Healthy Vision Screenings

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the U.S. In fact, 46,000 Missouri residents are afflicted with glaucoma, yet only half are aware of it. Even scarier, glaucoma progresses so slowly, many victims don't notice until a significant amount of eyesight is stolen.

To fight the progression of this eye disease, the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation's Healthy Vision Screening Program offers free vision screenings state-wide. Since we began the program, more than 30,000 Missourians have been tested for glaucoma. In 2011, we added Age-Related Macular Degeneration Screening to our program to serve even more individuals.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is caused when fluid within the eye doesn't drain properly, resulting in increased eye pressure. Over time the pressure builds to the point of causing damage to the optic nerve.  Once the optic nerve is damaged, vision loss begins to occur. 

If left undetected, the pressure continues to build causing its sufferers to slowly lose their peripheral (side) vision until they are completely blind. The disease is often referred to as the “sneak thief of sight” because it's painless in most cases, and vision loss is so gradual people don't realized they're losing their sight until the later stages of the disease. Once vision has been lost to glaucoma, it cannot be regained.  

Who Is at Risk of Glaucoma?

Although anyone can be the victim of glaucoma, there are several factors that can put an individual at higher risk:

• Anyone over the age of 60
• Individuals with diabetes
• Individuals with a family history of glaucoma
• African Americans over the age 40 

How Do the Foundation's Free Healthy Vision Screenings Help?

Our Healthy Vision Screening Program offers free visions screenings at senior centers, health fairs and community events throughout Missouri. Screening for glaucoma takes just seconds and is pain-free. Using a tonometer, Foundation technicians emit a puff of air into an individual's eyes to test his or her eye pressure. If a higher than normal eye pressure reading is shown, the individual is urged to visit an eye care provider for a more comprehensive exam. Since the inception of our free glaucoma screening program, 7% of those tested have been found to have high intraocular pressure due to glaucoma.

Screenings are free to those being tested, however the club or organization sponsoring the screening is asked for a $100 donation to help cover the Foundation’s expenses for equipment maintenance, staff and travel.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration Screening

In 2011, the Foundation extended our free glaucoma program to include free screenings for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD, which affects 14-24% of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74, is a progressive disease that attacks the macula of the eye and steals sight from an individual's center of vision.

Our AMD screenings use the standard Amsler Grid test. During a screening, an individual covers up one eye to look at a small black dot in the center of the grid. If the lines of the grid appear to be wavy or missing, the Foundation encourages the individual to schedule an appointment with his or her eye doctor as soon as possible.

AMD screenings are included at no cost with every glaucoma screening.

Organize a Free Vision Screening

If your club, event or business would like to schedule a free glaucoma and AMD screening in your area please call us at 800-753-2265 or submit a request. To view our screening calendar click here.