Brighter Visions
Every year the Southport Lions Board of Directors budgets a fixed amount of funds to be used for assisting those in need in our Community who have vision problems. Those in need include: seniors undergoing much-needed cataract surgery and individuals suffering from the effects of diabetes. The Brighter Visions program involves the support of local optometrists and opticians, willing to reduce their normal rates to provide assistance — along with the statewide North Carolina Lions Foundation. Here’s how the process operates:
- Click on the “Apply” button below to be directed to the Vision Assistance Eligibility Form.
- Once completed, your form submission will then be thoroughly evaluated by members of our Vision Assistance Committee — considering your need for help and the availability of funds. During this process you may be contacted for more information by one of our committee members.
- Once a decision has been made by the committee, you will be notified. If your request is denied, you will be given a reason.
- Approved applicants will be sent to one of our participating optometrists for an eye examination. Any prescriptions written for vision correction must be taken to one of our participating opticians. If you choose to fill the script with another optician, assistance from the Southport Lions Club to obtain your glasses may not be available.
Recycle For Sight
Why Recycle Glasses?
An estimated 120 million people* are visually impaired because of uncorrected refractive errors (URE). Almost all cases can be corrected and normal vision can be restored with eyeglasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery. The lack of eyeglasses denies children and adults opportunities for education, employment and a better quality of life.What Types of Glasses are Accepted?
We can only accept reading glasses and sunglasses (with or without a prescription). At the present time, we cannot accept prescription glasses for distance.The Journey of Recycled Glasses
- Lions collect used eyeglasses at various community locations. (see map below)
- The glasses are shipped to the nearest Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center where trained volunteers sort, clean and determine the prescription strengths of the glasses.
- Volunteers at the recycling center carefully package the prepared glasses and store them until they are required for eyeglass-dispensing missions. Glasses that are not suitable for reuse are recycled for scrap, with the earnings benefitting local Lions projects.
- At the mission site, eye care professionals and trained Lion volunteers perform vision screenings and dispense the appropriate recycled glasses, free of charge, to children and adults in need.
Eyeglasses Recycling Drop-off Locations
Sight-First Screenings
The SightFirst program enables Lions and local health care providers to fight the major causes of preventable and reversible blindness. We strive to increase awareness of the importance of eye health by providing free, accessible visual screenings — using the most up-to-date technologies, devices, and procedures. One landmark tool of this program — the Spot Vision Screener — incorporates a handheld, portable, ocular screening device designed to help quickly and easily detect vision issues on patients as young as six months. We strive to make free vision screenings available year-round in locations throughout the community. From festivals and events downtown, to schools and medical clinics throughout the county. Children and adults will have the opportunity to have their eyes checked to see the level of vision they are able to achieve. This of course, does not constitute a full eye exam, but it is a wonderful tool in recognizing individuals who may be in need of further attention. The program is having a significant impact on eliminating and controlling the leading causes of preventable blindness.