Lions Club opens free eye clinic in Odessa

For many people, the cost of maintaining good eye health may make coverage unattainable. The Odessa American reports that the local Lions Club will be providing free eye care for those who may not be able to afford it otherwise.

Although the Lions Club is widely known for providing free eye exams throughout the country, what makes this endeavor particularly beneficial is that they are operating it themselves rather than through an intermediary.

"We've done this for years but always through another optometrist's office," Opal Harris, director of the Lions Club's eye clinic, told the news source. "We're really excited about it. I think it’s going to be a great service for the community."

According to the news provider, the group transformed several spaces in their large building into examination rooms while saving another one for frames. The clinic, which be will be opened one Tuesday a month to start, is intended to focus on treating children.

While eye health is especially important in children, it can often go overlooked. The National Eye Institute reports that many significant vision problems can present themselves before the age of five, but fewer than 22 percent of preschoolers have received an eye exam.