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The heart of a California Lions Friends in Sight (CLFIS) vision screening is anchored in our ophthalmologist, optometrist and optician volunteers. The importance of your presence and contribution cannot be calculated. You, together with an experienced CLFIS team, surrounded by enthusiastic and caring volunteers, makes the service we preform truly rewarding. To learn more, scroll down this page or click on a topic in the Eye Care Professionals drop-down menu. To volunteer or get answers to any questions you may have, go to our events calendar and select the screening that interests you, then click on “Volunteer” to send us an email.
As an optometrist and Lions Club member, it has been an honor to volunteer my services to this program. When you hear the histories of the patients you realize the great need that is out there. It makes me feel blessed to be part of a team helping to make a difference in someone’s life. The volunteers from California Lions Friends in Sight make you feel instantly welcome, and the camaraderie is wonderful.
Alan Winkelstein, OD
I remember my first trip to Tecate, Mexico. I saw 3-year-olds to 94-year-olds. I was told how beautiful I was, probably because it was the first time the person in front of me could see! When you first put on a pair of glasses on a 3 year old child, and the child smiles so big, and then she runs up to her mother and cries out “Mama!” with a big grin and giggle, your heart skips a beat, tears come to your eyes, and your hooked!
Kathy Jensen-Robinson, Optician
It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve with the Lions Club and the CLFIS. The patients are usually low income and really need the attention and care the Lions give them. They get free eye screenings and glasses which they would’ve normally have to pay $200 to $300 for. The organization, dispensing, and equipment is top notch. I plan on always making myself available and when my kids are old enough, they will volunteer with me. I believe it’s important to give back to society. Lions is doing an impeccable job.
Anna Bedrossian, OD
Working with California Lions Friends in Sight has been a rewarding experience for me. It makes me feel like I am making a difference in peoples’ lives. Nimesh Pathak, MD
It was an honor to serve with you. I have never seen a smoother run operation in my 40 years of charity trips abroad.
Michael Lieppman, MD
I had the distinct pleasure of working with California Lions Friends in Sight for a day long vision and eye health screening. I found the entire crew to be hard working and enthusiastic. The volunteers were dedicated in their endeavor to help others and provide a much needed service to our community. Jon M Henley, OD
“I am happy to volunteer for the California Lions Friends in Sight vision screenings. Through this program individuals in our communities can obtain free eye exams and glasses. The program provides high quality vision care to families that are struggling financially”.
Amile O. Silva, MD
“Many patients at our Tustin event expressed an extreme “Thank You” to the Lions. Several said God Bless You All for this eye check-up that we could not afford. This event was a complete success to the benefit of people in need!”
Dennis Tortora, OC Central Lions Club
“As a Lion, serving the community with vision screenings year after year brings joy to my heart, especially seeing the bright smiles when people receive eyeglasses for the first time and can see a clearer world.
Cesar Vargas, President, Santa Ana Host Lions Club
Our volunteer doctors will screen between 200 and 400 patients at one-day events. Patients will flow to the doctors with their vision screening exam sheet and auto-refractor/auto-tonometer test results. Those diagnosed with a medical/surgical need are provided with a Referral/Consultation form and advised to seek further care. With few exceptions, all patients move on to the next stations to be provided with free recycled eyeglasses that closely match their screening refraction. To insure a positive outcome, each patient’s eyeglasses are then double-checked, adjusted and cleaned by trained opticians before sending them off to experience the benefits of better vision.
EYE EXAMINATION EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE AT SCREENING
- Canon Auto-Refractors/Keratometers (4-5)
- Canon Auto Tonometers (3)
- Marco Slit Lamp/ Goldman Tonometers (1-3)
- Marco Manual Lensometer
- Essilor Auto Lensometer
DISPENSING EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE AT SCREENING
- Air Framers Warmers (2)
- Pupillometer
- Dispensing tools for 5 stations
- Assorted frame repair parts
- Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscope
- Various fundus/gonio lenses
- Dilation/diagnostic drops/solutions
- Mydriatic specs
- Trial Lens Sets with trial frames (2)
DOCTORS
Diagnostic instruments are provided. Doctors may choose to bring their own hand instruments & BIO
- Handheld Retinoscope/Direct Ophthalmoscope (Optional)
- Rechargeable Stand (if possible)
- Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscope (Optional)
OPTICIANS
- Travel set of dispensing hand tools (Optional)
Printed copies of the following will be provided at the screening, and may also be downloaded by clicking on the following links:
To volunteer or get answers to any questions you may have, go to our events calendar and select the screening that interests you, then click on “Volunteer” to send us an email.
The following Patient Flow Chart is a visual representation of the layout at a typical vision screening. Most events are held in community centers, churches, or school gymnasiums/classrooms. In all settings, the patient care stations shown below are strictly followed.
As a general rule, when a patient’s complaints do not match the auto-refractor results, the doctor detects some vision-threatening pathology, or he/she cannot see inside the eye, the patient is directed to the medical needs station. At the medical needs station, various testing and more detailed histories are obtained. Testing at this station can include slit lamp examination, gonioscopy, angle assessment for dilation, dilation of the patient, contact fundus examination, wet retinoscopy, cycloplegic retinoscopy, Goldman tonometry, binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy, etc. Trained volunteers are on hand to put drops on the patient’s eyes as directed by the doctor. When the findings conclude that a medical and/or surgical need requires further assessment/treatment outside the scope of the screening, provisions are in place for the doctor to provide the patient with a consultation/referral form and advice on how to proceed.
The CLFIS recycled eyeglass inventory is built from prescription eyeglasses donated to Lions Clubs and collected from doctors’ offices and businesses throughout Southern California. Lions Clubs participate in placing donation boxes, collecting, sorting, sanitizing and verifying. Eyeglasses are categorized by men’s single vision, men’s multifocal, women’s single vision, women’s multifocal, children’s (boys and girls) and readers.
An inventory management computer program has been developed to bar code with data points over 18,000 pairs of eyeglasses for selection at each screening. In addition, an inventory of approximately 400 readers is available when needed. The doctor’s verified screening refraction is searched in the computer to identify and locate the best match.
More information is available in the CLFIS Procedural Training Manual – Eyeglass Prescription Matching section.
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Sorting
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Sanitizing
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Verifying
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Cataloging
- Pathology Reports – Eye diseases found by individual screening. 2018-19 Report – 2017-18 Report
- Screening Synopsis Report – Numbers seen, volunteers, etc. by screening 2018-19 Report – 2017-18 Report
Senate Bill 724 limits the liability of a nonprofit organization or volunteer
Click here to view Senate Bill 724
“There’s a significant need in California to provide vision screenings for those who cannot afford or have very limited access to eye care,” Senator Emmerson said. “Nonprofit organizations throughout California have stepped up to address this need, but volunteers are wary of offering their services in fear of law suits. This measure addresses this concern and increases access to care by enabling volunteers to help others.”
– Bill Emmerson I State Senator I California’s 23rd District