Sightlines Newsletter

Thank you for your continued support! By supporting the Foundation in our mission to restore and preserve sight, you rescue thousands from a lifetime of blindness.

Pain Disappears, Sight Reappears After Cornea Transplant

Losing your eyesight is incredibly devastating on its own. But to suffer from unbearable pain while your vision quickly vanishes is something many of us can’t imagine.

Since she was a child, Elaine of East Alton, Ill. had problems with her eyesight. She underwent two surgeries in childhood to correct her strabismus, a muscle disorder that caused her right eye to misalign, and as she grew older, began suffering from glaucoma and dry eye. Yet nothing could have prepared her for her battle with Fuchs’ dystrophy, a genetic disease which would quickly destroy her cornea...

Missouri Lions All-Star Football Game

Come cheer on the Blue and Gold teams as graduating high school seniors play to raise funds for the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation!

The 2012 Missouri Lions All-Star Football Game will be played at the University of Central Missouri - Warrensburg on July 21, 2012 at 7 p.m. with pre-game activities beginning at 6:30 p.m. Game tickets are $7 in advance or $10 at the gate and are available by contacting the Missouri Lions State Office at 573-635-1773.

All proceeds from the game benefit the Foundation's sight-saving programs.

Why Eye Donation is Critical for Ocular Research

When someone makes the generous pledge to become an eye donor to give the gift of sight, Heartland Lions Eye Banks makes every effort to fulfill the donor’s request and provide donated tissue to a cornea recipient in need.

But what happens if the cornea can’t be transplanted? Was the donor’s pledge in vain?

For decades, ocular researchers from across the U.S. have partnered with the Eye Bank in the mission to save sight. If donated corneas are not suitable for transplant, the Eye Bank, with consent from the donor family, may offer the tissue to those researching the causes of and the cures for eye disorders and diseases. Because of these researchers’ tireless efforts, the sight of thousands, even millions, might soon be saved...

Our Largest Free Children's Vision Screening Event of the Year

The Foundation is dedicated to helping kids start off the school year with better vision. Since 1995, we've screened 240,000 children for amblyopia, otherwise known as “lazy eye,” and other vision conditions through our free Children’s Vision Screening program.

On August 4-5, 2012, the Foundation will hold our largest free Back-to-School screening event for children ages six months to six years at the Saint Louis Science Center, 5050 Oakland Avenue in St. Louis. Hours for screenings are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

If you would like to volunteer at this event, please contact Patricia Barrett-Elder at 800-283-1982, ext. 112.

Missouri Lions Clubs

Take a look at what we're doing in your community! Review the monthly program stats for your Lions district and the top giving Lions Clubs for 7/1/11 - 6/30/12.

Are you curious to know how the Foundation has served individuals in your own community? Check out our MLERF Impact Maps to see recipient information for your district.