‘We screened more than 300 students last year and will do much the same this fall’- Fred Watts, Lions member

Lions Club members Fred Watts (left) and Virgie Sulfridge as Ama Sova readies to look into the instrument for her test.

CARYVILLE, TN (WLAF)- Screening youngsters through KidSight for vision problems is a Lions Club mission that is near to Fred Watts heart “and” eyes. As a child, Watts suffered from vision loss.

“I went blind for a while as a five year old boy after Measles got into my eyes,” said Watts. “My grandmother stirred up a potion and applied it to my eyes for months. During my struggle to see, I even had to wear sunglasses, because our coal oil lamps were so bright,” said Watts.

Lions left to right are Martha Wells, Janice Craig, Fred Watts, Dave Watson and Virgie Sulfridge with Cynda Hodges at the table.

Matthew, a Pre-K student in Susan Wilson’s class, was just tested.

Watts is in his 10 year of helping with the KidSight program. “We do this once a year, in the fall, at all the public schools in Campbell and Claiborne Counties as well as some day cares and private schools,” said Watts.

“We screen for seven childhood diseases of mostly four and five year old students. By catching a problem at that young of an age means it can be corrected most all the time,” said Lion Dave Watson.

This is an easy to read book available online.

The Lions Club members will likely conduct more than 300 eye exams this school year. “We were doing more than 900 a fall before Covid,” said Watson.

Four-year old Elaina is ready to test after her photo is snapped.

The test results are a simple pass, fail. Those children who receive a failing score have their test results sent to the state. From there, the process to treatment begins.

For more information, click HERE. A consent form is found HERE.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 10/03/2024-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’ S CHARLIE HUTSON)

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