Transforming Vision Care for Children in Atlanta Public Schools
Tele-optometry Committed Partners Bring Transformative Vision Care to Rural Georgia
By the Numbers
Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, Inc. is grateful for the partnership between Kia, Atlanta Public Schools, Lions Clubs of Georgia, and the Peach Bowl. Since the beginning of 2023, Kia has generously funded a program for Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation to provide vision screenings, eye exams and glasses for students in select Title 1 Atlanta Public Schools (APS). During the school year, GLLF staff, along with Georgia Lions Club volunteers performed vision screenings. If a student was referred for further treatment, a licensed optometrist performed an eye exam and if needed, the student received a free pair of glasses, fabricated in our Chamblee optical lab. All eligible students in this initiative who needed glasses received them free of any charge, thanks to Kia. • “My students have received their eyeglasses, and they can’t stop smiling and repeating, ‘I can see! I can see!’ It’s priceless! I’m in tears right now just as a couple other students that saw the students receiving their eyeglasses, and they began crying and saying that they
Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, Inc. is very fortunate to have committed partners, such as The Mercy Ministries and the Lyon Lions Club of Lyons, GA, who enable us to bring more vision services to the residents of Toombs and Appling Counties, through our successful tele-optometry program starting in January 2023. We routinely treat 10-15 patients per visit with our tele-optometry team who coordinate visits with the staffs of The Mercy Ministry Clinics in Lyons and Graham, Georgia, and volunteers from the local Lions Club to further assist patients. To demonstrate further support, the Lyons Lions Club earlier this year, donated $5,000 towards a $112K Lions Club International Fund grant to help GLLF further expand its tele-optometry capabilities across the state of Georgia. With new tele-optometry equipment to outfit a second van/team, GLLF will treat more underserved patients in 2025. Clint Hutcheson, Executive Director of The Mercy Ministries, shared a perspective that might be echoed by other Federally Qualified Health Centers and Clinic partners in southern Georgia. Without GLLF bringing needed tele-optometry services, The Mercy Ministries Clinic could not provide vision care to its patients. . .It’s that important to us. •
2,282 APS students screened
22 (20 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 1 high school) 846 students were referred for additional services. 90% received free vision screenings, free eye exams and free glasses (1st pair) Atlanta Public Schools served
Lyons Lions Club members Terresa Winge (L) and Jill O’Neal (R) featured with Clint Hutcheson, Executive Director of The Mercy Ministries volunteering at a Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation’s tele-optometry clinic since 2023.
Tele-optometry by the Numbers
68 clinics
32 partners
want their eyeglasses.” - Mrs. Thompson-McGhee Dobbs Elementary School
885 patients
23 counties in Georgia
photos at Deerwood Academy by Laczko Art
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HELP US TRANSFORM VISION CARE IN GEORGIA
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