Sunday, and also to stuff racer bags on Thursday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. If you are interested in volunteering during any part of the weekend for the upcoming Quartermax race, the July 8 USAT Age Group Nationals in Smithville, MO (Kansas City), or the September 16 USA Triathlon Halfmax Championship at Innsbrook, please either fill out a volunteer application online at http://ultramaxtri.com/volunteer.php or contact Shandra Chapman at shandra@ultramaxtri.com.