by Jim & Phyllis Wilkins
Preparing for cataract surgery myself, we thought it would be interesting to check Lions Clubs involvement with cataract. We found that “Cataracts is the worlds leading cause of vision impairment. Cataracts is a problem which occurs when a clouding of the lens of the eye impedes the passage of light. “Most cases of cataract are age-related and develop due to a variety of reasons, including long -term exposure to ultraviolet light or radiation, diseases such as diabetes or hypertension, or eye injury. Cataracts typically progress slowly to cause vision loss and potentially blinding if untreated. Although most cases of cataract occur among the elderly, children can also be born with the condition or a cataract may develop at any point in life from eye diseases or injury.”
“There is currently no way to prevent cataract, but surgical treatment involves removing the affected lens and replacing it with an interocular lens. — Since its inception in 1990, LICF’s SightFirst Program has played a key role in reducing blindness, especially blindness due to cataract. To date the SightFirst Program has awarded $71.6 million for 526 cataract related projects.” If you would like additional information regarding Lions Clubs and cataracts please go to www.licf.org/EN/our-programs to check SightFirst’s work.
Our first regular meeting of 2015 will be Thursday, February 12 with dinner being served at 5:30 p.m. followed by announcements and our guest speaker, Matt Cleveland, Chief Development Officer for Arkansas Sheriffs Youth Ranch, at 6 p.m. For dinner reservations please contact Lion Jean Hooper @ 884-3202 by the Monday prior to the meeting date.
Meetings are the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month and BINGO will resume on Tuesday, March 3 with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and the first game at 6 p.m. Please remember the Pancake Supper to support Boy Scout Troop 401 on Saturday evening, February 7 from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Lions Den on Dave Creek Parkway.