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Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation Expands Pediatric Vision Screening Program to Meet Community Needs

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WELCH ALLYN SPOT Vision Screener Identifies Vision-Threatening Disorders in Children Across Kentucky

The Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation started its vision screening program in 2004 with a 40-pound vision screener that used Polaroid film. The instant photos of the child’s eyes were attached to a form and sent to an ophthalmologist for review so a screening result could later be provided to the child’s parent or guardian.

In 2008, the Foundation purchased its first Spot Vision Screener. Volunteers who participated in the program were skeptical at first and resistant to transitioning to a device that was more technical to use. But the Lions were sold when they saw the Spot Vision Screener in action and were able to use it themselves. “Within five minutes, they knew it was a good solution,” says Karen Hayse, KidSight State Coordinator, Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation. “The camera is easy to use — even if you are not very savvy with technology. Plus, the Spot Vision Screener is a lightweight and portable solution, which helped streamline our overall workflow as results are available on-screen and in an output report right after the screening is completed.”

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“Our organization is grateful for the opportunity to help identify vision disorders in our communities for populations that have limited access to this type of preventive screening.”

— Karen Hayse, KidSight State Coordinator, Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation

Complete the form to connect with a representative to learn more about the SPOT Vision Screener.

   

Screening Program Grows with SPOT Vision Screener

The Foundation started with ten teams and Spot Vision Screeners that were used across the state to conduct screenings on children ages six months to six years old in schools and daycares. Once they transitioned to the Spot Vision Screener, the program snowballed with more and more interest from districts that wanted to run their own vision screening programs and purchase their own devices.

A key milestone was a contract with Head Start programs across the state. The Foundation applied for a grant from Lions Club International to purchase 25 cameras and printers so screenings could be conducted across the state for all Head Start participants.

Making Visible Impacts in the Community

Today, the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation owns 49 Spot Vision Screeners, of which the Head Start program uses 25. The Lions of Kentucky screened 14,054 children in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, and 13% of those children were referred to an eyecare specialist for follow-up care. “Our organization is grateful for the opportunity to provide screenings and help identify vision disorders in our communities for populations that have limited access to this type of preventive screening,” says Hayse.

Adapting the Program to Meet the Community Where They’re At

A unique aspect of the Kentucky Lions Foundation’s program is how the Spot Vision Screener helps them manage screenings with underserved patient populations that have limited access to healthcare. “Many of these individuals can’t take the time to go to an eye doctor,” says Hayse. “By offering screenings in community locations, this population can get vision screenings done when it’s convenient for their schedule.”

Another benefit of the Spot Vision Screener is that screenings can still easily be completed on children when there is a language barrier. Since minimal cooperation is needed from the child, the Lions can still complete the vision screening — even if English is not their first language. To make it easier for volunteers to communicate with the children and families being screened, the Foundation translated its intake forms and modified the language on the Spot Vision Screener to Spanish, thereby decreasing the language barrier among the participants. “That was huge for us,” says Hayse. “We leveraged the basic capabilities of the Spot Vision Screener and took our whole program a step further. Not only are we creating access to vision screenings when and where it’s convenient for our community, but we are connecting with them in a way that they can easily understand.”

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“Vision screening programs are an easy and rewarding way to give back to the community.”

— Karen Hayse, KidSight State Coordinator, Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation

Hayse has met and spoken with Lions Clubs not only in her home state of Kentucky but also with her colleagues in neighboring states about the benefits of vision screening programs using the Spot Vision Screener. “In my experience, it does not take a lot of volunteers to run a screening event when using the Spot Vision Screener. The Lions have access to matching grants through Lions Club International to purchase the screeners and printers, and knowing that we are helping to preserve vision in our communities is a motivator.”

Baxter, Hillrom, Spot and Welch Allyn are trademarks of Baxter International Inc. or its subsidiaries.
US-FLC158-250057 (v1.0) 07/2025