Press release from Iowa KidSight-

April 26, 2024

Iowa KidSight, a collaborative initiative between the Lions Clubs of Iowa and the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, proudly announces the completion of its 750,000th vision screening. This remarkable milestone marks a significant achievement in our ongoing mission to enhance early detection and treatment of vision impairments in young children across Iowa communities. 

The 750,000th vision screening milestone was reached at Sacred Heart Preschool in Monticello, Iowa, where Monticello Lions members Deb Kuhn and John Sauser conducted the screening. The recipient of this landmark screening is 3-year-old Ryleigh Freye. 

Since its inception in May 2000, Iowa KidSight has been dedicated to providing vision screenings for infants and young children from 6 months of age through kindergarten, completely FREE of charge. This initiative includes all 99 counties of Iowa, ensuring accessibility to vision screening services for families statewide. 

The primary objectives of Iowa KidSight include the early screening of vision among young children statewide and public education about the risks associated with undetected vision problems. Through the dedication of Lions Club volunteers and the expertise of healthcare professionals, Iowa KidSight continues to make significant strides in achieving these goals. 

A celebration of this milestone will take place at Sacred Heart Preschool on Thursday, May 2, 9:30 a.m. 

For more information about Iowa KidSight, visit HERE. 

For media inquiries related to Iowa KidSight, please contact: 

Chelle Lehman, Program Manager, Iowa KidSight Phone: 319-353-7616 Email: chelle-lehman@uiowa.edu 

Note: High-resolution images and additional details are available upon request.