President’s Service Blog: Improving Lives Through Vision Screenings, Turkey

This month is a very special time for Lions around the world. In October, our clubs organize vision-related projects as part of our Sharing the Vision Global Service Action Campaign. It’s also an important time for Lions and the Lions Clubs International Foundation as we mark World Sight Day, which focuses attention on eye care and improving vision.

Last week, I traveled to Turkey to help celebrate the 15th annual Lions World Sight Day. I visited a remarkable Lions club eye hospital in Bayrampasa that routinely screens more than 250 people daily. LCIF awarded Turkey a SightFirst grant to purchase of diabetic retinopathy treatment equipment, and Linda and I were fortunate enough to see this technology in action. When we visited, more than 200 people were screened for diabetic retinopathy in two hours, all at no cost to the patients.

It’s rewarding to see our donations in action for such a worthy cause. With a simple screening, problems can be identified and changes can be made that dramatically improve the lives of the people of Turkey. Working together, our members have improved the vision and quality of life of people all over this planet. In a World of Service, people with vision challenges receive the care they need.