Operation Brightsight helps those in need

Lions Operation Brightsight, part of Lions International, provides many unfortunate and poor people with the opportunity to see clearly by assisting them in obtaining spectacles.

This project aims to provide this service to many individuals not in a financial position to afford the “normal” costs of an eye test and glasses.

Lions Brightsight chairperson management committee PDG Pierre Theron explained Lions Brightsight in Benoni provides eye screenings to bona fide pensioners, students and unemployed people where payment is generally on a cash basis.

“Lions Brightsight has an eye testing clinic based in Benoni. The voluntary optometrists test and dispense recycled spectacle frames fitted with the patient’s prescription lenses,” said Theron.

“There are two clinics a week with the hopes of running a third. However, glasses are also dispensed and dispatched throughout the country from scripts that are obtained by the various Lions clubs who identify worthy recipients in their communities.”

Theron said these clubs have built up a relationship with their local optometrist who tests the eyes and sends the scripts to Lions Brightsight for fulfilment and dispatch.

“The Lions motto is ‘we serve’; hence Helen Keller challenged Lions to become knights of the blind in the fight against darkness at the International Lions Convention in 1925.

“Ever since then sight the prevention of blindness has become a major service project of the Lions members throughout the world,” he said.

According to the chairperson, Lions Recycle for Sight is one of the many global projects of Lions Clubs International “Sight First” programmes.

“Investigations proved that by collecting and recycling pre-owned frames from Lions clubs, optometrists, pharmacies and private individuals, the need for spectacles could be met at an affordable price and benefit the underserved communities,” said Theron.

If you can’t afford spectacles but need them, visit Lions Operation Brightsight at 110 Woburn Avenue by appointment or call 011 422 5577.

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