DALLAS—More children around the country will have access to vision care with the announcement of a partnership between Essilor Vision Foundation and Lions KidSight USA Foundation, a charitable foundation of Lions Clubs International.The organizations are joining forces to help provide children across the country with eyeglasses as part of their mutual goal of ensuring every child has clear vision. Vision impairment is one of the most prevalent disabling conditions among children in the U.S. While 80 percent of all vision impairment can be treated or cured, often with a pair of eyeglasses, it is estimated that 10 million children ages 5 to 18 in this country have vision issues and need vision care.

“Essilor Vision Foundation refers to vision impairment as an invisible problem because unlike hunger or tooth decay, children often do not even know they cannot see clearly. To them, blurry eyesight is normal," said Becky Palm, president and executive director of Essilor Vision Foundation. “We are very enthusiastic about our collaboration with Lions KidSight USA Foundation, which enables us to work together to provide vision care for underserved children. Through this partnership, we are offering the Changing Life through Lenses program to Lions KidSight USA Foundation’s members and charitable eye doctor network and expanding the availability of vision services across the country.”

Changing Life through Lenses is Essilor Vision Foundation’s online platform which provides charitable eye doctors and non-profits access to no-cost glasses for patients in need.

Lions KidSight USA Foundation is a nationwide program that screens children ages six months through six years, and provides screening through 12th grade where possible. “Regional Lions Clubs have been working with Essilor Vision Foundation since 2007 and we are proud to broaden our relationship with the inclusion of the Changing Life through Lenses program. Lions KidSight USA Foundation has been a strong advocate of providing vision screening to more than 1.5 million children annually and this exciting initiative helps to ensure that no child will go without glasses,” said Dr. Edward V. Cordes, past international director, Lions Clubs International and chair, Lions KidSight USA Foundation.

Essilor announced in January, as VMAIL reported that it has donated one million pairs of glasses to people in need around the U.S. since it began operating in 2007.  In this video, Essilor's chairman, Hubert Sagnieres, reflects on the founding of Essilor Vision Foundation USA as the organization celebrates providing more than one million pairs of glasses to people in need around the country.