Eye glass clinic returns to Lyndonville on April 29

About 250 attended event last year at White Birch

Photo by Tom Rivers: Hundreds of eyeglass frames were on display for people to pick from at the pop-up eye glass clinic last year on March 19 in Lyndonville. The frames and lens were all available for free.

LYNDONVILLE — The Lyndonville Lions Club is planning its second annual eye glass clinic for Saturday, April 29, at the White Birch Golf Course.

About 250 people attended the debut event on March 19, 2022 with people receiving a vision screening, fitting for glasses and glaucoma screening.

Several optometrists and ophthalmologists will be on hand to assist with the clinic. The event is led by the Lyndonville Lions Club.

This year’s clinic will again be first come-first served with a cap at about 200 people.

That club recently purchased a iCare 200 tonometry machine with support from the Lyndonville Area Foundation. That handheld machine measures intraocular pressure.

The tonometry machine will allow for glaucoma screenings. Glaucoma is one of the most common forms of preventable blindness in the United States, the Lions Club said.

Provided photo: Russ Martino, Shelly Harling and Wes Bradley are shown with an iCare 200 tonometry machine that will be used an the upcoming eye glass clinic. The three are all members of the Lyndonville Area Foundation, with Martino and Bradley also in the Lions Club.

Those people who screen positive will be referred to specialists for further care. For those who cannot afford advanced testing, financial assistance will be available through the Lyndonville Lions Club and donated services from participating optometrists and ophthalmologists.

There was a big turnout at last year’s pop-up eyeglass clinic. About 250 people filled the site not long after doors officially opened at 10 a.m. About 100 people arrived by 9:30.

“Last year’s event was a huge success with over 200 people receiving screening services,” said Harold Suhr, Lions Club president. “This year’s event will have the donated services of several local eye specialists that will dramatically improve this year’s event.”

The Lyndonville Lions Club also will be involved in several other upcoming events. Most immediately, the club is collaborating this Saturday with the Lyndonville United Methodist Church for an Easter Egg Hunt for all Lyndonville children from preschool through Grade 6. The church will set up the hunt and supply all of the eggs, candy and prizes. The Lions Club will provide hot dogs and beverages to all participants of this event.

The Lions Club will also sell long stem roses for Mother’s Day and is working on its 49th annual July Fourth celebration.