Glaucoma Awareness Month
The
Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation is participating in Glaucoma
Awareness Month by holding screenings in the Joplin, Springfield
and Columbia area, as well as using media outlets to educate the
public about this silent but devastating condition.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness in America. Glaucoma
is referred to as, “the sneak thief of sight” because over 50%
of the individuals inflicted with the disease are unaware that their vision
is being robbed. Glaucoma is painless (in most cases) and advances at such
a slow rate, that many people do not notice their vision loss until the later
stages of progression. Although there is no cure for glaucoma, progression
can be halted in most cases with regular use of eye drops, laser treatment
or surgery.
Although it is estimated that over 2 million Americans are affected by glaucoma,
awareness and knowledge of the disease is low. According to a Prevent Blindness
American survey, 30% of respondents had never heard of the blinding disorder
and 20% of those surveyed thought glaucoma was easily curable.
If your club would like more information about the Foundation’s Screening
program, please contact program coordinator, Tina
Twenter.
In
2005, Heartland Lions Eye Banks will join the Eye Bank Association
of America, as well as eye banks across the country in celebrating
the centennial anniversary of the first corneal transplant.
This momentous medical milestone was performed by Dr. Eduard Zirm in 1905, in
what is now known as the Czech Republic. The first cornea transplant recipient,
Alois Glogar, had experienced burns in both of his eyes leaving him blind. Dr.
Zirm used human corneal tissue to provide Glogar with renewed vision. Complications
resulted in one of Glogar's eyes, but the other resulted in the first cornea
transplant.
To learn more about the centennial celebration of the first cornea transplant,
please visit the Eye Bank Association of America's web
site.
Test
your Eye-Q
By simply
clicking on the image below, you can find out how much you really
know about eye donation.
Congratulations! 
The
Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation is proud to congratulate Lion
Becky Henderson on being name Humanitarian of the
Year by both the Missouri Head Start Association and the Region VII
Head Start Association, which serves the Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and
Nebraska area. She is being honored for her dedicated service to the
Amblyopia prevention program.
Becky has been one of the Foundation’s most active ZAPM’s
since 1999. In 2004, she earned the title of Most Active Amblyopia
Screening Volunteer because of her devotion to the program. Thanks
to Becky and several other District 26 A-2 Lions volunteers, 3,616
St. Louis preschoolers were screened between 2003 and 2004.
Becky has also been nominated for the prestigious Humanitarian of the
Year Award for the National Head Start Association.