The Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation will host a free Healthy Vision Screening from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the Daviess County Senior Center, 109 S. Main St. in Gallatin on Friday, July 13. For questions prior to the screening, please contact the Foundation at 816-454-5454, ext. 140 or at info@mlerf.org.

More than 46,000 Missourians suffer from glaucoma, a debilitating disease that can threaten their sight – and their quality of life. Yet only half know they have it. The Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation is focused on detecting both glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), two leading causes of blindness, in these individuals through free screenings and stopping these degenerative diseases in their tracks.

Glaucoma is a disease that gradually causes vision loss due to damage to the optic nerve from elevated pressure within the eye. In most cases, vision loss is gradual and painless – often making the disease undetectable. Unfortunately, vision that is lost to glaucoma cannot be regained. However, through early detection and the help of medications and/or surgery, it is possible to slow down and even halt further vision loss. Those individuals most at risk of glaucoma include anyone over the age of 60, those with diabetes or a family history of glaucoma, and African-Americans and Hispanics over the age of 40.

The Foundation’s quick and effective free glaucoma detection screening uses a non-contact tonometer to emit a "puff" of air into the eye to measure its pressure levels. If a high pressure reading is given, the Foundation’s trained staff encourages the screening participant to visit an eye care provider for further diagnosis and treatment. Since Foundation screenings began in 1981, 7% of those tested were found to be at risk of glaucoma.

In addition, the Foundation screens for AMD using the standard Amsler Grid test. During a screening, an individual covers up one eye to look at a small black dot in the center of a grid. If the lines of the grid appear to be wavy or missing, the individual will be urged to schedule an appointment with his or her eye doctor.

Businesses, community organizers, clubs and senior support organizations can schedule Healthy Vision Screenings at their own events by contacting the Foundation at 800-753-2265, ext. 8518 or by submitting a request through the Foundation’s Web site at www.mlerf.org.

The Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation based out of Columbia. The Foundation is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of sight through its vision programs including: Children’s Vision Screening, Healthy Vision Screening, Eyeglass Recycling, Eye Care Assistance, Heartland Lions Eye Banks and the support of ocular research. For more information on its programs, please visit www.mlerf.org.