Smyrna Tennessee Lions Club

Serving Smyrna Since 1949
Middle Tennessee District 12-S

It is estimated that 3% of Tennessee's 1.2 million children have some type of eye problem other than need for glasses.

The Tennessee Lions Eye Center, with tremendous volunteerism of Lions Club members across the state of Tennessee operates an Outreach Program that provides free vision screening to help identify young children with visual problems.

What is "photoscreening"?

Lions Club volunteers have been trained by Vanderbilt to operate a special hand held camera called an MTI Photoscreener™. This camera can help detect eye problems in children ages 6 to 48 months who are too young to communicate possible vision problems. This "test" is completely non-invasive, we are literally just taking a Polaroid™ picture of your child's eyes.

What kind of vision problems?

Problems that cause lazy eye, such as misaligned eyes, refractive errors and congenital cataracts. These problems are normally not evident just by looking at a child.

Why screen my child now?

These vision disorders are more easily treated in a young child.

How much does this screening cost?

Thanks to the support and volunteerism of the Tennessee Lions, the screening is free!

What happens if a possible problem is detected in my child's vision?

The results of your child's screening are evaluated at Vanderbilt Medical Center. You will receive results within 2 weeks of the screening. If a problem is detected your child will be referred to an ophthalmologist or optometrist in your own community.

Most exams should be covered by individual heath insurance or Tenn Care, however plans vary and you may need to contact your child's primary care doctor.

If your Day Care, Mothers Day out programs, Head Starts or Sunday Schools are interested in having your children screened please send an e-mail to lions@smyrnalionsclub.org and one of our members will contact you.

The Tennessee Lions Eye Center at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital offers comprehensive eye care for children from birth through 18 years. For more information, please call (615)936-2726